100g Farmer's Market Kettle Corn, Flavoured Black Tea
Freshly popped kettle corn with buttery toasty notes of caramel.
Luxury Ingredients: Black tea, Popped rice, Apple pieces, White camomile + Safflower petals, Natural flavors (organic compliant).
Small Batch Blended and Packed in: Canada
Tea(s) From: Sri Lanka / Kenya / India / Japan / Turkey / Egypt / China
Region(s): Nuwara Eliya + Dimbula + Uva / Nandi Highlands / Nilgiri / Kagoshima / Anatolya / Nile Delta + Fayoum / Yunnan
Antioxidant Level: High
Caffeine Content: Medium
1776 is usually remembered as the year that saw the signing of the US Declaration of Independence. A lesser-known kernel of trivia is that 1776 was also the year Dutch settlers introduced Kettle Corn to America - a development some might regard with equal prominence. (The good people of Pennsylvania were the first to sample the delicacy.)
Now a staple at country fairs and farmers markets throughout North America, this sweet, salty treat is still made using the same age-old technique introduced by its Dutch innovators: popcorn kernels, oil, sugar and salt are heated in a cast-iron kettle, large pot, or Dutch oven, and stirred constantly while the kernels pop. The technique produces a light crunchy coating that is quite literally, irresistible. (There's a reason it's usually sold in extra large bags.)
If you can't make it down to the market for a fresh batch, we're pleased to offer the next best thing. Farmer's Market Kettle Corn tea captures all the sweet goodness, blended with our proprietary blend of high grown Ceylon black teas. Whether served piping hot or poured over ice, we like to think this one deserves a declaration of its own. Eet smakelijk! (That's Dutch for "bon appetit".)
What type of tea do we use, how do we flavor the tea and why do we use natural flavors?
Firstly... we only use high grown teas from the top 3 tea growing regions of Sri Lanka - Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula and Uva. These three high-grown districts produce flavorful teas that have classic 'Ceylon' tea character which is noted by floral bouquet and flavor notes, touches of mild astringency, bright coppery color and, most importantly - perfect for use as the base tea of our flavored teas. (We have tested teas from various other origins around the world as base stock for our flavored teas, but none of these teas made the grade.) Dimbula and the western estates of Nuwara Eliya have a major quality peak during Jan/Feb, whereas Uva and the eastern estates of Nuwara Eliya have their peak in July/Aug. This 'dual peak period' allow us to buy the best for our flavored tea blends several times during the year, ensuring top quality and freshness.
Secondly... we use flavoring oils not crystals to give the tea drinker an olfactory holiday before indulging in a liquid tea treat.
Thirdly. we specify natural flavors. High quality tea tastes good and natural flavors do not mask the natural taste of the high grown Ceylon tea. (The norm for many making flavored tea is to use overpowering artificial flavors, which can be used to hide lower quality tea). Natural flavors do not leave an aftertaste giving the tea a clean and true character. It should be noted that natural flavors tend to be somewhat 'soft ' and the flavors slightly muted, but for many this is a refreshing change and one of the desired attributes of our naturally flavored teas.
