As we know all the tea leaves are coming from the very same species of tea bush, our beloved Camelia sinensis - the differences in terms of taste and mineral content are due to the phenomena called “fermentation”. On one hand, in case of the green tea, for example, the tea leaves are not fermented at all - on the other hand, there are partially and fully fermented teas as well. We consider as fully fermented tea only those whom proportion of fermented tea leaves is higher than 60%.
You may find in this category the gem of our selection, the most exclusive tea of all, the favorite of the British royal family - DongFang Mei Ren, aka The Oriental Beauty. You may enjoy its sweet, muscatel-like flavour even after ten brewings.
The other pearl of this category is the unique GABA tea, famous of its beneficial effects on our health - it is rich in caffeine, gives you the right energy boost in the morning of a difficult day.
The tea leaves of Oriental Beauty Tea are white, green, red, yellow and brown in appearance, as bright as flowers. The color of the tea soup is bright and vivid amber. On the bushes we can find the famous leafhoppers – the special aroma of Oriental Beauty tea is due to saliva of these little fellows. As the plant is trying to protect itself against the insects, they are producing more polyphenols and tannins which combined with the enzymes of the leafhopper’s saliva are resulting a faster fermentation hence a special, sweet aftertaste of the tea soup. In order to keep this special cooperation of the nature, no chemicals are used, the production of Oriental Beauty is fully eco-friendly.
Our farmer, Mr. Chen uses the traditional method of charcoal roasting to dry the tea leaves for three days and three nights with longan charcoal. The charcoal roasting method allows the far-infrared rays released by the longan charcoal to concentrate the aroma and taste of the tea. This method makes the aroma of honey, ripe fruit and tea soup quite full. After being stored for two years, the charcoal-roasted Oriental Beauty Tea has a richer fruity flavor.
Teas in general are used to be considered as beverages having an excellent effect on our overall health. Still, GABA tea is something different, which really deserves a more detailed description. GABA is an amino acid (Gamma-amynobutric acid), that is produced naturally in the human brain and is a significant chemical component in teas as well. GABA is responsible for blocking certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Although it may sound unsettling at first, what it does in fact is a real benefit for our body and wellbeing: it increases alpha waves in the brain – the same signals are activated when you meditate – while decreases anxiety and sends messages to the central nervous system, that ultimately leads to lower stress levels and enhances the feeling of relaxation. Some studies found that GABA’s benefits also include stabilizing blood pressure, relieving pain, burning fat and treating insomnia.
The method used to process GABA tea comes from Japan. Tea leaves are processed under anaerobic conditions- that is without oxygen – which results in an increased level of GABA. In practice it means that tea masters wrap the tea leaves in a damp cloth for at least 10 hours and this step is responsible for the increase of this precious amino acid.
What makes our GABA tea so special is, that it does not come in the usual ball-shape form; instead, it is strip-shape which causes active ingredients and stimulants to be released more easily. This beautiful tea varietal is the creation of tea master Mrs. Li and tea farmer Mr. Chou.
GABA tea’s appearance is very similar to other fully oxidized black teas with a clear and golden-amberish coloured tea soup. The sweet and fruity aroma of the brew is followed by a buttery mouthfeel. Its taste notes are mainly dominated by the flavours of apple pie and cookies. GABA is the perfect companion after a stressful day: it can calm your nerves like no other tea would.
