CUP CHARACTERISTICS: A perfect breakfast tea with body and full flavor. Harkens back to the days when tea laden clipper ships raced to London.
INGREDIENTS: Black tea* *Organic Certified Organic by Pro-Cert Organic Systems (Organic Equivalency with COR, NOP, EU, JAS)
ANTIOXIDANT LEVEL: Very High
CAFFEINE LEVEL: Medium
INFORMATION:
Winston Churchill, arguably the most notable British Prime Minister in history, was a noted lover of drink. Although he is most known to have had a penchant for the strong stuff, namely whiskey, he also had an immense fondness for a cup of rich tasting English Breakfast. Palate aside, Churchill was also notable for good one-liners. One of his more famous quotes has to do with a nice British cuppa and is taken from a dialogue he had with Lady Nancy Astor, an American who became a member of the British Parliament. It should be noted that the two were not friends!
"Winston, if you were my husband, I'd poison your tea."
"Nancy, if I were your husband, I'd drink it."
Well, luckily for England Nancy didn't follow through on her threat. Had she done so, we certainly hope that she didn't intend to taint a cup of English Breakfast as savory and pure as this Organic variety. This is exactly the kind of tea Winston would have quaffed down by the pot-full. Blended using certified organic teas from Sri Lanka, China, and Tanzania; this tea is full-bodied, astringent, with subtle touches of jammy toast. With a little milk and a dash of sugar, this tea makes a perfect compliment to a proper English breakfast (the meal!). Here's to Winston, Nancy, and England!
IDEAL BREWING TEMPERATURE: 100ºC/212ºF
HOT BREWING METHOD:
Bring filtered or freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea 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).
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.)