Forest Garden Teas
The BioVerde Tea Co-Op at Seva Healing Arts Studio and our extended Community are pleased to offer unique, rare teas that have been grown by smallholders and processed within their community from Forest Gardens of Sri Lanka.
Current Product Range:
- Full Bud Green Tea
- Hand rolled Orange Pekoe
- White Silver Tips
- Silver Ring
- Orders and further information via the Seva Tea Co-Op
Our Tea is produced organically and is grown as a part of a multi-level, multi crop agriculture known as Analog Forestry (AF) that facilitates the conservation and restoration of local biodiversity.
The dappled woodland effect of the Forest Gardens of Kotmale Valley is an ideal environment for the production of these quality teas which are high in health giving polyphenols. These buds are collected, with minimal bruising to ensure peak flavour and converted into green or white teas.
Our communities also produce hand rolled full leaf tea in fermented or black tea style.
By ensuring that the individual producer receives a fair trade premium directly, we are dedicated to getting as much of the value of these teas as possible back to the farming community.
By ensuring that our farmers grow organically and design for biodiversity, our teas are clean, healthful and help bring back the native biodiversity to share the tea gardens.
Note:
Sri Lanka Tea does not improve with age, as does wine. Storage in a tightly sealed tin is best. Though tea stored that way can last a year or so, tea less than six months old is better because fresh leaves make better tea.
This Tea is processed by hand, selecting only clean, unbruised buds. The only point of oxidation allowed is at the point of harvest on the stem. Like all Artisanal teas, the ideal preparation is to put 2 grams of the tea in a cup, pour in boiling water, cover and let steep for five minutes before using. This tea should be used on its own. Infusions from these teas are considered yellow to yellow-green and are considered very astringent.
Hand rolled Orange Pekoe
The whole leaf is maintained without shredding through the fermentation process, Hand rolling allows for fine pressure control to ensure maximum cell rupture with minimum loss in appearance. The tannin brought out by this process strengthen capillaries and stimulate the adrenal gland. The ideal preparation is to put 2 grams of the tea in a cup, pour in boiling water, cover and let steep for five minutes before using. It is a light, but full-bodied tea that is an ideal tea for the addition of milk for those who like it. The infused brew is reddish in color.
White Silver tips Available only by special order
White tea is the least processed of all teas and thus contains the highest concentrates of antioxidant. Of white teas, Silver Tip Tea is unique in that it is composed wholly of unopened buds. They are unlike all other teas, which are made from the opened leaves. The unopened buds have not begun to photosynthesize making them especially low in caffeine and tannins. The ideal preparation is to put 2 grams of the tea in a cup, pour in boiling water, cover and let steep for five minutes before using. The tea infusion from these teas are referred to as white or light yellow. These teas are known as the champagne of teas. They are the only teas that are considered non-astringent.
Silver Ring Available only by special order
Silver Ring tea is a limited edition, individually rolled artisanal white tea with leaves that unfurl to whole leaf when it is steeped. The silver rings are all hand made from selected tips that have the right length and colour. It contains all the antioxidants of fine quality green tea, but is a white tea with the added benefits. It brews to a delicate lime green infusion and multiple infusions are the norm. The ideal preparation is to put 2 grams of the tea in a cup, pour in boiling water, cover and let steep for five minutes before using. This is also a non- astringent tea having a white or light yellow infusion.
Tea Relations 