PEACE, JOY, BLESSINGS
flavour profile: a refreshing nectar of tropical & orchard fruits
ingredients: black tea, marigold petals, mango, apple, goji berries, vanilla bean
Net proceeds benefit the Victoria Chinatown Museum Society*. In Chinese culture, the phoenix is a joyful messenger of peace, prosperity & blessings.
The virtues of a phoenix are benevolence, knowledge, sincerity, righteousness & propriety. They inspire us to each act with kindness & courtesy for the benefit of all.
RED PHOENIX is crafted with ingredients that create a superb taste & honour Chinese traditions. Black tea in China is known as “red tea”, a colour of luck. Apples symbolise peace & generosity. Marigold represents good fortune & is called “chrysanthemum of 10,000 longevities". Goji berries reflect the treasures of wisdom that the Chinese community has introduced to the West. Mangoes represent the auspicious vitality of the sun. Vanilla brings harmony.
Naturally sweet, with a honey-kissed taste, RED PHOENIX is delicious hot or iced, without any sweetener.
*The Victoria Chinatown Museum Society is dedicated to the creation of a permanent museum to serve as a tribute to the vital role the Chinese community played in the cultural fabric of the City of Victoria & British Columbia. This will be a living museum honouring the past, present & future. The stories of Chinese Canadian pioneers within Victoria’s Chinatown, which was designated as a National Historic Site & is the oldest remaining Chinatown in North America, will become a hub for learning, tourism & celebration.
recipe ideas
ICED TEA: pour 1 cup boiling water over 2 teaspoons of tea. Steep 5 minutes, strain & refrigerate until cold. Add a splash of lychee, mango or apple juice instead of sweetener for an even more nectar-like taste. Increase the proportion of juice depending on your preference. Optional: add 1-2 ounces of your favourite spirit—rum, brandy, tequila, vodka, whiskey or gin.
TEA SLUSHIE: pour 1 cup boiling water over 3 tablespoons of tea. Steep 5 minutes & strain. Combine brewed tea with 3 cups ice & 1 cup coconut milk (or your favourite non-dairy milk) &/or lychee, mango or apple juice. Optional: add 1-2 ounces of your favourite spirit—rum, brandy, tequila, vodka, whiskey or gin. Blend well on high until combined for a sensational slushie. Makes approximately 1 litre.
TEA POPSICLES: pour 2 cups boiling water over 2 tablespoons of tea. Steep for 5 minutes & strain. Combine brewed tea with 1 cup lychee, mango or apple juice & 1 cup coconut milk or your fave non-dairy milk. Optional: add 3 tablespoons of sugar or other sweetener for extra sweetness & a sorbet-like texture. Pour into popsicle molds & freeze.
TEA SODA POP: fill glass with a few cubes of ice & add 1 tablepoon TEA SYRUP (recipe below). Top with 1 cup soda or sparkling water. Gently stir with a spoon to mix.
TEA SYRUP: pour 2 cups boiling water over 4 tablepoons of tea. Steep for 5 minutes & strain. Pour brewed tea into a medium-sized saucepan & add 1 cup sugar (white, brown or raw) OR 2 cups honey, maple syrup or agave nectar to saucepan & stir over medium heat until completely dissolved & the liquid is clear. Add syrup to stainless steel or heatproof container to cool, then place in refrigerator, or a cold water/ice bath. Store in fridge.
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 teas are sold in refillable tins to preserve the tea’s superb flavour, freshness and nutrients. Normally, we encourage you to bring your empty tins into our shops to refill. However, this is currently on pause due to COVID-19. We’re delighted to offer another eco-friendly, low-waste way to re-use your tins!
Brown bag refills are available when you purchase tea in-store and online. Simply select “refill” to receive your tea in a brown bag refill. Immediately transfer the tea to the original tin it came in, once the brown bag refill is home or has arrived in the mail. Brown bags are 100% recyclable, compostable, biodegradable and made of post-consumer recycled paper.
CAN I STORE TEA IN THE BROWN BAG REFILL? No, it is a short term method for transport only and is not suitable for storing. It will not maintain tea’s freshness, nutrients and flavour. It does not protect against exposure to air, liquid or moisture. Air exposure causes nutrient & flavour loss; liquid/moisture causes tea to mildew. As soon as you get home from the shop, or when it arrives in the mail, transfer tea immediately into Silk Road tins - they are designed to preserve the tea.
ABOUT TEA SIZES Refer to the above chart - our loose teas are sold by volume, not weight.
