This flavorful, satisfying decaffeinated tea is from the Courtlodge Estate in the Nuwara Elya region of Sri Lanka, one of the top Ceylon tea estates for quality. The FP leaf style retains its quality during the decaffeination process, resulting in a tea that tends bright with coppery notes.
We thoroughly scrutinize our decaffeinated teas to ensure that they stand up to our quality specifications. All of our decaffs are processed using the Canadian 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. We used Courtlodge estate for this estate decaf because Courtlodge gives us the character we are looking for - A flavorful and satisfying tea;
Ingredients: Artisan black tea
Origin: Sri Lanka
Courtlodge is one of the top Ceylon tea estates for quality; we have visited Courtlodge and confirmed that they undertake proper manufacturing techniques, keep plucking standards high, and reinvest in the estate and its personnel; but most importantly we have found that Courtlodge estate tea retains it's character under Co2 decaffeination processes much better than other teas we have tested.
Typically quality of the tea is judged by hundreds of the tea tasters around the world. On a weekly basis raucous lively auctions are held in various producing countries where world prices are set. Tasters are looking for similar characteristics, so in the matter of a few seconds the value of the tea is established according to supply and demand functions and quality gradients.
Water Temperature: Just off the Boil (205 degrees)
Water Quality: Best with Spring Water
Amount of Leaf (per 6 fl oz water): 1 tsp. to 1 Tbl.(2.5 grams)
Steep Time: 2--4 minutes
Number of Infusions: 1
When measuring it is best to weigh your tea. (I use a small pocket scale. We have a few or you can get good inexpensive scales at Old Will Knotts) Measuring volume with a teaspoon or tablespoon is not accurate because whole leaf teas take up much more space than broken, graded teas.
We highly recommend brewing your tea in a teapot or mug with a removable infuser so that you can remove the leaves at the end of the steeping time. Whole leaf teas of this quality need room to unfurl and expand in the water in order to perform their "magic." However, leaving the tea leaves in the water will result in an over-infused, bitter tea. If you want a stronger cup of tea increase the amount of leaf rather than the steeping time. If you don't have a removable infuser, you can brew the loose leaves directly in the pot. At the end of the steeping time, pour all of the tea into a warm serving pitcher or pot.
