Assam Behora (FBOP)

Description

Behora Estate in the Golaghat district of Assam is on one of the most fabled in the region. Like all of Assam's estates, the lives of the planters that call Behora home are filled with solitude, excitement and constant adventure. Whether it's battling poisonous snakes like the Banded Crait or Black Cobra or responding to plucker's reports of wild Bengal Tigers, there is always something to keep you on your toes. (And that's before any talk of producing tea!) Life on Behora has always been this way. Many years ago a planter wrote of the "tea" life in a poem entitled The Tea Planters Poem. In it he wrote:

To Planter Friends I lift a glass
To you, who've kept alive
The memory of Planters past
Across dark moors of time.
And to the Trade that bears the tea name
My sisters and my brothers
I'd rather be a Tea man in your eyes
Than an accountant in any others.

Hear! Hear! So, what makes the life of a planter on Behora so interesting, other than the snakes and tigers? Well, there are also the Rhinos. Behora lies in close proximity to Kaziranga National Park, founded in 1905 at the behest of Mary Victoria Leiter, wife of then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. The park is home to the world's largest herd of Rhinoceroses, a testament to the ecological preservation of the area. From time to time the Rhinos have been known to cross onto Estate property, doing quite a number on tea bushes and other surrounding fauna as they do. Still, as evidenced by the poem, living with these diversions is by many counts preferable to sitting behind a desk.

There is another upside to the abundance of wildlife surrounding Behora. It is a sure sign that conservation efforts in the district are working. With this in mind, Behora's, management takes great care to ensure that portions of land are left open for birds, monkeys and other animals. The same care goes into selecting the two leaves and a bud that go into Behora's teas. This June production FBOP is a tremendous example of the best Assam has to offer. Well graded with an incredibly neat appearance, this is one cup that makes us glad we're Tea Men and Women too!

Steeping Instructions

PRODUCT TYPE: Loose - Black Tea

IDEAL BREWING TEMPERATURE: 100ºC/212ºF

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.