Lumbini (OP1)

Description

For those of us from the West, exploring the Ruhunu region of Sri Lanka, home to Lumbini estate, is an incredible adventure. As your car winds into the hills a veritable riot of scenery passes by your window. Women in brightly colored saris hoist large baskets of fruit and vegetables fresh from the jungle as religious processions wind their way along the roadside, music blasts from loudspeakers, brightly painted roadside stalls overflow with bananas, mangos and papayas, vehicles of every shape and size stream past, livestock bray under their riders and neatly dressed school children pour out of roadside school houses, all blending together in a cacophony of sight, sound and smell.

Contrasting with this world of excitement and chaos are the neatly planted fields of tea scattered throughout the countryside, their ordered rows and stately white-washed shade trees stretching for acres. Although most of Sri Lanka's better-known teas are produced farther "up-country" in the Uva and Dimbula growing districts, many fabulous teas are grown at the comparatively lower elevations of the Ruhunu region. Most plantations in Ruhunu are situated at roughly 2000 feet - (Lumbini falls into this category). Teas grown in the Ruhunu tend to be full bodied and thick, with an arguably more robust mouth feel than the high grown teas Sri Lanka is famous for. Lumbini OP 1 is a stunning example of this regional character. The estate is considered one of the finest in the area and in August 2006, was awarded a One Star rating by the Sri Lankan tea board. Earning the star requires excellence in 5 categories: tea quality, estate productivity, hygiene practices, production excellence and social responsibility programs.

One sip of Lumbini's OP1 offering and you'll understand why the estate deserved the award. The full-bodied cup leads with a brooding character that rolls over the tongue followed by the round, sultry expressiveness of plum, finishing with long satisfying layers of astringency. With its bright, coppery infusion, Lumbini OP1 can be enjoyed straight, or with a dash of milk to help open the cup - an amazing tea.

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.