Organic Teas (Camellia sinensis)

After trying many teas available locally, we found these elsewhere. It was impossible to go back. We think you will also discover this when you try them. From the roasted nutty flavour of the Light Oolong to the mysterious sweet earthy flavour of the Dragon Well, to the indescribable Emerald Cloud: the range and intensity of the aromas and flavours make each one a unique experience. And there is none of the harshness that is typical of many teas, just a smooth silky texture.

Teas have many health benefits, and they're a perfect digestive aid for the end of a meal or snack. (Try one after a Fruit'n Seed Bar!) But most teas are heavily sprayed in countries with less stringent rules than here. All our teas are third party certified organic, with the exception of one white tea which is organically grown but not yet certified. We don't know if this is the main reason for the great difference between the teas we carry and most other teas, but we are very glad to have found these. Even other organic teas we have tried do not compare in quality or price.

All our teas are loose leaf because the quality is so much better than any bagged tea.

Green Tea, Organic
Each of the following is completely different in aroma and flavour.

Premium Sencha
50g / $4.80; 100g / $7.90
Popular in Japan, low caffeine, smooth and full bodied.
Steep: 1/2 to 1 1/2 tsp per serving at 72-74⁰ C for 3 1/2minutes.

Green Peace
50g / $3.80; 100g / $5.90
A classic green tea with very little caffeine. Light, relaxing, tasty.
Steep: 1 tsp to 1 Tbsp per serving at 75-82⁰ C for 2.5-3 minutes.

Superior Gunpowder
50g / $4.40; 100g / $7.00
Rich, smooth and full-bodied, without the smoky flavour.

Emerald Cloud
50g / $4.90; 100g / $8.00
Distinctive fresh taste, intricate fruity aroma, very light. Emerald infusion.
Steep: 3/4 - 2 tsp per serving at 73-77⁰ C for 2.5-3 minutes.

Ming Mei
50g / $4.60; 100g / $7.50
Full bodied, richly fragrant. An "eyebrow tea" grown in high mountains.
Steep: 1 - 2 tsp per serving at 74-76⁰ C for 2.5-3.5 minutes.

Da Zhang Mountain  (Fair traded)
50g / $4.30; 100g / $7.00
Dark green tea, rich in flavour, with a subtle hint of black tea.
Steep: 1 - 2 tsp per serving at 72-75⁰ C for about 3 1/2 minutes.

Maojian
50g / $6.50; 100g / $11.20
Nutty, rich flavour with a touch of smoke. Very good after a heavy meal.
Steep: 1 - 2 tsp per serving at 74-78⁰ C for 4 - 4 1/2 minutes.

Silver Hook
50g / $6.10; 100g / $10.50
Exotic fruity aroma, reminiscent of longan or lichee.
Steep: 1/2 - 1 tsp per serving at 73-76⁰ C for 3 1/2 - 4 minutes.

Genmaicha
50g / $4.70; 100g / $7.70
Earthy flavour of green tea combined with nutty roasted rice. This is the tea served in Japanese restaurants.
Steep: 1 - 3 tsp per serving at 73-74⁰ C for 2.5 - 3 minutes.

Kukicha
50g / $4.90; 100g / $8.10
Hints of lemon, chocolate in a smooth, slightly bitter roasted twig tea.

Hojicha
50g / $4.70; 100g / $7.70
Japanese style roasted tea leaves, with a nutty roasted flavour.

Specialty Green Tea, Organic
Top quality, hand picked and hand produced teas.

Dragon Well
50g / $7.10; 100g / $12.40
Mysterious sweet earthy aroma, complex bouquet. One of the most valued teas in China.
Steep: 1 - 2 tsp per serving at 80-85⁰ C for 4-4.5 minutes.

Spring Dragon Well
50g / $8.00; 100g / $14.20
An earlier picking of young, tender spring leaves and buds, more subtle flavour.
Steep: 1 - 2 tsp per serving at 77-81⁰ C for almost 4 minutes.

Green Spiral Leaf
50g / $6.70; 100g / $11.70
Subtle and sensual, one of the best green teas in China.

Green Spiral
50g / $7.70; 100g / $13.10
White, velvety tips and young leaves, with a light resin flavour.
Steep: 1/2 - 1 1/2 tsp per serving at 73-76⁰ C for 3 1/2 - 4 minutes.

Melon Seed
50g / 6.40; 100g / $11.00
Smooth, fresh taste with a hint of musk
Steep: 1 - 2 tsp per serving at 72-75⁰ C for about 4 minutes.

Sweet Orchid
50g / $6.60; 100g / $11.40
A luxurious tea of orchid-shaped buds. The sweetly delicate fragrance comes from the roasting process, not flowers.
Steep: 1 - 3 tsp per serving at 72-74⁰ C for 4 1/2 - 5 minutes.

Yellow Mountain Tips
50g / $8.90; 100g / $16.10
Hand-crafted from spring buds, very fragrant, smooth and luxurious!

Emerald Tips  (wildcrafted)
50g / $6.70; 100g / $11.60
Wildcrafted in high mountains. Delicate flavour and emerald infusion.

Green Needle 
50g / $6.90; 100g / $12.10

Taiping Houkui 
50g / $9.10; 100g / $16.40

Black Tea, Organic
Unblended pure black tea.

Ceylon  (Fair traded)
50g / $4.70; 100g / $7.70
An Orange Pekoe type of tea, first grade. Rich and smooth.
Steep: 0.5 - 1.5 tsp per serving at 87-92⁰ C for 3-3.5 minutes.

English Breakfast  (Fair traded)
50g / $4.70; 100g / $7.70
Thick-bodied and malty, yet very smooth tasting.
Steep: 0.5 - 1.5 tsp per serving at 86-90⁰ C for 3-3.5 minutes.

Keemon Black
50g / $4.20; 100g / $6.60
Chinese black tea, smooth, mellow and richly aromatic.

Keemon Maofeng
50g / $6.80; 100g / $11.90
A premium black tea, sweetly fragrant, complex, with a hint of malt.
Steep: 0.5 - 1.5 tsp per serving at 88-90⁰ C for 4-4.5 minutes.

Yun Nan
50g / $5.00; 100g / $8.20
One of the best black teas in China, rich, sweet and lightly malty.
Steep: 3/4 - 1 1/2 tsp per serving at 80-83⁰ C for 4-4.5 minutes.

Black Dragon Pearl
50g / $8.60; 100g / $15.40
Large pearls of buds and top leaves, fresh fruity flavour.

Black Peony Rosette
4pc / $5.00; 8 pc / $8.70

Pu-Erh
50g / $4.50; 100g / $7.20
Earthy flavour unlike any other tea. It aids in digestion of fat and has a deep red infusion. This is the tea served in Cantonese restaurants.
Steep: 3/4 - 1 1/2 tsp per serving at 80-83⁰ C for 3-3.5 minutes.

Lapsang Souchong
50g / $5.00; 100g / $8.20
Amber infusion, malty, with pine smoke... far more subtle and refined than the usual Lapsang Souchong.

Oolong Tea, Organic
Partially fermented, with some properties of green and some of black tea.

Wuyi Oolong
50g / $5.00; 100g / $8.20
Smooth, roasted chestnut flavour with a tangy aroma hinting at Pu-Erh.
Steep: 1.5 - 3 tsp per serving at 80⁰ C for about 3 minutes.

Iron Goddess of Mercy
50g / $7.50; 100g / $13.20
Natural gardenia fragrance resulting from a complex method of processing the tea leaves. Inhale the vapours while it's fresh.
Steep: 1.5 - 3 tsp per serving at 80⁰ C for about 3 minutes.

Yellow Tea
50g / $4.70; 100g / $7.60
Lightly fermented, with yellow leaves and infusion, rich roasted fragrance.

Scented Tea, Organic
Green and black teas that have been scented.

Scented Da Zhang (Fair traded)
50g / $4.70; 100g / $7.60
Rich, dark green tea, very lightly scented with jasmine.
Steep: 1 - 2 tsp per serving at 72-75⁰ C for about 3.5 minutes.

Flowery Jasmine
50g / $4.40; 100g / $7.10
Green tea with lots of jasmine fragrance, highly aromatic.

Jasmine
50g / $5.90; 100g / $10.10
Green tea with deep, long-lasting fragrance of fresh jasmine flowers. Very high quality, without the spent flowers.
Steep: 1/2 - 1 tsp per serving at 74-78⁰ C for about 3 minutes.

Jasmine Jade Fire
50g / $7.10; 100g / $12.40
Small dark green pellets, richly scented with fresh jasmine, deep and full flavour.

Jasmine Dragon Pearls
50g / $8.20; 100g / $14.70
Pure buds scented with Jasmine and rolled into pearls to retain fragrance.

Osmanthus & Black Tea
50g / $5.20; 100g / $8.60
Tiny wild osmanthus flowers add a subtle fruity aroma.

Earl Grey (Fair traded)
50g / $5.10; 100g / $8.40
Strong, fresh oil of bergamot mixed with a rich Orange Pekoe tea.
Steep: 1 - 2 tsp per serving at 80-84⁰ C for about 3 minutes.

White Tea
White tea is unprocessed, with flavours more subtle than green tea.

Silver Needle   (not certified organic)
50g / $7.90; 100g / $14.10
Early spring buds, covered with white down. An outstanding white tea, nutty and sweet.
Steep: 2 - 4 tsp per serving at 73-75⁰ C for about 3.5 minutes.

Mountain Silver Needle
50g / $9.10; 100g / $16.40
Grown in high mountains, delicate, mild and clear taste.

Fragrant Silver Needle
50g / $9.90; 100g / $18.10

White Peony Leaf
50g / $4.90; 100g / $8.10
Sweet and almost chocolaty, darker infusion.

White Peony
50g / $6.20; 100g / $10.60
Top spring leaves and buds, sweet, chocolaty with a hint of resin.
Steep: 1.5 - 3 tsp per serving at 74-77⁰ C for about 4 minutes.

King of White Peony
50g / $7.20; 100g / $12.70
Sweet and almost chocolaty, darker infusion.

Optimal steeping temperatures and times vary for different teas, and they are listed above as well as on the labels. Steeping tea in water that’s too hot, and steeping it too long can result in a harsh or bitter brew, even with good quality tea. The suggested quantities, temperature and steeping times are guidelines to help you get the most from these teas. Try starting here and then adjust to your own taste. Enjoy.

1. Medicinal Plants of China by James Duke and Edward Ayensu, 1985, Vol. 2, p. 620