Stash Tea: Tea FAQ

All tea comes from the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis, the tea plant that was first cultivated in China and later found growing in India. Chinese monks and European traders introduced tea to Japan, Sri Lanka, and other countries.

Tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, with water being the first.

Several factors affect the flavor characteristics of tea: where the tea is grown, the climate, soil conditions, and how the tea is processed.

Tea is harvested after each "flush" - the sprouting of the top two leaves and bud. The top two leaves and bud are hand-plucked and then processed into one of the four main types of tea - Black, Oolong, Green, and White.

Black Tea is withered, fully oxidized and dried. Black tea yields a hearty, amber-colored brew.

Oolong Tea is generally referred to as "semi-fermented" or partially oxidized tea. It principally comes from China and Taiwan (often called Formosa, its former Dutch name). To create oolong tea, the leaves are wilted in direct sunlight and then shaken in bamboo baskets to lightly bruise the edges. Next, the leaves are spread out to dry until the surface of the leaf turns slightly yellow. Oolong tea falls between black and green tea in taste.

Green Tea skips the oxidizing step. It is simply withered and then dried. Brewed green tea can range in color from very pale to pale green or golden. Green tea from Japan is steam-dried while green tea from China is pan-dried.

White Tea is the least processed. It is not oxidized or rolled but simply withered and dried by steaming.

What are herbal teas?

Herbal "teas" contain no true tea leaves but are crafted from a collection of herbs and spices that Stash Tea obtains from the finest suppliers around the world. We use Pacific Northwest mint, Moroccan rosebuds, Indonesian cinnamon, and more to create our all natural herbal teas.

Do herbal teas contain caffeine?

Herbal teas are made from plants and botanicals that are not related to Camellia sinensis. They are naturally caffeine free. Our Chamomile Tea and Peppermint Tea are examples of herbal teas.

How do I brew a perfect cup of tea?

Good quality water and proper brewing time are essential for a flavorful cup of tea.

Start with a preheated pot or cup (simply fill your teapot or cup with very hot water and let it stand for a moment).

Use fresh cold water. In areas with poor tap water, use bottled or filtered water. Never use water from the hot water tap. Let the tap water run for a few seconds until it is quite cold; this ensures that the water is aerated (full of oxygen) to release the full flavor of the tea leaves.

Bring water to a rolling boil. Don't let it boil too long, as it will boil away the flavor releasing oxygen and result in a flat tasting cup of tea. Pour boiling water on tea leaves or tea bag.

To make an 8 oz. cup of tea, use the following as a guideline for loose leaf teas amounts. Tea bags and loose teas should both be steeped according to the times below.

How much caffeine does tea contain?

The amount of caffeine in tea can vary significantly. For example, research into the caffeine contents of various teas now indicates that some Green and White tea MAY contain more caffeine than black tea. To date, the most scientifically reliable statements are:

Tea contains less caffeine than coffee.

All tea contains caffeine. Decaffeinated teas can contain up to 4 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per 8 oz. of water.

We realize that some of our customers have concerns about caffeine. If you know that you are sensitive to caffeine, we suggest that you contact your health care provider for advice.

What decaffeination method does Stash Tea use?

We use the carbon dioxide (CO2) method of decaffeination. The method is also known as "effervescent decaffeination." In this method, the tea is flash brewed with carbon dioxide under high pressure and then dried.

This decaffeination process does not affect the desirable natural components of tea such as tannins and polyphenols.

What is maltodextrin and is it used in your teas?

Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate made from corn starch. It is used in our Iced Green Tea Powders to help disperse the green tea powder in water.

How do you ensure the purity and quality of your teas?

Since 1972, we've been proud to offer our customers exceptional quality teas -- that's our commitment and our mission. We adhere to several policies to ensure our tea is of the finest and purest quality.

First, we buy our teas directly from the world's premier tea gardens and only conduct business with reputable suppliers, most of whom we have worked with for years. We also require every vendor to sign a certificate of compliance based on U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

We also set equally high standards for our herbal and spiced teas by purchasing herbs and spices whole from the world's best sources. We mill them right before blending for superior taste and flavor. They are also tested according to strict guidelines set by the American Spice Trade Association, the Food and Drug Administration, and our own stringent guidelines. The flavors and extracts used in our teas are always 100% natural.

In addition, our line of Organic Teas is certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Quality Assurance International (QAI). QAI is a professional organic certification service that is internationally recognized. Their program certifies that every step in the life of a food product is organic - from the land where the product is grown to the growers' practices, to the post-harvest facilities, to the final processing and handling.

Are your teas kosher certified?

All of our teas are kosher certified by KOF-K Kosher Supervision, one of the foremost certification agencies in the U.S. In addition, all of our honey sticks and Organic Agave Nectar Sticks are also kosher certified.

Are there really any health benefits gained from drinking tea?

Over the past few years, much scientific research has been done regarding the health benefits of drinking tea. Tea contains flavonoids, naturally occurring compounds that are believed to have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals which scientists believe that over time may damage elements in the body, such as genetic material and lipids, and contribute to chronic disease. (1)

(1) Source: Specialty Tea Institute

We have gathered a number of resources and articles on our Website's Tea and Health page. If you have any health concerns, we always recommend that you check with your personal health care provider.

What is the filter paper made of that you use in your tea bags?

We use 100% cellulose (wood) fibers. They are not bleached by chemicals; rather, their light color is achieved by forcing air between the fibers.

What is a Tea Brick and is the tea drinkable?

Centuries ago, the inventive Chinese, who invented the earliest banking system with coins and paper bank notes, found that their currency had no value when trading with people in far-away Mongolia and Tibet. Their solution to this problem was to turn their most valued product - tea - into bricks that were evenly scored and could be broken to make change.

Today, these sculpted tea bricks with traditional Chinese motifs are used for decoration. We don't recommend brewing tea from tea bricks. However, Stash Tea does offer more than 200 teas in our online store so you're sure to find many that appeal to you.

Tip: If you choose to purchase a tea brick you may want to apply a coat of clear lacquer to protect it from humidity.

What do the abbreviations after some teas mean; i.e., FTGFOP, OP?

These initials refer to tea grading, one of the most misunderstood subjects concerning tea. To begin with, tea grades are not standardized worldwide. Also, a tea's grade does not necessarily indicate flavor or quality. Rather, tea flavor and quality are determined by many different factors including: the country of origin, the variety of the tea, the garden or estate where it is grown, the elevation, the particular flush (when the tea is picked), and the manufacturing after harvesting.

For more information on this topic, please refer to the What is tea grading? section on our website.

Which of your teas contain an allergen?

Some of the 100% natural flavors that we use in some of our teas do contain known allergens.

Stash Tea teabag blends that contain soy lecithin: Acai Berry Herbal, Apple Cinnamon Herbal, Blueberry Herbal, Decaf Raspberry & White, Lemon Blossom Herbal, Lemon Ginger Herbal, Wild Blackcurrant Herbal, Wild Raspberry Herbal, Yumberry Blackcurrant.

Stash Tea Iced Tea Blends that contain soy lecithin: Wild Blackcurrant, Blueberry Herbal, Wild Raspberry Herbal, Blackcurrant Iced Black, Lemon Blossom Herbal, Tropical Fruit Iced Black Tea.

Stash Tea Iced Tea Powders that contain soy lecithin: Iced Lemon Ginger Green Tea Powder. Soy lecithin is a food ingredient that is derived from plant sources, including soy.
Soy lecithin is used in foods and beverages as an emulsifier, a stabilizer, a dispersing aid or other similar uses.

Stash Tea Bags that contain coconut: Coconut Mango Oolong.

Do your teas contain gluten?

All of our teas are gluten-free.

Content Updated: 02/25/09

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