ROSEBAY WILLOWHERB TEA | CHAMAENERION ANGUSTIFOLIUM
HERBAL TEA
★ PESTICIDE-FREE

Gaiziņkalns, Latvia

Harvested in Gaiziņkalns area, Latvia. Fully handmade, this Ivan Chai is the highest mastery herb tea.
Delicious and healthy herb tea with many beneficial properties on the human body. MORE

AROMA
Honey, floral
TASTE
Honey, bread

MASTER: Andrei Ivanov
PLANT: Chamaenérion angustifolium (Epilóbium angustifolium)
HARVEST: Summer, 2023

Ivan Chai, also known as 'Rosebay Willowherb' or 'Fireweed' is a perennial herbaceous plant 50-200 cm high. It grows throughout the Northern Hemisphere, in the United States, Canada, and Scandinavian countries in Europe. and occupies huge areas in the Urals and Altai areas in Russia. Very popular herbal tea due to its beneficial properties and ability to be fermented, which gives it a more special taste quite similar to black tea made from Camellia Sinensis. In Russia, this kind of fermented Ivan Chai is being called "Koporsky Chi" or simply "Koporka" thanks to the village "Koporye" famous for its production since the 18th century. Plant juice contains many enzymes that start certain biochemical processes in the leaves during the oxydation process, which makes it changes its color, pleasant taste, and aroma. The amount of vitamins and nutrients during the oxidation process increases several times.

ORIGIN
This special Ivan Chai was made from mature leaves grown wild on Gaiziņkalns mountain, which is the highest point (312 m) in Latvia. Due to a high altitude, the leaves are less susceptible to insect attack. Harvested in the early morning, when, according to the beliefs of herbalists, growing energy inside the plant makes it most beneficial. We carefully selected all the leaves and withered them during the first few hours to let the oxidation process start and to make them more flexible. We processed leaves using our own author's method, using all kinds of hand-rolling techniques to get out all the juice and to save the form of a leaf. After about 6 hours of nonstop rolling, we left the leaves to oxidize and dry out by themselves at room temperature.

ORGANOLEPTICS
While most herbal teas are non-fermented, this herbal tea is unique. After a complex process, this tea provides a very special aroma and taste. The taste is multifaceted and has a lot of herbal, floral, and honey nuances. Sweet and thick, this tea is associated with village house and sauna. Very nice drink during cold winter time.

It is considered that it becomes more tasty and beneficial closer to winter and saves its properties during the next 3 years.

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