{"product_id":"russian-caravan-organic-tea","title":"RUSSIAN CARAVAN ORGANIC","description":"Memories of camel trains across the desert. Full flavored with distinct notes of pine and hickory smoke.\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\u003ePresenting a tea that owes as much to politics and diplomacy as it does tea husbandry. The existence of Russian Caravan, a smoky blend of black teas, (traditionally comprised only of Chinese teas, in ours a blend of Chinese and Indian) is the direct result of a 1689 treaty between Qing Dynasty China and Russia. The treaty brought an end to decades of border conflict between Russian Cossacks and the Manchu people of Northern China. As part of the treaty, Russia agreed to give up its expansionist push eastward to the Sea of Japan, but gained direct trading access to Beijing. The treaty forever changed the way business was done between the two countries and produced a famous tea blend in the process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe trail from the Chinese border to Russia covered more than 6000 km, (3728 miles) through harsh and unforgiving mountain passes, deserts and rivers. Caravans comprised of horses, camels, mules and men took more than a year and a half to complete the journey with may men and beasts perishing along the way. Even so, the route was a popular and lucrative one -in 1696 alone more than 50,000 rubles worth of furs made the voyage, a fortune in today's dollars. In addition to furs, one of the most important commodities on the trail was Chinese tea, imported to fulfill Russia's growing demand. As can be imagined, the tea took quite a beating on the grueling trip and often had an entirely different character by the time it was unloaded in Moscow. One of the most notable was the rich flavor of smoke, absorbed from a year and a half of campfires along the caravan trail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRussians grew to love the smoky tea and dubbed it \u003cem\u003ecaravan tea. \u003c\/em\u003eEventually, with the advent of rail travel, the old trading routes died out and with them, the naturally smoked tea. To compensate, tea blenders began to create blends of Lapsang and other black teas to fill the void. Our Organic Russian Caravan tea is a stunning example of the finest of these recipes. The heady mixture of Lapsang, Assam and South Indian teas offers an assertive cup with smoky depth rounded by thick notes of malt and a long finish. To diplomacy!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli id=\"tab2\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTea Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Organic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCountry: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChina, India\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fujian Province, Assam, South India\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrade:\u003c\/strong\u003e OP (Orange Pekoe)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAltitude:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1500' ft. - 6000' ft. above sea level\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eManufacturer Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Orthodox\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIngredients:\u003c\/strong\u003e Black tea\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCup Characteristics:\u003c\/strong\u003e Memories of camel trains across the desert. Full flavored with distinct notes of pine and hickory smoke.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInfusion: \u003c\/strong\u003eBright cup with hints of coppery orange.\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 filtered or freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea, 1 tea bag or 1 Q3 portion control pack for each 7-9oz\/200-260ml of fluid volume in 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).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrewing Cold\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIced tea brewing method (\u003cem\u003ePitcher\u003c\/em\u003e):\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (to make 1 liter\/quart): Place 6 slightly heaping teaspoons of loose tea, 6 tea bags or 6 Q3 portion packs into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 1 1\/4 cups\/315ml over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the tea or removing the bags. 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 increase the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water. (Note: Some luxury quality teas may turn cloudy when poured over ice. This is a sign of luxury quality and nothing to worry about.)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIced tea brewing method (\u003cem\u003eIndividual Serving)\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Place 1 slightly heaping teaspoon of loose tea, 1 tea bag or 1 Q3 portion control pack into a teapot for each serving required. Using filtered or freshly drawn cold water, boil and pour 6-7oz\/170-200ml per serving over the tea. Cover and let steep for 5 minutes. Add hot tea to a 12oz\/375ml acrylic glass filled with ice, straining the tea or removing the bags. Not all of the tea will fit, allowing for approximately an additional 1\/2 serving. Sweeten and\/or add lemon to taste. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to increase the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted. (Note: Some luxury quality teas may turn cloudy when poured over ice. This is a sign of luxury quality and nothing to worry about!)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"The Specialist Tea Company","offers":[{"title":"100 g","offer_id":1223921553,"sku":"134-100","price":12.58,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"250 g","offer_id":1223921557,"sku":"134-250","price":24.46,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500 g","offer_id":1223921561,"sku":"134-500","price":37.03,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 kg","offer_id":1223921565,"sku":"134-1000","price":69.87,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0786\/3859\/products\/134.jpeg?v=1442449317","url":"https:\/\/coasttocoasttea.ca\/products\/russian-caravan-organic-tea","provider":"Coast To Coast Tea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}