lichee congou
light liquoring with refreshing flavour of lichee fruit

origin
china

infusion
light with touch of coppery color

information
tea was reportedly discovered in china around 2737 b.c. by the emperor chen nung when a tea leaf fell into his bowl of hot water.  this tradition of tea drinking became a integral part of society and was the preferred beverage for all walks of life;  from monks and mandarins to the nomadic tribesmen who traded horses for bricks of tea.  the japanese may have transformed tea drinking into a sacred ceremony, however, the chinese are credited with initiating the time honored ritual of offering a guest a cup of tea as a sign of hospitality.

scented teas have been around for a long time and are produced according to ancestral recipes. before the advent of essential oil extracts one of the easiest scents to duplicate was Lichee - a fruit that plays an important part in chinese life. the plantations would squeeze lichee fruits plucked from the trees which grew in the area. the result was a delicate and finely flavoured tea. today  the practice remains virtually the same, but essential oils are purchased  in huge drums  and used to scent the tea to meet the high volume demands from the global market.  the next time a guest drops by, why not offer a truly special cup of hospitality.

hot tea brewing method
bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. place 1 teaspoon of tea for each cup into 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). we recommend adding milk and sugar (if this is to your taste), but if you prefer your tea ‘straight-up’ it is equally acceptable and enjoyable.

ice tea brewing method
(to make 1 liter/quart): place 5 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. steep for 5 minutes. quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves. 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 double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water]