BRIGHTEN THE MIND
flavour profile: a brisk, strong tea with tangy citrus notes
ingredients: Tanzanian black tea grown in the Usambara region
Important Update
This tea is experiencing a change in appearance due to climate change. Harvests are also smaller than usual, so larger sizes are not currently on offer.
Extremes of weather & changes to rainfall patterns put stress on plants. Tea plants respond in a variety of ways. In the case of TANZANIA GOLD, it is causing the raw leaf material to become more fragile, which leads to a crumbling effect during manufacture.
This tea deliberately undergoes a controlled cutting method during manufacture, which creates a bold, rich, zesty taste that would otherwise not occur. If this step were eliminated, the tea would not taste nearly as delicious! However, for now, the tea develops a more powder-like finished product, rather than the tiny granules that used to result.
We have updated the photo so you know what to expect.
The good news is that the flavour of this harvest is full & rich, & quite similar to what is usual for this tea. However, the leaf material is definitely finer.
Weather continually impacts tea & it is difficult to predict in what ways. Future harvests may return to a more normal look, or they may result in differences to the taste.
We will continually update you here so that you know what’s brewing with this tea!
Please note that as tea is a food product, we cannot accept returns or exchanges. We recommend purchasing a smaller quantity to see how you like it.
While climate change is creating challenging times for tea farmers, we are proud to continue to support eco-friendly tea production.
It’s more important than ever, as eco-friendly, organic methods have a lower carbon footprint & result in harder plants (which are more likely to survive in difficult conditions).
We also support:
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the protection & proliferation of tea biodiversity & the use of heritage & native varietals of tea plants (instead of cloned plants & monoculture, which is what the majority of the tea industry uses).
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small producers, artisanal craftsmanship & ethical tea production, which translate to higher wages, stable incomes & better working conditions for workers.
Brewing Instructions
Pour 2 cups of water over 1 tsp. of SILK ROAD premium quality, organic loose tea. This may not seem like a lot of tea but SILK ROAD teas are incredibly fresh & flavourful, which means that you don’t need very much in order to produce a delicious cup of tea. Using any more tea leaves can result in a cup of tea that is too strong.
- herbal tea bring water to a full, rolling boil | steep 7-10 minutes
- wellness tea bring water to a full, rolling boil | cover & steep 7-10 minutes
- green tea bring water to just before the boil begins | steep 1-3 minutes
- black tea bring water to a full, rolling boil | steep 2-5 minutes
- white tea bring water to just before the boil begins | steep 3-5 minutes
- oolong tea bring water to the boil | steep 5-7 minutes
Sizing Information
LOOSE TEA SIZES
TASTER contains approx 3 tsp of tea. Packaged in a foil lined, small envelope.
TIN contains approx 40 tsp of tea. Packaged in a food grade stainless steel tin. Tin dimension is 8.3 cm (3.25") in diameter x 5.5 cm (2.125") tall
TIN REFILL contains approx 40 tsp of tea. Packaged in a small brown paper bag. The bag does not have a zip top and is not designed for storage. Transfer to tin or airtight container immediately after it arrives to you.
BARISTA is a special value size - get 10 cups free, compared to the price of a tin! Contains approx 90 tsp of tea. Packaged in a zip top kraft satchel. If you previously purchased the 80 cup tin, we recommend getting one BARISTA satchel. It contains more tea, and is offered at a higher savings. If you previously purchased the 300 cup tin, we recommend getting two BARISTA satchels. Please note that BARISTA is not a price increase as compared to the 300 cup size, unless the tea being purchased has been impacted by price increase.
We have been delaying price increases as long as possible, and have recently implemented price increases on some teas. We have done our best to keep price increases as minimal as possible.
SERVING SIZE Our teas are made with premium botanicals, bursting with superb flavour and nutrient richness. You need less per serving to make a delicious cup of tea! Our recommended serving size is 1 teaspoon for 2 cups of tea.
STORAGE & FRESHNESS To maintain tea's freshness, taste and nutrient benefits, store away from exposure to heat, light and moisture. While the BARISTA size comes in a zip top satchel, if it takes longer than a few months to consume the tea, we recommend transferring it to a glass mason jar. It is more airtight and can offer better protection against humidity and moisture, as long as you store the jar out of direct light.
Interested in purchasing tea by specific weight amounts? This is not an option at this time. Our teas are only available in preset sizes shown here.
Wondering if some of the tin sizes we used to carry will return, and if so, when? Supply chain issues are impacting the availability of many items, including tins. We're doing our best to provide you with the best value and options, and may return to past packaging formats if and when possible. We recently introduced the TASTER and BARISTA sizes in response to supply chain shortages of tins, because some tin sizes that we used to offer are not available at this time. If you previously purchased the 80 cup tin, we recommend getting one BARISTA satchel. If you previously purchased the 300 cup tin, we recommend getting two BARISTA satchels.
