Tregothnan Earl Grey 50g Caddy
	Tea Garden Tea was first mentioned in British literature in 1615. The British took it to Africa and India, in fact wherever in the Empire it might be grown. Tregothnan has a history of botanical firsts and is home to original introductions of Magnolia and rarities from Darjeeling. These Magnolias now tower to 60ft and are among the worlds largest in cultivation. Tea comes from a special form of Camellia sinensis: Tregothnan was also first to grow Camellia ornamentally outdoors 200 years ago. The belief in doing things well has persevered at Tregothnan: the Estate has stayed within the same family since 1335. Seven years of trials have been undertaken to achieve these fine teas that really deserve the accolade ‘English Tea’! Creating Tregothnan Tea The search for the perfect tea was intensified when it was proven that high quality tea does well on the Estate in Cornwall. From tea bush to tea cup: the first fresh leaves are plucked at dawn by hand. The 2 leaves and a bud are quickly taken to the withering racks where they are usually laid, supported by bamboo. They leaves are gently withered to allow softening. Rolling then takes place if we are processing black tea. This can be literally rolling the leaves between two surfaces, traditionally by hand. Oxidation is then allowed by spreading on a surface at a controlled temperature- this stage is also known as fermentation. As the natural liquid in the cells interact the colour changes from green to brown. The final stage is then to dry the leaves to 2% moisture. Green tea varies from the above in that oxidation is replaced by steaming, this retains the green leaf colour. All processes are entirely free of chemicals and have been sustainable for 4 millennia! 36 hours after plucking the fresh leaves the tea is ready for drinking. We hope you enjoy the results of our passionate work with tea.