White Tea Peony Needle Bashan Silver Tip Estate Tea Loose Metropolitan Tea Co.

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White Tea Peony White Needles Estate Tea Loose Metropolitan Tea Co.

Price:

$20.96

SKU:

M516557

Brand:

Metropolitan Tea

Shipping:

Calculated at checkout

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Product Description

This delicate white tea has a clean taste faintly reminiscent of fresh apples. Refreshing with a lovely, lingering flavor

The production of this very rare white tea is completely different to green tea. Firstly the leaves come from a special varietal tea bush called Narcissus or chaicha bushes. Secondly the leaves are not steamed or pan-fired, as is the case in green tea. These leaves are withered and dried naturally under semi-controlled conditions. If mechanical drying is required the leaves are baked (not fired) at temperatures less that 40˚C. Thirdly only special leaves are selected. These leaves must show a very light green almost gray white color and be covered with velvet peach fuzz down. The ideal is a leaf or two being wrapped around a newly developing shoot. These shoots are plucked and segregated from the rest of the leaf being plucked. These leaves are then naturally withered and the painstaking process manual sorting to select the long ‘furry’ white tip occurs.
Peony White Needle Tea is the top grade available and very rare - hence its high cost. You will see the long white needles covered with furry down and a very uniform appearance – hallmarks of very rare white tea. These are the rules for picking Peony White Tea:

- Only picked between March 15 and April 10.
- Not picked on days that may be raining
- Not picked if the dew has not dried or if there is frost on the ground
- No purple buds allowed and the stems must not be too long or too short.
- Leaves damaged by wind, handling, insects or partially open are rejected and put into a lower grade.

The western cosmetic industry has recently discovered the benefits of white tea. In addition to its anticancer properties, tea has a calming and detoxifying effect on the skin. White tea is especially potent in that it is has three times as many antioxidant polyphenols as green or black tea and has been shown to be 100% more effective in mopping up free radicals that cause skin to sag. Some of the world’s top cosmetic companies are becoming very interested in white tea for skin creams and the result is that high grade white tea is becoming even more rare than before.

Luxury Ingredients: Bashan Silver Tip Peony White tea

Small Batch Packed in: Canada

Tea(s) From: China

Region(s): Fujian Province

Antioxidant Level: Ultra High

Caffeine Content: Low

Shelf Life: 20 years unopened, 2 years after opening.

Hot Tea Brewing Recommendations
Put 1 tea bag for each 7-9 oz/200-260 ml of water in the teapot.
Put 1 large tea bag for each 10-16oz/285-450ml of water in the teapot.
Pour freshly boiled water (ideal temperature 100°C/212°F) over tea.
Steep 3-7 minutes.

Iced Tea Preparation Recommendations
To make 1 L/1 QT, put 6 regular tea bags (or 4 large 2-cup tea bags) into a teapot. Pour 1.25 cups/315ml of boiling water over tea.
Steep 7 minutes. Fill a serving pitcher 1/4 full with cold water. Pour tea into serving pitcher. Add ice, top-up with cold water.

Complete tea profile and brewing instructions (PDF)

Raw sugar, honey and other sweeteners are available here

Pesticide Use
Highly elevated tea districts, such as Darjeeling or the Kenyan highlands, can support tea without pesticides since pests that typically attack tea cannot survive at the high altitudes. In cases where pesticides are used, Metro ensures all growers meet and exceed European Union or Japanese Minimum Residue Levels, the most stringent in the industry.

More About Metropolitan Tea Co.

Since 1978, Metro's buyers & tasters have visited the world's best Tea Gardens. From Toronto to London to Abu Dhabi and the rest of the globe, Metro Tea is a hallmark of ethical operations. The company is an industry leader in responsible tea sourcing and production.
There’s more to a great cup of tea than flavor - there is also the social and economic cost to produce it. Metro Tea's experience and knowledge means they can provide the best of both. As tea industry insiders, they know who produces premium teas in a responsible manner. If a tea’s source is questionable, they will not carry it.
Working toward dignity and respect for the developing world. Metro Tea travels take them to estates and gardens throughout much of the developing world. Without exception, ensure that the products come from suppliers with excellent track records of fair treatment for all workers.
The Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) is an organization within the tea industry that seeks to better the lives of workers and their families in tea producing countries. When ETP membership was opened to non-UK members in 2003, Metro Tea was the first company to sign on in support. As a member, Metro Tea contributes to organizational policy and purchases ETP certified teas whenever possible. The ETP has many of the same goals as Fair Trade, but deals only with the tea industry. Because tea is not a publicly traded commodity, such as coffee, Fair Trade is unable to penetrate the peculiarities of the tea trade. Tea Estates build homes, hospitals and schools to ensure workers and their families are well cared for. Annual visits by Metro Tea ensure continued compliance.
As a member of Rainforest Alliance Metro Tea works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Adhering to standards such as: Social and Environmental Management System ?Ecosystem Conservation ?Wildlife Protection ?Water Conservation ?Fair Treatment and Good Working Conditions for Workers ?Community Relations ?Integrated Crop Management ?Soil Management and Conservation ?Integrated Waste Management

Other Initiatives
Metro's factory recently underwent massive environmental renovations to reduce emissions. Energy consumption was reduced by 66%. Metro Tea purchased a farm and has planted 15,000 white pine and red pine trees. Which also preserves 80 acres of wetlands. Metro Tea finalized construction of a 500 kwh Solar Array on the roof of its factory in Toronto in early 2012. The fully commissioned the array generates more than 4 times the amount of electricity that the factory consumes. They are one of the first global carbon negative tea companies.

Recognition
* Many Awards of Excellence from the Fine Beverage & Food Federation
* Best Beverage Atlanta Gourmet Show
* Award of Excellence, American Tasting Institute