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What the average tea consumer is accustomed to is black dust
inside a teabag, steeped once, tasting stringent and slightly bitter,
and cream and sugar are quickly added to dilute the taste. No wonder,
as the dust found inside the teabags are usually either fannings
(ground up parts of the leaves) or twigs, and can be compared to a
frankfurter or hotdog as far as quality goes. Today, some newly
popular 'silken' teabags are found in the market, boasting of full leaf
teas. Unfortunately, these bags are often made of polypropylene or some
other nylon like material, and definitely not silk. The effects of
steeping nylon in hotwater is at best, questionable. Besides, full leaf
teas need room to unfurl, and the constrictive teabags makes no
allowance for the full flavours of these teas to be experienced.
Whole Leaf Teas are the traditional method of drinking and
appreciating tea. The more broken the leaf, the more nutrients were
lost in processing (in the case of many mechanized processed Black
teas). By keeping the leaves whole and with as minimal breakage as
possible, the flavour of the tea is released slowly infusion after
infusion, bringing nuance and depth to its appreciation.
Artisanal teas are defined as hand crafted, from harvest to final
product, although some machinery might be involved during this process.
Grown at high elevations in their mountain of origin,
under proper conditions, and only the best buds and leaves are
harvested, processed by tea masters, artisanal teas are graded and
judged for their true esteemed values. Consumers around the world
appreciate artisanal level teas for their unsurpassed quality, and
also, to support the art of handcrafted teas from generation to
generation.
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