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Country of Origin: India, Kenya
Region: Assam, Kiambu
Shipping Port: Calcutta, Mombasa
Grade: BOP (Broken Orange Pekoe)
Altitude: 1500 ft, 6500 ft above sea level
Manufacture Type: CTC (Cut Torn and Curled)
Cup Characteristics: A very full bodied cup of tea. The strength and
malty flavour of Assams is combined with the brightness and lively flavour of the best
Kenya teas. The longer you allow this tea to brew the stronger it becomes. This tea is
best enjoyed with milk since the casein in milk renders the tannins in tea insoluble and
reduces the characteristic bitterness of strong teas.
Infusion: Bright and coppery
Ingredients: Black tea
Information: Per capita, Irish consumption of tea is amongst the highest in the world.
The Irish prefer a full bodied cup of tea that if brewed long enough one could almost
stand their spoon upright. The strength is achieved by buying the best teas available
from seasonal production periods in Assam and Kenya. This means that the Assam
teas are from the second flush period during June, and the Kenyas are from February
and August growth. 2nd flush Assams give a deep malty astringency and the best make
your mouth feel dry they are so astringent. This astringency leads to a malty character
that is almost so thick you feel like you could chew it. The seasonal Kenyas have a
golden coppery color with an almost floral note that give a complex depth to the tea.
Furthermore, you will see that the grade is CTC - cut, torn curled. The green leaf whilst it
is being processed passes through a machine the cuts, tears and then curls the leaves
into tiny balls. This "mash" ferments very quickly after which firing takes place to "lock-in"
the flavor. These tiny tea balls when infused release their full flavor, more so than whole
leaf tea. The reason is that
there is more surface area on the tiny balls which can infuse as compared to the whole
leaf tea. This is how the Irish like their tea!
Regarding the addition of milk, there is the age old argument of when to add the milk to
the cup -before you add the tea or after. Milk-firsters argue that adding milk last scalds
the milk noticeably and therefore the milk should be warmed slowly with the addition of
tea. Milk-lasters argue that adding milk after the tea has been poured is the only way of
judging the proper amount of milk to add by watching the color of the tea change. Non
users of milk regard the whole issue as silly.
Hot tea brewing method: Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1
teaspoon of Rooibos for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the pot,
cover and let steep for 2-4 minutes. Pour into your cup; add milk and sugar to taste.
Iced tea brewing method: (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 5 teaspoons of Rooibos into a
teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the Rooibos.
Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the Rooibos into
the serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and top-up with cold water. Garnish and
sweeten to taste.
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| To pay by check or money order, call 210-887-4312 or 210-241-0890 or email camille@camillestea.com. |
About Camille's Tea:
Camille's Tea, based in the San Antonio, Texas area, offers a wide variety of gourmet teas, including flavored teas, traditional teas, green teas,
herbal teas, decaffeinated teas, decaf teas, caffeine free teas, and iced teas, and lavender, Time & Again Shea butter, Chantal teapots,
Lomonosov teapots, tea infusers, tea accessories, Aroma Naturals candles, Bearington Bears, tea linens, neck warmers, Herbal Concepts
slippers and eye pacs, and Pre de Provence bath and body products. We also feature multiple tea of the month clubs. Read more >>
Camille's Tea, based in the San Antonio, Texas area, offers a wide variety of gourmet teas, including flavored teas, traditional teas, green teas,
herbal teas, decaffeinated teas, decaf teas, caffeine free teas, and iced teas, and lavender, Time & Again Shea butter, Chantal teapots,
Lomonosov teapots, tea infusers, tea accessories, Aroma Naturals candles, Bearington Bears, tea linens, neck warmers, Herbal Concepts
slippers and eye pacs, and Pre de Provence bath and body products. We also feature multiple tea of the month clubs. Read more >>
