BEHIND THE CRAFT
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An Infinity of Patterns

The word ‘Kaleidoscope’ is a permanent memory of childhood play and curiosity. From Greek, it means the “observation of beautiful forms”.  We recall those beautiful patterns, never repeated.

David Brewster, the inventor of the ‘modern’ Kaleidoscope, said it might be of great value in "all the ornamental arts" as a device that creates an "infinity of patterns".

Our brand is like a sedimentary rock: layers of experiences from faraway lands washed together, connecting, over time creating a structure of uniqueness and beauty. Constantly being reinvented, but always remaining inclusive, tolerant, harmonious.  Turning the familiar to the unfamiliar, the mundane to the exotic.

For our finest tea caddies, we bring together individual patterns and images from the past and present to create a contemporary kaleidoscopic canvas for the future.

FGTE12230

Jasmine Pearls Loose Leaf Green Tea Gift Caddy 100g

Net Weight: 100g

Made from handpicked green tea leaves, hand rolled into little silver pearls and then repeatedly scented with Jasmine blossoms to achieve the perfect harmony of aromatic florals and lively young tea buds.

The East India Company - Lifestyle

Tea

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£40.00
Jasmine scented tea has become one of the most popular green tea flavours in the west in the last few years, but actually it's 1000 years or more old, first popular in China during the Song Dynasty. Then, the best jasmine teas were reserved for the Emperor. Now, the very best jasmine tea still comes from China.

Jasmine Pearls are a delightful type of loose leaf Jasmine tea. Although the Jasmine plant, a member of the olive family, produces a lovely fragrant white flower, it is not generally used as in ingredient, but instead only its scent. The scenting process is centuries old and it is the craftsmanship that is the critical ingredient, the difference between good and bad.
With the jasmine fields in bloom and the weather warm, the afternoon labour-intensive task is to collect only those buds that the picker judges will bloom that evening. The collected buds are layered with whole green tea leaves that have already been hand-rolled into tiny silvery pearls, dried and stored - waiting patiently to meet their jasmine partner. The flowers reveal themselves, a heady scent fills the air and infuses into the green tea pearl

The process is repeated several times over consecutive nights to achieve the desired Jasmine scenting. A long process, but worth every moment.
A pale amber liquor in the cup

A heady aroma of jasmine rushes from the cup as soon the hot water hits the tea.

Clean on the palette with irresistible sweet floral notes.

Take a teaspoon and extract one of the wet jasmine pearls, which will have opened - you'll be surprised to see a whole tender tea leaf unfurl.

High quality green tea and jasmine flowers are the critical ingredients, chosen by our Tea Master Lalith Lenadora.
A cup of Jasmine tea is a lovely finish to a meal - light and cleansing to the pallet and healthy too, as it contains high levels of antioxidants like all green teas.

Pairs well with citrus fruits and berries, for a light lunch.
Quantity

2 GRAMS PER CUP

Temperature

200ML OF WATER AT 80ºC

Brewing Time

2-3 MINS BREWING TIME

Ingredients

Green Tea, natural Jasmine flavour

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place avoiding direct sunlight and strong odours.

Stories

What is Green Tea?

Just like Black Tea, it all starts with a small ‘just-plucked’ green tea leaf, usually about 5 cm long.

The leaf pickers deliver their leaves to the local factory for immediate processing. The core difference v Black Tea - the oxidation process that darkens the leaf is completely missing. The green leaf remains… green.

Step 1 - ‘Withering’: the whole leaves are spread out in warm air for up to a day to reduce the water content by about 10 to 20%. The leaves literally wilt and starts to lose some of its vibrant colour.

Step 2 - ‘Steaming/Pan Frying’: The critical ingredient to produce Green Tea. After withering, the wilted team is steamed or pan fried to destroy the enzymes that would otherwise be the catalyst for oxidation.
Step 3 - ‘Rolling / Shaping’: the soft leaves are shaped to requirement, either on a machine or by hand. This is where the world of green tea explodes in creating many unique teas, where a specific village may craft the tea to a characteristic and ownable shape. What emerges maybe the very large and thin leaves of Dragon Well Green Tea or the tight bullets of Gunpowder Tea.

Step 4 - ‘Drying’: the process varies from producer to producer and is sometimes integral to the shaping process. But in a nutshell, the Green Tea is heated in pans or ovens to remove remaining water content and ensure it is dry and stable for packaging.

Our spirit delivers no ordinary products

  • FAQ

    Does green tea include caffeine and is there more or less than black tea and coffee?
    Yes it does, and it varies. All tea leaves, just like coffee, contain caffeine. Tea usually has a lower level of caffeine than coffee, which averages around 95mg for a normal cup of coffee. But it is impossible to give a precise answer, because there are so many variables at play - the length of brew time, the amount of tea used, the age of the leaf, the provenance of the leaf. Even the temperature of the water. Our best advice is to treat all tea and coffee similarly if you need to manage your caffeine intake.

    I’ve heard that tea contains theanine. What is it and what does it do?
    Tea does indeed contain theanine, which is an amino acid [the building blocks of proteins]. Tea is one of only a few sources of theanine. It represents about 1% of dry weight and is at its highest concentrate in shade-grown teas like matcha and gyokuro. Whilst not yet proven in scientific studies that would permit specific health claims to be made, it is believed by many to be able to reduce mental and physical stress, promote relaxation and a sense of well-being. But not only that, it is more recently being thought to aid cognitive function. It’s one explanation for tea’s famous ability to create calm in a crisis [the Great British solution to all problems – ‘putting the kettle on’] and to stimulate when a little boost is required.

  • Delivery & Returns

    UK Standard Delivery: £3.95
    UK Next Day Delivery (mainland UK only): £9.95 (Order before 12pm)
    International Delivery is available, please see our delivery page for details. For more information and Terms & Conditions, please see our Delivery page.

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