Anthony & Cleopatra Heart Black Tea
SKU:
$2.49
$2.49 - $19.62
per item
Description
The story of Mark Anthony and his star-crossed lover Cleopatra is one of the most famous love stories of all time. The cup produced is tremendous – dark, with deep notes of wine and subtle earth, full body and medium-long finish.
Tell Me MoreA bold taste profile with deep red wine notes. Reminiscent of seasonal Keemun.
INGREDIENTS: Black tea REGION(S): Yunnan Province GROWING ALTITUDES: 1500 - 4900 feet above sea level The tradition of pressing black teas into various forms and shapes dates back to the early Song Dynasty, 960 - 1279 BC. Sculptors and artisans would work with tea the way others worked with clay or textiles to form and mold delicate works of art. Unlike traditional art pieces however, these tea creations were never meant to be permanent, instead serving to represent the impermanence of life, love and happiness here on earth. In the modern era, the traditions continue and the stories and fables of life and love still serve as the inspiration for the creation of unique tea pieces. One such story, although it originally came from the Western tradition, inspired the manufacture of these tea hearts: the tragic tale of Anthony and Cleopatra. The story of Mark Anthony and his star-crossed lover Cleopatra is one of the most famous love stories of all time. Mark Anthony, living in Alexandria Egypt, falls in love and moves in with the Cleopatra. It would have all been very straightforward if not for the fact that he was already married to another woman back in Rome. Over the years, Anthony and Cleopatra are separated by trial, war and bloodshed, but are ultimately reunited in death. Anthony, unable to bear defeat in battle against Caesar, his legal brother in law, kills himself by falling on his sword. Hearing the news by messenger, Cleopatra follows suit and poisons herself with the venom of an asp, a deadly snake. Oh, the agony of the heart! And what better way to pay homage than through the agony of the leaf? (Agony of the leaf is a taster's term used to describe the unfurling of tea in boiled water.) These beautifully pressed Yunnan tea hearts serve as a testament to fractured love. Like love itself, the hearts are fragile and breakable, and when the trials and tribulations of life come to bear on it, can unravel. In the same way, boiling water poured over the tea hearts causes them to undo, infusing with rich, bold liquor. The cup produced is tremendous - dark, with deep notes of wine and subtle earth, full body and medium-long finish. Best enjoyed in the company of someone special. |
Brewing for Best ResultsIdeal Brewing Temperature: 209°F/98°C.
Minimum Brewing Temperature: 190°F/89°C. Bring filtered or freshly drawn cold water to 209°F/ 98°C. Break tea apart. Place 1 slightly heaping loose leaf teaspoon of loose tea per 8 oz of fluid water. Steep 3-5 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time, the stronger the tea). Acceptable Pairing Milk / Sweetener / Mint / Lemon |
Origin
Tea(s) From: China Region(s): Yunnan Province Ingredients
Luxury Ingredients: Black tea Iced Tea Instructions
SERVING THIS AS ICED TEA IS GENERALLY NOT RECOMMENDED. HOWEVER, SHOULD YOU WISH TO BREW IT ANYWAY, PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW: Per Serving: Bring filtered or freshly drawn cold water to 209°F/ 98°C. Break tea apart. With and infuser, use 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea per 6-7 oz of fluid water. Steep 5 minutes. Add filtered hot tea to 16 oz glass filled with ice. (Some luxury teas will turn cloudy when poured over ice). Per Pitcher: Makes 1 Quart. Bring filtered or freshly drawn cold water to 209°F/ 98°C. Break tea apart. Place 6 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea in a heat resistant container. Pour 1 ¼ cup of prepared water over the tea leaves. Steep 5 minutes. With a fine mesh sieve, filter the hot tea liquor to the serving pitcher filled with ice. Add cold filtered water to top off. (Some luxury teas will turn cloudy when poured over ice). Brewing Tips
Making an amazing cup of tea requires several things. High quality tea, filtered or freshly drawn cold water, correct water temperature, time of infusion, and filters/infusers. Unfiltered water or too hot of water can ruin the best of teas. Always use filtered or freshly drawn cold water. Any flavor from water treatments or heavy minerals such as lime or calcium can taint the water. Brew at the ideal temperature. Too hot of water can scorch the leaves and produce a bitter brew. If you find that the tea is still bitter following the recommended brewing temperature, try lowering the brew temperature another 5 to 10 degrees. Use infusers that allow the tea leaves to fully expand and has full contact with the water. Ditch the tea bags. Know the steeping time for your tea. Too long of steeping can make your tea bitter and undesirable. Too short of time will make a weak tea. Don’t make tea in the microwave. Food Safety
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 illness. Cool the water to the ideal brewing temperature before brewing. |