Tea Time in August 2024 Box
Welcome to this month's exceptional selection of teas and pastries, where tradition meets taste, bringing you a delightful fusion of flavors and cultural experiences. In August's curated offerings, we invite you to explore the intricate flavors of "Bạch Mẫu Đơn", otherwise known as Bai Mu Dan, a delicate Vietnamese white tea with a mineral aroma and subtle floral notes; perfectly paired with the light and fluffy Egg Tart Cake and the buttery Macadamia Nut Pineapple Shortbread. Our Fruit Tea Blend brings in tropical flavors of Mango, pineapple, orange & strawberry. This blends in perfectly with the tangy Strawberry Pomelo dried fruit and bits of candied soursop fruit mixed with salted plum flavorings. Each of these pairing has been carefully chosen to enhance your tea experience. As for the adventurous, our Mate Carnival blend promises a lively, caffeinated, energizing sip.
Follow our My Tea Time blog series to explore your monthly tea experiences. Without further ado, let's start our August tea experience!
Origins
Get to Know Your Origins Tea!
Discover the delicate flavors of Vietnamese tea with our Origins selection: "Bạch Mẫu Đơn". This white tea is a celebration of tranquility, bringing a sense of peace with every sip. Produced from young tea leaves full of buds from the Vietnamese tea mountains, this tea offers a gentle mineral note with a hint of fruity and floral flavor profile. It is perfect for those who appreciate subtlety in their tea experience.
Tea Name: Bạch Mẫu Đơn
Teamaker: Hà Giang artisan teamakers who wished to remain anonymous
Origin: Vietnam
Elevation: High mountains of Vietnam that range from 800 to 1,200 meters above sea level
Cultivation: Handpicked young leaves and buds
Harvest Date: Spring 2024
Brewing Instructions: For a delicate brew, use 1 tablespoon of tea leaves per 8 oz (about 240 ml) of water. Steep for 180 seconds, adding an additional 60 seconds for the subsequent infusion(s). The ideal water temperature is 175°F (80°C). Enjoy up to 5 infusions to savor the evolving flavors.
Tea Aroma and Taste
Bạch Mẫu Đơn offers a soothing aroma and a light, floral taste that is both refreshing and calming. The subtle sweetness and smooth texture make it a delightful tea for any time of the day.
Appearance: Lightly colored leaves with a hint of green and white.
Smell: A fragrant mineral note with hints of floral and fruity aroma
Taste: A gentle and sweet flavor of wet stones or minerals, leaving a clean aftertaste.
About the Farm and Farmers!
The raw tea leaves come from the serene mountain tea trees in the heart of Vietnam. Tea artisan families have dedicated their lives to perfecting the art of tea-making. Each leaf is harvested with care, with the desire to preserve the environment and the traditions of Vietnamese tea culture.
Background on the Farmers:
The family has asked to remain anonymous; however their factory is located in the Hà Giang region which has the highest count of natural tea trees Their skills in receiving high volume raw tea material and processing it within 24 hours is insane. Tea has been cultivating tea for generations.
Pastry Pairings
Egg Tart Cake - China
The Egg Tart Cake, combines the best of traditional egg tarts and cake, providing a multi-layered texture and rich, sweet flavor. Its creamy buttery and fluffy cake makes it a perfect match for the gentle notes of Bạch Mẫu Đơn.
Macadamia Nut Pineapple Shortbread
- Honolulu Hawaii
The Macadamia Nut Pineapple Shortbread is a buttery cookie that pairs beautifully with the floral notes of our white tea. The buttery notes of the tea and the nutty crunch of macadamia nuts gives it a harmonious blend of flavors when eaten.
Palate Cleanser (for taste testing): Saltine crackers are provided in our tea box to clear your palate, making sure you can fully appreciate the nuanced flavors of each tea and pastry pairing.
(Read more about Tea J Tea’s recommended way of tasting: Sip-Bite-Sip)
Fruity or Floral
Experience the vibrant and refreshing taste of Mango Madness. This delightful blend is a perfect representation of fruity teas, offering a sweet and tropical flavor that will brighten your day.
Tea Name: Mango Madness
Processing: Blend of dried fruits and natural flavors.
Year: 2024
Caffeine Content: None
Brewing Instructions: To brew Mango Madness, use one teaspoon per cup of boiling water. Steep for 8-10 minutes. Adjust steeping time to taste.
Tea Aroma and Taste
Mango Madness offers a vibrant, fruity aroma with strong notes of ripe mangoes and other tropical fruits. Its flavor is sweet and refreshing, almost similar to drinking mango iced tea but without the ice.
Appearance: This tea blend displays a visually appealing mix of bright chunks of dried fruits such has mango, orange slices and mango slices. There are bright red hues of the safflower and yellow marigold petals making this a vibrant and very eye catching tea.
Smell: Delightful, fruity aroma reminiscent of Mango lemonade.
Tasting Notes: Sweet and tangy notes from the mango cubes with hints of apple, orange, strawberry and pineapple flavors.
Pastry Pairings
The fruity notes of the tea harmonizes very well with the flavors in the fruity pastries for an exceptional taste similar to mango lemonade.
Strawberry Pomelo - China
The dried Strawberry Pomelo snack combines the sweet and slightly tart flavors of strawberries with the refreshing citrus notes of pomelo. This pastry's chewy texture lingers in the mouth as it mixes with the fruity and tropical notes of Mango Madness tea. A very delicious combination.
Apricot Soursop Candied Fruit - Vietnam
Apricot Soursop candied fruit also combines the tangy sweetness of the soursop fruit with the fruity notes from the tea. Soursop is described as "a combination of strawberries and apple with sour citrus flavor notes". This candied fruit is sticky and chewy and the lingering tropical flavors from the snack lets Mango Madness tea shine.
Explorer
Expand Your Horizons
Mate Carnival offers a bold flavor for tea enthusiasts. This unique blend combines the energizing properties of yerba mate, coffee nibs with a festive mix of spices and citrus notes, creating a vibrant, refreshing tea that awakens the senses.
Tea Name: Mate Carnival
Processing: This tea is crafted from the leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis plant, combined with natural spices and citrus peels to create a lively and invigorating brew.
Year: 2024
Caffeine Content: Moderate
Brewing Instructions: For the optimal brew, use one tablespoon of Mate Carnival tea per 8 ounces (240 ml) of water heated to 212°F (100°C). Steep for 3-5 minutes to extract the full flavor. This blend can be enjoyed both hot and iced, making it a versatile choice for any season.
Tea Aroma and Taste
Mate Carnival offers a dynamic aroma with earthy undertones from the yerba mate, balanced by the zest of citrus and the warmth of spices. This blend delivers a complex flavor profile that is both invigorating and satisfying.
Appearance: The tea showcases a mix of roasted yerba mate leaves interspersed with colorful marigold petals and aromatic spices, creating a visually appealing blend.
Smell: The scent of Mate Carnival is earthy yerba mate and bit of citrus, with a hint of spicy warmth that invites you to indulge in its rich flavors.
Tasting Notes: Each sip reveals a balanced blend of snokey yerba mate, tangy citrus, and subtle spice. The flavors come together to create a refreshing flavor profile.
Are you interested in previous Subscription Boxes from previous months? Check out Last Month’s box (July 2024 Tea Time in A Box).