All Tea

About 
A smooth tea that can be enjoyed straight, with a dash of milk, or a few drops of lemon.
Crafted with a smooth Keemun tea base offering body and depth, and a toasty oolong from Wuyi mountain that introduces notes of caramel that go surprisingly well with either milk or citrus. 

Origin
Blended in Richmond, BC. 

Imagine yourself standing atop Dazhang Mountain, surrounded by serene mist and crisp mountain air. 

Inspired by this breathtaking scenery, Dazhang Mountain (Dazhangshan) tea captures the essence of this tranquil setting in every sip. With each cup, experience a refreshing harmony of grassy notes and a nutty undertone, reminiscent of the untouched beauty of nature. 

Savour the pure, organic flavours that transport you to a moment of calm reflection and rejuvenation. 

This is a more premium (and therefore gentler tasting) version of Chao Qing (炒青): pan-fired green tea. 

Origin
This batch of tea was farmed organically in the hills of Central Hunan Province. 

Recommendations

• Tea: 4g / 1 tbsp
• Water: 240ml / 1 cup 
• Temperature:  75°C / 167°F
  
• Steep: 180 seconds

About
This naturally sweet black tea has golden leaves and notes of roasted sweet potato. 

Origin
This tea grows in the fabled Yellow Mountain (黄山) region, in Anhui Province, using a cultivar native to Yunnan. The particular garden in which our Yunnan Gold is farmed is at an altitude of more than 2000 meters above sea level.

Recommendations 

• Tea: 3g / 1 tbsp
• Water: 240ml / 1 cup 
• Temperature:  100°C / 212°F
  
• Steep: 210 seconds 

About
Some beautiful things in life are simple. Rich and mellow, this organic tea is an ideal base for blends; it also brews a very enjoyable morning cup. 

The rich, chunky leaves of this particular batch are full of flavour, and compared to other harvests, steamed for a shorter period of time and dried for longer. This results in a duller appearance, but a milder, less astringent taste. 

Origin & History
This particular batch of China Black Keemun was farmed organically in the hills of Central Hunan Province, where the southern climate gives the leaves a very distinct character. 

Keemun (Qimen in pinyin or 祁门 in Chinese characters) is a classic tea style from Huang Shan; the cultivar is ideal for a highly oxidized style of tea. 

Recommendations 

• Tea: 3g / 1 tbsp
• Water: 240ml / 1 cup 
• Temperature:  100°C / 167°F
  
• Steep: 220 seconds 

About
This delicious, affordable oolong features notes of roasted chestnuts and a rich aroma. 

Origin
This tea is grown in the Wuyi Mountain region -- a pristine, UN-protected heritage zone. 

About
Crafted with a smooth Keemun tea base for body and depth and rose scent and petals for an intoxicatingly floral, soothing brew. 

Origin
Blended in Richmond, BC.

About
If you like turmeric... try this!  

We sourced turmeric with the highest concentration of curcumin we could find, grown in the Andes, to provide a super solid base for this tea. Blended with Peruvian maca, mushroom extracts, and chai spices, this blend is sure to make you glow like the sun. 

Origin
Blended in Richmond, BC

Recommendations
Try it in your next latte! We like it best with coconut milk. 

Ingredients
Organic turmeric powder, organic maca powder, organic lion’s mane extract, organic tremella extract, organic cinnamon, organic ginger, organic cardamom, organic pepper, organic star anise. 

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More on Turmeric
Latin name: Curcuma longa

Turmeric is a flowering plant, native to Asia. Ayurveda (a system of medicine with roots in ancient India) has treasured turmeric over literally thousands of years; conveniently, this widespread plant is also a widespread ingredient in Asian cooking.

In recent times, turmeric has also become one of the most sought-after nutritional supplements in North America.

Why should you include it in your diet?
A Google search for ‘turmeric benefits’ will yield a wild range of claims, some of them well-founded. To keep things down to earth and transparent, we choose to say that we (at Two Hills) consume turmeric regularly, because according to Health Canada:

• (Traditionally) used in Herbal Medicine as an anti-inflammatory to help relieve joint pain
• Used in Herbal Medicine as a hepatoprotectant (liver protectant)
• Source of antioxidants
• Used in Herbal Medicine to aid digestion, increase bile excretion by the liver and stimulate the gallbladder
• Used in Herbal Medicine to aid digestion
• (Traditionally) used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve flatulent dyspepsia 
• Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to eliminate blood stasis, promote the flow of qi, relieve pain of menstruation due to blood stasis

Source:  http://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq.do?atid=turmeric.oral.curcuma.orale&lang=eng

Should you be a scholarly geek (as we are), we recommend the following article:

Turmeric and curcumin: Biological actions and medicinal applications. CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 87, NO. 1, 10 JULY 2004.  Ishita Chattopadhyay1 , Kaushik Biswas1 , Uday Bandyopadhyay2 and Ranajit K. Banerjee1

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More on Lion's Mane
Latin name: Hericium erinaceus

Lion’s mane is an edible and medicinal mushroom native to all continents in the Northern hemisphere; it is also known as monkey head mushroom, bearded tooth mushroom, satyr's beard, bearded hedgehog, and a variety of local names. Long known to traditional healers, particularly in relation to brain and nerve health, this mushroom’s popularity soared recently among modern health food seekers.

The following articles (related to this mushroom) are available at the website of the US National Library of Medicine. Please note the section about neurite outgrowth and regeneration of damaged nerves in the first one.

1. Neuronal Health – Can Culinary and Medicinal Mushrooms Help?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3924982/
2. Therapeutic Potential of Hericium erinaceus for Depressive Disorder. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6982118/
3. Gastroprotective Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom Hericium erinaceus(Bull.:Fr.) Pers. (Aphyllophoromycetideae) Extract against Ethanol-Induced Ulcer in Rats
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3835629/
   

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More on Tremella Mushroom
Latin name: Tremella fuciformis

Tremella is a mushroom that mostly grows in tropical regions; it is very popular in Chinese cooking and medicine. In China, it is known as 银耳 (silver ear) or 雪耳
(snow ear); in Japan, it is known as シロキクラゲ (white jellyfish).

Tremella, with its high content of Vitamin D and beta-glucans, recently shot to stardom among health food enthusiasts in the West. The following articles (related to this mushroom) are available at the website of the US National Library of Medicine.

1. The Neuroprotective and Neurotrophic Effects of Tremella fuciformis in PC12h Cells
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3763079/
2. The anti-fatigue and anti-anoxia effects of Tremella extract
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6923490/
3. Immunomodulatory Effect of Tremella Polysaccharides against Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppression in Mice
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6017040/

About
This is a classic style of white tea as produced in Fujian Province for generations, featuring notes of stone fruit and hints of spice. 

It's very delicious on its own, but also happens to make a delightful base for brewing kombucha at home. 

Origin
We sourced this tea from an organic garden in the highlands Hunan Province, which specializes in the organic farming of famous teas from all over the country. 

Recommendations 

• Tea: 4g / 1 tbsp
• Water: 240ml / 1 cup 
• Temperature:  75°C / 167°F
  
• Steep: 180 seconds 

About
Smooth, rich black tea with big chunks of premium spices.
Cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and black tea make this a well-rounded, smooth, easy-sipping chai.

Origin
Blended in Richmond, BC.

About
A nice Earl Grey does not really need any enhancements; however, if you want a more relaxing brew for a sunny afternoon, Earl Grey with lavender is the perfect option.  

Origin
Blended in Richmond, BC.

Recommendations 

• Tea: 2g / 1 tbsp
• Water: 240ml / 1 cup 
• Temperature:  100°C / 212°F
  
• Steep: 180 seconds 

About 
This is a very rich, sweet, white tea.
The picking standard for this tea is one bud and one leaf -- the unoxidized buds give off notes of flowers and a hint of spice, while the lightly oxidized young leaves add notes of honey and fruit. 

Origin
Grown organically in the highlands of Southern Yunnan Province. 

Recommendations 

• Tea: 4g / 1 tbsp
• Water: 240ml / 1 cup 
• Temperature:  75°C / 167°F
  
• Steep: 120 seconds  

About
This is a unique, very aromatic peppermint from a biodynamic grower. 

Peppermint is known to deliver cooling energy and powerful sinus-opening properties, in addition to promoting relaxation. A great option when you're fighting off a cold.

Origin & History
Just one of over 600 different known varieties of mint, peppermint became ubiquitous for a reason.
Peppermint is a natural hybrid of water mint (mentha aquatica) and spearmint (mentha spicata) and was first cultivated in England in the late seventeenth century.

Grown in Cascadia, this soothing, cooling, caffeine-free peppermint is a staple for any tea lover who wants to relax and unwind.

In holistic medicine and aromatherapy, peppermint tea and/or oil is commonly used to assist with a wide array of issues, including:

• digestive upsets
• tension & migraine headaches
• clogged sinuses
• muscle aches & joint pain
• stress
• menstrual cramps

About
This delicious, healthy blend of maca and hojicha is your childhood favourite, chocolate milk, all grown up. It's the closest you'll get to that flavour without any actual chocolate. 

Recommendations: 
We highly recommend expressing this in an oat milk latte, hot or iced. Trust the experts. Thank us later.  

Ingredients
Organic hojicha, organic maca powder

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More on Maca
Latin name:  Lepidium meyenii

Maca, sometimes called ‘Peruvian ginseng’, is a native plant of the Andean highlands, growing mostly at altitudes over 4000m above sea level.  In recent years, maca achieved super-stardom in North America, boosted by reviews from influencers like David Asprey (Hack your Sex Drive with Maca Root | https://blog.daveasprey.com/hack-your-sex-drive-with-maca/) and Men’s Health Magazine (Can Maca Powder Boost Your Energy and Sex Drive? Here's What You Should Know

https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a19544647/maca-powder-benefits/)

Why should you include it in your diet?  Quoting Health Canada on benefits that have been solidly established:    

• Source of/Provides antioxidants. 
• Helps to support emotional aspects of sexual health.
• Helps to support healthy mood balance during menopause.

 Source:  http://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq.do?atid=maca.lepidium.meyenii&lang=eng

And for scholarly geeks, we recommend the following articles:

1. Ethnobiology and Ethnopharmacology of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a Plant from the Peruvian Highlands
   

   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3184420/ 

2. Hormone-Balancing Effect of Pre-Gelatinized Organic Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon): (I) Biochemical and Pharmacodynamic Study on Maca using Clinical Laboratory Model on Ovariectomized Rats
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3614604/

3. Preservation of Cognitive Function by Lepidium meyenii (Maca) Is Associated with Improvement of Mitochondrial Activity and Upregulation of Autophagy-Related Proteins in Middle-Aged Mouse Cortex
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5018343/

Delight in the comforting warmth of our Organic Hojicha, a medium-roast green tea with a naturally sweet, woody flavour. 

Carefully crafted from late-harvest Japanese tea leaves and gently roasted, this tea offers a mellow, caramel-like sweetness with low caffeine, making it perfect for any time of day. 

Each sip brings a sense of cozy comfort, ideal for winding down and sharing with loved ones. 

This particular batch is made with late-harvest, yabukita cultivar Japanese tea leaves, which are carefully and lovingly roasted at ~200° F. This roasting process significantly reduces any astringency from the late harvest leaves, resulting in a naturally sweet, gentle brew with notes of wood and caramel.  

Let the soothing essence of Hojicha be your daily retreat into relaxation and well-being! 

Origin
Kirishima, Kagoshima, Japan

Recommendations

 About

A smooth, rich, woody Pu Er made from chunky leaves. 
Delicious to drink as-is, with great aging potential.

Origin & History
Pu Er is, simply put, fermented tea that comes from Yunnan Province, China.

This particular batch was grown in Simao (Pu Er), Yunnan, China, anaerobically fermented for 40 days, and harvested in May of 2022.

While you can get tea from many other regions, it should only be called Pu Er if it is made in Yunnan (just like sparkling wine can only be champagne if it is Produced in Champagne, France). 

If a great-tasting tea isn’t enough on its own, for centuries the Chinese have attributed a wealth of health and digestive benefits to this tea, and recently, some celebrity North American health experts are recognizing the same.

Recommendations

• Tea: 3g / 1 tbsp
• Water: 240ml / 1 cup 
• Temperature:  100°C / 212°F
  
• Steep: 180 seconds, 3-4 steeps

Embrace the simple pleasure of our Organic Chao Qing tea, a pan-fired green tea known for its bold, upfront flavour and pleasant sweetness.

Harvested in the hills of Central Hunan Province, this tea offers a humble yet invigorating experience, perfect for daily enjoyment. Each sip brings a touch of astringency followed by a soothing sweetness. 

Let Chao Qing be your everyday escape into the rich traditions of Chinese green tea. 

Origin & History
Chao Qing (炒青) is a generic term for the most common process to create green tea: pan-firing.
Millions of people in Asia favour this humble, healthy brew as their everyday drink.

This particular batch is processed as 'chun mee' (a famous style in Jiangxi) and farmed organically in the hills of Central Hunan Province. 

Recommendations

• Tea: 4g / 1 tbsp
• Water: 240ml / 1 cup 
• Temperature:  75°C / 167°F
  
• Steep: 180 seconds

About
This is one of the most ancient and arguably famous styles of black tea. With notes of dark fruit and mild content of tannins, this tea creates a very elegant brew.

Origin
This tea grows in the Yellow Mountain (黄山) region, in Anhui Province.  This garden is at an altitude of more than 1200 m above sea level.

Garden Manager
Zha Weiming

About
When first sipped, this tea delivers an intense smokey aroma.
Shortly after, that smokey flavour gives way to a delightfully full-bodied black tea. 

This potent-yet-balanced version of the most famous style of smokey tea in the world is delicious hot or iced. 

Origin
This tea grows in the Yellow Mountain (黄山) region in Anhui Province between 200m and 800m above sea level.

Recommendations 

• Tea: 3g / 1 tbsp
• Water: 240ml / 1 cup 
• Temperature:  100°C / 212°F
  
• Steep: 90 seconds