White Star of China

A very delicate green tea taste with exquisite spring jasmine highlights. Special downy leaves are laboriously hand tied into star shapes.

• Information

  INGREDIENTS: White tea.

  INGREDIENTS FROM: China

  REGION(S): Fujian Province

  GROWING ALTITUDES: 1500 - 4900 feet above sea level

  GRADE(S): Artisan Handcrafted

  MANUFACTURE TYPE(S): Non fermented, Traditional hand tied, Small batch crafted

  ANTIOXIDANT LEVEL: High

  CAFFEINE LEVEL: Low

  KOSHER: Yes
  

  VEGETARIAN: Yes

  VEGAN: Yes

  ARTISANAL NOTES: Small batch packed in Canada

  INFUSION: Bright, pale yellowy green infusion

  
  

• Description

  Upon first opening this packet of tea, you may be inclined to believe that these little handmade stars are designed to symbolize the communist star on the Chinese flag. However, hundreds of years before the birth of Mao Tse-Tung, Vladimir Lenin, or even Karl Marx for that matter, the tea factories of Fuding had already begun manufacturing the famous Star of China. Although the exact date of its initial production is not known, records held in Fuding indicate that the tea was first made sometime in the late 1400's.
  
  Fuding, located in the North-Eastern portion of Fujian province is considered by many to be the epicenter of hand-made tea production. The town also has an international reputation for producing some of the world's finest Jasmine and green teas, but it is the quality of the hand-made white teas that really set the region apart. The Star of China is an excellent example of this high quality. The tea is manufactured using a grade that translates into English as, Fuding Big White Tea Buds. While there are many gardens that produce this tea, the buds from which our Star of China is made come from the Rui Yun Tea Base, one of the finest gardens in the region. Once the large leaves have been steamed and are still damp, they are hand-stitched into the distinctive 5-pointed star shape. The tea workers who stitch the tea are respected specialists, and many of their families have been making the star for generations. Current annual production of the tea is roughly 6 tons. (Keep in mind that each individual star weighs less than a gram - that's a lot of sewing!)
  
  So if it was not to represent the flag of China, why was the tea given its starry shape? Well, legend has it that back in China during the 1400's, a tea manufacturer who lived near Fuding, in an effort to bypass paying his taxes with real money, decided to create a tea that was more precious than money itself. The tea grew in popularity over the years and by the time of the early Qing Dynasty in the late 1600's, the Star of China was selected as a royal tribute from Fuding to the Manchu, the rulers at the time. The Manchu, who were great lovers of tea, prized the Star of China for its fragrant aroma and mellow, pleasant taste. We're confident that when you brew this tea, you too will appreciate its delicate complexities. Like many white teas, the Star of China can be brewed more than once. With each infusion, notice the subtle shifts in its pale yellowy green color and delicate flavor. The Star of China truly deserves its long-standing reputation as one of the world's most complex teas.

  
  

• Allergen Declaration
  

  Allergens controlled by robust HACCP and GMP manufacturing protocols.
  SCROLL SIDEWAYS OR USE SLIDER AT THE BOTTOM TO VIEW FULL CHART

  PRODUCT NAME: White Star of China

  PRODUCT TYPE: Loose - Artisan - Green Tea

  KNOWN OR CLAIMED SOURCES OF FOOD ALLERGIES AND INTOLERANCES	Present in the product	Present in the same manufacturing factory
  Tree Nuts and Derivatives of Tree Nuts	No	Yes
  Almonds	No	Yes
  Brazil Nuts	No	No
  Cashews	No	No
  Chestnuts	No	No
  Coconut	No	Yes
  Hazelnut	No	No
  Hickory	No	No
  Macadamia	No	No
  Pecan	No	No
  Pine	No	No
  Pistachio	No	No
  Walnut	No	Yes
  Peanuts and Derivatives of Peanuts	No	No
  Peanuts	No	No
  Peanut Oil	No	No
  Sesame Seeds and Derivatives of Sesame Seeds	No	No
  Sesame Seeds	No	No
  Sesame Oil, refined	No	No
  Wheat and Derivatives of Wheat	No	Yes
  Wheat Starch Hydrolysates	No	Yes
  Egg and Derivatives of Eggs	No	No
  Milk, Dairy and Derivatives of Dairy	No	No
  Soybeans and Derivatives of Soybeans	No	Yes
  Soy Oil/Soybean Oil	No	No
  Soy Lecithin	No	Yes
  Crustaceans and Derivatives of Crustaceans	No	No
  Abalone	No	No
  Clam	No	No
  Crab	No	No
  Crayfish	No	No
  Cuttlefish	No	No
  King Prawn	No	No
  Krill	No	No
  Lobster	No	No
  Mussels	No	No
  Oysters	No	No
  Scallop	No	No
  Shrimp	No	No
  Snail	No	No
  Squid	No	No
  Fish and Derivatives of Fish	No	No
  Anchovies	No	No
  Bonito	No	No
  Coal Fish	No	No
  Mackerel	No	No
  Perch/Tilapia	No	No
  Salmon	No	No
  Cod	No	No
  Tuna	No	No
  White Fish	No	No
  Fish, unspecified	No	No
  Mustard and Derivatives of Mustard	No	No
  Sulfur Dioxide and Sulfites at concentrations of more than 10mg/kg expressed as S02	No	Yes
  Gluten and Derivatives of Gluten	No	Yes
  Gluten from Barley	No	No
  Gluten from Kamut	No	No
  Gluten from Oat	No	No
  Gluten from Rye	No	No
  Gluten from Spelt	No	No
  Gluten from Triticale	No	No
  Gluten from Wheat	No	Yes
  Celery and Products thereof	No	No
  Lupin and Products thereof	No	No

   Column 'Present in the product' indicates the allergens that may be found in the product, from addition or cross contamination. Column 'Present in the same manufacturing plant' indicates whether any allergens are present in the factory.

• Steeping Instructions

  
  

  PRODUCT TYPE: Loose - Artisan Blooming Tea

  IDEAL BREWING TEMPERATURE: 100ºC/212ºF

  TEA CUP	8oz (237ml)	10oz (296ml)	12oz (355ml)
  AMOUNT	Not available	Not available	Not available
  MILD	Not available	Not available	Not available
  MEDIUM	Not available	Not available	Not available
  STRONG	Not available	Not available	Not available

   

  TEA POT	18oz (532ml)	36oz (1064ml)	48oz (1419ml)
  AMOUNT	Place 1 tea ball into a 3-4 cup glass teapot and add freshly boiled water. Allow the tea to brew for at least 5 minutes. Initially the tea ball will float but as it loses the trapped air during the steeping process it will sink if you have used boiling water. Once the tea ball has opened to its full potential the tea can be consumed.	Place 2 tea balls into a 3-4 cup glass teapot and add freshly boiled water. Allow the tea to brew for at least 5 minutes. Initially the tea ball will float but as it loses the trapped air during the steeping process it will sink if you have used boiling water. Once the tea ball has opened to its full potential the tea can be consumed.	Place 3 tea balls into a 3-4 cup glass teapot and add freshly boiled water. Allow the tea to brew for at least 5 minutes. Initially the tea ball will float but as it loses the trapped air during the steeping process it will sink if you have used boiling water. Once the tea ball has opened to its full potential the tea can be consumed.
  MILD	1-2 min (Use boiling water when brewing our artisan teas to make sure that they fully bloom).	1-2 min (Use boiling water when brewing our artisan teas to make sure that they fully bloom).	1-2 min (Use boiling water when brewing our artisan teas to make sure that they fully bloom).
  MEDIUM	2-3 min (Use boiling water when brewing our artisan teas to make sure that they fully bloom).	2-3 min (Use boiling water when brewing our artisan teas to make sure that they fully bloom).	2-3 min (Use boiling water when brewing our artisan teas to make sure that they fully bloom).
  STRONG	3-5 min (Use boiling water when brewing our artisan teas to make sure that they fully bloom).	3-5 min (Use boiling water when brewing our artisan teas to make sure that they fully bloom).	3-5 min (Use boiling water when brewing our artisan teas to make sure that they fully bloom).

   

  MILK	SUGAR	LEMON	MINT
  OK	OK	OK	OK

  ANTIOXIDANT BENEFIT: For a greater antioxidant benefit brew longer and use more tea.

  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.

• Epic Iced Tea Instructions

  Tea isn't just served hot!  Iced tea is one of the most refreshing and natural thirst quenchers around the world.  Here is our suggested method of brewing the best iced tea.

  ICED TEA BREWING METHOD (Pitcher): (To Make 1 Liter/Quart):

  1. Place 6 slightly heaping teaspoons of loose tea or 6 tea bags into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher.
  2. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 1¼ cups/315ml over the tea.
  3. Steep for 5 minutes.
  4. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water.
  5. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the tea or removing the bags.
  6. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste.
  7. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to increase
  8. 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):
  

  1. Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea or 1 tea bag into a teapot for each serving required.
  2. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 6-7oz/170-200ml per serving over the tea.
  3. Cover and let steep for 5 minutes.
  4. Add hot tea to a 12oz/375ml acrylic glass filled with ice, straining the tea or removing the bags.
  5. Not all of the tea will fit, allowing for approximately an additional ½ serving.
  6. 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.

  HERB & FRUIT ICED TEA BREWING METHOD (Pitcher): (To Make 1 Liter/Quart):

  1. Place 12 slightly heaping teaspoons of herb & fruit blend or 6 tea bags into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher.
  2. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 1¼ cups/315ml over the herb & fruit blend.
  3. Steep for 5-10 minutes.
  4. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water.
  5. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the tea or removing the tea bags.
  6. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste.
  7. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced herb & fruit tea is to increase the strength of hot brew since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water.

  
  HERB & FRUIT ICED TEA BREWING METHOD (Individual Serving):
  

  1. Place 2 slightly heaping teaspoons of herb & fruit blend or 1 tea bag into a teapot for each serving required.
  2. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 6-7oz/170-200ml per serving over the herb & fruit blend.
  3. Cover and let steep for 5-10 minutes.
  4. Add hot tea to a 12oz/375ml acrylic glass filled with ice, straining the tea or removing the bags.
  5. Not all of the tea will fit, allowing for approximately an additional ½ serving. Garnish and sweeten to taste.
  6. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed herb & fruit tea is to increase the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted.