Frequently Asked Questions about tea
Can I store tea in the freezer?
No. While coffee can be safely stored in a freezer, tea cannot. When frozen tea thaws, ice crystals on the leaves will melt and spoil the tea.
My earl grey appears to leave a residue on my containers. Is this
normal?
This is perfectly normal. We use a very high-grade natural
flavoring oil to make our Earl Grey. This oil can leave a harmless
residue.
What teas make the best-iced tea?
The great thing about our premium teas is that literally any tea
can be used for making fabulous iced tea. Many of our customers
tell us iced teas made with our flavored black teas are among
the best they’ve ever had!
What kind of tea goes into a tea-bag?
Unlike many tea companies that pack tea bags with low grades of
cast-off tea, Metropolitan uses premium tea in our teabags. The
grades we use are typically CTC (Cut, Tear & Curl), PF (pekoe
fannings), dust grade and BP (broken pekoe) grades.
Can tea be safely stored in glass containers?
Glass jars are a great marketing tool for specialty loose teas!
So the answer is absolutely. It is a common myth that tea needs
to be stored in opaque containers. In fact, we store all of our
teas for tasting in glass jars.
What sorts of tea are used as the base for flavoring tea?
To bring value to our clients and give them as many tea options
as possible, we use a multitude of teas for flavoring. Black
Ceylon teas, Sencha style green tea, green gunpowder teas, white
teas, the list goes on. Unlike some tea companies that use low
quality teas as a base, we use only top quality teas that taste
fantastic even on their own.
What are your natural flavorings made of?
Our natural flavoring oils are made from high quality fruit extract.
Is there caffeine in Rooibos?
No. Rooibos is deliciously caffeine free. It is high in health
giving antioxidants
Does green tea have caffeine?
Yes. Green tea has caffeine. Green and black teas come from the
same plant, camellia sinensis, and as such both have caffeine
in their chemical makeup. Studies appear to indicate that some
green teas may have less caffeine than black teas. Research also
indicates that green tea has less caffeine than coffee.
What is the ETP, Ethical Tea Partnership? (click here for our ETP page)
What water temperature should I use for black tea? Green tea?
Black tea should be brewed using water that has come to a rolling
boil: 100ºC / 212ºF
Green tea should be brewed using water that has not reached the
boiling point. A lower temperature ensures that all the nuance
of green tea comes shining through! 80-90ºC / 175 – 195 ºF.
Can I use your matcha to make ice cream?
You can, but it is important to follow the guidelines below:
• Our matcha is unpasteurized and as such contains natural enzymes.
• Before adding our matcha to dairy, it is important to add boiling water
to your matcha to create a paste. This paste can be safely added to ice cream.
Does tea have an expiry date?
Our teas are Flavor Sealed in specially made vacuum packed bags.
As such, unopened tea has an exceptionally long shelf life of
around 15 – 20 years. Interestingly, tea is a sterile product
and as such is not prone to bacterial degradation.
In 2006, the contribution of freehold tea growers in Sri Lanka reached 73% of total tea production for the country, up from 58% in 1999. Today, Sri Lanka’s tea industry provides a livable income for more than 700,000 people.