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Specialty Loose Leaf Tea
Much has
been written about the health benefits of tea, from cancer prevention to
lowering cholesterol. Besides these benefits, the culture of
tea is one of taking time out to enjoy this versatile beverage. Hot or iced,
from afternoon British tea to formal Japanese tea ceremony, all are derived
from the camellia sinensis plant. It is in the soil, weather and
processing that we get the endless varieties of tea.
Here are my
favorite loose leaf teas, selected from the finest estates from around the
world. Some extremely rare, some widely known and admired, all
eminently memorable.
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New!
Hand Tied Flowering Tea
Once dropped into a glass of hot water, this bud tea unveils a broad
flower followed by the sudden eruption of a flower plume, which is actually
flowers sewn together end to end. The golden liquor yields a full-bodied
flavor intensified by the large floral bloom. Let the the blooming tea brew
for at least 10 minutes, a longer brewing time will not spoil the tea, on
the contrary, the flavor will rather improve.
| 4 buds Price $7.00 |
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| 6 buds Price $10.00 |
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| 8 buds Price $12.00 |
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| 12 buds Price $15.00 |
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Great gift idea: Order 6 flowering
tea buds and glass mug. Watch the tea bloom in a glass mug for $20.
| Glass Mug and Flowering Tea Price $20 |
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Organic Rooibos Red Tea
Organic Rooibos.
Pronounced roy-boss. This tea from Africa is also known as Red Bush tea.
This herb brews like tea, and it was used by the South African Bushmen as an
herbal remedy for a wide range of ailments. Rooibos tea is a
distinctive red color and its taste is also unique with a sweet and slightly
nutty flavor. Its delicious taste and numerous healthful qualities has
helped Rooibos become a popular tea all over the world. Rooibos has no
caffeine and is low in tannin, so it can be enjoyed all day long without any
unpleasant side effects. This also makes it a great tea for pregnant women, nursing mothers and those with a sensitivity to caffeine.
| 1 oz. Price $3.50 |
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| 2 oz. Price $4.75 |
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| 4 oz. Price $9.00 |
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Organic Rooibos
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Keemun Mao Feng. The aroma of Keemun is fruity, with hints of pine
and floweriness which creates the very distinctive and balanced taste.
As a black Tea, Keemun contains less caffeine than Assam tea. This tea can have a more
bitter taste and the smokiness can be more defined depending on the variety.
Mao Feng means Fur Peak, which is made of only slightly twisted leaf
buds and is noted for a smoother and different flavor. Try brewing the tea
for up to 7 minutes, while using a smaller quantity in order to bring out
more interesting tones in this tea. It is also good with milk. This special tea is limited in quantity.
| 1 oz. Price $5.50 |
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| 2 oz. Price $10.00 |
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| 4 oz. Price $18.00 |
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Keemun Mao Feng
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Genmaicha. Japanese green tea combined with roasted brown rice.
It is sometimes referred to colloquially as "popcorn tea" because a few
grains of the rice pop during the roasting process and resemble popcorn.
This type of tea was originally drunk by poor Japanese, as the rice served
as a filler and reduced the price of the tea. Tea steeped from these tea
leaves has a light yellow hue. Its flavor is mild and combines the fresh
grassy taste of green tea with the aroma of the roasted rice that gives it a
hearty flavor. I love to drink this tea in the winter.
| 1 oz. Price $3.50 |
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| 2 oz. Price $4.75 |
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| 4 oz. Price $9.00 |
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Pearl Jasmine. This Pearl Jasmine is grown in north Fujian province.
High Mountain Spring Green Tea is hand shaped into tiny pearls and is
allowed to rest until July, when the Jasmine flowers bloom. The pearls are
then combined with the scent of the Jasmine, hence the name Pearl Jasmine.
This combination of tea and Jasmine scent is done a remarkable five times to
produce the finest Pearl Jasmine tea. Pearl Jasmine tea is very popular with
those who are just beginning to appreciate fine tea. In China each Jasmine
Pearl is shaped by hand using just the bud. When brewed, these little Pearls
open like flowers blooming in the Spring, bursting with flavor and the scent
of Jasmine.
| 1 oz. Price $5.50 |
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| 2 oz. Price $10.00 |
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| 4 oz. Price $18.00 |
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Pearl Jasmine
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White Tea
Pai Mu Tan White Peony The general processing for Chinese white tea only
includes two steps: withering and drying. White peony tea is made from the
buds and leaves that remain after the famous silver tip white tea has been
harvested. Its sweet and mild, yet very full-bodied. The cup color is darker
and the aroma bolder, the natural sweetness clearly identifies the close
relationship to the silver tip white tea. White tea brews to a pale
yellow/light red color, and has a slightly sweet flavor with no "grassy"
undertones which sometimes associated with green tea.
| 1 oz. Price $3.50 |
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| 2 oz. Price $4.75 |
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| 4 oz. Price $9.00 |
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White Peony
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Premium and Specialty Oolong Tea
My supplier of specialty oolong teas lived in Taiwan for a number of
years and has intimate connections with the tea industry there. Though he
lives in the U.S. now, he travels to Taiwan several times a year to bring
back the most exquisite oolong teas. These specialty teas often are
limited in production and once they sell out they are gone forever.
Likewise, our offerings of oolongs will change according to the supply.
Oolong Sampler
Can't decide what type of oolong tea to buy? Try the oolong tea sampler. You
get a taste of how special these teas truly are. Oolong sampler includes 0.5
oz each of
Ti Kwan Yin
High Mountain Jin Xuan
Rou Gui
Wen Shan Bao Zhong
Order a glass mug with Oolong Sampler Tea for $20.00
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Ti Kwan Yin
Ti Kwan Yin or Iron Goddess of Mercy from the southern Fujian Province in
China is one of China's most famous oolongs. Grown in the Anxi region of
China’s Fujian province. The 40% oxidation results in a tightly wound,
uniform tea that is very dense, sage green in color, and with what appears
to be a light glazing of frost. Because the leaves of this fragrant oolong
are tightly rolled it is best enjoyed steeped loosely in the pot. This tea
produces a fragrant orchid-like aroma when steeped, and may be very floral
or very fruity.
| 1 oz. Price $3.50 |
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| 2 oz. Price $4.75 |
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| 4 oz. Price $9.00 |
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Ti Kwan Yin
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High Mountain Jin Xuan, Winter
This tea is a green Oolong with a milky
honeysuckle raspberry aroma and a floral flavor followed by a green tea
taste, lastly ending with tangy citrus notes.
Winter tea grows with the descending temperature and diminishing rainfall.
In particular, the winter flake is scarce, so it is precious. The demand
always exceeds the supply.
| 1 oz. Price $6.00 |
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| 2 oz. Price $11.00 |
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| 4 oz. Price $20.00 |
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High Mountain Jin Xuan, Winter
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Rou Gui Oolong
Rou Gui tea is a very popular rock tea in the Wuyi oolong tea category.
Its rich floral fragrance and unique cinnamon spicy flavor makes it one of
the most popular teas. This tea has a mellow, slightly astringent liquor
combined with a sweet creamy touch. This Wuyi oolong tea can be brewed at
least for 7 times and still holds a pleasant and changing taste.
| 1 oz. Price $6.00 |
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| 2 oz. Price $11.00 |
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| 4 oz. Price $20.00 |
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Rou Gui Oolong
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Wen Shan Bao Zhong, top grade. Wen Shan refers
to the name of a growing region in Northern Taiwan. Wen Shan Bao Zhong
leaves are slightly twisted rather than rolled as in other Oolongs. The name
Bao Zhong refers to a method of packaging that started about 160 years ago
in which tea farmers packaged their tea in 250 gram elongated square
packages. A mark was then placed on this tea that said Bao Zhong, or
wrapping type. When the Bao Zhong method came to Taiwan, Wen Shan in
northern Taiwan produced the best quality Bao Zhong. As a result, Wen Shan
Bao Zhong became a commonly used term. This tea is oxidized 15%-30% with a
wonderful fresh floral fruit fragrance. Wen Shan Bao Zhong is most famous
for its aroma, which is sure to open your eyes any time of the day or early
evening. This is the top grade Bao Zhong.
| 1 oz. Price $8.00 |
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| 2 oz. Price $15.00 |
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| 4 oz. Price $28.00 |
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Wen Shan Bao Zhong, top grade
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Formosa Oolong, Bai Hao, Oriental Beauty, top grade
Oriental Beauty also known as Bai Hao Oolong also known as Dong
Fang Mei Ren. The name Oriental Beauty is said to come from Queen Elizabeth
of England who reportedly remarked, "What an oriental beauty" upon first
tasting the tea. This is a summer harvest tea that relies on a tea leaf
eating-aphid that transfers pollen from nearby flowers to the tea leaves,
resulting in the classic Oriental Beauty honey taste. This is a heavily
oxidized tea leaf that results in a reddish liquor that is especially sweet
and intoxicating. You can get up to 7 infusions this tea, each one superb in
its subtle flavor. When I first tasted this tea, it astounded me. I didn't
even know how to describe it. Sweet, ripe fruit, wine, I just wanted to hold
it in my mouth without swallowing so I could savor the taste. This is
truly a special occasion treat. Temporarily SOLD
OUT. Check back soon for new supply.
| 1 oz. Price $20.00 |
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| 2 oz. Price $38.00 |
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| 4 oz. Price $75.00 |
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Oriental Beauty, top grade
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Japanese Tea
These teas are grown and processed in Japan. They have a
distinctive flavor. Two main tea areas in Japan are Shizuoka and Uji.
These Japanese teas come from Shizuoka.
Matcha, Zuihou from Nanzanen
Matcha is powdered tea used in the Japanese Tea Ceremony. The plants
for matcha are grown under shade. The most tender leaves are hand picked,
steamed, then dried and only the leaf between the veins are ground to a fine
powder for this tea. Special stones are hand chiseled for tea grinders and
it takes an hour of grinding to produce about 40 grams of this tea. Quite
often these teas are given poetic names that are revealed as part of the tea
ceremony. The poetic name Zuihou means "Auspicious Phoenix."
"I recently received my order and I am so impressed with the quality
of the matcha and the tea set. Thank you for accurately representing your
products online. I will definitely order again soon." ~Teressa
Rundstrom
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