Steeping instructions:

Amount of water: 6 oz

Amount of Tea: 1 Flat teaspoon

Water Temperature: 160° F

Steeping Time: 1-3 minutes.

Note: Do not use boiling water for Green and White teas as they will burn and create bitter flavors.

A good way to guess water temperature without a thermometer is to bring the water to a boil, and wait about 30 seconds (for White tea) or 60 seconds (for Green tea) before pouring over the leaves.

Green tea beads,Calabashes

• Green Tea
• Health Benefits of Green tea
• Process of growing and making tea
• Tea History

I was so happy to receive this sample at about the same time I received my new glass tea cup, so that I could sit and watch these curious little Golden Calabashes unfurl. It was so relaxing to watch them slowly open in the hot water, releasing their delightful flavor. The fragrance of the dry calabashes is very soft, with fresh notes and a hint of floral sweetness. The aroma of the brewed tea is even softer than the dried leaves, and I do wish that the flavor were better expressed in the scent, because I do enjoy that aspect of drinking tea. However, the flavor is so good, that I can overlook the lack of aroma. These teardrop shaped calabashes brew a very light, clear, golden liquid that is very rich tasting with a very pleasant mouthfeel. Even though Red Leaf Tea classifies these Golden Calabashes as a green tea, the flavor resembles a yellow tea more so than a green tea. It is not sharp; instead, it is very smooth with a delicate, nutty flavor and a sweet, fruity undertone. This is a tea that needs no sweetener, because it has its own natural sweetness. I was careful to keep the water well below the boiling point (I did not want to scorch these beautiful leaves), and instead allowed the leaves to completely unfurl in the water, which took about five minutes. I was rewarded not only with a golden cup of goodness, but also the joy in watching the “agony of the tea leaves” as they steeped. A truly delightful tea!

The Tea Guru (Stephanie)