Tea Time in July 2024 Box

Welcome to this month's delightful selection of teas and pastries, where tradition and taste beautifully merge to offer an enchanting array of flavors and cultural treats. Dive into the luxurious world of our Panna Green Chiya, a green tea from Darjeeling. This tea, with its sweet and vegetal flavor notes, is meticulously paired with our distinctive Peanut Sesame Crepe Cookie and the indulgent Cashew Almond Cookie, offering a harmonious blend of taste sensations. For those who favor a combination of fruity and floral notes, our Lavender Crème Brûlée Tea stands as a captivating choice. This delightful brew, with its infusion of lavender and creamy notes, is perfectly complemented by the sweetness of our Cinnamon Brown Sugar with Vanilla Creme Biscuit Sandwiches and the unique flavor of Weilong Crackers Cocoa Flavor, crafting a melody of sweet, natural flavors. Completing our selection is the Explorer tea Herbal Wedding Chai, a caffeine-free option that envelops you in its comforting warmth, making it a perfect choice for any moment of the day. Join us on a sensory journey that explores the rich depths of flavor and tradition found in every sip and bite of our carefully curated collection.

Follow our My Tea Time blog series to explore your monthly tea experiences. Without further ado, let's start our July tea experience! 

Origins

Get to know your Origins Tea!

Journey to the Mirik Valley in Darjeeling, India, with our Panna Green Chiya tea. This green tea, harvested and crafted in small batches from small farms, is one of the first of its kind in the market. The tea is processed with steam used as a kill green step, focusing on a high-quality plucking standard and more uniform processing. This tightly twisted green tea from the land of the Champagne of Teas brews to a deep yellow infusion with sweet, vegetal flavor notes and a rich, astringent texture.

Tea Name: Panna Green Chiya – Tealet

Teamaker: Yankhu Tamang, Yanki Tea & Darjeeling Orthodox Small Growers Welfare Society

Origin: Mirik Valley, Darjeeling, India

Elevation: 2,100m (7,000ft)

Cultivation: Natural (Organic, but no certification)

Harvest Date: Spring 2021 1st Flush

Brewing Instructions: For a perfect cup, use 1 tablespoon of tea leaves per 8 oz (about 240 ml) of water. Steep for 120 seconds, adding an additional 60 seconds for the second infusion, allowing up to 2 infusions. The ideal water temperature is 185°F (85°C). Experience the best of this tea's rich profile with these simple steps.

Tea Aroma and Taste

Our Panna Green Chiya, originating from Darjeeling's Mirik Valley, stands as a tribute to the artistry of tea-making. Every leaf, carefully handpicked, unfolds into a rich and full-bodied flavor, offering a robust experience. Its smoothness and deep, satisfying aroma reflect the skill and traditions of the local tea artisans. Each sip is a celebration of their craftsmanship and commitment to quality.

Appearance: The leaves present a rich, dark hue, indicative of their full-bodied nature.

Smell: Once steeped, the tea exudes a warm, inviting aroma, reminiscent of the earthy tones of the Mirik Valley.

Taste: A sip reveals a deep, robust flavor profile. This full-bodied tea offers a rich and smooth experience, leaving a lingering taste of traditional Darjeeling tea.

About the farm and Farmers!

Yanki Tea & Darjeeling Orthodox Small Growers Welfare Society is nestled in the lush Mirik Valley of Darjeeling, India. This farm is not just about growing tea; it's a haven where the commitment to sustainable agriculture and the welfare of tea workers converge. The farmers, led by Yankhu Tamang, are dedicated to producing high-quality teas while ensuring ethical practices and better livelihoods for tea workers.

Background on the Farmers:

Yankhu Tamang and the network of over 60 small growers in the area are the backbone of this initiative. They have moved away from selling their raw leaf harvests to large estates and have instead invested in their own tea processing equipment. This shift allows them to produce high-quality Darjeeling teas and improve their economic and social conditions. Their commitment to natural farming methods and biodiversity is a testament to their dedication to both quality tea and the environment.

Pastry Pairings

Pairing our Panna Green Chiya with the Peanut Sesame Crepe Cookie offers a delightful tea experience. This Japanese crepe cookie, with its fragrant peanut and sesame flavors, harmonizes with the tea's vegetal notes. The nutty richness of the cookie complements the deep, astringent texture of the tea, creating a luxurious and indulgent moment.

Peanut Sesame Crepe Cookie - Japan

The Peanut Sesame Crepe Cookie from Japan offers a unique taste experience, its delicate balance of peanut and sesame flavors creating a fragrant, not overly sweet treat. Its crispy and delicate texture contrasts beautifully with the robust, full-bodied nature of this month’s Panna Green Chiya. The light yet rich flavor of the cookie complements the deep, earthy tones of the tea, enhancing the overall tasting experience.

Cashew Almond Cookie - India

The Cashew Almond Cookie from India offers a sublime taste experience that complements the robustness of the Panna Green Chiya perfectly. The delicate cashew and almond flavors, infused with a light crunch, create a harmonious balance with the tea's rich, full-bodied taste. This combination of the cookie's nutty flavor and the tea's traditional robustness makes for an exquisite pairing where each enhances the other's complexities.

Palate Cleanser (for taste testing): Saltine crackers are provided in our tea box to clean the taste of your mouth, including spicy, bitter, or sweet.

(Read more about Tea J Tea’s recommended way of tasting: Sip-Bite-Sip)

Fruity or Floral

Indulge in the luxurious taste of Lavender Crème Brûlée Tea by Old Barrel, a sensational fusion of red rooibos, lavender, apple, and blue cornflower. This decadent blend offers a creamy and rich lavender flavor, perfect for those with a sweet tooth who also seek a dose of antioxidants and wellness.

Tea Name: Lavender Crème Brûlée Tea

Ingredients: Red rooibos, natural flavor, lavender, apple, blue cornflower

Caffeine Content: Naturally caffeine free

Brewing Instructions: For the perfect cup, use 1-2 teaspoons of tea in 8 oz of hot water. Steep for 5 minutes, and enjoy with a spoonful of honey and a dash of cream if desired.

Tea Aroma and Taste

The aroma of Lavender Crème Brûlée Tea is velvety and floral, creating a soothing and creamy experience. The taste is a deliciously rich combination of lavender and sweet, creamy notes, making each sip a delightful treat.

Appearance: The tea brews to a deep amber color, enhanced by the vibrant hues of lavender and blue cornflower.

Smell: A luxurious and calming floral fragrance with hints of sweetness.

Tasting Notes: Rich, creamy, and floral with a soothing lavender flavor.

Pastry Pairings

Enhance your tea experience with these exquisite pastry pairings. The Lavender Crème Brûlée Tea pairs beautifully with Cinnamon Brown Sugar with Vanilla Creme Biscuit Sandwiches from Belvita and Weilong Crackers Cocoa Flavor from.

Cinnamon Brown Sugar with Vanilla Creme Biscuit Sandwiches (Belvita)

These biscuit sandwiches offer a delightful combination of cinnamon, brown sugar, and vanilla creme, perfectly complementing the creamy and floral notes of the Lavender Crème Brûlée Tea. The smooth cream filling and crunchy texture of these biscuits enhance the tea's richness, creating a harmonious blend of flavors.

Weilong Crackers Cocoa Flavor - China

The Weilong Crackers Cocoa Flavor brings a unique twist to the pairing with its rich cocoa flavor. The slight bitterness of the cocoa balances the sweet, floral notes of the Lavender Crème Brûlée Tea, offering a delightful contrast that enhances the overall tasting experience. The crisp texture of the crackers adds an enjoyable crunch to each sip of tea.

Explorer

Expand Your Palate

Dive into the adventurous flavors of our Herbal Wedding Chai. This unique blend combines the earthy notes of rooibos with the aromatic spice of green cardamom and cardamom seeds, creating a flavorful, caffeine-free tea that's perfect for any time of the day.

Tea Name: Herbal Wedding Chai

Processing: A blend of rooibos, green cardamom crushed, and cardamom seeds, this tea is crafted to bring out the best of both worlds—rich flavor without the caffeine. Blended in California, it uses both natural and artificial flavorings to create a unique taste experience.

Year: 2024

Caffeine Content: Naturally caffeine free

Brewing Instructions: For an ideal cup of Herbal Wedding Chai, use one tablespoon of tea for every 8 ounces (240 ml) of water. Heat the water to 212°F (100°C) and let it steep for 240 seconds. Enjoy it hot, possibly with a hint of honey and cream to enhance its natural flavors.

Tea Aroma and Taste

Savor the intricate flavors and aromas of Herbal Wedding Chai. The blend offers a balanced taste profile that combines the earthy notes of rooibos with the spicy warmth of green cardamom, creating a soothing, yet invigorating cup of tea.

Appearance: The tea is a vibrant mix of red rooibos leaves and green specks of cardamom, making it visually appealing and inviting.

Smell: The aroma is rich and earthy, with underlying hints of cardamom that provide a spicy, aromatic touch.

Tasting Notes: With each sip, you'll experience the harmonious blend of rooibos and cardamom, offering a smooth, slightly sweet flavor with a spicy kick that lingers pleasantly on the palate.

Are you interested in previous Subscription Boxes from previous months? Check out Last Month’s box (June 2024 Tea Time in A Box).