MONKEY PICKED GOLDEN HUNAN SPECIAL BLACK TEA

Hunan's mountain climate accents the distinctive mellow, light oaky cup. The finish has a delicious lingering toast character.

INGREDIENTS:: Black tea

ARTISANAL NOTES: Small Batch Blended and Packed in: Canada

INGREDIENTS FROM: China

REGION(S): Hunan Province

ANTIOXIDANT LEVEL: High

CAFFEINE LEVEL: Medium

SHELF LIFE: 2 years

HOT TEA BREWING RECOMMENDATIONS:
AMOUNT TO USE: Put 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea for each 7-9 oz/200-260 ml of water in the teapot. Pour freshly boiled water over tea.

BREWING RECOMMENDATIONS: Steep 3-7 minutes. Add milk and sugar to taste.

IDEAL BREWING TEMPERATURE: 100C/212F. 

MINIMUM BREWING TEMPERATURE:90C/194F.

ICED TEA PREPARATION RECOMMENDATIONS:
AMOUNT TO USE: To make 1 L/1 QT, put 6 slightly heaping teaspoons of loose tea into a teapot. Pour 1¼ cups/315ml of boiling water over tea.

BREWING RECOMMENDATIONS: Steep 5 minutes. Fill a serving pitcher 1/4 full with cold water. Pour tea into serving pitcher straining the tea. Add ice, top-up with cold water, garnish and sweeten to taste.

IDEAL BREWING TEMPERATURE: 100C/212F. Minimum Brewing Temperature: 90C/194F. Small Batch Blended and Packed in Canada. HACCP Certified.

INGREDIENTS FROM: China

REGION(S): Hunan Province

SHIPPING PORT(S): Shanghai

GRADE(S): STOP (Special Tippy Orange Pekoe)

GROWING ALTITUDE(S): 1500 to 4500 feet above sea level

MANUFACTURE TYPE(S): Orthodox (Traditional leafy), Small batch crafted.

CUP CHARACTERISTICS: An amazing golden color with an ethereal, sweet freshly baked bread flavor.

ANTIOXIDANT LEVEL: Medium

CAFFEINE LEVEL:  High

INFUSION: Bright, with a light lingering toasty character and finish.
Luxury 

INGREDIENTS:Black tea 

INFORMATION:
Before brewing this tea we would like to offer a warning: Prepare yourself for what may be the best cup of tea you've ever had in your life! Without even a hint of a lie, this is a truly fabulous brew. The tea itself is grown in the mountainous growing region of Hunan province, well known throughout China as the "Tea Country in the South." Tea production is spread throughout the province with plantations and factories in almost every county, town, and village. Hunan province has been well known for centuries for producing some of China's finest teas - we're proud to offer this (human) hand made Monkey Picked Golden as one of the best examples of the quality this region has to offer.

In some regions of Hunan province, the ancient local custom held that the first plucking of the tea bushes was to be picked by monkeys. This was due in part to their dexterity, which enabled them to pluck the highly delicate leaves, and also because it was believed that they brought good luck and would ensure an excellent harvesting season.

Upon opening the bag, the first thing you'll notice is the golden color of the leaves - this is the color of the very top new buds of the tea bushes. These are plucked very early in the morning and then hand sorted during production. As you reach into the bag, run some of the leaves through your fingers. You will find them to be exceptionally delicate with a slight fuzzy feel to them - you can be sure that with leaves of this quality this tea is going to brew a very flavorful and delicate cup. And what a flavorful cup it is - mellow, with hints of oak and a savory mellow and toasty finish.

This brew is to tea what the finest Bordeaux is to wine - pour a cup, sit back and enjoy. 

HOT TEA BREWING METHOD:Bring filtered or freshly drawn 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). Add milk and sugar to taste. 

ICED TEA BREWING METHOD (Pitcher):(to make 1 liter/quart): Place 6 slightly heaping teaspoons of loose tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Using filtered or freshly drawn 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 or removing the tea bags. 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 luxury quality teas may turn cloudy when poured over ice. This is a sign of luxury 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 filtered or freshly drawn 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 luxury quality teas may turn cloudy when poured over ice. This is a sign of luxury quality and nothing to worry about!)

RECOMMENDATION: We recommend the use of our 1 Cup of Perfect Tea measuring spoon for best results. 

ANTIOXIDANT BENEFIT:
More antioxidants are extracted from tea (L. Camellia Sinesis), or rooibos (Asphalatus Linearis), the longer it is brewed.and the more tea or rooibos that is used, the greater the antioxidant benefit. 

FOOD SAFETY ADVISORY:
We strongly recommend using filtered or freshly drawn cold water brought to a rolling boil when brewing all types of tea. Today's water has been known to carry viruses, parasites and bacteria. Boiling the water will kill these elements and reduce the potential incidence of water-borne illnesses.

IDEAL BREWING TEMPERATURE: 100C/212F.

MINIMUM BREWING TEMPERATURE: 90C/194F.