2 Doves Silver Needle

Description

For the world's top tea collectors, Fujian's Fuding County holds a special place as the home of the world?s finest white teas. Each has its own special characteristics resulting from the unique soil conditions, rain, sunlight, tea genus, production method and story. That's right. story. Were they better known, Fuding County's many "tea legends" would make the region a required stop for the world's top storytellers. From one end of Fuding to the other stories abound describing the way certain teas were discovered and how they got their names. One of the lesser known of these tales has to do with 2 Doves Silver Needle, a fabulously delicate "buds only" white tea plucked from a Fujian genus known as Fuding Da Hao.

The story we were told took place during the early days of Fuding - (the county was established during the Qing Dynasty in 1739 AD.) In those days, a tea grower and his family found themselves indebted to a mercenary who lived in a neighboring county and had protected them during a local squabble. The mercenary told the grower that he had one year to pay back the debt he owed or he would claim their daughter. Faced with the prospect of giving his only daughter to be the man's concubine, the grower began to pray. After a few weeks, the grower and his wife both had the same dream. In the dream a pair of doves told them that in the morning, two real doves would appear on the farm gate. The grower and his wife should follow the birds deep into the woods where they would find a tract of undiscovered wild tea. From this tea they were to pluck only the top downy buds. These they were to process in a special new style that would help them make enough money to save their daughter.
The next morning, just as the doves had said, the grower and his wife found the wild tea. They plucked as many baskets as they could carry and brought them back to their house where they set to processing them. 3 days later they brought the tea to market and made enough money in one day to pay back their debt - a miracle! From that day forward they called their new tea 2 Doves Silver Needle in honor of the birds who had saved their daughter. It's an amazing story. Whether or not you choose to believe it, the amazing qualities of this tea can't be disputed. The wiry, silvery buds coated in a light down resemble dove's wings while the flavor is light, sweet and loaded with nuance - a wonderful tea to add to your collection today.

Steeping Instructions

PRODUCT TYPE: Loose - White Tea

IDEAL BREWING TEMPERATURE: 85ºC/185ºF. For Food Safety reasons bring water to 100ºC/212ºF and let it cool down to 85ºC/185ºF.

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.