Tea:

Region:

China

Grade:   

Special Green Tea Slivering Ball - Jasmine

Manufacture Type:  

Hand-made green tea

Cup Characteristics:

Pale Green, Smooth with delicate and exquisite Jasmine flavour

Infusion:  

 Pale green

Information:

Jasmine Slivering Balls are hand rolled and hand tied. The method used to make these special Jasmine tea balls is:

* they begin with specially selected tea leaves (Leaves that are long and mottled white),

* the leaves are then tied together and the centre leaves are cut and the outer leaves remain long,

* the outer leaves are then carefully and painstakingly rolled into a tight ball.

* the tea is steamed and dried with fresh Jasmine flowers which impart the delicate flavour and aroma.

The dry leaf appearance of the tea balls is tending towards a mottled and white appearance, indicating very early new season tea and extremely careful plucking and manufacture. (New season tea of this quality is rare and only available for 2-3 weeks each year!)

When you place a Jasmine ball in your cup you will see the outer leaves begin to uncurl. Once the infusion time is complete the tea looks like a chrysanthemum flower with long petals on the outside and the short petals on the inside. The chrysanthemum implies tranquillity, beauty, longevity and health..

Some active ingredients in Green Tea are:

Polyphenols - antioxidants that are responsible for disease prevention and treatment. The polyphenols in green tea include: epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin.
Caffeine - a stimulant found in green tea in small amounts
Aromatic Oils - As many as 500 different aromatic oils in tea leaves contribute to the flavor and aroma of tea.
Nutrients - The nutrients are present in very small amounts: vitamins including vitamin C, minerals (e.g.flouride, manganese) and amino acids such as theanine.

Brewing Instructions:

Hot Tea Brewing Method: To enjoy this special tea, take 1 ball, place this in your cup, pour hot water (about 180’F or 80’C) into the cup and allow the tea to infuse - Do Not Remove the Leaves After Infusing - . Contemplate life and enjoy a rare Chinese Jasmine Tea. If you wish to have another cup of tea, simply pour more water on the leaves and allow to infuse for another 1-3 minutes. The traditional Chinese method of drinking this tea would be to use the leaves 3-5 times and discuss philosophy with a close friend.

Iced Tea Brewing Method: (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 5 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water 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. 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 double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water].