Antony and Cleopatra Tea

The tradition of pressing black tea into various forms and shapes dates back to the early Song Dynasty, 960-1279 B.C. Sculptors and artisans would work with tea the way others worked with clay or textiles to form delicate works of art. Unlike traditional art pieces, however, these tea creations were never meant to be permanent, instead serving to represent the impermanence of life, love, and happiness here on earth.

These beautifully pressed Yunnan tea hearts in Antony and Cleopatra tea serve as a testament to fractured love. This tea is named after one of the most famous love stories of all time, that of Marc Antony and Cleopatra. Like love itself, the tea hearts are fragile and breakable, and when the trials and tribulations of life come to bear on it, can unravel. In the same way, boiling water poured over the hearts causes them to undo, creating a rich, bold liquor. The cup produced is tremendous - dark, with deep notes of wine and subtle earth, full body and medium-long finish. Best enjoyed in the company of someone special! One heart will brew 1-3 cups, depending on how strong you like it. An ounce contains about a dozen hearts, which are about an inch across. Use one heart per cup or small pot and steep about 3 minutes in freshly boiled water. Please note that while we try to make sure you get no broken hearts in your package, a few may break in transit.

Makes a nice Valentine's Day gift!