Tea FAQ

Is loose leaf tea more expensive than standard commercial tea...ie tea bags? Good tea is not really very expensive when broken down to a per cup cost. 10% or less of the cost of a soft drink! When you buy tea in bags, most of what you pay for is the process of putting the teas in bags, and the name advertising. Fancy tea is generally sold loose and is much higher quality, and the price per cup is often lower than for commercial tea. Of course, as with most things, you can spend a lot for tea if you try. But if price is a concern, start small. Some truly fine teas retail in the United States for less than US$20 per pound, which means less than 10 cents per cup. High quality loose leaf tea is typically not readily available in grocery stores so you will likely have to seek out a specialty shop, a mail-order company, or web-based tea retailer such as Aris Springs Why is Organic Tea better? It takes over three years before a tea plantation can be certified Organic. Well-trained tea pickers handpick only the fresh "two leaves and the bud" with a gentle twist of their fingers. It takes approximately 4 to 5 kg of fresh Green Leaves to make one kilo of finished Black tea. The plantations are inspected on a regular basis to confirm that there are no chemical residues on the tea at anytime. Tea that is grown Organically is naturally low in caffeine. Over 100 years ago the pioneer planters of tea cleared vast areas of virgin forest, for tea plantations. This caused negative environmental impact of the land, loss of top-soil and the chemical pollution caused by the use of artificial fertilizers. This method is called the "conventional tea planting method". A tea plantation that was once a conventional tea plantation, can now be converted back to an organic tea plantation. This can take three years or more. Forests are established that are same in structure and ecological function as the rain forest. No pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers are used. Only environmental friendly sustainable agricultural methods are used with organic fertilizers. This enables many species of animals and birds once confined to the rain forest to move in and establish populations restoring environmental stability. The way organic agriculture works, most employees are supplied with a cow or a goat per household. This provides milk for the family and any surplus to requirements can be sold. The manure is used as a nitrogen source for composting, along with the kitchen waste, a contract taken by the household. The Organic Tea plantation buys the compost or organic fertilizer from the workers. The workers are encouraged to grow grass for their animals on areas that are not suitable to grow tea. By doing so the tea plantation does not have to use chemicals to control grass and other weeds. The way organic agriculture works, it enhances their quality of life and generates additional income. It also helps to bring about agricultural sustainability and restore the natural way of the environment. How should I store tea? Tea should be stored in an airtight, container in a cool, dry place. Many tea retailers sell tea in metal tins that close tightly, which is optimal. The refrigerator is not a good place to store tea. The cold causes water condensation, which can ruin a good tea. You can freeze tea for long-term storage if you tightly seal your container and wrap it in plastic. Before you open a container of frozen tea, let it warm to room temperature in order to avoid contaminating the tea with condensation. How do I brew a cup of loose leaf tea? Quality water and proper brewing time are essential. * Start with a preheated pot or cup (simply fill your teapot or cup with very hot water and let it stand for a moment). * Use fresh cold water. In areas with poor tap water, use bottled or filtered water. Use cold water as; this ensures that the water is aerated and able to help release the full flavor of the leaves. * For black tea bring water to a rolling boil. Other teas vary, however it is extemely important that you use hot (not boiling) water for green and white teas, typically 160-185 degrees depending on the type of green or white tea. Pour water on tea leaves. * Brew 2 to 5 minutes depending on tea type and prefence. Most black teas are best at 3-5 minutes, however Darjeelings are often best at shorter steep times of 2-3 1/2 minutes. How much caffeine does tea contain? Tea contains much less than coffee.Anywhere from 50-80% less!. Black teas are usually 80mg of caffeine, Green teas are approx 40mg, and White teas approx 20 mg.   What are the different black tea varieties? Assam (India): Assam teas are considered to be bold with a malty taste and dark liquor, making them wonderful morning teas, although some people enjoy them all day long! Bursting with a rich, round flavor, Assam teas are enjoyed by many with a bit of milk. Ceylon (Sri Lanka): Ceylon teas have a nice aromatic amber liquor and a rich, full, somehwat astringent taste. This tea is enjoyed by many with a bit of milk and goes well with something sweet. Keemun (China): Keemun has a mild orchid aroma and a bright red liquor. The flavor is mild and a bit sweet. It is considered to be a good evening tea. Lapsang Souchong (China): This tea is made by withering tea leaves over open fires of that contain pine. It is a dark tea with a smoky flavor. It makes a reddish-brown drink, and is a wonderful accompaniment to spicy foods. Yunnan (China): Yunnan is one of China's wonderful "noble" varieties and is unique. It combines aroma with strength and a spicy almost peppery flavor, giving it a subtle rich taste. Nicknamed "the mocha of tea", this tea produces a red-amber color in the cup and is full-bodied with an illusive floral scent. Yunnan is a very nice breakfast tea. Darjeeling (India): Darjeeling is the rarest and considered the champagne of black teas. Its excellent quality is obtained from both climate and elevation. Darjeeling teas have a distinctive muscatel taste that varies with each flush (the seasons). Darjeeling is an incredible afternoon tea.   What are the different Green Tea varieties? There are more than 3100 varieties of tea. Every one has its own distinct character and many are named for the area in which they are harvested.Producing black tea requires 5 steps: withering, rolling, oxidation, drying/firing, and sorting. Green tea skips the oxidation process and other than white tea, it is closest to the tea plant in its natural state. Gyokuro (Precious Dew): This tea is considered the most refined of Japanese teas. While Gyokuro looks like high quality Sencha, it has a darker green color. Each leaf is also thicker. It has a very smooth taste which remains long after each sip. It is a bit more expensive than other green teas. Sencha: Sencha is the most popular type of tea in Japan today. This tea has a subtle sweetness, sonewhat of a bitterness and fresh green scent. The color is light green. Matcha Uji: This is a powdered tea which is made from Gyokuro leaves. It is often used in the Japanese tea ceremony. It makes a wonderfult iced tea! Genmaicha (Japanese Rice): This tea is a middle grade green tea and is combined with toasted rice. It is a typical Japanese specialty tea. Bancha: This tea is considered to be a lower grade of green tea. The size of the rolled tea leaves is also larger than Sencha and the color is the same as Sencha.