Monthly Brew: September Collection
Try our September monthly brew sampler for just $5.94. Includes samples of three different teas and our tasting notes.
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If you order online now through September 5, shipping is free.
(Please note: To qualify for free shipping, order only ONE September Collection sampler for $5.94, now through September 5; if additional products are ordered, shipping charges will be added; offer good only online.)
Judging by the line snaking around the local drive-thru coffee place, it seems that for most of us, our cup of tea is having a cuppa Joe, to go.
Yep, us Americans drink way more coffee than tea.
Yet~
80% of us have some kind of tea stashed in our homes,
87% of millennials profess to drink tea, and
a common query is "what tea would a coffee drinker like?"because sometimes you just don't want the jitters but do want that caffeine alertness
So, for all you coffee lovers, we recommend these three teas! Their boldness, complexity, just something about them, satisfies like coffee does.
And for us tea peeps? Here's a chance to sample some teas that perhaps you haven't tried—but should!
#573 Yunnan Pu-Erh (black classic)
Yunnan Pu-Erh (or Pu-er) is one of those teas that many of us have heard about but perhaps—based on its description—have hesitated, unwilling to commit to 50 grams of it. Here's your chance to taste this microbially fermented black tea.
Harvested tea leaves are tossed in woks to stop the oxidation process—but not long enough to completely dry out the leaves, which would kill all the bacteria that is normally found in the leaves. That retained bacteria ferments the leaves, which simply means that carbohydrates are converted to organic acids (think wine and cheese and coffee, all of which depend on fermentation), resulting in pu-erh's utterly unique and complex flavor that is earthy and rich.
PREPARATION: 3 g tea (1 heaping teaspoon) per 8 oz cup of filtered, boiling water; brew 4–5 minutes
INGREDIENTS: Microbially fermented tea from China’s Yunnan Province
LEAF: Dark slate black leaves
INFUSION: Dark cup with slight brick hue
AROMA: Very earthy, mushroom-y
LIQUOR: Intense wet wood—but in a good way! Really!
PAIRING: Strong cup with breakfast or after something sweet
#877 Hong Cha Java (black classic)
Hong Cha Java is grown and produced in Java, an Indonesian island with rich, volcanic soil. The tea plant is a specialty clone—and if you like coffee for its caffeine, know that clonal tea (as opposed to tea from seedlings) generally contains more caffeine. On the flip side, tea's caffeine is experienced more as a long-lasting "calm alertness" because it works synergistically with theanine. For Hong Cha Java tea, the leaves are picked during the dry season, and traditional Chinese processing methods are used.
PREPARATION: 3 g tea (1 heaping teaspoon) per 8 oz cup of filtered, boiling water; brew 4–5 minutes
INGREDIENTS: Black tea from western Java’s Sukabumi Province
LEAF: Large, dark, slightly curled leaves
INFUSION: Dark reddish-brown
AROMA: Classic, strong, and solid, with a slight honey note
LIQUOR: What a cup of tea should taste like!
PAIRING: Bold enough for cream and sugar, but perfect on its own; pairs well with anything
#993 Bossa Nova (oolong aroma)
Bossa Nova, an oolong and mullein blossom blend, is a customer favorite. Oolong, or wulong, teas were developed early in China's Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) by Fujian tea producers. Oolongs fall between green and black teas in oxidation, undergoing numerous processing cycles. Leaves may be tossed, which bruises them, and hand rolled, which breaks them down a bit. These oxidation steps are alternated with resting periods and/or drying, which slows or stops oxidation. Finished oolongs can range from 10% to 53% total oxidation. Mullein flowers and leaves have a history of medicinal use, and Roman women apparently used an infusion of mullein flowers to dye their hair (Botanical.com).
PREPARATION: 3 g tea (1 heaping teaspoon) per 8 oz cup of filtered, boiling water; brew 2 minutes
INGREDIENTS: Oolong tea, mullein blossoms, and natural flavor
LEAF: Large rolled leaves sprinkled with beautiful blossoms
INFUSION: Coppery brown
AROMA: Nutty, sweet, somewhat bold
LIQUOR: Smooth, nutty, with a hint of earthiness
PAIRING: A good, cozy treat that satisfies
