Tea Report
Tree frog green tea
CANADA
New tea growers Victor Vesely and Margit Nellemann this year offered two specialty teas produced from their six-year old hardy plants that have survived regular winter snowfalls at the 11-acre organic farm in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.
The spring-picked organic tree frog green is named for the tree frogs that are heard in the meadows and wetlands that surround the farm, and sold for $350 per 25 grams.
And the swallow tale oolong, so called for the swallows that settle on the farm in late spring each year and are harbingers of longer warmer summer days to come. The oolong yielded beautiful amber liquor that was smooth and buttery with honey notes.
Teas are hand-picked, withered, rolled and bruised to provoke partial oxidation, then panned, and cooled and baked several times before being finished in the wok. The teas were presented in different quantities in stylish black rice paper pouches.
Learn more: www.teafarm.ca