The type of melon that most of us are familiar with, and the one that flavors this refreshing tea, is the cantaloupe. This melon, (Latin: Cucumis melo cantalupensis,) is thought to be native to Asia or Persia and is now grown widely in California, Arizona, and Texas. The correct term for the cantaloupe melon however is muskmelon. The prefix musk is derived from the Persian word for perfume. This name was given to the melon because of its sweet fruity fragrance when ripened. The suffix melon comes from the Latin word melopepo meaning “apple-shaped melon.” Cantaloupe melon has a watery flesh and a delicately sweet flavor. The fruit itself is very refreshing, as is this tea. The flavor profile of the melon blends beautifully with our Ceylon tea. A splash of milk will greatly compliment the flavor of the tea when served hot, and a dash of sugar will make this one a summer favorite when served over ice.

 What type of tea do we use, how do we flavor the tea and why do we use natural flavors?

•  We only use high grown teas from the top 3 tea growing regions of Sri Lanka - Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula and Uva. These three high-grown districts produce flavorful teas that have classic ‘Ceylon’ tea character which is noted by floral bouquet and flavor notes, touches of mild astringency, bright coppery color and, most importantly - perfect for use as the base tea of our flavored teas. (We have tested teas from various other origins around the world as base stock for our flavored teas, but none of these teas made the grade.) Dimbula and the western estates of Nuwara Eliya have a major quality peak during Jan/Feb, whereas Uva and the eastern estates of Nuwara Eliya have their peak in July/Aug. This ‘dual peak period’ allow us to buy the best for our flavored tea blends several times during the year, ensuring top quality and freshness.

• We use flavoring oils not crystals to give the tea drinker an olfactory holiday before indulging in a liquid tea treat.

• We specify natural flavors. High quality tea tastes good and natural flavors do not mask the natural taste of the high grown Ceylon tea. (The norm for many making flavored tea is to use overpowering artificial flavors, which can be used to hide lower quality tea). Natural flavors do not leave an aftertaste giving the tea a clean and true character. It should be noted that natural flavors tend to be somewhat ‘soft ‘ and the flavors slightly muted, but for many this is a refreshing change and one of the desired attributes of our naturally flavored teas.