Castle and Fables Sowmee White Tea

White tea is very different from other types of tea such as green or black tea. White tea leaves, for example, are plucked from a special varietal tea bush called Narcissus or chaicha bushes. Secondly, the leaves are not steamed or pan-fired (the process used in green teas) or fermented and fired (the process used in black tea); instead, the leaves are naturally withered and dried in the sun. If mechanical drying is required, it is a baking process at temperatures less that 40°C. Thirdly, only special "two leaves and a bud" are selected. These leaves must show a very light-green, almost grey-white colour and be ideally be covered with velvet peach fuzz down. 

Sowmee is one of the lower grades of white tea, but despite this it has the properties attributed to white teas. The leaves for Sowmee are plucked during late April, May and June. The lack of processing and hand selection is evident in the leaf appearance of Sowmee as it is somewhat mixed, flaky and flat. This Sowmee has a more pronounced taste profile, almost like an oolong tea. Many white tea drinkers prefer this cup in that there is a "substance" to the taste compared to the delicate nuances of other white teas.

• Cup characteristics: delicious toasty character with body reminiscent of oolongs; lingering taste that encourages another cup
• Ingredients: white tea
• Ingredients from: China
• Region(s): Fujian Province
• Growing altitudes: 1,500 to 4,900 feet above sea level
• Grade(s): Spring Grade #1
• Manufacture type(s): non-fermented, traditional process, naturally withered and dried, small-batch crafted, hand-sorted
• Antioxidant level: high
• Caffeine level: low
• Kosher: yes
• Vegetarian: yes
• Vegan: yes
• Artisanal notes: small-batch blended and packed in Canada
• Infusion: tending orange red with golden notes
• Shelf life: 7 years (sealed); or 2 years (once opened)
• Dimensions: 1"L x 6"W x 9"H (30-day supply); or 3"L x 6"W x 9"H (90-day supply)
• Weight: up to 75 g (30-day supply); or up to 250 g (90-day supply)
• Country of origin: Canada

Includes:
• Castle and Fables Sowmee White Tea

Delivery Information:
• Physical address required—no P.O. boxes
• Please allow 7 to 15 business days for delivery

Warranty Information:
This product comes with a 1-year warranty through the manufacturer.