Pecan Pie Green Tea

Information: Did you know that the Pecan tree is the only major naturally occurring nut bearing tree in North America? It’s a fact. It’s also a fact that the native populations of North America adored Pecans and were the first people to cultivate the trees for personal consumption sometime during the 16th century. In fact, the name pecan comes from an Algonquin word that means “nut that needs a stone to crack.” It is also a fact that after Europeans arrived in North America, in particular the French to New Orleans, that Pecans became a hot commodity in international trade. In fact, one of the first recorded incidents of Pecan exportation occurred in 1802 when the French sent a shipment from New Orleans to the West Indies. Another accepted fact is that these same French-folk were the first to bake Pecans into freshly layered pastry thus creating Pecan pie. Indeed these are all accepted Pecan facts. That Pecans have magical powers is not. That said, once you discover the amazingly nutty flavor of Pecan pastry and green tea you’ll feel that magical powers are at work.

What kind of tea is used? We’ve sourced a top quality Sencha style green tea manufactured in Hunan Province, South Eastern China. The tea is produced by skipping the fermentation process required to produce black tea. Interestingly, both green and black teas can be produced from the same bushes. In green manufacture, the freshly plucked leaves are steamed immediately and then bruised either by machine or hand. Next the leaf is either pan-fried or basket fired - a process that gives the tea its distinctive glossy look and feel. Senchas typically have dark green, needle shaped leaves and produce a pale green to yellow, very bright and smooth cup with a sweetish, honey like finish. Layers of nutty pecan and a light hint of cream wonderfully offset the bright, subtle grassiness of the tea and it’s a fact that if you brew a cup today you’ll come back for seconds – no magic required!

Hot tea brewing method: When preparing by the cup, this tea can be used repeatedly - about 3 times. The secret is to use water that is about 180’F or 80’C. Place 1 teaspoon in your cup, let the tea steep for about 3 minutes and then begin enjoying a cup of enchantment - do not remove the leaves from the cup. Once the water level is low - add more water, and so on and so on - until the flavor of the tea is exhausted. Look at the pattern of the leaves, they foretell your fortune .

Alternatively as with all top quality teas, scoop 2-4 teaspoons of tea into the teapot, pour in boiling water that has been freshly drawn (previously boiled water has lost most of its oxygen and therefore tends to be flat tasting), steep for 2-4 minutes (to taste), stir (virtually all the leaves will sink), pour into your cup but do not add milk or sugar since green tea is enjoyed ‘straight-up’.

Iced tea brewing method: (to make 1 liter/quart) : Place 6 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and top up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water.]