You are purchasing one Xantou Mandarin Pu-Erh. The picture shows two so you can see the top on and off.

WEIGHT: Each Xantou Mandarin Orange is unique and weighs approximately one ounce.

CUP CHARACTERISTICS: Pu-erh is softened with sweet citrus notes. Cup opens with notes of sweet orange, earth, and damp moss. Spectacular tea.

INGREDIENTS: Black tea (Pu-erh style), Mandarin pieces

INGREDIENTS FROM: China

REGION(S): Yunnan Province

GROWING ALTITUDES: 1500 - 4900 feet above sea level

GRADE(S): Pu-erh OP (Orange Pekoe)

MANUFACTURE TYPE(S): Special pu-erh process, Hand crafted

ANTIOXIDANT LEVEL: High

CAFFEINE LEVEL: Medium

KOSHER: Yes

VEGETARIAN: Yes

VEGAN: Yes

ARTISANAL NOTES: Packed in Canada.

INFUSION: Tending burgundy red

INFORMATION:
Feeling lucky? If not, you might want to open up and enjoy one of our Pu-erh packed mandarins. Let us explain. In some parts of China, a popular custom is to give oranges as a gift on special occasions. The reason is that in Chinese, the word for orange sounds like "Ji" which means "good luck." Tea itself is also lucky. It was discovered purely by luck when some leaves from a tea tree fell into a pot of boiling water thousands of years ago. In our humble opinion, it would follow that these two ingredients packed together, as they are in Xantou Mandarin Black Pu-erh, produce a potent symbol of luck and delectable flavor! (Have we piqued your interest? Are you thirsting to know more about this unique tea? Well, you're in luck because we're going to tell you all about it.)

Where was black Pu-erh developed? Good question. While the exact origins of most Chinese Pu-erh teas have been lost to the mists of time and place, the origin of black Pu-erh can be pinpointed directly to the Kunming Tea Factory in the year 1972. In that year, the government of China, seeking to broaden its economic base, mandated that the Kunming factory develop a new, delicious tea that could be widely marketed. Drawing on centuries of experience, the tea masters of Kunming determined that a black Pu-erh was the ticket. (They were right, to this day black Pu-erh is the world's top-selling variety.)

What makes black Pu-erh tea different from other black teas? Great question. The answer is real fermentation and aging. Black Pu-erh undergoes a fermentation process in which the tea is processed and stored for a set period of time without being dried completely. The tea is usually either buried in the ground, stored in caves, or under damp heavy tarps. Fermenting over time imparts the earthy character typical of most Pu-erh teas.

OK. So why pack the tea in mandarin oranges? And here we have the best question of them all. One of the things you'll notice about this tea when you brew it is the absence of the heavy musty flavor characteristic of traditional Pu-Erh. Certainly, this character is still there but it is layered beneath sweet notes of citrus, the result of being packed in the orange before fermentation. As tea ages, it absorbs the flavor of the peel. (Note. The orange peel is flash dried under high heat to sterilize and kill off any microorganisms that may be present. Now lucky you, the best part, brewing a cup of this wonderful brew. Enjoy!

STEEPING TIME

TEA CUP	8oz (237ml)	10oz (296ml)	12oz (355ml)
AMOUNT	1 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon"	1 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon"	1.5 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon"
MILD	2-3 min	2-3 min	2-3 min
MEDIUM	4-5 min	4-5 min	4-5 min
STRONG	6-7 min	6-7 min	6-7 min

We recommend 4-5 min

TEA POT	18oz (532ml)	36oz (1064ml)	48oz (1419ml)
AMOUNT	2 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon"	4 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon"	6 heaping teaspoon of "The Perfect Measure Spoon"
MILD	2-3 min	2-3 min	2-3 min
MEDIUM	4-5 min	4-5 min	4-5 min
STRONG	6-7 min	6-7 min	6-7 min

We recommend 4-5 min.

SERVING RECOMMENDATIONS:
MILK OK, SUGAR OK, LEMON NO, MINT NO.


IDEAL BREWING TEMPERATURE: 100ºC/212ºF

HOT BREWING METHOD:
Bring filtered or freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Break tea apart and place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea for each 7-9oz/200-260ml of fluid volume in the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea).

ICED TEA BREWING METHOD (Pitcher): (To Make 1 Liter/Quart):
Break tea apart and place 6 slightly heaping teaspoons of loose tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 1¼ cups/315ml over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the tea. 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 increase the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water. (Note: Some luxury quality teas may turn cloudy when poured over ice. This is a sign of luxury quality and nothing to worry about.)

ICED TEA BREWING METHOD (Individual Serving):
Break tea apart and place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea into a teapot for each serving required. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 6-7oz/170-200ml per serving over the tea. Cover and let steep for 5 minutes. Add hot tea to a 12oz/375ml acrylic glass filled with ice, straining the tea. Not all of the tea will fit, allowing for approximately an additional ½ serving. Sweeten and/or add lemon to taste. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to increase the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted. (Note: Some luxury quality teas may turn cloudy when poured over ice. This is a sign of luxury quality and nothing to worry about!)

FOOD SAFETY ADVISORY:
We strongly recommend using filtered or freshly drawn cold water brought to a rolling boil when brewing all types of tea. Today's water has been known to carry viruses, parasites, and bacteria. Boiling the water will kill these elements and reduce the potential incidence of water-borne illnesses.

RECOMMENDATION:
We recommend the use of our '1 Cup of Perfect Tea' measuring spoon for the best results. Please contact Blue Monkey Tea to place an order.

ANTIOXIDANT BENEFIT:
For a greater antioxidant benefit brew longer and use more tea.