More than ‘just’ tea
Many people cozy up with a hot cup of tea from time to time, but for others, tea is a science and a pure passion. We definitely belong to the latter group. Tea is the essence of ARENSBAK. With over 860 flavors - surpassing the flavors in white wine - the complexity of tea, combined with our advanced fermentation techniques, allows us to craft the vinous taste that defines ARENSBAK’s proxy wines. So for us, it all starts with that beautiful little tea leaf. All our tea leaves are handpicked from tea trees with deep roots into the soil and the trees’ terroir contributes with unique regional characteristics and a rich flavor profile. To share our passion for tea, we have partnered with one of the leading tea sommeliers in Europe and founder of Simply Tea, Alexis Kaae to bring her wisdom to you. So, grab a cup of tea and dvelve into the world of tea.
Let’s go 5000 years back
Tea was discovered in China around 5000 years ago. Initially, it was primarily used in the East for medicinal purposes and often associated with meditation. About 4000 years later, in the early 17th century, tea reached Europe. At first, it was mainly the Dutch and English who imported tea, and it
was very exclusive and expensive, making it accessible only to high society. It was not until the early 20th century that the East India Company managed to reduce transportation costs, making tea as accessible to the general population as coffee.
Where does fine tea grow?
China is not the only producer of quality tea; many other places around the world also produce excellent teas. Taiwan and Japan are known for their exceptional teas, and Sri Lanka (Ceylon tea), India, and Nepal maintain high standards of tea quality. However, it remains true that the quality of all teas is benchmarked against the standard of Chinese tea. In Europe, tea is grown in countries like Turkey, Portugal, and France. France has a longstanding tradition of enjoying tea - the English style. As early as the 17th century, the French started infusing their teas with flavors and even perfumes. This is a no go in England - only pure tea is enjoyed.
Quality over quantity
At ARENSBAK, we use only the finest quality tea to ensure a rich and complex flavor in our proxy wines. But with the global rise in tea sales, there is a growing concern over the potential decline in the standard of tea quality and Alexis Kaae shares this concern:
"Im a bit worried about how the tea quality will be in the future. Tea is consumed by more and more people around the world, which is a positive thing. But within the tea industry we unfortunately also experience an increasing tendency towards the quality of the teas decreasing. The tea bushes are harvested at various times of the year to get more tea leaves instead of only harvesting during spring when the leaves are tender and have a much higher quality. In my opinion
we should work towards a smaller production volume and ensure that the quality is maintained and that the many tea farmers are supported”.
All tea comes from a single plant
All tea originates from the Camellia sinensis plant, which comes from China. There are two varieties: sinensis and assamica. The fresh leaves are rich in antioxidants and contain enzymes that, during processing, interact with oxygen, changing the tea's chemical composition and color.
6 types of tea
Although there are thousands of tea varieties, they are classified into six categories based on the
stage at which the oxidation process is stopped. These are White, Yellow, Green, Oolong, Black,
and Puerh.
Natural tannins and acid
Just like grapes, tea has a complex flavor profile with incredible taste nuances and aromas. Tea
contains tannins and acids naturally present in its leaves, which give our proxy wines structure and
body - just as grapes do in traditional wine.
The 3 chosen teas
It took extensive research to find the right tea to create the perfect flavor combination for our ARENSBAK proxy wines. All of our teas are carefully selected by, Alexis Kaae. For ARENSBAK White we work with a floral and citrusy white oolong tea called Monkey Picked Tie Guan from China’s Fujian province. In the production of ARENSBAK Effervescent and ARENSBAK Rosé, the fresh and elegant green tea, Wuniuzao Longjing, is harvested at the foggy hilltops in the Zhejiang province in China. And lastly, a smoked and fermented black tea named Gong Ting Palace Shu Puerh from China’s Yunnan province is used for ARENSBAK Red.
So, tea is far more than ‘just’ tea. These beautiful leaves hold a world of complexity and richness. If you're intrigued, you can explore our process and learn more about our exceptional teas here.
Go get yourself another cup of tea.
