Black Forest Loose Leaf Black Tea - Special Order

BLACK FOREST Loose Leaf Black Tea

Origin: Sri Lanka

Grade: OP (Orange Pekoe)

Cup Characteristics: Captures the subtleties of chocolate, cherries, and cream beautifully. Flavor opens right up with a splash of milk.

Infusion: Bright and Coppery . Ingredients: Black tea, Heath Bell flowers, Natural flavors.

Information: Black Forest cake, known in German as Schwarzwaelder Kirsch torte, originated in the Black Forest region of southern Germany. No one is sure when the recipe was first developed but it probably happened sometime in the late 16 th century when chocolate was first introduced to the region. Black Forest cake derives its characteristic chocolate-cherry flavor from the addition of Kirsch or Kirshwasser, a double distilled clear cherry brandy. The inhabitants of the Black Forest, (no they are not elves), make this Kirsch from the hard skinned, sour Morello cherry. Apart from all the cherries and chocolate, fans of Black Forest cake know that it also makes an excellent vehicle for whipped cream! Fans of this tea blend should know that it is fantastic with a dash of sugar and a spot of milk – it’s like dessert in a cup!

Hot tea brewing method: Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 teaspoon of tea for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea). Even though milk and a dash of sugar help enhance the flavor character on this tea, it is perfectly acceptable to consume this tea ‘straight-up’

Iced tea brewing method: (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 6 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water]. Please note that this tea may tend to go cloudy or ‘milky’ when poured over ice; a perfectly normal characteristic of some high quality black teas and nothing to worry about!