Sowmee
Delicious toasty character with body reminiscent of Oolongs. Lingering taste that encourages another cup.
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Information
INGREDIENTS: White tea.
INGREDIENTS FROM: China
REGION(S): Fujian Province
GROWING ALTITUDES: 1500 - 4900 feet above sea level
GRADE(S): Spring Grade #1
MANUFACTURE TYPE(S): Non fermented, Traditional process, Naturally withered and dried, Small batch crafted, Hand sorted
ANTIOXIDANT LEVEL: High
CAFFEINE LEVEL: Low
KOSHER: Yes
VEGETARIAN: Yes
VEGAN: Yes
ARTISANAL NOTES: Small batch blended and packed in Canada
INFUSION: Tending orange red with golden notes
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Description
White tea is very different from other types of tea such as green or black tea. White tea leaves are plucked from a special varietal tea bush called Narcissus or chaicha bushes. Secondly the leaves are not steamed or pan-fired (the process used in green teas) or fermented and fired (the process used in black tea). The leaves are naturally withered and dried in the sun. If mechanical drying is required it is a baking process at temperatures less that 40'C. Thirdly only special 'two leaves and a bud' are selected. These leaves must show a very light green almost gray white color and be ideally be covered with velvet peach fuzz down. Sowmee is one of the lower grades of white tea, but despite this it has the properties attributed to white teas. The leaves for Sowmee are plucked during late April, May and June. The lack of processing and hand selection is evident in the leaf appearance of Sowmee as it is somewhat mixed and tending flaky and flat. This Sowmee has a more pronounced taste profile - almost oolong tea-like. Many white tea drinkers prefer this cup in that there is a 'substance' to the taste compared to the delicate nuances of other white teas.
Researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute in Oregon tested white teas on selected rats to test for the ability of white tea to inhibit natural mutations in bacteria and to protect them from colon cancer. Interestingly, white teas were found to be more effective than green tea in inhibiting the early stages of cancer but researchers pointed out that their study was on rats and the effects should not be extrapolated to humans. The researchers also found that white tea contains higher levels of caffeine compared to green tea brewed under the same conditions. They suggested that this could occur because white tea oxidizes during withering whereas in green tea the oxidation process is stopped early in the tea making process by steaming or panfiring.
The western cosmetic industry is beginning to make a white tea extract to be worn underneath your moisturizer. The reason is that it seems white tea has been shown to be more effective in mopping up free radicals that cause skin to sag. One tea expert has been quoted as saying 'unlike black or green tea, it isn't rolled or steamed, this preserves its antioxidant properties'.
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Allergen Declaration
Allergens controlled by robust HACCP and GMP manufacturing protocols.
SCROLL SIDEWAYS OR USE SLIDER AT THE BOTTOM TO VIEW FULL CHARTPRODUCT NAME: Sowmee
PRODUCT TYPE: Loose - White 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.
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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.
TEA CUP
8oz (237ml)
10oz (296ml)
12oz (355ml)
AMOUNT
1 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon"
1 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon"
1.5 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon"
MILD
1-2 min
1-2 min
1-2 min
MEDIUM
2-3 min
2-3 min
2-3 min
STRONG
3-5 min
3-5 min
3-5 min
TEA POT
18oz (532ml)
36oz (1064ml)
48oz (1419ml)
AMOUNT
2 heaping teaspoons of "The Perfect Measure Spoon"
1 heaping teaspoon of "Pot of Perfect Tea Spoon"
2 heaping teaspoons of "Pot of Perfect Tea Spoon
MILD
1-2 min
1-2 min
1-2 min
MEDIUM
2-3 min
2-3 min
2-3 min
STRONG
3-5 min
3-5 min
3-5 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.
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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):
- Place 6 slightly heaping teaspoons of loose tea or 6 tea bags into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher.
- Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 1¼ cups/315ml over the tea.
- Steep for 5 minutes.
- Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water.
- Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the tea or removing the bags.
- Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste.
- 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 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):
- Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea or 1 tea bag into a teapot for each serving required.
- Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 6-7oz/170-200ml per serving over the tea.
- Cover and let steep for 5 minutes.
- Add hot tea to a 12oz/375ml acrylic glass filled with ice, straining the tea or removing the bags.
- Not all of the tea will fit, allowing for approximately an additional ½ serving.
- 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):
- Place 12 slightly heaping teaspoons of herb & fruit blend or 6 tea bags into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher.
- Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 1¼ cups/315ml over the herb & fruit blend.
- Steep for 5-10 minutes.
- Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water.
- Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the tea or removing the tea bags.
- Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste.
- 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):
- Place 2 slightly heaping teaspoons of herb & fruit blend or 1 tea bag into a teapot for each serving required.
- Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 6-7oz/170-200ml per serving over the herb & fruit blend.
- Cover and let steep for 5-10 minutes.
- Add hot tea to a 12oz/375ml acrylic glass filled with ice, straining the tea or removing the bags.
- Not all of the tea will fit, allowing for approximately an additional ½ serving. Garnish and sweeten to taste.
- 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.