Acala Tea Co.
"Karadjordje" Formosa Black Tea
"Karadjordje" Formosa Black Tea
Couldn't load pickup availability
Karadjordje Formosa Black is a smooth tea with sugarcane sweetness and strong fruit aromas. The leaves are dark, long and wiry. Mellow on the palate, honey sweet, mango, white peach, and a malty touch of comfort. Raw tobacco aromas mull about the airways.
This is a strong tea that deserves a strong name, so we chose Karadjordje, a Serbian revolutionary from 1804, who led a revolt against the Ottoman Empire. Karadjordje means "Black George" (in Turkish, Kara means Black, and in Serbian, Djordje translates to (and is pronounced like) George.
Karadjordje Formosa Black Tea is produced in the hills of the Sanxia District, south of Taipei, where many smoked black teas are produced. This tea is an organic tea, picked before harvest (pre-qingming) and brought to us by the same family of farmers who grows our Two Tigers Long Jing Dragonwell Tea. Because the leaves are harvested so early in the spring, the leaves are smaller and their tannic structure has a low acidity, making the liquor smooth and clean.
Karadjordje Formosa Black Tea is enjoyable as a hot cup of tea or as a refreshing cold beverage for the hot summer months. See Brewing Recommendations.
Tea Specifics
Tea Specifics
Formosa Style Red (Black) Tea
Harvest Dates: May 2022 and February 2023
Oxydation Level: High
Baking Level: None
Terroir: Sanxia
Administrative Region: New Taipei City,
Picking Style: Hand Picked
Cultivar: Qing Xin Gan Zhi
Elevation: 500m
Loose leaf
Red (black) tea contains 40-60mg of caffeine per 8 oz cup. As the tea ages, the caffeine levels decline over time because light and leaf oxidation reduce caffeine. Thus, an aged red tea that is decades old may not contain much caffeine at all. If you have the willpower to resist drinking this tea and to instead store and age the tea, the taste profile will only deepen.
Tasting Notes
Tasting Notes
Vanilla and cherry notes, light floral aroma, full-body, sweet, amber liquor
Brewing Recommendations
Brewing Recommendations
Serving Size: 4-6g of tea per 100ml purified water
Ideal brewing vessel: Porcelain or glass teapot or gaiwan; or low profile clay teapot reserved for your red teas only.
Steeping: Boil water to 212F and then wait for the water to stop bubbling before pouring the water into the gaiwan or tea pot. Brew for a few seconds, then replace the lid and pour the liquor into a gong dao bei (fairness pitcher) before apportioning into tea cups. Remove lid between steepings to prevent the leaves from overheating. Flash brewing in this manner ensures this tea can be brewed up to 6+ times and brewed again the following morning if left overnight.
For Western Style brewing, steep for 1-2 minutes each brew.
Grandpa Style Brewing: Put 3g/1tsp tea in the bottom of a tall cup. Pour 180F water over the top and allow tea to steep continually in the water, topping off the cup with 180F water throughout the day.
Cold Brew: 4g per 450ml of cold water. Refrigerate overnight.
