Product Overview
Songstan Tai Ping Hou - Green Loose Leaf Tea
CUP CHARACTERISTICS: Superb green tea character. Clean and lightly vegetative. An all day green tea.
Ingredients: Green tea
INGREDIENTS FROM: China
REGION(S): Anhui Province
GROWING ALTITUDES: 1500 - 4900 feet above sea level
GRADE(S): Tai Ping Hou
MANUFACTURE TYPE(S): Non fermented, Traditional process, Small batch crafted
ANTIOXIDANT LEVEL: Very High
CAFFEINE LEVEL: Low
KOSHER: Yes
VEGETARIAN: Yes
VEGAN: Yes
ARTISANAL NOTES: Small batch blended and packed in Canada.
INFUSION: Pale green with light yellow highlights
INFORMATION:
The Huangshan, or Yellow Mountains top out at almost 6000 ft, and have done so since they were carved from glaciers millions of years ago. Today, their lofty peaks comprise some of the best tea growing land China has to offer. A poem by ancient poet Li Bai (701-762) helps explain why. It begins:
Thousands of feet high tower the Yellow Mountains
With its thirty-two magnificent peaks.
The key word in this passage is "peaks". Most of the world's greatest teas, such as this Huangshan produced Sonstan Tai Ping Hou, are grown at high elevations where the air is clean and the sunlight, when it appears, is hot and bright. Reading on:
Many a stream and many a ford,
Peaks upon peaks shutting out the sky
Here we learn about two more key geographical features needed for growing great tea - water and shade. The abundance of naturally pure mountain streams means the mountain's tea bushes receive ample water, and thanks to the steep slopes, plenty of drainage. The peaks "shutting out the sky" also ensure that the bushes don't receive too much sun, encouraging them to produce more chlorophyll and a more flavourful leaf. Finally, the poem illustrates the last key ingredient to producing fabulous tea - natural beauty.
That's where I'll call on you some other day
Across a bridge that spans cliffs like a rainbow.
While it can't be explained scientifically, the world's greatest tea gardens are always, without fail, some of the world's most beautiful locales. Brew a cup of Songstan Tai Ping Hou today and taste all of the natural wonder that went into this fabulous green tea.
The Huangshan, or Yellow Mountains top out at almost 6000 ft, and have done so since they were carved from glaciers millions of years ago. Today, their lofty peaks comprise some of the best tea growing land China has to offer. A poem by ancient poet Li Bai (701-762) helps explain why. It begins:
Thousands of feet high tower the Yellow Mountains
With its thirty-two magnificent peaks.
The key word in this passage is "peaks". Most of the world's greatest teas, such as this Huangshan produced Sonstan Tai Ping Hou, are grown at high elevations where the air is clean and the sunlight, when it appears, is hot and bright. Reading on:
Many a stream and many a ford,
Peaks upon peaks shutting out the sky
Here we learn about two more key geographical features needed for growing great tea - water and shade. The abundance of naturally pure mountain streams means the mountain's tea bushes receive ample water, and thanks to the steep slopes, plenty of drainage. The peaks "shutting out the sky" also ensure that the bushes don't receive too much sun, encouraging them to produce more chlorophyll and a more flavourful leaf. Finally, the poem illustrates the last key ingredient to producing fabulous tea - natural beauty.
That's where I'll call on you some other day
Across a bridge that spans cliffs like a rainbow.
While it can't be explained scientifically, the world's greatest tea gardens are always, without fail, some of the world's most beautiful locales. Brew a cup of Songstan Tai Ping Hou today and taste all of the natural wonder that went into this fabulous green tea.
STEEPING TIME
| TEA CUP | 8oz (237ml) | 10oz (296ml) | 12oz (355ml) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMOUNT |
1 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon" |
1 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon" |
1.5 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon" |
| MILD | 1-2 min | 1-2 min | 1-2 min |
| MEDIUM | 2-3 min | 2-3 min | 2-3 min |
| STRONG | 3-5 min | 3-5 min | 3-5 min |
| Blue Monkey Tea recommends 3-5 min | |||
| TEA POT | 18oz (532ml) | 36oz (1064ml) | 48oz (1419ml) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMOUNT | 2 heaping teaspoons of "The Perfect Measure Spoon" | 4 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon" | 6 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon" |
| MILD | 1-2 min | 1-2 min | 1-2 min |
| MEDIUM | 2-3 min | 2-3 min | 2-3 min |
| STRONG | 3-5 min | 3-5 min | 3-5 min |
| Blue Monkey Tea recommends 3-5 min | |||
SERVING RECOMMENDATIONS:
| MILK | SUGAR | LEMON | MINT |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO | NO | NO | NO |
Ideal Brewing Temperature: 85ºC/185ºF. For Food Safety reasons bring water to 100ºC/212ºF and let it cool down to 85ºC/185ºF.
HOT 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).
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).
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. 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!)
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. 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 teas. 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!)
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 teas. 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!)
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.
RECOMMENDATION: We recommend the use of our '1 Cup of Perfect Tea' measuring spoon for best results. Please contact Blue Monkey Tea to place an order.
ANTIOXIDANT BENEFIT: For a greater antioxidant benefit brew longer and use more tea.
