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| The Spring Harvest Is Here! |
| During February 2008, China suffered one of the largest snow storms in recent times, in
additional to all of the disasters related to Chinese New Year travels; the tea harvest is expected
to be affected tremendously. The tea bush is a hearty plant and can withstand temperatures of up
to –10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit). This year, temperatures dropped to –20 Celsius
(–4 Fahrenheit). The green tea harvest has been severely damaged in some areas, and production
has been reduced by as much as 30%. However, Nature in her own way always allows for
exceptions. We are very pleased to let you know that although some of our all-time green tea
favorites have been damaged and are unavailable this year, we were able to procure superb
alternatives from farms that were unscathed. The best news of all is that our Dragon Well farm
was also spared and, in fact, we consider this year’s harvest to be the best in many years, so
enjoy! |
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Without a doubt, this is the best Lotus Heart in at least five years. As usual, this year’s Lotus
Heart is produced from the youngest and most tender tips of the bush—some 100,000 leaves are
required to make a single pound of dried Lotus Heart! It is packed full of luxurious flavors and a
deep, rich sweetness unlike that of any other green tea. We have only a small amount of this
greatest of all green teas left after deliveries to our waiting list, so pamper yourself by making a
quick decision to try it!
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We are pleased to announce the arrival of both of these signature Dragon Wells from the famed
West Lake District. This year’s harvest has exceeded expectations. If you are a Dragon Well fan,
don’t miss either of these teas! |
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| Fu Yang Dragon Well |
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We have high hopes that our Fu Yang garden will eventually produce our Imperial Dragon Well,
and we’re getting closer and closer! The Fu Yang area has been producing high quality green tea
for several centuries. The high-grown varietal there usually produces a Dragon Well with
abundant amounts of fuzzy fur that protects it from colder temperatures at the high altitude.
However, the flavor from the fur of the Dragon Well varietals is a bit too strong; it is rather
popcorn-like and undesirable. After three years or so of production, we have perfected the
technique required to removed all of the unwanted fur, leaving a full-flavored Dragon Well with
it own distinct characteristics. We highly recommend that you give it a try! |
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| Imperial Green Tea |
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As usual, our Imperial Green stands out above all others—it is a green tea that produces a bright,
clear liquor, a lush and full mouth-feel, and a sweet, long-lasting aftertaste almost regardless of
how it is prepared. Imperial Green is beyond question one of our best green teas of the year. The
“flag and spear” leaf—the name connotes the shape of the infused leaf with its two freshly
opened leaves and single unopened bud—is beyond elegant. With its fresh springtime fragrance,
soothingly sweet flavor, and weighty feeling of glycerin in the mouth, Imperial Green is
everything an emperor could desire and a tea that few others may hope to experience. |
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| Snow Water Green and Snow Water Dragon Tips |
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Also here now are this year’s Snow Water Green and Snow Water Dragon Tips, both of which
have been gaining popularity and become the favorites of many customers. The production of
both of these excellent greens has continued to improve and we expect them to become even
more popular. We look forward to sharing them with you for a long time to come. |
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| 2008 Spring Harvest Tasting |
| Sample all of this year’s spring green tea harvest at the “introduction to tea” class in our Ferry
Building store! Join our experienced staff to learn about each and every one of this year’s great
green tea harvest, and also brush up your tea-brewing skills. The class will be held on Saturday,
May 30, at 6:30pm and on Friday, June 6, at 7 p.m.; the cost is $45 per person and reservations
are highly recommended, call michael flora at 510-540-8888 or email
customerservice@imperialtea.com for further detail. |
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| Tea Party at Our Berkeley Tea House |
| Hosting a party? Why not make it a tea party at our Berkeley store! Treat your honored guests to
handmade organic Chinese food not available anywhere else, not to mention the terrific teas you
are going to be able to share with your friends. We can accommodate private parties or small
gatherings, and we offer special menus based on your budget. Please call Michael Flora or Grace
Fong at (510) 540-8888 or email us at customerservice@imperialtea.com for further details. |
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| Tea of the Month Club Membership |
| Do you like tea but are overwhelmed by the number of teas available? Let us help! Join one of
our tea clubs and let our tea master, Roy Fong, select the teas for you. Our “Four Seasons” tea
club provides you with a different tea four times a year, while our “Six Month” tea club
introduces you to a new tea every other month. But clearly the best deal is our “Year of Tea”
club, which supplies you with a new tea every month. If you join any one of our clubs, you will
receive a free gift with our compliments. If you join our “Year of Tea” club, you will receive not
only a free gift, but also a free month—13 months for the price of 12! You may begin your
subscription from the month you join, or you may receive all of the teas due to you from the
beginning of the year—just let us know what you want to do. But join now so as not to miss a
single wonderful tea this year! |
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