In preparing our April shipment, we were torn between offering a light, floral green tea to symbolize the coming of spring and warmer weather, or a darker, full bodied tea to warm up with during cool April rains and chilly nights. Not coming to a clear consensus between ourselves, we decided that for this month, we would offer a sampling of both styles of tea! So enjoy the change of seasons with these two delicious brews.
Mount of Olives Treasures - Jasmine Green Tea
A elixir worthy of the Queen of Sheba, Mount of Olives Treasures exclusive blend of green tea is enhanced with fragrant jasmine, an ancient ingredient believed to restore peace to the mind and soul. Scientific studies suggest that jasmine may also help lower cholesterol levels and increase life expectancy. Ingredients: Green tea, jasmine, olive leaves, lemon grass, grape leaves, pomegranate leaves, hyssop.
East India Tea Company - Assam
It was in 1788 that the British realized that tea plantations should be established in India to break the Chinese monopoly of this vital trade. Chinese plants were introduced to plantations in Calcutta with limited success, but in 1834, the East India Tea Company discovered that the tea shrub was in fact indigenous to the remote Assam region of India. In 1838, the Company shipped its first twelve chests of Assam tea to London, marking the beginning of the tea industry in India. From that time until today, Assam has been regarded as one of the best teas in the world.
Hot tea brewing method: As with all top quality teas, scoop 1-3 teaspoons of tea into the teapot. Pour in boiling water that has been freshly drawn (previously boiled water has lost most if its oxygen and therefore tends to be flat tasting), steep for 2-4 minutes (to taste), stir (virtually all the leaves will sink), pour into your cup, add milk (do not use cream) and sugar to taste. When you are making a pot of tea - using loose tea of course - you will see the tea leaves uncurl and expand dramatically. This uncurling and expansion is called ‘the agony of the leaf’.
Iced tea-brewing method: (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 5 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. (A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water). Please note that this tea may tend to go cloudy or ‘milky’ when poured over ice; a perfectly normal characteristic of some high quality black teas and nothing to worry about!
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