3.01.2008 : Tea of the Month for March – Xanadu Ruhuna Highland Estate OP
What does "OP" stand for? "OP" is this tea's grade,
standing for "Orange Pekoe" (the leaf size grade).
Interestingly, the grade's name has nothing to do
with the flavor of oranges, instead are Anglicized
words taken from 17th century Chinese,
referring to the tea's desirable larger leaf
size.
Our Ruhuna Highland Estate OP, grown at over 2,000 feet elevation in the south-eastern mountains of Ceylon (known today as "Sri Lanka"), is harvested by hand in January and February, when the days are bright and the nights are cool. The terrain in this part of Ceylon is extraordinarily steep and presents a tremendous challenge to the growers.
The tea leaves are nourished by the steady rains of the monsoons, are hand-harvested when they are young and tender and filled with the maximum amount of flavor. The pluckings are quickly withered to soften the leaves and concentrate the flavor, and then rolled repeatedly into a long, wiry shape. The rolling and shaping help preserve the tea, ultimately yielding a satisfyingly bold and dark cup, with a perfect balance between flavor and aroma.
In the cup – this best selling tea from Ceylon creates an extraordinary golden-colored cup that is perfect as an afternoon or evening tea. Strongly flavored, this tea may be enjoyed black or with a splash of milk for extra richness.
