Country of Origin: China
Region: Hunan
Shipping Port: Shanghai
Grade: Sencha
Altitude: 3500 feet above sea level
Manufacture Type: Pan fired Green tea
Cup Characteristics: A green tea with typical green tea taste tending grassy. Surprisingly the decaffeination process does not alter the tea as much as the black teas
Infusion: Tending light and green

Information:
We thoroughly scrutinize our decaffeinated teas to ensure that they stand up to Canadian Quality specifications. All of our decaffs are processed using the Co2 Process. The advantage of this decaffeination process is that no chemical solvents are used to remove the caffeine. Also, using the naturally occurring Co2 in a circulation process which carefully uses high pressure and temperature to extract the caffeine, the origin distinct character of the tea is retained in the cup. There is a slight change in the character of the tea due to the process but the end result is an uncompromising cup of tea with no chemical overtones.

There is an old Chinese saying that there are seven matters related to the starting of a family's life: firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea. In the villages tea was brewed as follows. A clay teapot was filled 1/3rd with tea leaves, and fresh spring water was drawn and heated to about 160 degrees. Water was then poured onto the leaves and immediately poured off. This washed the leaves and started the leaves opening. The pot was then refilled and the tea allowed to infuse for 3-5 minutes. Following this the entire contents (except the leaves) were poured into small porcelain cups. If more another cup of tea was required heated water would be poured into the pot once again. To this day, in the countryside of China the tradition remains.

Chinese tea aficionados take their tea very seriously. To protect their tea from enemies - air, light, heat, and humidity - the tea is stored in an airtight tin or opaque ceramic pot. The rule of thumb is that green tea should be used right away since it tastes better with fresh leaves.

Hot tea brewing method: When preparing by the cup, this tea can be used repeatedly - about 3 times. The secret is to use water that is about 180�F or 90�C. Place 1 teaspoon in your cup, let the tea steep for about 3 minutes and then begin enjoying a cup of enchantment - do not remove the leaves from the cup. Once the water level is low - add more water, and so on and so on - until the flavor of the tea is exhausted. Look at the pattern of the leaves, they foretell life.

Alternatively as with all top quality teas, scoop 2-4 teaspoons of tea into the teapot, pour in boiling water that has been freshly drawn (previously boiled water has lost most of its oxygen and therefore tends to be flat tasting), steep for 2-4 minutes (to taste), stir (virtually all the leaves will sink), pour into your cup but do not add milk or sugar since green tea is enjoyed 'straight-up'.

Iced tea brewing method (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 5 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and top up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water.]