{"product_id":"balangoda-black-tea","title":"BALANGODA (Sri Lanka)","description":"Enjoy strength and thickness in the cup. A classic afternoon tea that takes milk and sugar very well.\u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca class=\"active\" href=\"#tab1\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#tab2\"\u003eProduct Information\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#tab3\"\u003eBrewing Instructions\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\" id=\"tab1\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBalangoda estate hails from one of the more beautiful corners of planet Earth. The estate is situated in the low-grown Ruhunu district and as such shares geography with the breathtaking Yala National Park. Yala National Park is an exotic animal lover's paradise. The park is comprised of wild brush, ocean beaches, jungle, rocky terrain and numerous lakes and rivers. Because of the wide variety of terrain, the park is home to animal life of all description, from leopards to Asian elephants, wild boar, crocodiles, water buffalo, Eagles, Painted Storks, Indian Peafowl and the elusive Sri Lanka Junglefowl. If it has wings or 4 legs, there's a good chance it lives somewhere inside the nearly 1000 km\u003csup\u003e2 \u003c\/sup\u003epark. Owing to the region's low altitude and proximity to the ocean, it was hard hit by the 2004 Tsunami. Miraculously, none of the park's large game died, leading people to believe that the wild animals, sensing that something was wrong, fled for higher elevations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough the Ruhunu district is perhaps better known for its parkland than acreage under tea, the region produces some fabulous teas every bit as colorful and full of life as its wild inhabitants. In contrast to the cooler climes of the tea estates \u003cem\u003eup country\u003c\/em\u003e in Uva, Dimbula or Nuwara Eliya, the Ruhunu is hotter and more humid. As a tea-producing region, Ruhunu is closer climate-wise to Assam in North East India. As such, Ruhunu teas, like Assams, are typically thicker, stronger and more full-bodied than the famed \u003cem\u003eup country \u003c\/em\u003eteas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterestingly, for much of the 20th century, these teas were more popular on international markets than their high grown counterparts. This was due in part to the lower cost of producing tea at the lower altitudes and the predominance of blending Sri Lankan teas as opposed to marketing single estate teas. During the 1980s as tea producers in the high grown districts began refining and niche-marketing their single estate teas, Ruhunus fell out of favor with international buyers. Still, to this day Ruhunu's top estates are capable of producing some spectacular leaf. This Balangoda is no exception - flavory and thick, this is an amazing tea any time of day. Pairs exceptionally well with old weathered copies of National Geographic!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli id=\"tab2\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTea Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Black\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCountry:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sri Lanka\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ruhunu\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrade:\u003c\/strong\u003e FP (Flowery Pekoe)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAltitude: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e500' ft. - 1200' ft. above sea level\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eManufacturer Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Orthodox\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIngredients:\u003c\/strong\u003e Luxury black tea\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCup Characteristics:\u003c\/strong\u003e Enjoy strength and thickness in the cup. A classic afternoon tea that takes milk and sugar very well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli id=\"tab3\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrewing Hot\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 teaspoon of tea for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea). Even though milk and a dash of sugar help enhance the flavor character on this tea, it is perfectly acceptable to consume this tea straight-up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrewing Cold\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(to make 1 liter\/quart): Place 6 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1\/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water]. Please note that this tea may tend to go cloudy or milky when poured over ice; a perfectly normal characteristic of some high quality black teas and nothing to worry about!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"The Specialist Tea Company","offers":[{"title":"100 g","offer_id":1867190593,"sku":"539-100","price":10.58,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250 g","offer_id":1867190721,"sku":"539-250","price":20.58,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500 g","offer_id":1867190849,"sku":"539-500","price":31.16,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 kg","offer_id":1867190977,"sku":"539-1000","price":58.8,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0786\/3859\/products\/539.jpeg?v=1442448948","url":"https:\/\/coasttocoasttea.ca\/products\/balangoda-black-tea","provider":"Coast To Coast Tea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}