Caffeine occurs naturally in the tea plant so all "real" tea (i.e. black, green, white and oolong tea) contains some caffeine. Even decaffeinated teas will have a small amount of caffeine. A cup of tea has less caffeine than a cup of coffee- half the amount or less- and caffeine in tea is absorbed more slowly than the caffeine in coffee. Generally, when tea is brewed in boiling water, more caffeine is released from the tea leaves. When tea is brewed in cooler water, less caffeine is released.
Tea is the ultimate plant-based drink! Our teas are all made from leaves of the tea plant (the camellia sinensis) and so are vegan, and can be consumed as part of a vegan diet.
All our teas are organically grown by tea growers committed to sustainable agricultural practices. Some of the producers we work with have organic certification. We understand that organic certification from international agencies is an expensive, bureaucratic process and out of reach for many small growers. This is why we don't limit ourselves to only sourcing organically certified teas and have chosen not to pursue organic certification ourselves. As a result, we can't label our teas as "organic" even if they have been organically grown.
A "Fair Trade" label doesn't always mean a better deal for primary producers. This is why we place an emphasis on sourcing small batches of tea direct from small tea gardens. This way we know the provenance of every tea and pay a fair price that benefits the tea growers and makers directly.
Making a cup of loose leaf tea is really simple. First, place the loose leaf tea in a teapot. For one cup of tea, the rule of thumb is 2.5g of loose tea per 250ml. Second, pour in fresh water that has been heated to the recommended temperature. This will depend on the type of tea used- the optimal brewing temperatures are featured on all our packaging. Thirdly, allow the tea to steep. Again this will depend on the type of tea used- so please refer to the instructions of the pouch. Lastly, pour it through a strainer into a cup and enjoy!
Green, black, white and oolong teas all come from the same evergreen tea plant, the camellia sinensis. It's the processing after the leaves are harvested that determines the type of tea produced. Black tea is made by first allowing the green leaf to wilt, then rolling the leaves to release oils, and exposing the leaves to air. The exposure causes oxidisation which turns the leaves a dark colour and intensifies their flavour. Green tea is made by quickly heating or steaming the tea leaves once they are picked to stop oxidisation (and so the leaves remain a green colour). Oolong tea is a mix between of the two: the tea leaves are partly withered and partly oxidised and then bruised to release the oil, before being heated. White tea is the least processed of all types of tea; once picked the leaves are simply air-dried with minimal handling.
Tea picks up aromas and fades in light so tea should be stored in packaging that is opaque and airtight to keep fresh.
I actually only ordered this tea out of curiosity, but from the first sip I was convinced. This is a perfect balance of malty tea and the subtle sweetness and aromas of chocolate. I’m not a big fan of hot chocolate as it often just tastes of sugar, but this tea has the same feeling of comfort and a ’treat’ that hot chocolate gives, while still being light and refreshing. This will now be a staple in my tea cupboard!
Of the three green or greenish teas, I source from Karma, Shangri-La Oolong is my number one favourite. I enjoy drinking this tea at any time of the day and always look forward to its wonderful colour and feel in my mouth. I brew these tea leaves at least three times and the second brew is always my favourite
Malabar Mao Feng is my green tea of choice at Karma. It is a delightful tea and a pleasure to drink. I usually get three brews from my 2.5gm leaves, the second brew after the leaves have been wet once, tasting the best.
A delightful green tea, with the unusual cachet that it does not come from China or Japan but India. I prefer to brew this tea for a shorter period than recommended. It goes very well with food and is tastes well on its own too. It also provides a satisfying mouthful, when drank with a large draft of tea, giving a full body.
