White tea - quite possibly the most delicately flavored beverage available in the world today. Although they are generally associated with China, and in particular Fujian province, white teas of very high quality have been produced in India for many years. Not as long as in China however where white tea has been produced since at least the 12th century. At that time, the Emperor Hui Tsung declared that it was the finest tea available in all of the country. In India, although white tea may not have as much history, it is still highly esteemed. Why? Well, legend has it in some circles that Darjeeling white tips, was the favorite tea of none other than Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, one of the first two men to Summit Mount Everest. (If that’s not a healthy endorsement for a tea we don’t know what is!)
Tenzing Norgay grew up surrounded by tea plantations and soaring mountain peaks in the town of Darjeeling. Typically, a steaming pot of tea would have been on the boil in his home nearly every minute of the day. Although most of his fellow Sherpas drank a more traditional cup of black tea or spiced chai, Tenzing apparently preferred to quaff piping bowls of fresh White Tips. And why not? White Tip is one of the world’s finest teas. The tea is produced using the two leaves found around a new tea shoot at the very top of the bushes. These are hand sorted and then gently steamed and dried under a soft heat. The result is an incredibly light fresh flavor with mild muscatel notes, typical of all good Darjeelings, rounded by underlying tones of white wine. Pair the unbelievable flavor with the fact that White Tips contain at least 3 times the antioxidant polyphenols of green or black teas, and have lower levels of caffeine, and you have a winning cup.
Our Darjeeling White Tips tea is non fermented, orthodox, naturally withered and dried, small batch crafted and hand sorted. It is perfect any time of day, and is a tea that you’ll brew again and again.
Try a cup in the morning, or as a palate cleanser after a spicy meal - stunning!