Product Overview
NIAGARA PEACH (Green Tea with natural flavors)
ARTISANAL NOTES:Small Batch Blended and Packed in Canada. HACCP Certified.
INGREDIENTS FROM:China
REGION(S):Hunan Province
SHIPPING PORT(S):Shanghai
GRADE:: Sencha - Made to Japanese specifications
GROWING ALTITUDE(S):1500 - 4500 feet above sea level
MANUFACTURE TYPE(S):Traditional Pan Fired Green Tea
CUP CHARACTERISTICS: Lush peach notes with sweet overtones. Superb quality green tea dotted with jasmine petals comes alive with one of the world's most favorite flavors.
INFUSION:Bright, pale green to yellow, light colored cup. Luxury
INGREDIENTS:Green tea, Jasmine petals, and Natural flavors.
ANTIOXIDANT LEVEL:High
CAFFEINE LEVEL:Low
SHELF LIFE: Almost 2 years
INFORMATION:
When one usually thinks of Niagara, they think of the Falls, bridges and casinos. What many people outside of the area don't realize is that the countryside in the Niagara region is home to some of the most lush and rich farmland in North America. In recent years the region has earned a worldwide reputation for its numerous vineyards, but the area has traditionally been known for its abundance of orchards. Take a drive along any of Niagara's country highways and you will pass row after row of apple, pear, and peach orchards (the finest orchards of the three in our biased opinion!).
The first of these orchards were probably planted in the area sometime in the mid 1800's by European settlers. The rich soil combined with a mild and relatively long summer make the Niagara Peach a sweet citrus treat. The peaches are generally larger than their Georgia cousins and are harvested from mid to late summer.
When ripe, they have a delicate profile that hints of sweet nectar.
The tea used as a base for this blend is a green Sencha.
Interestingly, green and black teas can be produced from the same plants. Green tea is produced by forgoing the fermentation process required to produce black tea. Instead the leaves are steamed as soon as they are plucked, and then bruised either by machine or by hand. The leaves are then pan-fried or basket fired - a process that gives the tea its distinctive glossy look and feel.
Although Sencha is generally produced in Japan, a Chinese variety from Hunan province was used. A master taster felt that this Chinese variety had a subtleness of character perfectly suited to blending with peach.
Like all Sencha teas, this particular variety has a dark green, needle shaped leaf and produces a pale green to yellow, very bright, smooth cup with a sweetish, honey like finish. You'll also notice that delicate white Jasmine petals were added to this blend - an addition that enhances the citrus character of peach. Brew a pot today; drink it hot or over ice and experience summertime in Niagara.
HOT TEA-BREWING METHOD:
Traditional method (see note below): When preparing by the cup, this tea can be used repeatedly - about 3 times. The secret is to use water that is about 180°F/82°C. Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon in your cup let the tea steep for about 3 minutes and then begin enjoying a cup of enchantment - do not remove the leaves from the cup. Adding milk and sugar is not recommended. Once the water level is low - add more water, and so on and so on - until the flavor of the tea is exhausted. Look at the pattern of the leaves in the brew, not only do they foretell your fortune but you can see the bud and shoots presenting themselves, looking like they are about to be plucked.
Modern 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). Adding milk or sugar is not recommended.
Note:
Traditionally, the recommendation has been that green tea be brewed at 180°F/82°C. Regretfully, modern society makes it necessary to consider that water may not be free of harmful bacteria and other impurities. Therefore you need to boil water to kill bacteria. If you wish to use traditional brewing temperatures bring the water to a boil and allow it to cool to the desired brewing temperature - it's the food safe thing to do!
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.
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 or removing the bags. Not all of the tea will fit, allowing for approximately an additional ½ serving.
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:
While green tea is traditionally brewed using 180°F/82°C water, 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:Shipping Port(s): 90C/194F.
