Tea Descriptions
White Teas
Organic Silver Needle
In the mountains of Fujian (Foo-jyen) Province a small window is opening. It is just before the first rains of spring and the prized Silver Needle tea must be harvested soon. With only two weeks in which to harvest, the farmers must carefully select only the youngest, unopened buds of the tea plant for this highly prized brew. The tea is then spread out on bamboo racks and left in the shade to wither for several days under the watchful eye of the grower. This process is extremely delicate and must be monitored closely, as even slight changes in humidity can cause the tea to dry or rot quickly. Silver Needle is the least processed, one of the most difficult teas to produce and is only harvested once per year. It is for this reason that this white tea is so highly prized and priced. Combine this with its sweet, gentle flavor, higher levels of antioxidants than even green tea, the highest levels of theanine (an amino acid that helps relax the nervous system) in the tea world and you have a potent yet relaxing combination that is sure to please. All of us here at The Whole Leaf have Silver Needle consistently at the top of our favorite teas.
Organic White Peony
White Peony (also known as Bai Mu Dan or Pai Mu Tan), is a classic white tea from Fujian (foo-jyen) Province. Made of a mix of the highly prized Silver Needle buds and the older leaves of the plant, this high-grade Bai Mu Dan contains a large portion of silver needle sprouts and is very high in antioxidants and theanine. Studies have suggested that theanine may reduce mental and physical stress, and improve cognition and mood in a synergistic manner with caffeine. Enjoy this tea any time of day and allow yourself to be charmed by its warm and fruity flavor and its both calming and energizing effects.
Yellow Teas
Organic Huo Mountain Yellow Bud Tea
This yellow bud tea won many awards in both China and overseas, such as the Commercial Ministry Award in 1990, China Tea Cup Gold Medal and the Gold Award at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Huoshan Yellow Bud Tea was selected as one of the teas to send to foreign athletes and coaches during 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. It is a most delicate yellow tea.
Green Teas
Organic Yellow Mountain Hairpoint
In the mountainous regions of southern Anhui (ahn-hwey) Province in eastern China stands the famed Huangshan (hwang-shan) or Yellow Mountain Range. Well known for their spectacular scenery frequently captured in Chinese paintings, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has been called one of China's premier green tea-growing mountains and boasts some of the most sought after teas in China. Yellow Mountain Hairpoint is one of the Top Ten famous teas in China and is named after the delicate white hairs covering the leaves and the shape of the processed leaves which are said to resemble the peak of a mountain. This tea is picked in the early Spring after the first rain and before China's Qingming Festival celebrating the greenery of spring. When picking the tea, only the new tea buds and the leaf next to the bud are picked ensuring that only the most vitalized young leaves are chosen. Extremely high in antioxidants and subtle in flavor, all of us at The Whole Leaf are quite impressed with this tea.
Organic Dragon Well
Without truly experiencing the story of this tea’s cultivation, one can only imagine the scene: In the far-eastern mountains of central China in Zhejiang (je-jyang) Province, this subtle green tea, is hand picked after the first spring rain have rinsed the leaves and hand carried down the mountain side in small baskets. The tea is then carefully sorted and laid out to dry, hand roasted in large pans and readied for brewing. Hailed as one of China’s Top Ten famous teas this tea is prized not only for it’s high anti-oxidants and health benefits but also for it’s versatility and wide range of flavors. At The Whole Leaf our tea experts carefully select the ultimate balance of quality and value to bring you this special and renowned Chinese Tea.
Oolong Teas
Organic Frozen Summit Oolong
Nestled in the central mountains on the island of Taiwan in Nantou (nan-toe) County stands Dong Ding (Frozen Summit) Mountain. Perfectly positioned to catch the morning sunshine followed by an afternoon mist, Dong Ding produces some of the most fragrant and high quality oolong on the planet. This selection of oolong was chosen for it's nutty flavor and aroma that has captured our palates here at The Whole Leaf and has quickly become one of our favorites. This tea is classified as a medium roast and has subtle hints of green, floral flavors with a rich, roasty finish.
Organic High Mountain Oolong
From the county of Anxi (an-shi) in Fujian (foo-jyen) Province in southeast China comes our Gao Shan (High Mountain) Oolong. Grown at elevations over 1200 meters this tea spends its days bathed in mist and basking in the sun. After the first rain of the spring rinses the tea it is carefully harvested by hand and then spends the next several days being carefully withered, dryed, rolled and roasted under the watchful eye of the tea master. Once it is done to his satisfaction the tea is then passed on to lucky individuals such as us here at The Whole Leaf. It is our pleasure to bring this light, slightly floral oolong to you.
Organic Iron Goddess of Mercy Oolong
There are many stories about the origin of this famed oolong, but the one we like the best goes like this: There was once a poor tea farmer who each day on his way to work passed a small temple which held an iron statue of Guan Yin the Buddha of Compassion. The temple was quite small and poor and had fallen into disrepair. Twice a month the farmer would stop on his journey and take a moment to sweep the temple and light an offering of incense. After many months of this practice, Guan Yin appeared to him in a dream. She told him that in a cave behind the temple a treasure awaited. He was to take the treasure and share it with others. In the cave, the farmer found a single tea shoot. He planted it in his field and nurtured it into a large bush, which produced an amazing tea. He gave cuttings of this rare plant to all his neighbors and began selling the tea under the name Tie Guan Yin, Iron Goddess of Mercy. Over time, the small farmer and all his neighbors prospered; the rundown temple of Guan Yin was repaired and became a beacon for the region and the farmer took joy in the daily trip to his tea fields, never failing to stop in appreciation of the beautiful temple. It is in this spirit that we at The Whole Leaf invite you to take a moment and appreciate this beautiful tea which comes to us from the Fujian (foo-jyen) region of China.
Organic Oriental Beauty
This tea is unlike any other tea we know. Organically grown, and processed, the plants from which this oolong was picked co-exist with a small species of cicada (can, or tsan) that lives on the plant, drinking its juice, but not damaging the plant in any way. Enzymes from the cicada naturally change the color of the leaf edges of the plant to a deep red, and cause the plant to give off the aroma of honey and fruit. All of this before the leaves are even oxidized!
Organic Golden Turtle
Behold the Golden Water Turtle! Legend tells of a turtle who, after one thousand years of meditation achieved godhood and was chosen to become Heaven’s Tea Gardner. Feeling that his hard work often went unnoticed the turtle god soon became discontent. One morning he awoke to the sounds of tea farmers celebrating their first harvest. The turtle god realized he could bring much more joy and be much more appreciated as a tea plant and instantly gave up his immortality to become this tea which you now hold. Classified as one of the top 5 teas from the Cliffs of Wuyi (woo-yee) in Fujian (foo-jyen) Province this dark tea is smooth, rich, chocolaty and long lasting and is excellent for breakfast or any other time of day.
Organic GABA
GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid is an amino that is naturally produced by our bodies which helps inhibit the firing of neurons in the brain. The overall effect on our systems is an anti-stress, anti-anxiety, calming and relaxing nutrient. It has been used clinically for depressed sex drive, prostate problems, and as a non-addictive tranquilizer substitute. GABA tea is an all-natural source of GABA. Discovered more than 20 years ago by Japanese researchers looking for a natural method to preserve food, they discovered that when tea is oxidized in a nitrogen-rich/oxygen free atmosphere the concentration of GABA elements became higher than in any other type of tea. Benefits attributed to GABA tea include: lowering blood pressure, increased mental alertness, weight loss and stress and anxiety relief.
Black/Red Teas
Red Jade
This new style of tea is taking the tea world by storm! Known as Hong Yu (hong you) in Chinese, this new Black Tea was found by The Tea Research and Extension Station. Located in the hills surrounding Sun Moon Lake this station focuses on the development and production of black teas. The Research and Extension Station has created one of the most truly unique and highest quality black teas in the world. The Red Jade is a cross between an assam strain from Burma and a local wild tea strain which is grown in Yuchih Township, one of the best regions in Taiwan for growing black teas. Yuchih town has a long history of cultivating Assam black tea. It grows mainly an Assam black tea strain which was introduced by Sinjing Genjilang (the father of black tea) from Assam, India. At that time, the Japanese administration conducted a study of the regions geography, soil, environment, and weather to find the best places to produce tea. Finally, Yuchih town was selected for its altitude of 600-800 meters (around 1960-2630 feet), stable humidity and diverse geography. This unique habitat combined with the knowledge and tea skill of the Tea Research and Extension Station has made Yuchih the home of Taiwanese black tea.
Blended Teas
Organic Chrysanthemum & Loose Leaf Pu-er
Words simply do not do justice in their description of pu’er (poo-ar) tea. It is a tea that is simply in a class of its own. Aged for years at a time, pu’er goes through an intense fermentation process that is akin to composting. The result is an earthy, pungent tea that when aged, like wine, only gets better. This process, which was accidentally discovered in ancient China, creates a tea that is reputed to have multiple health benefits including: lowering of cholesterol, aiding in digestion and weight loss to name a few. Add to this mix the active cultures and microbes that are present in the tea and you have one powerhouse of a tea. To give this tea even more of a health kick and to add a fresh, floral flavor to balance the earthiness of the pu’er we have added organic chrysanthemum flowers to the mix. Chrysanthemum is considered an herb in Chinese medicine and is commonly drunk with meals to aid digestion, especially of greasy foods. It is also commonly taken to help strengthen the lungs and relieve head congestion. So sit back, relax and enjoy the grounding energy of this ancient elixir of health!
Organic Rose Bud Jasmine Hairpoint
This hand-blended tea is one of our special creations here at The Whole Leaf. After many years of tasting jasmine teas, we became quite tired of drinking the same old cup after cup of jasmine tea made with low quality tea and utilizing artificial and spray on jasmine flavor. This led us on a search to make our own jasmine tea using a high quality green tea as a base and blending it with real, organically grown jasmine flowers. Once we realized the potential for such a blend, we couldn’t help but take it a step further and add some organic rose buds to the mix. The result is a beautiful blend you have to try to believe. Carefully hand blended to create the perfect balance of tea to flowers, this tea is consistently one of our favorites and judging by the response we’ve seen, it’s a favorite with just about everyone!
