Earl Grey (Organic)

Description

Country of Origin:  Sri Lanka

Region(s):    Uva districts

Grade:  FP (Flowery Pekoe)

Altitude:  1200 – 2550m above sea level

Manufacture Type:  Orthodox (Traditional leafy)

Cup Characteristics:  An English favourite. The tea leaves brew a coppery liquor with a pronounced bergamot aroma. The flavour is bold with excellent body and bright bergamot overtones that linger on the palate. The Prime Minister of England (1830  –  1834) would be proud – his signature tea has been revived.

Infusion:  Bright and coppery.

Ingredients:  Sri Lanka black tea, Bergamot flavouring

Description:  traditionally Earl Grey Tea was a blend of Chinese and Indian teas scented with the oil from the citrus bergamot fruit.

Earl Grey tea is enjoyed the world over by real people who appreciate its depth of character, sweet citrus notes, and palate cleansing finish. The tea is however also enjoyed by people who are not real in any way, other than on the printed page  or silver screen.   Perhaps  more  than  any  other  tea,  Earl  Grey  appears  to  have  been  the beverage  of  choice  for  one  fictitious character after the next.

From James Bond, to Star Trek’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard, to Sir Leigh Teabing of the DaVinci code, Earl  Grey holds a special place in the world of storytelling. And why not? The tea itself has quite a story having apparently been given as a gift to a British diplomat by a Chinese Mandarin in thanks for saving his life.

Whether or not you believe that story, one fact that is definitely beyond reproach is that Earl Grey is a wonderful and soothing tea  any  time  of  the  day.   The  organic  variety we offer  here  is  no  exception.   This  tea  is  100%  natural,  no  chemicals  or pesticides were used in its production  –  what you see, smell, and taste  –  is what you get.

Hot tea brewing method:  Bring fresh cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea for each 7 -9oz/200-260ml of fluid volume in the teapot.

Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea).

Iced tea brewing method (Pitcher):  (to make 1 litre): Place 6 slightly heaping teaspoons of loose tea  into  a  teapot  or  heat  resistant  pitcher.  Using fresh cold  water,  boil  and  pour  1¼ cups/315ml over the tea.

Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the tea. 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 increase the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted  with  cold  water.

(Note:  Some  premium quality  teas  may  turn  cloudy  when  poured  over  ice.  This is  a sign of quality and nothing to worry about.)

Iced tea brewing method (Individual Serving):  Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea into a teapot for each serving required. Using fresh cold water, boil and pour 6 -7oz/170-200ml per serving over the tea.

Cover and let steep for 5 minutes. Add hot tea to a 12oz/375ml acrylic glass filled with ice, straining   the tea. Not all of the tea will fit, allowing for approximately an additional ½ serving. Sweeten and/or add lemon to taste.

A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to increase the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted.

(Note: Some premium quality teas may turn cloudy when poured over ice. This is a sign of quality and nothing to worry about!)