Forest Rainbow (White Tea)

(Flavored White Tea)

Ingredients From: China
Region: Fujian Province
Shipping Port: Fuzhou
Grade: Pai Mu Tan
Altitude: 1500 – 4900 feet above sea level
Manufacture Type: Orthodox
Cup Characteristics: Delicious vanilla and pomegranate flavors combine to give a dessert in a cup.
Infusion: Lightly golden with orange highlights.
Luxury Ingredients: White tea, Rosehip pieces, Hibiscus & Sunflower & Cornflower & Osmanthus & Rose & Safflower & Calendula petals, and Natural flavors.

Information: Ever wanted to take a walk on a cloud?  As amazing as that might be, we all know it‟s impossible.  However, if taking a walk through a cloud would do it for you, you need go no further than Fujian province on China‟s southeast coast. Fujian, as you may or may not know, is home to the legendary WuYi Mountains, a stunning landscape of rocky peaks, 112 of which are over 1000m tall.  The WuYi Mountains, in addition to being exceptionally easy on the eyes, act as a natural barrier against cold air masses from the north and a trap for moisture that blows in from the sea. The result of all of this blocking and retaining is an almost continual state of cloud cover that blankets the mountain‟s dense forests and gives visitors the illusion of walking in the clouds.

Interestingly, as miraculous as the cloud cover is for visitors, it is equally, if not more so for plant life. The cloud forest provides the perfect climate for WuYi‟s plants, giving them the building blocks and nutrients they need to grow with incredible vigor.  As a result, over the millennia, the mountain has become home to thousands of species of trees, plants and flowers, many of them found nowhere else on earth.

As mentioned, the region is most famously home to numerous varieties of exquisite tea – many excellent green, oolong and white teas are produced in the general vicinity of the mountains.  This luxury tea blend, Forest Rainbow, based on one such white tea, attempts to capture the diversity and character of life within the cloud forest it in a wonderfully satisfying cup.  The Pai Mu Tan used as its base is said to represent the white splendor of the clouds, while the floral components represent the many thousands of orchids and other flower varieties that paint the WuYi landscape.  Prepare to enjoy a cup that can proudly claim to be the next best thing to heaven.

A word about Pai Mu Tan: Pai Mu Tan is plucked by hand from a special varietal of tea bush known as Narcissus or chaicha.  Only the top 2 leaves and a bud are selected.  Unlike green teas, the leaves are not pan fired or steamed.  Rather, they are simply withered and dried naturally in the sun.  Owing to its minimalist production style, many consider White tea, such as Pai Mu tan, to be among the purest expression of tea in the tea world.

Is white tea good for you?  According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: “observational studies in humans suggest that daily consumption of at least 3 cups of tea may be associated with a modest (11%) decrease in the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack).”

HP-AT 7.5 – 9.5%: University lab tests conducted by Metropolitan Tea rates the base tea for this blend as “High Polyphenol Antioxidant Tea” with 7.5 – 9.5% antioxidant count by dry weight.

Hot tea brewing method:  

Traditional method (see note below): When preparing by the cup, this tea can be used repeatedly - about 3 times. The secret is to use water that is about 180°F/82°C. Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon in your cup let the tea steep for about 3 minutes and then begin enjoying a cup of enchantment - do not remove the leaves from the cup. Adding milk and sugar is not recommended. Once the water level is low - add more water, and so on and so on - until the flavor of the tea is exhausted. Look at the pattern of the leaves in the brew, not only do they foretell your fortune but you can see the bud and shoots presenting themselves, looking like they are about to be plucked.

Modern Method: Bring filtered or freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea, 1 tea bag or 1 Q3 single serve packet for each 7-9oz/200-260ml of fluid volume in the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea). Adding milk or sugar is not recommended.

Note: Traditionally, the recommendation has been that green tea be brewed at 180°F/82°C. Regretfully, modern society makes it necessary to consider that water may not be free of harmful bacteria and other impurities. Therefore you need to boil water to kill bacteria. If you wish to use traditional brewing temperatures bring the water to a boil and allow it to cool to the desired brewing temperature – it’s the food safe thing to do! 

Iced tea brewing method (Pitcher):  (to make 1 liter/quart):  Place 6 slightly heaping teaspoons of loose tea, 6 tea bags or 6 Q3 single serve packets 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 leaves or removing the tea bags. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. 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, 1 tea bag or 1 Q3 single serve packet 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 leaves or removing the tea 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!)

ANTIOXIDANT BENEFIT:

More antioxidants are extracted from tea (L. Camellia Sinesis), or rooibos (Asphalatus Linearis), the longer it is brewed….and the more tea or rooibos that is used, the greater the antioxidant benefit.

FOOD SAFETY ADVISORY:

While white tea is traditionally brewed using 180°F/82°C water, 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.

Ideal Brewing Temperature: 100ºC/212ºF. Minimum Brewing Temperature: 90ºC/194ºF.