March’s Teas Have Been Delivered, Enjoy! – 2013
From tea growers to blenders to world-leading sommeliers, our community includes people at every step of the process. We taste dozens of teas each month, with no affiliation to blenders, and chose the blends that inspire us most to share with you. We do this by having our team of tea connoisseurs and sommeliers sample and score the teas for look, region, aroma and of course, taste. We take pride in delivering a variety of world-class blends to your door every month – we feel we deserve it, and so do you!
Check out March’s teas below. Now taking orders on April’s teas shipping on the 17th.
Testimonial –
“In this month’s Tea Box, we offer you the third of the Pu-erh teas from our taste-off challenge: Rishi Tea’s Pu-erh Vanilla Mint. Last year we spent 4 months sampling different Pu-erh blends to find our three favourites, so we hope you enjoy this last installment. we also had the pleasure of sampling Tiesta Tea’s new 2013 line last month and they did not disappoint. We had 17 different tea lovers and foodies sample their line-up, resulting in three winning teas with an overall score of 8.9 or higher. So a big congratulations to Tiesta! We really hope you enjoy their Tropical Savannah Rooibos tea featured in this month’s box. Our herbal tea this month is none other than Mighty Leaf’s Chamomile Citrus. This was love at first sip for the Tea Sparrow tea party tasters, and as such took home the highest score for any Chamomile blend we have every tried, a whopping 9.5! Lastly we have Aromatica’s Treasures of Japan, a blend of five different elite Japanese green teas traditionally served to honoured guests. Enjoy this month’s teas.”
Michael Menashy
Tea Sparrow Family
Tiesta Tea’s Tropical Savannah –
Description: Tropical Wonderland! This rooibos tea is infused with lemon grass, orange peel, apple bits, ginger root, cardamom coconut fruit, cinnamon, red peppercorn and currants to give it a healthy flavor profile from the tropics with a base taste from Savannah.
Ingredients: Rooibos, banana chips, coconut chips, pineapple flakes and orange slices.
Steeping Instructions: Steep 1.5 teaspoons per 8 ounces (1 cup) of boiling water for 5 to 7 minutes.
Tea Sparrow Suggests: Steep 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces (1 cup) of boiling water for 5 to 6 minutes.
Health Benefits: This incredibly flavoured caffeine-free tea is growing quickly in popularity but did you know that it also contains high amounts of antioxidants? Although the antioxidants found in rooibos tea are different from those in green tea, they are still known to fight off free radicals in the body. Rooibos tea is also known to fight off cardiovascular disease, liver disease and lower blood pressure.
Michael Menashy, Tea Sparrow Family –
“Citrus, lemongrass, rooibos bliss. It is a beautiful balanced blend.”
Darcy McMurray, Tea Enthusiast –
“Thought the lemongrass would over power, but no, it’s perfectly balanced. Be great as an iced tea as well.”
Rishi Tea’s Pu-erh Vanilla Mint –
Description: Pu-erh Vanilla Mint has a deep reddish-black, opaque infusion with a cool peppermint note. Hand-chopped vanilla beans and fresh ground cinnamon give this blend a full, somewhat creamy body. Its lightly sweet flavor has accents of espresso and cacao. Tastes great infused like tea or prepared with milk and honey, like Masala Chai.
Ingredients: Organic Fair Trade Certified™ pu-erh tea, organic peppermint, organic cinnamon, organic vanilla, organic licorice root.
Steeping Instructions: Steep 1 tbsp per 8 ounces (1 cup) of boiling water for 5 minutes.
Tea Sparrow Suggests: Steep 1 tbsp per 8 ounces (1 cup) of boiling water for 5-6 minutes.
Health Benefits: Pu-erh originates from the Yunnan Province of China and has been coveted for its preventative and curative properties for over 2000 years. Pu-erh tea has been proven to lower cholesterol and to support digestion as well as general well-being and longevity. This tea is said to enhance the “qi,” or life force. So get your kung fu on!
Jenny Dent, Tea Enthusiast –
“This tea is an extra taste sensation with mouth watering minty liquorish yum!”
Zeta Newis, Tea Sparrow Family –
“Wow, super fulfilling. Amazing natural sweetness and rich full body taste.”
Mighty Leaf’s Chamomile Citrus –
Description: Chamomile Citrus is a refreshing infusion perfected to curl up with and savour by the sip. Made with soothing Egyptian chamomile flowers and subtle slices of citrus fruit, this vibrant blend will rejuvenate the spirit. From intoxicating aroma to sweet flavour, this Mighty Leaf signature blend with Chamomile, fruits and herbs reflects our vision of the artisan tea experience.
Ingredients: Orange peels, chamomile flowers, rosehip peels, lemongrass, lemon myrtle, hibiscus, spearmint, natural flavors, orange petals.
Steeping Instructions: Steep 2 teaspoon per 8 ounces (1 cup) of boiling water for 5 minutes.
Tea Sparrow Suggests: Steep 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces (1 cup) of boiling water for 4 to 6 minutes.
Health Benefits: Chamomile throughout the ages has been regarded as a medicinal cure-all. It was considered a universal remedy by the ancient Egyptians, and the Romans and Greeks used chamomile flowers as a compress to apply to wounds to speed healing. It’s no wonder that modern medicine has been able to find so many additional health benefits to this flower as a tea. Here are but a few: chamomile tea boosts the immune system and fight infections associated with colds. It also helps relieve muscle spasms and menstrual cramps, relaxes the nerves, soothes the stomach, reduces inflammation, improves liver function, helps relieve back pain and rheumatism and is most well-known as a sleep aid.
Aromatica’s Treasures of Japan –
Description: This tea, which is a blend of five elite Japanese green teas, was traditionally served to honour guests.
Ingredients: Sencha, Bencha, GenMai, Cha, Kukicha, Gyokuru, strawberry pieces, red currents.
Steeping Instructions: Steep 2 teaspoons per 10 ounces of not quite boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes maximum.
Tea Sparrow Suggestions: Steep 2 teaspoons per 8 ounces of not quite boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes maximum.
Health Benefits: By now, the health benefits of green tea have been well-established. Here are just a few of the reasons we love it so much: it’s been shown to fight cancer and heart disease, lower cholesterol, prevent diabetes and stroke and to fight infection. It’s tough to beat that!
Darcy McMurray, Tea Enthusiast – “I love this tea, rich in flavour without too much tannins. The flavour is complex and elegant, lasts on my tongue. Yummy! ”
Zeta Newis, Tea Sparrow Family – “So much development of flavour with this tea. Brewed strong it has so many dimensions and a balanced punch.”