Black Tea
Black teas are produced by subjecting the freshly plucked leaves of Camellia sinensis to a process of withering, rolling and drying. This processing oxidizes the leaf and allows many unique aroma and flavor elements to form. Black teas can be malty, floral, biscuity, smoky, brisk, fragrant and full-bodied. The robustness of black tea lends itself to the addition of sugar, honey, lemon, cream and milk. While black teas have more caffeine than green or white teas, they still have less than you would get in a cup of coffee. We source our black tea directly from the key tea-growing regions throughout the world.
Chai Tea
Chai is a special flavored tea beverage created in Kenya. Traditional chai is a strong black tea infused with aromatic spices, including black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom and others. Chai contains caffeine levels similar to black tea.
Green Tea
Green tea is uncured and possesses fresh, grassy, vegetal flavors due to the unique processing. Green tea leaves are plucked, withered, rolled and dried before any curing or oxidation takes place. Kenyan Green teas have the least caffeine of all true teas (Camellia sinensis).
Oolong Tea
Oolong is only partially oxidized after the fresh leaves are plucked and withered. Before the leaves are fully cured, a quick drying preserves the flavor and aroma elements of the green leaf and combines them with black tea characteristics that arise from the partial curing. Oolong has slightly less caffeine than black tea, but slightly more than green teas.
White Tea
White tea is made from the very young, unfurled leaf tips of Camellia sinensis. The delicate young leaves and buds are covered with soft, silvery white hairs…thus “white” tea. White teas are generally uncured in the style of green teas and are similarly very low in caffeine.
Herbal Teas (Tisanes)
Beverages brewed from herbs (or combinations of herbs) other than Camellia sinensis are technically “tisanes”, but are commonly referred to as “herbal teas.” The herbs are blended to create unique flavors and/or desired health benefits. Herbal teas do not contain caffeine, and have extra layers and nuances of flavor that are not attainable with true tea. These teas can be refreshing, calming, invigorating – or simply a delight to the senses.