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East Frisian Tea
Black Tea Organic

Name: East Frisian Tea
SKU: 7647-bio
Price: 11.90 EUR
Availability: InStock

Premium 90 P.

SKU

7647-bio

Our wonderfully rich and robust organic East Frisian Tea made from equal parts Assam and Ceylon. This harmoniously balanced in-house black tea blend comes in a large 200g bag and is best enjoyed the traditional East Frisian way with rock sugar and a drop of heavy cream.

Character	Solid, aromatic, sweet and sour, astringent, stimulating
Tea Farms	Assam: Hathikuli Estate, Assam, India Ceylon: Collective of family-run farms, Sri Lanka
Harvest	Assam: July to October, rain/monsoon flush Ceylon: September
Leaf	Assam: TGFOP (Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe) Ceylon: Flowery Pekoe
Cultivar	Assam: Camellia sinensis var. assamica Ceylon: Camellia sinensis var. sinensis
Altitude	Assam: 75m Ceylon: 600-1200m
Oxidation	Full
Processing	Orthodox: Hand-picked, withered, hand-rolled, oxidised, oven-dried
Cultivation	EU Organic-certified
Grade	90/100 P. (Black Tea category) – Premium

In stock

Assam
Stretching across 15km of land between the Golaghat and Karbi-Anglong districts, the Hathikuli Estate is one of the largest certified organic tea farms in the renowned Assam Valley, at the northeastern tip of India. Humid Summers, mild Winters and a high annual rainfall in this region encourages rapid plant growth and large harvests throughout the year. The estate is located right next to the Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site in the floodplains of the Brahmaputra River, famous for hosting the world's largest population of Indian one-horned rhinos. The lush meadows and dense forests are also home to many other wild animals including elephants that frequently roam the estate – hence the name Hathikuli: from the Assamese words "hathi" (elephant) and "kuli" (frequent).

Ceylon
The Ceylon tea that makes up the other half of this East Frisian blend comes from a collective of organic, family-run tea farms near the town of Gampola in the Kandy district of Sri Lanka. This mutually supportive collective actively promotes a holistic shift towards organic farming on the island by generously sharing agricultural knowledge with other farmers, paying them fair and sustainable prices as well as sharing a percentage of the profits.

Flavour

Blended by our in-house tea sommeliers, our premium organic East Frisian tea balances the tart notes of Assam with the malty sweetness of Ceylon for a wonderfully rich and robust brew. This strong, aromatic black tea can be drunk on its own or with milk – but is best enjoyed the traditional East Frisian way with rock sugar and a drop of heavy cream. So central is this tea ritual to Ostfriesen culture that in 2016 UNESCO recognised the East Frisian tea ceremony (outlined in the Brewing Guide below) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Leaf

Dark, small, finely formed

Cup

Copper-orange cherry wood

The most oxidised and globally consumed tea, black tea, like all teas, is made from Camellia sinensis. In contrast to green tea, the leaves are not heated/fixed after withering to prevent further oxidation. Instead they are vigorously rolled to break down the cellular structure and release the enzymes responsible for oxidation. These enzymes then react with oxygen in the air to form dark-coloured compounds called flavonoids, resulting in the leaves changing colour from green to black and developing their flavour and aroma. Black tea originates from China, where it is called Hong Cha, literally "red tea", after the glowing red-orange colour of the brew. The flavour of black teas vary considerably from light, sweet and fruity to strong, malty and smoky, depending on where they are grown and the level of oxidation they undergo.

We go to great lengths to identify the finest organic tea farms across the world’s most celebrated terroirs. All our teas are sourced directly from the farmer and, with a few exceptions, are certified organic or come from pesticide-free farms. Each batch of tea for every harvest is tested for pesticides and other pollutants in an independent German lab to ensure they meet our strict quality standards as well as HACCP food safety requirements.

Premium Organic Teas

Our comprehensive portfolio focuses on organic, single-origin teas sourced directly from renowned farms. We believe in creating partnerships with farmers who share our values and are committed to sustainable, responsible tea cultivation. Thanks to these strong relationships our exciting range is constantly growing and evolving. As an international team of dedicated and passionate tea experts, we are committed to preserving centuries-old tea culture while ensuring it remains relevant and continues to bring joy in the present. About Yoshi En.

Cultivation & Processing

Ostfriesentee – "East Frisian Tea"

Tucked away in the northeastern corner of Germany, the historic region of East Frisia is quietly home to the biggest tea drinkers on the planet, who have enjoyed a unique tea tradition for around 300 years. When East Frisians were first introduced to different types of tea in the 18th century, they quickly developed a fondness for the strong taste of Assam, from the region of the same name in India. Assam tea is known for its strong aroma and ability to retain its characteristic flavour even after the addition of sugar and cream as per the East Frisian tea ceremony, and so became the basis of Ostfriesentee. Over time this has gradually been refined and mixed with other types of black tea to add nuance and complexity, such as Ceylon from Sri Lanka or even floral Darjeelings. For our premium organic in-house blend, our tea sommeliers stayed true to the classic with a bitter Assam combined with a sweet and malty Ceylon for a balanced, highly satisfying tea.

Organic Certification

Preparation

Brewing Guide

Steep 2 heaped tsp (5g) in 200–300ml water at 85–90°C for 2 minutes.

This tea is best enjoyed with rock sugar and heavy cream following the East Frisian Tea Ceremony:

Preheat teapot then brew tea with boiling water, preferably using soft water to get the best flavour.
Place some rock sugar, or "Kluntje", into teacups then pour over steeped tea and listen to the sugar crackle.
Then take a teaspoon of heavy cream and drop it over the edge of the cup and watch it disperse into clouds, or "Wulkje".
Drink without stirring the tea and savour each layer: from creamy, to bitter then sweet.
As per tradition, make sure to repeat the above steps at least twice more.

Recommended Teapot

Black tea is best brewed in a classic teapot made of porcelain or glass.

Packaging & Storage

Packed in a high-quality, airtight, resealable standing zipper pouch with nine protective layers to preserve flavour and prevent contamination. After opening, press out as much air as possible when snapping shut. Alternatively place tea leaves in a stylish tea caddy.

East Frisian Tea Black Tea Organic

Tea Farm

Character