Tea Time in Mar 2024 Box

Dive into an enchanting journey of taste and tradition with our latest tea and pastries pairing, where every sip and bite promises an adventure as rich and diverse as the landscapes from which they originate. The Origin selection begins with Wild Bud Tea from Vietnam, offering a serene sip that's as pure as the morning dew. Paired with this tranquil brew are the tangy Candied Grapefruit Peels and the rich, nutty Mung Bean Cakes from Vietnam, creating a symphony of traditional flavors that sing with each sip. Our Fruity or Floral selection, Pineapple Coconut, a blissful blend of creamy coconuts and juicy pineapples, finds its perfect match in the crisp Coconut Cookies from Pakistan and the sweet Pineapple Cookies from Mexico, elevating the tropical experience. The Explorer section introduces the refreshing Spearmint tea from India, offering a minty, palate-cleansing finale to this diverse and delightful culinary voyage. Each pairing is designed to complement and enhance the natural flavors of our premium teas, creating unforgettable moments of joy and relaxation with every cup and bite.

Follow our My Tea Time blog series for an immersive exploration of your monthly tea experiences. Without further ado, let's start our February tea experience! 

Origins

Get to know your Origins Tea!

Venture into the heart of Vietnam's Tay Con Linh Mountain, where the White Tea Buds are cradled within the lush, misty landscape. This exquisite tea, a hidden gem among the vast expanses of nature, is hand-harvested at altitudes ranging from 1800 to 2200 meters in Ha Giang, Vietnam. Utilizing traditional white tea processing methods, the buds are initially withered for 3 to 5 days before being bathed in the sun until they reach perfection. Harvested in the early spring of 2023, these buds promise an unmatched purity in both aroma and taste.

Tea Name: Wild Bud Tea - Vietnam

Teamaker: Local artisans of Ha Giang, Vietnam.

Origin: Tay Con Linh Mountain, Ha Giang, Vietnam.

Elevation: 1800-2200m.

Cultivation: Hand-harvested, wild-grown.

Harvest Date: Early Spring 2023.

Brewing Instructions: Begin with 1 tablespoon of Wild White Tea Buds for every 8 oz of water. Heat water to 175°F (80°C) and pour over the tea leaves. Steep for 30 seconds for the first infusion, adding an extra 10 seconds for each following infusion, allowing up to 10 infusions. Enjoy the unfolding layers of flavor with each steep.

Tea Aroma and Taste

Dive into the aromatic world of Wild Bud Tea, where each sip transports you to the verdant landscapes of Vietnam's highlands. The initial encounter with this tea's aroma and taste is an exquisite journey through nature's bounty, embodying the purity and tranquility of its origin.

Appearance: The tea buds are reminiscent of dragon tails or bamboo shoots, showcasing an entrancing green-purple hue.

Smell: A bouquet of wildflowers mingled with the essence of ripe fruit greets the senses, inviting a deeper exploration into its aroma.

Taste: On the palate, the tea is smooth and mellow, devoid of astringency. It introduces subtle notes of stone fruits with a faint, almost imperceptible bitter undertone, making each sip a refreshing and invigorating experience. 

About the farm and Farmers!

The Wild Bud Tea Buds originate from a place where traditional tea-making practices are preserved by the dedicated hands of local farmers. These artisans, deeply connected to the land of Tay Con Linh Mountain, cultivate and harvest the tea in harmony with nature's rhythms and cycles.

Background on the Farmers:

The farmers responsible for the Wild White Tea Buds are custodians of an ancient craft, passed down through generations. Their intimate knowledge of the land, the tea plants, and the optimal conditions for tea production is unmatched. Working with the land, they hand-harvest each bud, ensuring that the tea's quality and purity are preserved.

Pastry Pairings

Pairing Wild Bud Tea with Candied Grapefruit Peels and Mung Bean Cake creates a delightful symphony of flavors. The tea's subtle stone fruit notes and serene aroma perfectly complement the tangy sweetness of the grapefruit peels and the rich, nutty essence of the mung bean cakes, offering a harmonious blend of traditional Vietnamese tastes.

Candied Grapefruit peels – Vietnam

The Candied Grapefruit Peels from Vietnam, with their meticulous traditional crafting process, unveil a taste that is a perfect medley of tangy and sweet. This delightful contrast complements the subtle stone fruit notes of Wild Bud Tea, adding a refreshing citrus dimension that enhances the tea's natural complexity. The chewy yet non-sticky texture of the peels introduces an engaging sensory experience, enriching the tea's smoothness with a pleasant tactile contrast.

Mung Bean Cake – Vietnam

The pairing of Mung Bean Cake  with Wild Bud Tea is an exquisite fusion of tradition and nature. The gentle, soothing flavors of the tea enhance the rich, nutty taste of the cakes, making each sip and bite a complementary experience. The tea's light astringency and fresh aroma offer a refreshing counterpoint to the dense, sweet cakes, balancing the overall taste experience and making it an ideal combination for a tranquil tea session.

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

Take a vibrant journey with a tea that captures the essence of a tropical paradise in every sip. This tea, a harmonious blend of creamy coconuts and juicy pineapples, offers a refreshing escape to sun-drenched shores, no matter where you are. Perfect for those who delight in the natural sweetness and invigorating flavors of fruit, this tisane promises a delectable experience, whether served hot or cold.

Tea Name: Pineapple Coconut.

Processing: Blended with Apple, Mango, Papaya, Pineapple, Coconut.

Year: 2023

Caffeine Content: Caffeine-free.

Brewing Instructions: For an optimal brewing experience, start with water heated to 212°F (100°C). Measure your tea and immerse it in the water for a full 240 seconds. This tea shines with a single infusion, but don't hesitate to experiment with a second steeping of another 240 seconds to explore deeper into its tropical essence. Adjust the amount based on your taste preference for a more personal tea experience.

Tea Aroma and Taste

Dive into the exotic aromas and tastes of the Tropical Coconut Pineapple Tisane, where every cup is an invitation to a faraway beach. The blend of carefully selected fruits and natural flavors creates a sensory experience that's both refreshing and comforting. With its rich coconut aroma and vibrant pineapple flavor, this tisane is a celebration of tropical abundance.

Appearance: A vibrant medley of fruit pieces, showcasing the natural beauty of mango, papaya, pineapple, and coconut shreds.

Smell: The rich, sweet aroma of coconut perfectly complements the tangy scent of pineapple, transporting you to tropical climates with each inhalation.

Tasting Notes: Fresh and slightly sour notes lead the taste profile, with the pineapple flavor bursting through. The coconut provides a rich, creamy backdrop, creating a balanced and deliciously fragrant cup. 

Coconut Cookies – Pakistan

Pairing the Tropical Coconut Pineapple Tisane with crisp, aromatic Coconut Cookies from Pakistan creates an enchanting taste experience. The tea's vibrant pineapple and creamy coconut flavors harmonize with the cookies' rich, wheaty crunch and fragrant coconut aroma. This duo offers a layered texture and taste sensation, combining the smooth, fruity notes of the tisane with the satisfying crispness of the cookies, perfectly complementing each other's tropical essence.

Pineapple Cookies – Mexico

The Pineapple Cookies from Mexico, with their crunchy exterior and sweet pineapple cream filling, perfectly complement the Tropical Coconut Pineapple Tisane. The tangy pineapple cream echoes the tea's vibrant pineapple notes, while the crunchy cookie texture contrasts beautifully with the smooth, refreshing sip of the tisane. Together, they offer a harmonious blend of textures and flavors, enhancing the tropical experience with every bite and sip.

Explorer

Explorer Tea: Something New

Dive into the refreshing world of Spearmint, also known as Mentha spicata or pudina in India, with our garden-ready plants that promise an aromatic journey right from your cup. Spearmint is celebrated for its versatility in cuisines and its beneficial health properties. This naturally caffeine-free herb offers a sweet, minty flavor that's not just a treat to the palate but also a boon to digestion and oral health.

Tea Name: Spearmint – India

Processing: Fresh leaves are carefully harvested and dried to preserve their natural aroma and flavor.

Year: 2023

Caffeine Content: Naturally caffeine free

Brewing Instructions: For a perfect cup of Spearmint tea, start by boiling water to 212°F (100°C). Use fresh spearmint leaves or dried ones if fresh are not available. Add the leaves to the boiling water and allow them to steep for 240 seconds (4 minutes). If you prefer a stronger infusion, leave the leaves in the water for an additional 240 seconds. Enjoy a single infusion of this herbal delight, ideal for any time of the day.

Tea Aroma and Taste

Introducing the delightful Spearmint tea, a refreshing and sweet herbal infusion known for its vibrant minty flavor and aroma. This tea is a perfect companion for those seeking a soothing beverage that invigorates the senses and calms the mind.

Appearance: The Spearmint tea presents a clear, light green infusion, symbolizing the pure essence of spearmint leaves.

Smell: The aroma is intensely minty, fresh, and sweet, reminiscent of lush spearmint fields.

Tasting Notes: Refreshing and sweet, this tea captures the quintessential minty flavor with a cool, invigorating finish. Perfect for a palate-cleansing experience or as a soothing drink to unwind.

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