Sep 20
Babette’s Teaview Snapshot
 | "This is one of those green teas that can transport you back to its origins. This tea can be an experience if you allow the few minutes for your imagination to drift freely."
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This is a green tea that deserves careful attention to brewing detail. Without it, you could think that it is not a very good tea. With a bit of care, it is lovely and memorable. I suggest you save this tea for a special quiet time or a time when you can focus on the tea experience.Begin by examining the dry leaves. Smell them while they are still in the bag, just opened. The sweet green smell of this tea is flowery and light. Imagine the fresh leaf and what it must have smelled like as it was picked. One of the unique features of this tea is that it comes from old growth trees. This means that the tea plant was allowed to attain its normal height rather than being groomed low for more convenient picking. You should pour some of the leaves into a plain white saucer to appreciate the beauty of the dry leaf. I like to think that whole leaf teas tell us part of its story at every stage. The beauty and diversity of this leaf is fascinating. There are some unopened leaves ...œ the buds ...œ that still have the thin covering and a silvery sheen.
One suggestion I would make is to make sure that you stir or shake the leaves in your container to combine whole leaves with the broken particles. Since the smaller particles infuse ...œ releasing color and flavor ...œ more quickly, you will not want to be left with the last bit of tea all the dust and particles.
Brew the tea with water that is has not come to a full boil. Don't allow the kettle to whistle. And watch your steeping time. Three minutes for the first steep would be the longest that the leaves should stay in the water. So, if you are putting leaves into a teapot or other brewing device, only add as much water as you will use immediately.
The care you take with brewing will reward you with flavor. This is one of those green teas that can transport you back to its origins. This tea can be an experience if you allow the few minutes for your imagination to drift freely. Steeped properly, when you savor the freshness of this premium green tea, you will understand what all the hoopla is about tea.
This is a tea that should be enjoyed for a second steeping. And on the second time, you can allow it to infuse for a few minutes longer without inviting any bitterness into your cup. You will find the flavor to be much different than the first cup. And, with this tea, I enjoyed my second cup more. I tried a third but that was stretching it too far. There was color but not much flavor.
After you've completely re-hydrated the leaves with two infusions, be sure to compare the wet leaf with the dry for a more complete appreciation of the tea master's craft. This tea is an excellent example of a hand-processed tea. At their website, Rishi lists this tea as one of their Fair Trade Organic teas.
— To purchase Rishi Tea Ancient Emerald Green Lily, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.
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