We love tea and have been searching for a truly great one created by an independent, American maker. (Yes, these are the things that we obsess about.) Well, we almost fainted when we came across this gorgeous tin of White Lemon Ginger Tea (cough, cough, stocking stuffer) and learned about Flying Bird Botanicals.
Then there was the issue of taste – we kept our fingers crossed when we opened the tin and brewed our first cup. Well, we're in love.
Flying Bird Botanicals (located in Bellingham, Washington) is committed to supporting local farmers in the Pacific Northwest and sourcing fresh incredible herbs from wild harvesters to round out their incredible organic teas. It’s everything you want in a cuppa: 100% organic tea leaves, organic herbs and spices and, of course, caffeine.
Right now we’re crushing hard on White Lemon Ginger – it’s light on the caffeine, so we can sip it all day. Flying Bird pairs delicate Himalayan silver tips and white peony with lemon and ginger in this awesome cup.
When brewing loose-leaf tea without a strainer, pyramid-shaped tea bags are your best bet. The shape and extra breathing room allow each full dried tea leaf to expand and unfurl once the water hits, with enough surface area to guarantee total flavor extraction. You can reuse tea bags at least once more for a slightly weaker yet still totally delicious brew.
For a perfect cup, make sure the water temperature is somewhere between 185° and 195° F. (White tea needs a lower temperature, otherwise it gets really bitter.) Flying Bird recommends steeping it, covered, for four minutes.
We're flying.