Organic Schizandra White Tea

Our blend of organic white tea and schizandra berries is not your average tea! Schizandra (aka "Magnolia Vine") is a genus of hardy deciduous climbing shrubs native to East Asia. Schizandra berries are given the name wu wei zi in Chinese, which translates as "five flavor fruit" because they exhibit all five basic flavors in Chinese herbal medicine: salty, sweet, sour, pungent (spicy), and bitter. This complex flavor profile plays a supporting role to the fresh, smooth and aromatic character of the organic tea leaves and sweet-citrusy touch of tangerine flavor. A knock-out choice hot or cold!

Ingredients: organic white tea, organic schizandra berries and natural tangerine flavor

Serving Size: one generous tablespoon per 8 oz cup of water

We at Arbor Teas firmly believe that tea should be brewed to suit your personal taste. With that being said, here are some recommendations to get you started, but please remember you can make adjustments based on your own personal taste.

There are three main considerations when brewing tea: quantity of tea, water temperature and steeping time.

Quantity of tea: one generous tablespoon per 8 oz cup of water

Water temperature: use water that has been heated until bubbles begin to form on the bottom of the pot (180° F)

Steeping time: 2-3 minutes

Tip #1: Use fresh water whenever possible - water that has been sitting in your kettle overnight may impart a flat or stale taste to your tea. Be careful not to boil your water for too long. Over boiled water can sometimes impart an unwanted taste.

Tip #2: Keep in mind that brewing your tea for too long can extract undesirable bitterness from the leaves, so steeping time matters! For a stronger brew, don’t steep longer, just use more tea.

Learn more from our step-by-step guides on how to brew loose leaf tea, how to make iced tea, and how to make tea lattes. And don’t forget to check out our Eco-Brewing Tips, too!

How to Brew Loose Tea

How to Make Iced Tea

How to Make Tea Lattes

Eco-Brewing Tips

 

There are five significant components found in all tea from the plant camellia sinensis: essential oils, which are the source of tea’s delicious flavor and aroma; polyphenols, which are antioxidants that provide the tea’s brisk flavor and many of its health benefits; phytonutrients, which are small amounts of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids including L-theanine (a very rare molecule that has been found in only three sources including camellia sinensis!) ; enzymes; and methylxanthines, which are a family of alkaloids that include caffeine. Each of these components work differently in the human body and a full description is best left to a medical journal. However, recent research exploring the potential health attributes of tea is leading many scientists to agree that tea, may contribute positively to a healthy lifestyle.

For a more in-depth discussion of Tea and Health Benefits check here.

For a more in-depth discussion of Tea and Caffeine check here.

Tea Health Benefits

All About Caffeine

 

Citrus and Tea Cream Pie: Schizandra and Tangerine

The original inspiration for this recipe came from Martha Stewart as a chamomile version of lemon meringue pie in a homey cornmeal crust. You could alter the recipe by subbing in tangerine and organic schizandra white tea for a fresh summer treat. Check here to view the full recipe for the Citrus and Tea Cream Pie!

Tea-cured Salmon

Tea-curing salmon is basically a variation on gravadlax, but with tea leaves instead of dill. Just imagine the flavor potential tea offers! Check here to view the full recipe for Tea-Cured Salmon with Schizandra White Tea!