Message


Lumbini_FBOPFEXS_4dda835b3c1d4.png

Lumbini FBOPFEXS

This is the highest possible grade of Lumbini tea. FBOPFEXS stands for Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe Extra Special - a classification for exceptional quality. Specialty Tea Institute has awarded this tea a gold medal.
Price
Country of Origin: Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

Lumbini FBOPFEXS

Lumbini Tea Factory, located in the Matara district of Sri Lanka’s Southern Province is by all counts a model for the global tea industry. Not only are their teas utterly spectacular, but also their commitment to safe practices, sustainability and the environment is second to none.

Lets start with the nuts and bolts. The family run factory was commissioned in 1984 to produce a capacity of 3000 kg of finished tea per month. Over time, that number has increased to 50,000 kg of finished tea per month. To produce that much tea, 300,000 kg of fresh green leaf is purchased from nearly 2500 growers in the region, or is plucked from the factory’s own 150 acres under tea and the 1200 acres of land it rents to grow fresh leaf. Daily production is handled by 100 full time staff that sort, process and grade all finished tea. It’s quite a serious operation.

It’s also an exceptionally well-run operation. Lumbini’s attention to detail has seen it earn its HACCP certification, ISO 9001:2000 Certification, a merit award as the best tea factory in Sri Lanka by the STI, Specialty Tea Institute of America, the highest price ever at the Colombo auction, and a further award from the STI, a gold award for the tea we are offering here, the Lumbini FBOPFEXS, Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings Extra Special. If that isn’t enough to convince you that this is one heck of a tea operation, consider also that Lumbini composts all its organic waste to be used as a natural fertilizer and plants trees to help maintain their surrounding forests. (The estate is located near the Sinharaja Forest, one of Asia’s last virgin rainforests.) In short, Lumbini is a top of the line tea supplier.

Now, as we mentioned, the tea offered here is a Specialty Tea Institute gold medallist. Quite frankly, it’s easy to understand why. The finished leaf is exceptionally well crafted and very stylish, overflowing with golden and silver tips. The cup is likewise superb with an amber liquor opening up to a refreshing medium body, mouth filling astringency and delicate notes of plum on the finish. Lumbini FBOPFEXS is an exceptional tea from an exceptional source.

Brewing Tips - Hot Tea: Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 teaspoon of tea for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea). Even though milk and a dash of sugar help enhance the flavor character on this tea, it is perfectly acceptable to consume this tea ‘straight-up’

Brewing Tips - Cold Tea: Place 6 teaspoons of tea into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water]. Please note that this tea may tend to go cloudy or ‘milky’ when poured over ice; a perfectly normal characteristic of some high quality black teas and nothing to worry about!
Black Teas   Green Teas   Oolong Teas   Flavored Teas   Rooibos Teas  
Herbal Teas   Artisan Teas  Flower Teas   Organic Teas
Darjeeling  Assam   Keemun  Yunnan