STRAWBERRY GREEN TEA
(Green Tea with natural flavors)
Country of Origin: Sri Lanka
Region: Uva
Shipping Port: Colombo
Grade: Pekoe Gunpowder
Altitude: 2500 – 3000 feet above sea level
Manufacture Type: Orthodox
Cup Characteristics: The tea tends light liquoring but fresh and smooth
with reasonable depth and body. There is a heady aroma of strawberry.
Ingredients: Luxury green tea, Freeze dried strawberry, Safflower petals, Natural flavors
Information: The base tea for this delightful flavored green tea comes
from a small tea estate in Sri Lanka called Elpitiya. The estate is
medium sized producing nearly 650,000 kilos yearly (1.4 million
lbs.–enough to make 300 million cups) and does this on about 900 acres
of land in the Kandy district. The manager Mr. Gunawardene takes pride
in the estate’s accomplishments. Elpitiya only started producing green
tea in 1995 and in a few short years, on account of the change in crop
has managed to increase the financial return to the estate, allowing it
to invest in new equipment and upgraded housing for the workers. In
total the estate employs about 400 people but also buys ‘green leaf’
from small holders (small plot farmers), which in turn has improved the
living of another 500 families. Additionally the estate provides health
care to its workers at district hospitals and on the estate itself there
is a small dispensary manned by a nurse to attend to minor day-to-day
injuries. The estate provides free housing to its workers as well as
subsidizing food purchases of rice and fish, (vegetables are grown by
the workers on small plots around their homes). The estate no longer
uses pesticides but does use fertilizers to maintain tea bush yields.
The produce from this estate finds its way to various markets in the
Middle East as well as North America
The manufacture of this Hyson green tea commences with the fresh leaf
being fed onto the Panner whose primary function (through the use of
heat) is to arrest the fermentation of the leaf and make it more
suitable for the subsequent manufacturing (leaf handling). The leaf
extracted from the Panner is passed onto the Moon Type Rollers for a 20
to 25 minute pre-condition rolling. On completion of rolling, the leaf
is passed through a primary stage tea drier at low temperature to remove
the excess moisture. Following the primary drier stage, the green leaf
is fed into the Ball Tea Driers for the final drying and formation of
the green tea. This process is long, often taking up to eight to twelve
hours depending upon the ambient humidity. The dried green tea is then
graded according to the size and the appearance of the leaf. The main
tea grades made at this estate are: Gunpowder Special Grade, Gunpowder
grade 1, Chunmee, Sowmee and Young Hyson.
Generally grown throughout the world, strawberries are known for being a
delicious fruit. One has to consider Florida as the winter capital,
whereas many would argue that Belgium is the main capital of the
strawberry. In the 13th century, France used the strawberry for
medicinal purposes being high in folic acid and vitamin C. The
strawberry was first cultivated in ancient Rome and said to be one of
Nero’s favorite fruits. Thus it is of no surprise that strawberry green
tea is one of the most popular flavored green teas available today.
Hot tea brewing method: When preparing by the cup, this tea can be used
repeatedly about 3 times. The secret is to use water that is about 180’F
or 90’C. Place 1 teaspoon in your cup let the tea steep for about 3
minutes and then begin enjoying a cup of enchantment - do not remove the
leaves from the cup. Once the water level is low - add more water, and
so on and so on - until the flavor of the tea is exhausted.
Alternatively as with all top quality teas, scoop 2-4 teaspoons of tea
into the teapot, pour in boiling water that has been freshly drawn
(previously boiled water has lost most of its oxygen and therefore tends
to be flat tasting), steep for 2-4 minutes (to taste), stir (virtually
all the leaves will sink), pour into your cup but do not add milk or
sugar since green tea is enjoyed ‘straight-up’.