The Tea Tease

As I'm continuing to write the business plan so I can open the actual Curds & Whey store, I'm fine-tuning my cheese and tea menus. I'm happy to post the menus here so you can get a real sense of what inclusion in the Curds & Whey Cheese and Tea Clubs can get you. When the shop opens, all tea I sell will be available for you to buy loose, or we can prepare it hot or iced for you to enjoy in the cafe or take to your next destination.

Here's what I have for tea, so far. Mind you, this selection may change and in no way is a guarantee of what's to come. The world is a fun and crazy place and we never know what can happen. But these are the teas I've chosen from my chosen vendor, who is the Art of Tea, in case you are wondering.

Once my storefront opens and I start selling a lot of tea, I'll add to my menu. There are many wonderful teas out there and if I could, I'd carry them all. Some day I just might, but in the beginning I have to start out a little on the lean side.

I am happy to hear your feedback on this list. I've done my best to make it balanced and interesting, with old favorites and interesting new blends for your drinking pleasure. Have I forgotten something obvious? Let me know and I'll look into it!

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Tea Menu

All teas are loose-leaf and organic.
The minimum order for tea is one ounce.
Prices and availability are subject to change without notice.
Okay, I’m done with the fine print now.

White

Silver Needle
Organic Silver Needle is the most sought after white tea and is only harvested for a few days each year in the northern district of Fujian, China. Packed with antioxidants, these silvery down-covered leaves have been prized for their medicinal properties for more than 1,000 years. Silver Needle has a light golden flush with a woodsy flavored body, unique savory aroma and long balanced sweetness.

Summer Rain
A special blend of organic white tea, infused with fresh essence of cantaloupe and jasmine, brimming with antioxidant power. Perfect as an iced tea or served hot after a meal.

White Goji Blossoms
Organic white tea hand blended with raw goji berries, lemon myrtle and marigolds. This refreshing infusion produces notes of baked pear and orange blossoms with a crisp finish.



Green

Dragon Crisp – Gen Mai Cha
This so called “poor man’s tea” is made from freshly picked organic Sencha tossed with toasted rice kernels, creating a golden infusion with lightly roasted, popcorn overtones. Rich in flavor and aroma. From Japan.

Eisai’s Choice Sencha
This prized green tea, used in the Zen Monasteries of Japan, is the highest quality Sencha from the famed Uji Gardens. Its dark leaves denote carefully tended shade-growth. Enjoy the tea with the flavor and hue of fresh cut grass.

Fresh Greens
Pan-fried organic green tea and lemon verbena create a classic infusion for refreshing enjoyment hot or iced.

Hojicha
Hand-picked Japanese organic green tea leaves and stems are charcoal fired to produce savory notes of roasted chestnut. Brews a deeply enjoyable cup with surprisingly low caffeine content.

Kukicha – Twig Tea
Kukicha is made from organic green twigs and stems assiduously attended through an aging process. Once maturity is reached the twigs and stems are roasted, producing this wondrously full-bodied tea with hints of cinnamon and a low caffeine content. From Japan.

White Tip Jasmine
Chinese green tea lightly fired to maintain silvery tips, traditionally scented with jasmine.



Oolong

Iron Goddess of Mercy / Ti Kuan Yin, Roasted
Grown on China’s high hilltops amongst fresh streams and cool, crisp air. Tender leaves are gently basket-tossed immediately after harvesting to break skins for semi-oxidization. Similar to Ti Kuan Yin, Green, but this one is baked twice to create more chocolate type notes with hints of roasted chestnut.

Peach Oolong
Organic Wuyi oolong hand blended with rosehips, marigolds and essence of apricot and peach. Brews a rich infusion that calls to mind freshly picked peaches on a warm, end-of-summer’s day.



Black

1896
Created in honor of Joseph Walsh, who published one of the Western world's first books on tea blending in 1896. This tea offers a rich, flavorful cup combining fruity notes of white peach and gala apple with cinnamon, and has a crisp floral finish.

Ancient Forest
A specialty of the southwest province of Yunnan, this unique tea is harvested from ancient trees on the protected land of Jingmai Mangjing’s Blue Mountains. 100% organic, hand picked and sorted, this black tea brews a rich, earthy infusion with notes of cedar and honey.

Bio-Dynamic Breakfast – Fair Trade Certified
Grown and harvested beyond organic. Biodynamic Farming embraces the global and local culture of our Fair Trade Single Estate ecosystem, creating a superior organic black tea. Our premier blend brews a brisk cup with aromatic notes of maple leaf, honey and cocoa.

Cinnamon Fig
Rounded black tea base with fresh ground cinnamon bits and summer harvest fig. Delivers rich flavor with apple and maple notes and the warming bouquet of cinnamon.

Earl Grey
A blend of certified organic black teas hand picked from select gardens in China and India. The full bodied leaves are then blended with precious oil of bergamot to create a superb citrus bouquet and great finish.

Immortal Nectar Pu-Ehr – Vintage ‘97
Discover the benefits of rare, premium cave-aged pu-erh, known to decrease physical stress and lower cholesterol. Our unrefined, medium leafed, organic elixir yields deep brown liquor with light sherry bouquet and a smooth, earthy flavor.

Keemun
Carefully hand crafted Chinese tea based on traditional recipes. Brews a brisk cup with a classic, smooth taste, rich burgundy color and an oak finish.

Lapsang Souchong Superior
Traditionally carried by camel across Asia from China to Europe, this tea would arrive with a signature smoky aroma from the fires that the caravans burned for warmth. Still popular today, the organic leaves are smoked over pine needles and yield a distinctive aroma that goes especially well with savory dishes.

Lovers’ Leap Ceylon
Cultivated near the Southern slope of Sri Lanka`s highest mountain Pidurutalagala, this tea is characterized by a bright cup with a flowery finish.

Starry Night
Organic Assam black tea combined with natural, soothing vanilla bits and star shaped white tea.



Tisanes (caffeine-free)

Apricot Escape
Organic rooibos & honeybush are carefully blended with lemongrass, lemon myrtle, rosehips, hibiscus, marigolds, citrus peel, apple and essence of apricot & pear. Brews a rich burgundy color with a clean finish reminiscent of Asian pear. May be enjoyed hot or over ice.

Egyptian Chamomile
The sweet, calming taste of whole organic Egyptian chamomile helps to ease the mind and soothe the tummy.

Rooibos Italian Blood Orange
Fair Trade Organic Rooibos combined with hibiscus, orange peel, safflower, and natural citrus essence. This caffeine-free blend brews a light pink hue with a clean mouth-feel.

Lemon Verbena
Hand picked and air dried. Perfect hot or blended with ice.

Organic Mint
Proprietary blend of spearmint and peppermint domestically grown and harvested on the picturesque Oregon and California coasts.

Welcome
A refreshing blend of organic chamomile, rosehips, lavender, roses and pink peppercorn. Brews a floral cup with thin liquor and both sweet and spicy characters.



Yerba Maté (caffeine-free)

Citron Maté
Great after a long day or as a restorative after exertive exercise, this aromatic tonic will refresh the senses. Lemongrass, orange peel, yerba mate and lemon myrtle blend together beautifully in this custom fusion you’ll enjoy hot or iced.

Yerba Maté
Our shade grown Yerba Mate is traditionally hand blended in the rainforest of Paraguay. Brews an earthy delight displaying a chestnut finish and boasts vitamins and minerals known to enhance one’s health and well-being.

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Feeling thirsty?