Peter Morrell relaxes with a range of delicious Pinestone Teas from their Luxury Green Tea Gift Set

The Pinestone Tea Luxury Green Tea Gift Set is an artisan tea experience that offers a sense of wellbeing both physically and mentally to the drinker. With time on our hands during these days at home, the appreciation of the ceremony of making and tasting this tea is second to none. Loose-leaf tea provides the perfect excuse to take your time.

Research has shown us just how good green tea is for us both mentally and physically. The act of brewing these meticulously prepared leaves can bring a sense of mindfulness and calm.

Green tea has been seen to have many health benefits. It is high in protective polyphenols which act as antioxidants. It contains amino acids which help the brain to function and, some research states, that un-sweetened green tea can help with fat burning due to its thermogenic properties.

I recently tasted the teas which are in the Gift Set. A beautiful, high-quality presentation box contains three distinctive teas, and each offer something unique to the drinker.

Here is more about the teas and my tasting notes for each one

100g Lung Ching:

This stunning tea, also known as Dragon Well, is unrivalled in quality and taste experience. It must be produced in the traditional, hand-panned style to bear the world-renowned Lung Ching mark. 18 bushes were granted imperial status during the Qing Dynasty; those trees still exist, and their tea sells for a higher price per gram than gold.

This tea pours light yellow with a slight tinge of green. On the nose is has a strong vegetal aroma which continues into the mouth. The tea is sweet with a pronounced nutty flavour and a background taste of malt. It has slight astringency making it ideal to drink on its own. The finish is complex and refreshing.

100g Chun Mee:

Bringing this tea from the plantation to your pot truly is a labour of love! Also produced by hand, it requires no fewer than ten different hand movements to shape, turn and press the leaves to create the perfect combination of aroma, flavour and colour. Expert handlers, using methods perfected over many generations, meticulously prepare the leaves to produce the highest quality tea.

This pours straw yellow, and the nose has a bright grassy aroma. In the mouth there are herbaceous notes with the flavour of plums and a hint to smoke. The taste is sweet and mild with medium astringency, making it ideal to enjoy with food. It has a good clean finish.

100g Jasmine:

Jasmine is a favourite the world over. The tea is harvested in Zhejiang province in spring but stored carefully until summer when the jasmine flowers are picked and mixed with the tea. The mixing process happens 1000 miles away from Zhejiang in Guangxi. Overnight, the flowers open, infusing the tea with their wonderful fragrance. In the morning they are separated, and the process is then repeated 7-9 times, with new flowers being added each night.

This tea pours yellow for the first cup and darkens as the brewing progresses. This has an alluring floral perfume on the nose, which in the mouth becomes an enjoyable pungent fragrance.. The tea is sweet, smooth, and well-rounded with no astringency. In the finish is the lingering taste of jasmine which has a very calming effect.

I found the entire process of preparing and drink these teas a very relaxing experience and I really appreciated the distinct and different character of each tea. This is the ideal gift for people who enjoy the pleasure of a luxury experience or for the tea connoisseur.

The Pinestone Tea Luxury Green Tea Gift Set is £26.99 includes 100g Lung Ching, 100g Jasmine, and 100g Chun Mee loose-leaf tea. A complimentary re-seal clip to keep your tea absolutely fresh.

Available from Amazon and www.pinestonetea.co.uk

To help you get the absolute best from your tea drinking experience here is Pinestone’s method for making the perfect brew.

• Step 1 – The optimum water temperature for green tea is 80-90 degree Celsius: You can achieve this by leaving boiling water to stand for 5 minutes before use
• Step 2 – Depending on how strong you prefer it, 1-2 teaspoons should be added to a cup or teapot (about 300ml in size or capacity)
• Step 3 – Rinse the tea leaves briefly with hot water in a cup or teapot (filled roughly a third of the way) and drain after 30 seconds.
• Step 4 – Add hot water to full and brew the rinsed leaves for 2-3 minutes, enjoy!