For the consummate tea drinker, oolong teas hold a special place in their heart. While there is great attention given to the processing of all teas, oolongs require the hand of a skilled tea master to fully capture the spectrum of flavors oolong holds. The beauty of oolong, aside from the sweet- savory flavor, is that it falls somewhere between a black and green tea. So, when the afternoon sleepies start to come around and you need a little pick me up that won't keep you up all night, turn oolong. The caffeine content will be lower than black tea...
Take a moment with Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea Co. to check out our breakdown of the differences between these three tea varieties for a deeper understanding of their qualities. Make sure to check out the tea brewing guidelines below for how to brew your own perfect cup! Loose Leaf Tea Qualities Hand picked, hand rolled for quality control. Whole, unbroken leaves. Contains more essential oils which offer a fuller flavor. Can be steeped several times, depending on the type of tea. Contains higher amounts of polyphenols (a type of antioxidant) and chlorophyll (the cancer fighting compound found in green tea)....
Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea Co is over the moon excited to announce the newest addition to our Reserve Lot Coffee, Yemen Mocca Kholani Ecotact. We wanted to bring in something truly exotic for this holiday season and the Yemen Mocca has knocked our socks off here at the Roastery! Deep red fruity flavors, herbaceous aromas, with a smooth, satisfying finish, this selection is a perfect selection for the holiday season. "Kholani" or "Khulani" is a term of terroir distinction, similar to "Kona", that refers to high quality heirloom coffee varieties produced in the unique climate and soil of Yemen's...
Honey & Pulped Naturals: Before we jump into the honey prepped or honey processed coffees, let's get an understanding of naturally processed coffees. The short of it is, naturally produced coffees yield a sweeter cup profile. The beans are left with the cherry, mucilage and parchment still attached to the bean when dried. When executed properly during the fermentation, the bean will garner a robust natural sweetness and well rounded profile. There are three main categories when it comes to the honey prep process; yellow, red, and black. The other sub categories are; white and gold. A de-pulper machine removes...
The Origin of Matcha Stretching all the way back to the 17th century, matcha was first enjoyed by the Tang Dynasty in China. They found that by steaming the leaves they could form bricks, which would make it easier for sellers to take on trade travels. The tea bricks were prepared by roasting and grounding the leaves then mixing the tea powder with water and salt. Around the 10th century, a Japanese Buddhist monk, by the name of Eisai, returned to his home country after many years spent studying Buddhism in China. He brought with him the much revered matcha...
