Chisunga (BP1)
A medium bodied cup of tea that is best enjoyed in the morning or after dinner. The cup is bright, tending coppery.
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Information
INGREDIENTS: Black tea
INGREDIENTS FROM: Malawi
REGION(S): Mulanje
GROWING ALTITUDES: 3500 - 5000 feet above sea level
GRADE(S): BP1 (Broken Pekoe #1)
MANUFACTURE TYPE(S): CTC (Cut, Torn and Curled)
ANTIOXIDANT LEVEL: High
CAFFEINE LEVEL: Medium
KOSHER: Yes
VEGETARIAN: Yes
VEGAN: Yes
ARTISANAL NOTES: Small batch blended and packed in Canada
INFUSION: Bright, tending coppery
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Description
Malawi's history as a tea producing region has been a bit dicey to say the least. The problems however weren't the result of poor production methods or failure on the part of planters and freehold tea farmers. In fact, Malawi's tea issues didn't even come from within Malawi but from geography, namely proximity to the civil war that ravaged neighboring Mozambique from 1975 - 1992.
The basic problem came from the fact that Malawi is a landlocked country entirely surrounded by Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique. The nearest port for Malawi's teas was the port of Beira, Mozambique, 150 miles from Malawi. During the war, shelling of the roads and railways leading to the port was common and shipping convoys were frequently attacked. As a result, Malawi's tea manufacturers had incredible difficulty getting their product to market. A solution had to be found - and here as well geography posed a problem. Tea shipments had to follow a serpentine route that was a full 10 times longer than the previous one. The tea was shipped by truck from the city of Blantyre, Malawi's commercial hub, 150 miles through neighboring Zimbabwe, then southward to Johannesburg South Africa where it was transferred to rail and shipped to the port at Durban.
The shipment problem out of the way, the Malawian tea gardens' closeness to the Mozambican border and subsequent militant skirmishes posed further hazard. Our Master Taster witnessed this first hand during the 1980s while visiting Zoa estate, situated right on the border. While there, a 6 hour battle raged 3000 yards across the river in Mozambique. The fighting was intense with heavy caliber machine guns rattling back and forth and military jets circling overhead. Interestingly, the estate manager brushed the incident off saying, "Don't worry, this happens quite often". Clearly it took fortitude to grow tea in Malawi. Thankfully, with the close of the war, things returned more or less back to normal.
The efforts of the planters to keep the industry afloat during those turbulent years have paid off. Today, Malawi's tea industry provides jobs and a sustainable income for hundreds of thousands of Malawians and their families. The teas they produce are generally thought to be quite good by professional tasters with a handful of examples considered outstanding. Chisunga Estate falls into this category. Chisunga's cup tends malty, but not overpowering with a pleasing mouth-feel and light astringency. The liquor is a medium red, looking very similar to the top Kenyans. A wonderful cup with an incredible legacy.
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Allergen Declaration
Allergens controlled by robust HACCP and GMP manufacturing protocols.
SCROLL SIDEWAYS OR USE SLIDER AT THE BOTTOM TO VIEW FULL CHARTPRODUCT NAME: Chisunga (BP1)
PRODUCT TYPE: Loose - Estate 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.
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Steeping Instructions
PRODUCT TYPE: Loose - Black Tea
IDEAL BREWING TEMPERATURE: 100ºC/212ºF
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
2-3 min
2-3 min
2-3 min
MEDIUM
4-5 min
4-5 min
4-5 min
STRONG
6-7 min
6-7 min
6-7 min
TEA POT
18oz (532ml)
36oz (1064ml)
48oz (1419ml)
AMOUNT
2 heaping teaspoons of "The Perfect Measure Spoon"
1 heaping teaspoon of "Pot of Perfect Tea Spoon"
2 heaping teaspoons of "Pot of Perfect Tea Spoon"
MILD
2-3 min
2-3 min
2-3 min
MEDIUM
4-5 min
4-5 min
4-5 min
STRONG
6-7 min
6-7 min
6-7 min
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.
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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):
- Place 6 slightly heaping teaspoons of loose tea or 6 tea bags 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 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 or 1 tea bag 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.
HERB & FRUIT ICED TEA BREWING METHOD (Pitcher): (To Make 1 Liter/Quart):
- Place 12 slightly heaping teaspoons of herb & fruit blend or 6 tea bags into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher.
- Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 1¼ cups/315ml over the herb & fruit blend.
- Steep for 5-10 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 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):
- Place 2 slightly heaping teaspoons of herb & fruit blend or 1 tea bag 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 herb & fruit blend.
- Cover and let steep for 5-10 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. Garnish and sweeten to taste.
- 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.