Wuyi Oolong
Wuyi Oolong
Our Wuyi Oolong brews up a full bodied flavorful Oolong tea that is toasty, slightly earthy with a floral aftertaste. It is exceptionally well balanced. Hints of honey is also present in the infusion. It is complex and layered with flavors and notes. Wuyi Oolong can be infused a number of times, with each infusion revealing a new nuance of the tea's complex flavor.
Wuyi Oolong, aka Wuyi Rock Oolong or Da Hong Pao (big red robe), is a Oolong tea from the Wuyi Mountains in the Fujian province of China. It is often the favorite among Gong Fu Tea (Chinese Tea Ceremony) drinkers. In China, this tea can be found in many high end restaurants' menu. It is famous for its 'dragonfly's head, frog's limbs and three colors.' The latter refers to the green, red and brown colors found in the cross-section of each leaf.
Oolong means semi fermented. After rolling, the tea is allowed to ferment only until the edges of the leaves start to turn brown. The tea is then fired which arrests the fermenting process and captures the interesting character associated with Oolong tea. Wuyi Oolong is fermented further than green Oolongs and the firing process is longer. This production method gives Wuyi Oolong its famous toasty and mineral characters. Wuyi Oolong truly reflects the philosophy and art of China's Oolong making.
Country of Origin: China
Grade: Hand made Oolong
Manufacture Type: Orthodox
Brewing Instructions Per 8 oz. of Water
Wuyi Oolong can be infused a number of times, with each infusion revealing a new nuance of the tea's complex flavor.
This Sencha is classic steamed green tea from Japan's Kagoshima Prefecture. It brews a cup that is slightly sweet and vegetal. It is mildly astringent with reasonable depth. A quality well rounded green tea to be enjoyed throughout the day. It also makes very refreshing iced tea.
Japan produces some of the best green teas in the world. The efficiency of Japan’s tea production is among the highest in the world reaching yields of 1500 pounds per acre. Despite the fact that mechanical plucking is used, the teas made in Japan are generally considered among the top green teas in the world.
Japan only exports about 1-2 percent of its total production and recently has become a leading importer of the finest teas in the world. The production of green tea entails the steaming of the green leaf and hand or machine rubbing. The teas are then pan fried or basket fired which gives them a distinctive appearance and glossy look and feel. These methods give a taste that is light in color but rich and full in the cup.
Country of Origin: Japan Region: Kagoshima Prefecture
Grade: Sencha Infusion: Pale yellow with green hue
Manufacture Type: Steamed green tea
Genmaicha is a specialty Japanese green tea that is blended with fire-toasted brown rice. Our Genmaicha is a highgrade sencha and Gyokuro base green tea blended with the toasted brown rice.
The fresh vegetative character of the green tea is imparted on the cup, but it is tempered with the bakey-like character of the rice. The Gyokuro green tea gives this tea more complexity and adds the “umami” (a Japanese term for savory taste) to the tea.
There is a natural sweetness and almost chewy character to the finish of this tea. During the firing of the rice, it is common for rice to ‘pop’ like popcorn, hence the name "popcorn-tea."
Country of Origin: Japan Region: Shizuoka Prefecture
Grade: Sencha and Gyokuro Genmaicha
Manufacture Type: Steamed green tea
Cup Characteristics: Light brownish yellow liquor with toasty flavor, tending sweet.
Our classic Gyokuro brews a full-flavored cup of green tea that has a satisfying, light, and refreshing character. It has the signature sweet green flavor with hints of seaweed.
This is one of Japan’s best green teas (made from single buds that are picked only in April/May). In an effort to develop increased chlorophyll (making them dark green) and reduce the tannin (giving a sweeter flavor with no bitterness), the tea is covered with black curtains or bamboo and straw shades for 3 weeks in early spring. The leaves are small - about 3/4 inch long and extremely fragrant and tender. Immediately after plucking the leaves are taken to the factory and steamed for about 30 minutes to seal in the flavor and arrest fermentation. Next they are fluffed with hot air and pressed and dried to 30% moisture content. Repeated rolling takes place until the tea develops long, thin, and dark green needles at which time it is finally dried to a 4-6% moisture content. At this price point, our classic Gyokuro is certainly one of the best on the market.
Country of Origin: Japan Region: Shizuoka Prefecture
Grade: Gyokuro Infusion: Very bright tending green
Manufacture Type: Shade grown and steamed green tea
The classic Gunpowder green tea brews a smooth, full-bodied cup with a hint of oakiness. A very nice tea to pick you up in the afternoon. It also makes very good iced tea.
Production of Gunpowder tea is unique. It is produced mainly in the mountainous areas on Zhejiang Province. After plucking, each individual leaf is rubbed and twisted by hand then dried by stir-frying in a large pan. Depending on the quality of the leaf, ambient humidity and temperature, up to 4 rounds of stir-fry drying may be required. Brew up a cup of Gunpowder tea, watch the leaves unfold, enjoy and relax!
Country of Origin: China Manufacture Type: Steamed and pan-fried green tea
Infusion: Medium green with golden notes
Jasmine Needle is made from the youngest 1st flush (new season growth) leaves and the buds. The tea is smooth and subtle with delicate jasmine aroma. The extraordinary flavor of the tea is due to the time of plucking, manufacture and the fresh spring jasmine blooms. The jasmine flavor is present but not overpowering. This is a perfect afternoon tea.
Our Organic Jasmine tea has exquisite abundant jasmine character. Organic tea is produced without the input of chemical fertilizers or pesticides and herbicides. The jasmine tree comes into bloom only during May and June. The blossom only lasts for about 12 hours and only comes out at night after the sun goes down. About half way through the night, the fragrance is at its peak, and it is at this time the blossoms need to be picked and layer into the tea. By the morning most of the fragrance has disappeared from the blossom, but if the tea maker has done his job correctly, this heavenly scent has been transferred to the tea and captured in time. This process is carried out on 5 successive evenings to impart the superior flavor of specially selected tea and jasmine flowers.
Country of Origin: China Grade: Organic special jasmine tea
Attitude: up to 2500 ft Infusion: Tending bright emerald green
Manufacture Type: Steamed green tea and infused with scent from midnight picked jasmine.
Our Sencha Superior is a wonderful tea for everyday drinking as well as special occasions. The young leaves are plucked in early spring and steamed to seal in freshness. The rolling process gives this leaf its needle-like shape, often called 'spider legs'. Best when brewed with water at 160° for 2 minutes. Do not over brew. Use one heaping teaspoon for every 8 ounces. Same Leaves can be infused up to 3 times.
Country of Origin: Japan Region: Shizuoka Prefecture
Grade: Spring Sencha Infusion: Very bright
Manufacture Type: Steamed green tea
Sencha Mint is a mixture of Japanese Sencha and Peppermint. The brewed tea is crisp, slightly astringent and floral. When compared to Moroccan Mint, it is more subtle and doesn't require any sweetener. And of course, it makes excellent iced tea.
Ingredients: Japanese Sencha, Peppermint.
Our Tencha brews a sweet cup that is vegetatively green with hints of walnuts. This Japanese Tencha is quite special a rare. Tencha is tea used for making Matcha. Taste profile of the tea is similar to that of Matcha, but lighter.
This is a very pleasant 1st grade Jasmine Green tea with surprising body and a captivating floral taste. On the nose the dry tea has a floral bouquet, which literally causes your senses to come alive with pleasant thoughts. The flavor is enhanced with the addition of jasmine blossoms, which give the tea a visual appeal few other teas are capable of copying. There are many different grades of jasmine tea. This particular grade is the first grade below the exotic jasmines. It has all the flavor, aroma and good green tea qualities but not the exorbitant price.
Country of Origin: China Grade: Jasmine First Grade
Altitude: 1500 ft. Manufacture Type: Pan-fried green tea
Infusion: Pale green liquor Ingredients: Green tea, Jasmine petals
Bi Luo Chun is regarded as one of the best green tea China offers. It brews a refreshing cup that is floral, slightly earthy with nutty notes. Bi Luo Chun literally means “green snail spring”. It is called “green snail spring” because it is a green tea that is hand rolled into a tight spiral, resembling snail meat, and is plucked and produced early spring. The annual productions span of the Bi Luo Chun is very short. It is picked between the Spring Equinox (end of March) and Qing Ming (early April). Our 'Choral Bi Luo Chun' tea is made from the finest tender buds, gathered and processed exclusively by hand.
Country of Origin: China
Infusion: Pale green
Cup Characteristics: Full delicate green tea flavor with a very smooth finish.
This Green Curls is a green tea from the mountains of Fujian, China. It brews a clean and crisp cup of green tea that is fruity and slightly smokey. The smokiness is similar to that of gunpowder green tea, but not as prominent. It adds a layer of complexity to this nice green tea. It is a good all day tea for anyone who is new to trying green tea. It is easy to make and is not grassy at all. It also makes refreshing iced tea.
Country of Origin: China
Altitude: 3000 ft.
Manufacture Type: Orthodox rolled green tea
Infusion: Bright green liquor
This is a 1st grade Chun Mee Green Tea from China. It brews a full-bodied cup of green tea with nutty and smokey notes.
Chun Mee is a traditional Chinese green tea with a long history. It was one of the first green teas introduced to the British. The tea leaves are hand-rolled and pan-fired to achieved the classic Chinese green tea appearance. This is a classic green tea that is good as an afternoon tea. It also makes very good iced tea.
Country of Origin: China Grade: 1st Grade Chun Mee
Infusion: Bright green liquor Ingredients: Green tea
Dragonwell aka Lung Ching is a famous green tea from China. Our Dragonwell brews a full-bodied cup of green tea that is sweet and slightly nutty with floral characters.
Dragonwell is produced by hand through a 10-part process. The side of West Lake in Zhejiang Province grows the tea used to produce Dragonwell. Dragonwell is distinguished by its beautiful shape, emerald colour, scented smell and tending sweet floral character. This tea is good for multiple infusions. It is really an exceptional afternoon tea that will certainly satisfy and make you relax.
Country of Origin: China
Region: Zhejiang Province
Manufacture Type: Pan-fried green tea
Infusion: Very bright
Kukicha is a traditional green tea from Japan. Our Kukicha is a Sencha and Gyokuro base green tea with both young leaves and stems. It brews a flavorful cup that is nutty and slightly creamy.
The addition of Gyokuro base leaves enhances the Umami (a Japanese term for savory flavor) and add a unique flavor profile to the tea. Kukicha can also be added to juice to make an excellent children's drink. It is a powerful antioxidant and is very low in caffeine. In fact the lowest in caffeine (1/10 of the caffeine level in regular green tea) of all traditional teas.
Country of Origin: Japan
Grade: Kukicha
Manufacture Type: Steamed green tea
Hojicha is a low caffeine roasted green tea from Japan. It brews a toasty and nutty cup of tea that is slightly sweet with a very clean finish. It is also excellent when served as an iced tea.
There is almost no astringency or bitterness in this tea as a result of the roasting process. Caffeine level is also significantly reduced due to the roasting process. In Japan, because it is a low-caffeine tea, Hojicha is often enjoyed during and after dinner. Hojicha's low caffeine content also makes it a popular tea for children and elderly in Japan.
Country of origin: Japan
Grade: Roasted Bancha (summer crop green tea)
If you like Earl Grey and lemon tea you should definitely try the citrus green. Strong lemon and lime overtones on this green tea will wake up your taste buds and your nose. When the tea is brewed, the wonderful aroma adds another dimension to enjoying this tea. Excellent hot or iced.
Country of Origin: China
Ingredients: Green tea, citrus peels, natural flavors.
Mango Green is a fruity green tea with wonderful natural sweetness and piquant mango character evokes memories of bright sunny days. Just the enough flavoring and never overpowers the green tea. Makes stunning iced tea, brew up and you will become a believer.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacture Type: Steamed green tea
Ingredients: Green tea, mango pieces, and natural flavors.
Apricot green tea brews a refreshing cup of tea that is naturally sweet and crisp. It has the right amount of the natural apricot flavoring and never overpowers. If you are new to green tea and would like to try something flavorful, you should definitely try the apricot green. It also makes an excellent iced tea.
Country of Origin: China Manufacture Type: Steamed green tea
Ingredients: Premium green tea, apple, apricot and natural apricot flavor.
With the perfect amount of fruitiness, this Pomegranate Green Tea is delicious and crisp. It has a very nice tart pomegranate flavor with subtle sweetness. Want a refreshing green tea that is flavorful and fruity? Give it a try, you will not be disappointed. It is excellent both hot and iced.
Country of Origin: China Manufacture Type: Steamed green tea
Ingredients: Premium green tea, pomegranate, and natural flavor.
Cherry Blossom green tea is fresh and smooth with reasonable depth and body. The cherry flavor and subtle rose hints give the tea a wonderful character. It also makes excellent iced tea.
Country of Origin: China
Manufacture Type: Steamed green tea
Ingredients: Green tea, Rose petals, Cherries, Natural flavors
Our version of the classic Moroccan Mint is a blend of Gunpowder Green Tea, Chun Mee Green Tea and Peppermint. The Gunpowder and Chun Mee Green hold up very well with the peppermint. It also makes excellent iced tea.
Country of Origin: China, United States
Ingredients: Green tea, and peppermint.
The taste of the tea is smooth with delicate and pleasing flavor and a heavenly jasmine character.
Jasmine Dragon Pearls are a green tea and are made from the top two leaves and the bud of new season growth (late March /early April). These delicate leaves are then hand rolled into the small pearls. When you infuse these pearls in your tea cup, you will see the top two leaves and the bud come to life. In fact you will see some small ‘hairy down’ on the bud of the leaves - this denotes superb quality and very careful and delicate handling. The extraordinary flavor of these Jasmine Dragon Tears is due to the time of plucking, manufacture and the fresh spring jasmine blooms. The new tea season starts in China in late March/early April (dependent on weather patterns) and it is during the first 4 weeks that the best teas are manufactured. After this initial period the quality of the teas and green leaf start to deteriorate rapidly and the teas become quite plain. Dragon Pearls are only made from tea plucked in the first 3 weeks of the new season. Coinciding with the new tea growth, the jasmine bushes are in spring bloom. Only the most fragrant blossoms are used (from bushes that are known to produce the most fragrant flowers). These fresh flowers are layered between the tea and before long the intense and uplifting fragrance of the new jasmine blooms is passed on to the tea. An extraordinary taste experience!
Country of Origin: China Grade: Hand-made tea pearls