WHAT IS HAND-CRAFTED GREEN TEA ?

Handcrafted or hand-made teas are made by hand in small lots and not by a machine. That includes every step - plucking, processing, testing, blending and packaging. It’s painstakingly crafted by hand and that results in a work of art. Not surprisingly, handcrafted teas always invariably taste better. 

Tea super-brands found in the supermarket-shelf are good as they offer standardized quality and packaging. However, these are commercially produced with huge lots using machines. Thus, the outstanding handcrafted teas are difficult to find in supermarkets. They are mostly available online with free shipping, COD and easy return guarantee. You simply can't find this level of quality and satisfaction anywhere else as class-produced teas speak for themselves compared to mass-produced one.

Our biggest challenge is our commitment to quality. All of our teas carrying Hornbill Logo are made by hand and not by a machine. That includes every step - plucking, processing, testing, blending and packaging. At Hornbill we are sticking to the classic way of making the best pack of tea for you to enjoy like never before. You simply can't find this level of quality and satisfaction anywhere else.
While making the best of loose leaf tea, we ensure not to mass-produce our teas but to class-produce those; to give you the ultimate of tea drinking experience, ever.

HOW TO BREW ?

There's a world of difference between brewing loose leaf green tea and the stuff that comes in a tea bag. While brewing technique for a tea bag is simple to put it into hot water; the subtle, yet complex, flavor profile of a quality green tea is well worth seeking out. Green tea is much less robust than black tea, requiring lower water temperatures and less brewing time. It has a short window in which its fullest flavor profile can be enjoyed, so it needs to be brewed and drunk immediately. No tea cozies needed!

For a connoisseur of green tea, it requires more attention and care than black tea. We suggest you to brew it when you are able to really stop what you are doing, take a break and put all of your focus on the process. This is often a really wonderful and soothing thing to do and a big part of the green tea drinking experience.

• Choose your brand carefully: Quality loose leaf green tea is widely available but it is also a very perishable product, so be sure to buy from a reputable seller. The tea should be fresh and come in an air-tight packaging. Air is an enemy of green tea as it causes oxidation.

• Choose your pot & cup: The pot should be large enough that the leaves can fully expand and steep in the water. Cups for green tea tend to be smaller as you want to sip the tea somewhat quickly before it cools too much and the flavor changes.

• Time & temperature: In general green tea uses 180-190°F (82-89C) water and is brewed for no more than 3 minutes.

• Water: We suggest you to use fresh tap water. Please refrain from using already boiled water as it contains very less dissolved oxygen.

• No boiling water: Never brew green tea with boiling water! The method below does start with boiling water, but allows for it to cool.

• Warming the pot, cooling the water: When the water comes to a boil, remove from the heat and pour it into your teapot. This will heat the pot and cool the water a little. Pour little hot water into the cups to heat the cups.

• Measure your tea: We recommend using 1 teaspoon of tea leaves (approx 2.5 g) per cup (approx. 235 ml) of water.

• Brewing: Brew from 1 to 3 minutes. There is no thumb rule though, it depends on personal preference. However, if brewing time is too short, the nutrients will be partially released; if brewing time is too long, your green tea will be astringent in taste.

• Enjoy: Green tea should be sipped somewhat quickly as the taste will really shift as the tea cools down. We suggest pausing and just focusing on drinking the tea in order to enjoy and give your attention to its subtle flavor.

Remember, the brewing and drinking takes less than 15 minutes which makes it a perfect-break time activity for you.

HOW TO STORE ?

​The proper storage of finest tea is most vital, as tea which is improperly stored will go stale or rancid much faster. There are five things which teas are vulnerable to: light, air, heat, odors and moisture: 

Light: Your teas should always be stored in a dark place. Never use glass or clear jars to store as sunlight or UV rays will degrade your tea very quickly. 
Air: Tea leaves continue to oxidize over time with exposure to air and oxygen. Even when stored in an airtight vessel, some ambient air remains in between the tea leaves and in between the leaves and the top of the vessel. 
Heat: Heat exposure will quickly ruin good teas. Avoid keeping your teas stored in sunlight or near heat sources such as stoves, ovens or other warm places. Heat can degrade the quality of the tea, removing flavor and aroma, and increasing the chance that your tea will take on moisture.
Odors: Tea leaves will absorb scent of their surroundings. You should keep your teas stored safely away from areas with strong odors, such as spice cabinets, trash cans and refrigerators.
Moisture: Tea is hygroscopic and will absorb moisture from the air. Tea leaves release their flavor when exposed to moisture. Therefore, keep tea leaves away from humid areas like boiling water or inside a refrigerator. An airtight storage container is really all you need to block out moisture. 
Golden Rules:
• Teas that are less oxidized (greens, yellows and whites) degrade more quickly than teas that are more oxidized (oolongs and blacks). So try to consume delicate teas quickly after opening its pack. 
• The more broken the leaves are, in other words, the higher the surface area in contact with air, the faster the leaves will deteriorate.
• Tea is best when stored in bulk. A near empty airtight vessel with a tiny bit of tea in the bottom will deteriorate faster than an airtight vessel completely full of tea. 
So go ahead to sip a cup of your favorite tea while keeping these in mind! Enjoy!