Matcha

Style: Green

Origin: Kagoshima, Japan

Description: Made from the premium, shade-grown Tencha tea leaves, this second harvest matcha is carefully and freshly ground through a traditional stone mill. The depth of flavour and sweet vegetal qualities make this matcha excellent for drinking (prepared traditionally in a tea bowl, or mixed in smoothies, lattés, etc) and for culinary explorations.

Tasting Notes: The aroma of the prepared matcha is a fresh, sweetly toasted rice, which develops a pleasant kelp finish. The creamy texture and savoury-sweet nutty flavour carries the palate through a complex astringent depth on the sides of the tongue. Develops a clear, mineral linger with vegetal qualities.

Brewing Instructions:

Japanese Usucha Method

1 teaspoon Matcha Powder for 70ml (approximately 1/4 cup) water. 75ºC - 80ºC water. Place matcha powder into a teabowl. Add a small amount of water, and create a paste using a bamboo matcha whisk in a zig-zag motion. Add the rest of the water, and whisk thoroughly until a nice froth is achieved. Serve immediately.

Western Method

1/2 - 1 teaspoon matcha powder per cup of water. Follow Usucha method preparation steps. Add more water to taste and/or to change the thickness of the drink as desired. To make a Matcha Latté, use 1/2 water + 1/2 warm milk or milk alternative for the liquid, and whisk as usual - for an iced Matcha Latté, pour frothed mixture over ice cubes.

Organic

Style: Green

Origin: China

Description: The classic and beloved flavour of a Chinese Jasmine Tea has been taken a step further in processing, being finely ground into Matcha powder. Jasmine tea typically gets its unique flavour from oxidising while laden with the fragrant spring blossoms of the jasmine plant – in this smooth and creamy Matcha, this exquisite flavour is brought front and centre. The cup smells as divine as it tastes.

Tasting Notes: Non-traditional, delightfully refreshing and exciting matcha. 

Brewing Instructions: 75ºC water; Create a paste with a few droplets of water, then add water and whisk to create a nice froth. Add water to taste.

Organic

Description: This traditional Japanese matcha whisk, also known as a chasen, is used to mix and froth powdered matcha into a cup of water or milk (hot or cold), breaking up the powdered tea leaves to create a smooth consistency and to release the tea’s exquisite flavour. Used in traditional tea ceremonies to this day.

Origin: Japan

Material: 100% Bamboo. Biodegradable.

Description: This traditional matcha scoop, also known as a chashaku, is a beautiful tool used to measure the perfect portions into your Matcha bowl. Handmade from bamboo it pairs beautifully with the bamboo matcha whisk (chasen) and a teabowl (chawan) as both practical and ornamental teaware. The chashaku is used in traditional tea ceremonies to this day.

Origin: Japan

Material: 100% Bamboo. Biodegradable.

Description: This labelled stainless steel spoon makes perfecting a cup of matcha straightforward and uncomplicated. For each level measurement of matcha powder placed in your favourite cup or bowl with the Perfect Matcha Spoon, add 1 cup of the water or milk of your choice. Whisk and enjoy. 

Features: 

• Stainless steel  
• Dishwasher safe

Description: This type of handleless tea cup is based on the Chawan, or tea bowl, which originated in ancient China and spread to Korea, Japan, and other parts of Asia. It is used most commonly nowadays for traditional Chanoyu (Japanese Tea Ceremony) as part of the meditative and performative experience around preparing Matcha, or powdered green tea. There are several bowl shapes used in the tradition; Margit’s hand-built Chawan closest resembles the rounder, footed Goki-gata. Many cultures around the world drink other types of tea from a tea bowl, especially tea types that require a cooler water temperature to steep for optimum flavour (less than 100°C) - green tea, oolong tea and white tea. This allows you to cradle the bowl in your hands as you sip without your fingers being burned. The versatility of the tea bowl shape lends it to other, less conventional uses: a bowl for sorbet or ice cream, hot soups, hot and cold cereals, etc.

White stoneware clay is incised with one of Margit’s unique designs. The tea bowl is painted with a white glaze and accented with a dark blue glaze.

Dishwasher Safe. No Microwave.

Uses: Traditionally used for Matcha in Japanese Tea Ceremonies. Also excellent for white, green and oolong teas. In winter months, use as a small soup or oatmeal bowl - in the summer, use it to serve ice cream or sorbet. 

Material: White stoneware clay, White glaze, Dark Blue glaze Accents

Size (approximate):
Height : 7 cm
Width : 9 cm

Capacity (approximate):
Cups : 1 cup
Milliliters : 240 ml
Ounces : 8 fl oz

Description: This tea cup shape is based on the hollowed gourd vessels traditionally used to drink Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis). This plant, native to subtropical Paraguay, is related to the holly family. The word Yerba has a more complex definition, but is roughly translated to herb in English. The vessel used for Yerba, traditionally a cured, hollow gourd, is known as the mate. 

White stoneware clay is incised with one of Margit’s unique designs. The gourd cup is painted and/or accented with a glaze. These gourd cups are are handle-less. Find gourd cups with handles in white clay here and in dark clay here.

Dishwasher Safe. No Microwave.

Uses: The roundness of the cup's belly allows it to hold a generous amount of any of your favourite beverages. It lends itself especially well to Yerba (of course), as well as matcha, any of your favourite teas or tisanes, tea lattes, and iced teas.

Material: Stoneware clay, food safe glazes

Size (approximate):
Height : 7 - 9 cm
Width : 9 cm

Capacity (approximate):
Cups : 1 cup
Milliliters : 240 ml
Ounces : 8 fl oz

At Westholme, we care about the whole tea drinking experience – the taste, the culture, the source, the stories, and pure enjoyment in every cup. We also know that ever since tea was first discovered it has been utilized as a medicine.

We are pleased to share our favourite teas + tisanes to support wellness through the Spring season. A delicious tea experience that brings together well-established benefits through peer-reviewed scientific publications as well as millennia of tea drinking history and traditional medicine systems around the world

Aligned for this season this offering is nourishing, full of minerals + anti-oxidants + vitamins + phytonutrients, anti-inflammatory, circulating, soothing + calming, gently energizing, immune-boosting, gently detoxifying + cleansing, digestive and carminative, balancing and grounding...with more to discover as well!

CHOOSE YOUR SET:

Option 1: Set for the Season (100g Bags) includes: 3 x 100g bags

Option 2: Set for the Season (Standard Tins) includes: 3 x Tins

Option 3: A Taste of Wellness (Trial Pouches) includes: 3 x Trial Pouches

OPTIONAL ADD ONS:
Choose to add 1 x Ceremonial Matcha (30g tin) and/or 1 x Matcha Whisk to accompany your set.

In each set you will find...
3 x single estate pure teas + 1 x herbal infusion

All around us nature has been gathering energy, preparing to push new grass through snow and mud, burst new branches from old wood, and release leaves from tightly held buds.  We selected steeps that have attributes specifically complimentary to support emerging from winter slumber and stagnancy, to inspire re-birth and new growth.

In addition to the physical characteristics of these teas + tisanes, the Seasonal Wellness set it intended to be a simple way to incorporate a ritual that invites slowness into your day. We all know the value in pausing for a 'breather' to help our interconnected mental and physical well-being. Drinking tea and herbs offers a sort of moving meditation and ‘tea mindfulness’ where we can find comfort, and opportunity to fill up our cup and savour the moment with a delicious cup.

• Ben Shan Oolong Tea
• Yunnan Yellow Tea
  
• Nettle Chai Herbal Infusion

Plus Optional Add Ons:

Ceremonial Matcha Kotobuki and/or Matcha Whisk

:: MORE ABOUT WELLNESS ::

THE TEAS:
While each tea type presents slightly different healthful qualities, all teas (green, black, white, oolong, and puerh which come from the same plant (Camellia sinensis) contain powerful phyto-nutrients which are completely unique to tea the plant. High quality teas contain many essential vitamins and minerals. Antioxidants are abundant in the tea leaf in the form of polyphenols and have have been linked to a range of health benefits.

What truly sets tea apart is L-theanine. All traditional teas naturally contain caffeine however, unlike other caffeine-containing plants this is balanced by a unique amino-acid that increases relaxation called L-theanine. The tea plant is the only plant known to contain L-theanine! When working together, caffeine and L-theanine produce a gently sustained ‘relaxed alertness’ which can improve focus, reduce stress and anxiety, and uplift mood.

Ben Shan Oolong: Oolong teas contain all the benefits mentioned previously which are shared among all teas, although they are traditionally referred to as the tea of longevity. What makes Oolongs even more unique is their ability to support digestion. Oolongs are a very traditional Spring sipper. Ben Shan is both delicate and rich with incredible aroma of spring bouquets to inspire appreciation and awe in the simple things. Watch the tightly rolled leaves slowly unfurl, and resteep this one again and again.

Fancy Yunnan Yellow Tea: like all teas, is good for the heart, and specifically has been shown to improve circulation, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Yellow teas have very similar health benefits to green teas: known for their rich levels of catechins (an anti-oxidant) and L-theanine. Yellow teas have been shown to reduce inflammation and improve skin health as well.

*Optional* Matcha Kotobuki: We work with a cooperative of Japanese farmers, who stonegrind their Matcha once a month. Japanese teas are meticulously crafted, and this ceremonial grade Matcha is exceptionally fine. Since Matcha uses the tea leaf in its entirety, you receive concentrated health benefits of the whole leaf. Part of the rich flavour, nutrition and brilliantly colourful experience is the result of increased chlorophyll in the leaf - a result of shade grown method specific to Matcha. The difference in texture, flavour, aroma and feeling that a high-quality hand-picked, carefully processed, well-stored and stone-ground Matcha provides is noticeable! Kotobuki is a ceremonial grade tea, meaning that is is made from the first Spring harvested tea leaves - this first harvest contains even greater concentration of all of the wonderful constituents in tea...and is the perfect energy of the natural intelligence of nature - in alignment with the Spring energetics. Matcha Kotobuki is a beautiful green way to provide calm, grounded focus for your day. A bamboo whisk is the best way to make a Matcha, and is another optional add on.

THE HERBAL:

Nettle Chai: This herbal Masala mixture is packed with healthy and tasty herbs and spices like Lemon Verbena, Cardamom, and Ginger. This blend brings together plants known for being anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, anti-allergenic, anti-cancer, and immune-boosting. The blend is warming, to keep cozy on those frosty Spring days still ahead.

Nettle Chai contains the highest proportion of nettle of all of our Nettle Blends. Members of our Westholme Team who enjoy Nettle Chai daily have seen decreased intensity of Spring allergies when enjoyed approximately a month ahead of your allergy season. Nettles are a source of easily absorbed minerals and vitamins. Nettles are also gently energizing, and very supportive of the Liver - which in Traditional Chinese Medicine is the organ of Spring. 

Available until the Summer Solstice.