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Orient Express Tea Brick

Original price $31.99 - Original price $31.99
Original price
$31.99
$31.99 - $31.99
Current price $31.99

A neutral taste character with no distinction one way or another. Tea bricks are not noted for their complex flavor profile and this one is no exception.

  • Information

    INGREDIENTS: Black tea
    INGREDIENTS FROM: China
    REGION(S): Hubei Province
    GROWING ALTITUDES: 2000 - 4000 feet above sea level
    GRADE(S): Compressed OP (Orange Pekoe)
    MANUFACTURE TYPE(S): Compressed tea - Silk Road traditional style
    ANTIOXIDANT LEVEL: Low
    CAFFEINE LEVEL: Medium
    KOSHER: Yes
    VEGETARIAN: Yes
    VEGAN: Yes
    ARTISANAL NOTES: Small batch packed in Canada
    INFUSION: Tending black with russet highlights


  • Description

    One of the most storied rail lines in history, the Orient Express didn't actually go all the way to the Orient. (Well, it did once. more on that below.) The story begins in 1883 when a Belgian businessman by the name of Georges Nagelmackers began offering sleeper car-based passage from Paris to Istanbul, then known as Constantinople. Nagelmackers' service featured unsurpassed luxury and comfort - feather pillows, gourmet meals, fine wines, sumptuous bedding and of course, fabulous teas. The train ran twice weekly, leaving Paris' Gare de l'Est and heading first to Strasbourg and then on through Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest and Giurgiu, Romania. At Giurgiu passengers would alight from the train and board a ferry across the Danube to Ruse, Bulgaria where a second train would be waiting to take them to the city of Varna, seven hours away on the Black Sea. At Varna, passengers would then board an Austrian built Lloyd steamship for the fourteen hour journey to the terminus in Istanbul.

    The exceptionally high level of service and romance of the rails attracted Europe's finest for many years. Dukes, duchesses, actors, artists and writers alike looked forward to making the special trip across the European content. (Speaking of writers, Agatha Christie wrote "Murder on the Orient Express" about the famous train.) To say that one had crossed the continent on the Orient Express was to mark oneself as a cultured, savvy adventurer. Over the years, the service has been interrupted completely 2 times, during WWI and WWII and the route has been shortened, lengthened and altered. Today the famed service still operates in a truncated form from Strasbourg to Vienna, (thousands of miles from the Orient!)

    Now, as we mentioned, the Orient Express did make it all the way to the Orient, once. In September of 1988, a Japanese film crew spearheaded a non-stop voyage from Paris to Hong Kong. The crew filmed the entire voyage to commemorate the 20th anniversary of a Japanese TV station. The trip, aside from finally bringing the Orient Express to the Orient, was also awarded a Guinness World Record for the longest train voyage in history.

    The Orient Express Tea Brick commemorates the train's vaulted position in the golden age of rail travel. What's more, the brick celebrates the important position railways still hold today throughout much of the world. (For example, in China, rail travel counts for 1.2 billion individual trips per year.) Comprised of 100% pure black tea that s steamed and pressed under extremely high pressure, this tea brick will make an easy conversation starter, art piece or great cuppa! Hint: Tea bricks make an excellent sales piece. Customers can't help but ask about them!

    Where was black Pu-erh developed? Good question. While the exact origins of most Chinese Pu-erh teas have been lost to the mists of time and place, the origin of black Pu-erh can be pinpointed directly to the Kunming Tea Factory in the year 1972. In that year, the government of China, seeking to broaden its economic base, mandated that the Kunming factory develop a new, delicious tea that could be widely marketed. Drawing on centuries of experience, the tea masters of Kunming determined that a black Pu-erh was the ticket. (They were right, to this day black Pu-erh is the world's top selling variety.)

    What makes black Pu-erh tea different from other black teas? Great question. The answer is real fermentation and aging. Black Pu-erh undergoes a fermentation process in which the tea is processed and stored for a set period of time without being dried completely. The tea is usually either buried in the ground, stored in caves or under damp heavy tarps. Fermenting over time imparts the earthy character typical of most Pu-erh 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: Orient Express Tea Brick

    PRODUCT TYPE: Loose - Formed - China Black 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 - Formed - China Black Tea

    IDEAL BREWING TEMPERATURE: 100ºC/212ºF

    TEA CUP 8oz (237ml) 10oz (296ml) 12oz (355ml)
    AMOUNT Break tea to get roughly 1 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon"  Break tea to get roughly 1 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon"  Break tea to get roughly 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 Break tea to get roughly 2 heaping teaspoons of "The Perfect Measure Spoon"  Break tea to get roughly 1 heaping teaspoon of "Pot of Perfect Tea Spoon"  Break tea to get roughly 2 heaping teaspoon 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
    NO NO NO NO

    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.

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