Snow Yunnan

Description

By many accounts, Snow Yunnan white tea is one of the world's purest expressions of camellia sinensis. How so? Well, unlike black or oolong teas that are fermented for a measured period of time before processing, or other green teas that are steamed or pan-fired, Snow Yunnan green tea is simply hand-plucked and dried according to age-old techniques developed in Yunnan centuries ago. It is picked at high altitudes, during the early spring where there is the threat of frost and snow in the air, giving it its unique character and name.

Interestingly, a legend told up in Yunnan maintains that the purity, in this case spiritual purity, is what ultimately gave the tea its name. According to the tale, a farmer living high in the hills struggled to keep his family fed through a particularly harsh winter. Nearing certain death, the farmer decided to make the trek to a shrine that had been built at the top of a nearby mountain to pray for help. Braving the cold and incessant snow, the farmer made his way to the shrine. Three days later at the foot of the shrine, the farmer found a white crane, a bird that should never have been found at such high altitudes.

Like the farmer, the crane was also near death. The farmer, recognizing the bird as a sacred being, determined that rather than simply save himself, he would carry the bird back to his family's home where it could be nursed back to health. On the way back down the mountain, the bird began to speak, and told the farmer that because of the purity of his actions, he would help him in two ways. One, he would lead the farmer to a cache of edible winter berries, so his family could make it through the winter, and two, he would teach the farmer the method by which he might craft a pure tea, something his family could sell to help fortify their home for all winter's to come.

The tea he produced was of course, the very leaf you are now holding in your hands. This exceptional offering, produced using only the downy, silvery tips of select tea bushes offers a smooth, rich character that is as close to pure tea as you will ever experience.

Steeping Instructions

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.