In the Chinese calendar, now is the time to gather your loved ones and celebrate togetherness while gazing at the moon. This time represents fullness and reunion. What a wonderful way to spend time in the early autumn. The exact dates are relative to the moon, and this year Chinese Full Moon Festival falls on the 10th of September. One of the most popular activities is to enjoy traditional mooncakes, gather for dinner, give gifts and, of course, share tea.
We’ve chosen two of our most popular Chinese teas and put together some quick suggestions on how to enjoy them with food this coming festival, or anytime.
Is there a tea more romantic than Jasmine Silver Needle? The traditional way in which this spring-plucked tea is scented is magical. Whole jasmine blooms are laid in thick carpets, mingled with the tea leaves. As darkness falls and the moon rises, the jasmine unfurls and releases its perfume, imparting this gift to the tea leaves. This process is repeated for up to five nights to ensure clarity of flavour. Jasmine tea is a popular choice alongside food, its soft, sweet flavour cutting through rich foods, with its florality adding a refreshing high note, particularly with rice. Serving suggestions include:
- Lotus seed or salted yolk mooncakes
- Traditional Chinese crab dishes
- Pomegranate, pomelo, pears and other seasonal fruits
Our Organic Golden Yunnan is a rare organic example of Mao Feng tea from the Yunnan Province of China, known as the original home of tea. The dry leaf is a blend of delicate twisted buds and leaves that produce a deep amber infusion with assertive and sweet aromas. The flavour has a comforting malty quality with notes of honey that makes the perfect accompaniment to:
- Red bean mooncakes
- Seasonal dishes that include pumpkin, mushrooms, chestnuts and persimmon
- Rich meat-based dishes with pork or duck
