Double Bergamot Earl Grey Black Tea - 18 Tea Bags Stash Tea

Stash Tea - Double Bergamot Earl Grey Black Tea - 18 Tea Bags

Most people can't get enough of this one-of-a-kind Earl Grey! The blend includes an extra dose of bergamot oil, sourced straight from the sunny orchards of Calabria, Italy, for even more citrusy flavor!

Black Teas
Robust, full-bodied and bold - such characteristics describe the taste and appeal of black tea. When brewed, black tea typically yields a hearty, amber color brew - think the Assams of India or the smoky Lapsang-Souchongs from China.

Tea & Health Information
There is no lack of ongoing research exploring the potential health benefits of drinking tea daily. Researchers are finding that all teas -- white, green, oolong and black tea from the Camellia sinensis plant -- may aid in achieving a long and healthy life.

Tea contains flavonoids, compounds with antioxidant properties. Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals that may damage the body and contribute to chronic diseases. White and green teas (the least processed) contain the most antioxidant properties, followed by Oolong and then Black teas.

History of Tea
People first became enchanted with tea in ancient China more than 5,000 years ago. According to the legend, skilled early emperor Shen Nung — a scientist and arts patron — dictated that all drinking water be boiled as a hygienic precaution. One summer day while visiting a distant province, his servants began boiling the water. Dried leaves from a nearby bush fell into the pot, and a brown liquid was infused.

As a scientist, Shen Nung was intrigued. He drank some of the strange liquid and found it refreshing. Legend says the drinking of tea was therefore born. This myth shows such a practical narrative, many mythologists believe it may be close to actual events now lost in ancient history.

After Shen Nung, the history of tea is filled with exploration, discovery, ritual, and deep satisfaction. From the far East to the coffee houses of Shakespeare’s day, from the Imperial Russian court to America’s Boston Tea Party, tea is the stuff dreams are made of. You can help write a new chapter yourself. Where’s that teapot?

Frequently Asked Questions
What is tea?
All tea comes from the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis, the tea plant that was first cultivated in China and later found growing in India. Chinese monks and European traders introduced tea to Japan, Sri Lanka, and other countries. Tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, with water being the first. Several factors affect the flavor characteristics of tea: where the tea is grown, the climate, soil conditions, and how the tea is processed.

Tea is harvested after each "flush" - the sprouting of the top two leaves and bud. The top two leaves and bud are hand-plucked and then processed into one of the four main types of tea - Black, Oolong, Green, and White.

• Black Tea is withered, fully oxidized and dried. Black tea yields a hearty, amber-colored brew.
• Oolong Tea is generally referred to as "semi-fermented" or partially oxidized tea. It principally comes from China and Taiwan (often called Formosa, its former Dutch name). To create oolong tea, the leaves are wilted in direct sunlight and then shaken in bamboo baskets to lightly bruise the edges. Next, the leaves are spread out to dry until the surface of the leaf turns slightly yellow. Oolong tea falls between black and green tea in taste.
• Green Tea skips the oxidizing step. It is simply withered and then dried. Brewed green tea can range in color from very pale to pale green or golden. Green tea from Japan is steam-dried while green tea from China is pan-dried.
• White Tea is the least processed. It is not oxidized or rolled but simply withered and dried by steaming.

What are herbal teas?
Herbal "teas" contain no true tea leaves but are crafted from a collection of herbs and spices that Stash Tea obtains from the finest suppliers around the world. Stash Tea uses Pacific Northwest mint, Moroccan rosebuds, Indonesian cinnamon, and more to create their all natural herbal teas.

Do herbal teas contain caffeine?
Herbal teas are made from plants and botanicals that are not related to Camellia sinensis. They are naturally caffeine free. Our Chamomile Tea and Peppermint Tea are examples of herbal teas.

How much caffeine does tea contain?
The amount of caffeine in tea can vary significantly. For example, research into the caffeine contents of various teas now indicates that some Green and White tea MAY contain more caffeine than black tea. To date, the most scientifically reliable statements are:

• Tea contains less caffeine than coffee.
• All tea contains caffeine. Decaffeinated teas can contain up to 4 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per 8 oz. of water.

Stash Tea realizes that some of their customers have concerns about caffeine. If you know that you are sensitive to caffeine, they suggest that you contact your health care provider for advice.
 
What decaffeination method does Stash Tea use?
Stash Teas use the carbon dioxide (CO2) method of decaffeination. The method is also known as "effervescent decaffeination." In this method, the tea is flash brewed with carbon dioxide under high pressure and then dried. This decaffeination process does not affect the desirable natural components of tea such as tannins and polyphenols.

What is maltodextrin and is it used in your teas?
Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate made from corn starch. It is used in Stash Tea's Iced Green Tea Powders to help disperse the green tea powder in water.

How do you ensure the purity and quality of your teas?
Since 1972, Stash Tea has been proud to offer their customers exceptional quality teas -- that's their commitment and their mission. They adhere to several policies to ensure their tea is of the finest and purest quality.

First, Stash buys their teas directly from the world's premier tea gardens and only conduct business with reputable suppliers, most of whom they have worked with for years. They also require every vendor to sign a certificate of compliance based on U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

Stash Tea also set equally high standards for their herbal and spiced teas by purchasing herbs and spices whole from the world's best sources. They mill them right before blending for superior taste and flavor. They are also tested according to strict guidelines set by the American Spice Trade Association, the Food and Drug Administration, and their own stringent guidelines. The flavors and extracts used in the teas are always 100% natural.

In addition, their line of Organic Teas is certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Quality Assurance International (QAI). QAI is a professional organic certification service that is internationally recognized. Their program certifies that every step in the life of a food product is organic - from the land where the product is grown to the growers' practices, to the post-harvest facilities, to the final processing and handling.

Are your teas kosher certified?
All of Stash Teas are kosher certified by KOF-K Kosher Supervision, one of the foremost certification agencies in the U.S. In addition, all of their honey sticks and Organic Agave Nectar Sticks are also kosher certified.

Are there really any health benefits gained from drinking tea?
Over the past few years, much scientific research has been done regarding the health benefits of drinking tea. Tea contains flavonoids, naturally occurring compounds that are believed to have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals which scientists believe that over time may damage elements in the body, such as genetic material and lipids, and contribute to chronic disease. If you have any health concerns, they always recommend that you check with your personal health care provider.

What is the filter paper made of that you use in your tea bags?
Stash Teas use 100% cellulose (wood) fibers. They are not bleached by chemicals; rather, their light color is achieved by forcing air between the fibers.

What is a Tea Brick and is the tea drinkable?
Centuries ago, the inventive Chinese, who invented the earliest banking system with coins and paper bank notes, found that their currency had no value when trading with people in far-away Mongolia and Tibet. Their solution to this problem was to turn their most valued product - tea - into bricks that were evenly scored and could be broken to make change.

Today, these sculpted tea bricks with traditional Chinese motifs are used for decoration. Stash Teas doesn't recommend brewing tea from tea bricks. However, Stash Tea does offer more than 200 teas in their online store so you're sure to find many that appeal to you.

Tip: If you choose to purchase a tea brick you may want to apply a coat of clear lacquer to protect it from humidity.
 
What do the abbreviations after some teas mean; i.e., FTGFOP, OP?
These initials refer to tea grading, one of the most misunderstood subjects concerning tea. To begin with, tea grades are not standardized worldwide. Also, a tea's grade does not necessarily indicate flavor or quality. Rather, tea flavor and quality are determined by many different factors including: the country of origin, the variety of the tea, the garden or estate where it is grown, the elevation, the particular flush (when the tea is picked), and the manufacturing after harvesting.

Which of Stash teas contain an allergen?
Some of the 100% natural flavors that Stash Teas use in some of their teas do contain known allergens.

• Stash Tea teabag blends that contain soy lecithin:
  Acai Berry Herbal, Apple Cinnamon Herbal, Blueberry Herbal, Decaf Raspberry & White, Lemon Blossom Herbal, Lemon Ginger Herbal, Wild Blackcurrant Herbal, Wild Raspberry Herbal, Yumberry Blackcurrant.
• Stash Tea Iced Tea Blends that contain soy lecithin:
  Wild Blackcurrant, Blueberry Herbal, Wild Raspberry Herbal, Blackcurrant Iced Black, Lemon Blossom Herbal, Tropical Fruit Iced Black Tea.
• Stash Tea Iced Tea Powders that contain soy lecithin:
  Iced Lemon Ginger Green Tea Powder. Soy lecithin is a food ingredient that is derived from plant sources, including soy. Soy lecithin is used in foods and beverages as an emulsifier, a stabilizer, a dispersing aid or other similar uses.
• Stash Tea Bags that contain coconut:
  Coconut Mango Oolong.

Do your teas contain gluten?
All of Stash Teas are gluten-free.

What is the Japanese Tea Ceremony?
Introduced by Zen Buddhist priests, the Japanese tea ceremony originates from the philosophy that only through Zen meditation can a person achieve enlightenment. Based on the four principles; purity, harmony, respect and tranquillity, the tea ceremony, known as chanoyu, is used to teach discipline and instill respect for others. Tea schools in Japan, which are still in existence today, teach the etiquette and art of tea making. Starting after a traditional Japanese meal, the ceremony can last from three to five hours. Each element in the tea room is carefully selected by the host and is significant in its meaning. In addition to tastefully selected scrolls and flower arrangements, as many as 24 utensils may be used for the tea ceremony.
A small black lacquer container (natsume), contains the Japanese Matcha, a powdered green tea, which is measured out with a special bamboo spoon (chashaku). The Matcha is then mixed with water that is heated to 85°C (185°F), then lightly whisked with a chasen (bamboo whisk) to make a rich, frothy liquor. The tea is served in a china bowl and presented to the guest. The guest turns the bowl three times before it is consumed in three sips. The bowl is then wiped three times with a silk cloth, refilled, and passes on to the next guest.

Stash Teas' Green Initiatives
Since their start in 1972, Stash Tea has sought to balance social and environmental responsibility with economic reality. This begins with careful selection of the tea gardens from which they purchase their teas. Through the years, we have chosen to do business with tea gardens of the highest quality and that treat their workers honestly and fairly. Stash Tea also sells premium organic teas that meet their exacting standards. All of these teas are 100 percent natural and USDA and QAI certified organic.
 
At Stash Tea, they are committed to renewable energy and purchase green power through their local electric utility, Portland General Electric. A 2005 lighting upgrade project in their plant replaced metal halide high-bay fixtures with new energy-wise fluorescent light fixtures and other energy-efficient lights—saving nearly 50,000 kwh annually and improving the quality of lighting for employees.

Stash Tea also encourages the use of public transportation by paying for half the cost of monthly bus passes for their employees.

Stash Tea reuses and recycles packaging materials, office supplies, printer cartridges, scrap paper and newspaper. In fact, they began using recycled paper for packing material in their shipping department more than 12 years ago when bubble wrap and foam peanuts were still the industry standard. Stash Tea also uses recycled paper and paper from sustainably managed forests for their packaging and other printing projects.

Although a small company, Stash Tea is aware of their responsibility to the environment, both locally and globally, and strives to be a green, responsible, and socially conscious organization.

Mission, Vision and Core Beliefs

Mission - To become the leader in creating and selling high quality specialty teas and products that enhance the tea drinking experience.

Vision - To continue the 5000 year old tea tradition. A company for the 21st century and beyond.

Core Beliefs

• Creating top quality products with 100% natural ingredients that are healthy and great tasting
• Providing superior customer service
• Providing excellent value and competitive prices in the marketplace
• Keeping their products exciting; in delighting their customers and consumers
• Pursuing profitable growth
• Fostering team spirit and building an environment which is a rewarding and enjoyable place to work
• High ethical standards, integrity and fairness in all their dealings with suppliers, customers, and employees
• Hiring people with a commitment to excellence
• Training their employees and rewarding above average performance
• Work/life balance