Alta Organic Coffee Roasting Company Health Info

TEA	Alta offers a fine selection of organic teas. To order, please note the names and quantities of the coffees you would like and email Alta or call 1-800-866-5181. Tea prices listed are for the quarter pound (4 ounces).
	HERB TEAS \| BLACK TEAS \| BLACK TEA PROCESSING \| OOLONG & GREEN TEAS
HERB TEAS To top of page	Peppermint * A refreshing lift whether hot or iced, this tea is cool, soothing and minty. This organic peppermint comes from the volcanic hillsides in the Pacific Northwest, providing one of the most exquisitely aromatic and flavorful of the herbal teas. A perfect tea to relax with. Certified Organic. $5.00/4 oz. Chamomile * Whole Flowers This tea brews to a golden color and has a delicate flavor. Deeply appreciated for its comforting effects, chamomile is soothing to the soul and nervous system. Having a cup of Chamomile is a great way to unwind at the end of the day. Certified Organic. $6.00/4 oz. *Rooibos Tea Organic Rooibos (red bush) is a wild shrub that grows in South Africa. The fine needle-like leaves are bruised, fermented and then dried in the sun. There is no caffeine and no tannins which can give tea a bitter taste after brewing. Rooibos is rich in antioxidants, as much as 50 times more potent than green tea. It is rich in flavonoids which are known for treating skin and circulatory disorders. it is rich in several minerals, including iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc. Rooibos is excellent hot or cold, in water or juice...it can be consumed in unlimited quantities throughout the day. Certified Organic. $5.00/4 oz.**
BLACK TEAS To top of page	Assam * A Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe grown in the Brahmaputra Valley of northeast India. While Assams are known for strenght, this specially plucked leaf is smooth and bright with a malty character. Certified Organic * Fair Trade. $5.00/4 oz. Darjeeling TGBOP * True, unblended and one of the worldąs premier varietals. The late spring harvest yields a bright, full flavor with a fruity aroma. A classic distinctive cup A sublime afternoon tea. Certified Organic * Fair Trade. $6.00/4 oz. Earl Grey * A delicate rendition of a traditional favorite, made with a blend of teas from India and Ceylon. After blending, they are enhanced with essential oil of Bergamot, a mediterranean citrus. Certified Organic * Fair Trade. $5.50/4 oz. English Breakfast * A perfect greeting to a new day. It is a blend of organic teas from Ceylon and Assam, chosen for their full-bodied character and abundant, robust flavor. Certified Organic * Fair Trade. $5.50/4 oz. Mango Ceylon* Features the smooth, full flavor of the famed black Ceylon teas of Sri Lanka. This superior tea is flavored with the essence of Mango and blended with petals of Marigold. Wonderful hot and perfect for Iced Tea. Certified Organic * Fair Trade. $5.50/4 oz. Chai * Chai is an Indian-style spiced tea drink which is a dry mix of spices with black tea and herbs. "Chai" or "cha" are the words for tea in several eastern languages. In India and Nepal, Chai is a daily beverage and refers to black tea that is brewed with aromatic spices and milk. It is usually sweetened with honey. Ingredients: Cinnamon, Cardamon, Chamomile, Ginger, Fennel, Peppermint, Licorice, Clover, Black Pepper and Black Tea. Certified Organic * Fair Trade. $6.00/4 oz. Chai Brewing Instructions: Combine in a pan 2/3 cup boiling water over 1 heaping teaspoon Chai. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and add 1/3 cup milk (or your favorite non-diary alternative) Simmer and strain into a serving cup. Add sweetner to taste. One Serving. Experiment with proportions. Use more chai mix or add black tea for a stronger, spicer tea. Use more milk for a smoother taste. Try adding a dash of vanilla powder or extract to your cup. Or serve it cold over ice. Adding Rooibos tea would be divine. Chai can be as individual as the maker.
BLACK TEA PROCESSING: To top of page	Black Tea Processing: Several steps are involved in making black tea: After the leaves are picked they are withered to remove moisture. The leaves are spread on trays in cool rooms for 18-24 hours and lose between 1/3 to 1/2 of their weight by evaporation and become soft and pliable. After withering, the leaves are rolled to start the fermentation process. Rolling the leaves causes the leaf cells to break apart, releasing enzymes that cause oxidation (fermentation), which changes the chemical structure of the leaf. During the fermentation period, the leaves are spread on cement or tile floors in humid rooms at 72-82 degrees for one to five hours. The longer the fermentation, the softer the taste and the deeper the color of the tea. The leaves are fired, thereby destroying the fermentation-causing enzymes. The leaves are placed in hot pans or large dryers at 120 degrees Farenheit, which causes the them to turn black and removes all but 3% of the moisture content. Finally, the leaves are sorted, graded, and packed into chests for shipment. Black Tea may or may not contain polyphenol to a significant degree, but it does contain up to 1/3 the amount of caffeine as coffee. Decaffeinated Organic Teas are made using a carbon dioxide high pressure process; the only decaffeination process allowed for certified organic tea. Black Tea Brewing Instructions: When brewing tea, always start with fresh, cold water and high quality organic tea. It is very important to use organic tea to avoid the harmful chemicals that remain in pesticide-treated tea plants. (Pesticides don't get roasted out of tea as they do in coffee beans.) * for Hot Tea: Heat water to just below a boil (boiled water tastes flat) and pour over tea. Use about one teaspoon of tea for each eight ounces of water. Allow tea to steep for 3 minutes, strain and serve. * for Sun Tea (iced tea): Pour cold water over tea and let set for approximately 10 hours. Try 2 -3 Tbls. for 1 1/2 gals. Pour the tea through a strainer and serve. This sun tea method allows the tea to stay clear, unlike hot brewed iced tea, which often clouds and can taste bitter.
OOLONG & GREEN TEAS To top of page	Oolong Mist of the Mountains * Named for the Chinese word meaning "Black Dragon", Oolong is a partially fermented tea which takes on qualities of both black and green tea. Full, fruity-sweet aroma and flavor. Oolong contains nearly the same levels of Polyphenols as unfermented tea. Certified Organic * Fair Trade. $8.00/4 oz. Jasmine Green Tea * Jasmine Green Tea is a Chinese Classic. Freshly picked wild Jasmine blossoms are mixed with organic green tea, and removed after leaving their floral scent behind. A pleasing after dinner treat. Certified Organic * Fair Trade. $6.00/4 oz. Green Moroccan Mint Tea * Organic green teas are blended with organic herbs: spearmint, peppermint and lemon grass, to give this tea an exquisit aroma and flavor. A refreshing lift whether hot or iced. Try mixing it with Rooibos. This tea as an exquisit aroma and flavor. A tea of hospitality and quiet grace. Certified Organic * Fair Trade. $6.00/4 oz. Oolong Processing: The process for making oolong tea begins with withering combined with a brief fermentation. The freshly plucked leaves are spread in large, shallow bamboo baskets and exposed to direct sunlight for four to five hours. The baskets are shaken frequently to bruise the leaves' edges. The bruised edge then oxidize more quickly than the centers of the leaves. The tea is not allowed to oxidize as fully as black teas. When the leaves have fermented enought, they are fired in large baskets that are moved quickly over a fire. After the firing, the leaves are sorted and packed for shipment. Polyphenols act as anti-oxidants that reduce levels of cancer-causing free radicals in a body's system. Green Tea contains high levels of polyphenols.

Alta Organic Coffee, PO Box O
Davenport, California 95017 Phone: 800-866-5181 - Fax: 831-427-3372