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Your
perfect cup of tea will depend upon your unique tastes.
However, there are a number of elements that help to
brew good tea. With practice and experimentation, you
will soon discover your own tea style. Sometimes you may
prefer the formality of the traditional method, and at
other times you may just toss some leaves into a cup and
add water. |
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loose tea |
blooming tea |
chai | yerba mate |
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Tea is 99%
water and 1% tea. In order for you to brew the best cup
of tea you can, try to use the best tea and water that
you can get. Use high quality water such as freshly drawn
filtered water, spring water or bottled water. Avoid
hard water, distilled water, microwaved water and water
that has already been boiled. We recommend a ratio of one
heaping teaspoon of tea leaves to each cup of water.
(This is approximately 2-3 grams of leaves to 6-8 oz of
water.) For weaker tea, decrease the amount of leaves.
For stronger tea, add more tea leaves. Do not oversteep. Oversteeping the
tea will result in a bitter brew.
Water Temperature and Steeping Guidelines:
Black Tea: Use fully boiling water (212F/100C) and steep for 5
minutes.
Green Tea: Use cooler water (180F/82C) and steep for 3
minutes.
Oolong Tea: If the leaves are brown, use fully boiling
water (212F/100C) and steep for 5 minutes. If the leaves
are green, use cooler water (180F/82C) and steep for 3
minutes.
White Tea: Use cooler water (180F/82C) and steep for
3
minutes.
Herbal Tisane: Use fully boiling water (212F/100C) and steep
for 5 minutes.
Pre-warm your cup or pot by pouring hot water into the
vessel and letting it sit.
Pour the
water onto the tea, rather than putting the tea into the
water. Cover the pot and allow tea to steep for
specified amount of time.
Teas can be
steeped up to 3 times total. The flavor will not be the
same as the first infusion, but it is definitely worth
your time. (Traditionally, oolong leaves are used 3
times.)
Find a quiet place to contemplate and enjoy your cup of
tea. Or find a loved one to share with.
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To fully enjoy Blooming Teas, we recommend the use of a glass teapot.
Remove the strainer if there is one.
For best
results, use high quality water such as freshly drawn
filtered water, spring water or bottled water. Avoid
hard water and distilled water. The water temperature
should be hot or boiling.
Place one Blooming Tea into the teapot.
Pour water over the tea. Sit back and watch the blooming
tea swirl around the pot until it finds a place to
settle. Then it will begin to open and reveal the flower
inside. Make sure not to miss a moment
of this event. I can take from 3 to 7 minutes for the
tea to fully bloom.
These teas can be steeped for up to three additional times
or continue to add water to the teapot until it stops
releasing flavor.
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There are a couple of different ways to make Chai. Feel
free to prepare the Chai as you would a standard hot
tea. Use one teaspoon per 6-8 oz cup, steep 3-5 minutes
using boiling water. Then add a quantity of hot milk
equaling 1/3 the amount of tea prepared. Add sweetener
such as honey, sugar or sweetened condensed milk.
Another method is to combine a portion of milk & water
(typically 50/50) equaling one gallon with one ounce of
Chai. Simmer for 5-10 minutes. Add sweetener such as
honey, sugar or sweetened condensed milk. Use a cappuccino steamer to foam the mixture if
one is available. Drink this mixture warm or pour over
ice for delicious chilled Chai.
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There are several ways to brew. Here are a few ways
to enjoy Yerba Mate. Use boiling hot water and steep
for 5 minutes. Add milk, lemon, sugar and honey to
taste.
Coffee Pot
Instead of making your morning coffee, try making
your morning Yerba Mate. Four tablespoons to a
twelve cup pot.
French Press
This is truly a simple and quick method to enjoy
your Yerba Mate. One heaping teaspoon of Yerba
leaves + hot water + a 5 minute steep = Delicious
drink!
Tea Pot
Brew your Yerba Mate in any teapot that has a
strainer.
Tea Bags
Pop in 1 heaping teaspoon of leaves into one of our
paper filters and steep. Fast, convenient and easy
clean up!
Traditional Gourd
If your gourd has not already been cured, please do
so before using it. The purpose of curing the gourd
is to seal the pores and remove any vegetable flesh
that may still be present.
Fill the gourd 1/3 full with the loose leaves. This
is the time to add sugar if desired. Put your hand
over the gourd and turn it upside down. Shake it a
bit to bring the finer leaves to the top of the
gourd. Turn the gourd right side up again. Wipe off
any dust that is still on your hand. (Be careful, as
these leaves may leave a green stain.) Tilt the
gourd to a slight angle. Add a little bit of cold
water to pack down the leaves at a 45 degree angle
in the gourd. Let it sit for a few minutes. Insert
the bombilla next to the packed leaves. Slowly add
hot water into the area without leaves until it
reaches the top of the rim. Now you can begin
sipping your drink. Is is customary for the host to
take the first gourd full. More water is then added
and passed onto the next person. This is repeated
until all guests are satisfied.
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We proudly accept the following methods of payment:
 
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