FIVE ROSES
Trusted Quality Tea

In an increasingly frenetic world, tea continues to retain the myriad qualities this amber brew had when it first made its appearance in London centuries ago. At the time scarce and precious, tea quickly became 'the' fashionable beverage and has remained so ever since.

What is it about tea that is so special? A good cup of tea, freshly brewed, is a universal favourite having the exceptional ability to calm when one is stressed, to perk up when energy levels are flagging, to comfort, to console and to create a feeling of friendly intimacy at a very special time of the day. Teatime, a custom that despite the pace today, remains a time and tradition to treasure.

At Five Roses for over a century there have been only a handful of dedicated tea masters. Sri Lankan, Reggie Rajiah, has spent a lifetime in the study of tea and as the expert tea master of Five Roses is the custodian, ensuring the exacting standards of Five Roses for quality and consistency.

Reggie explains, "Five Roses is a unique blend of quality teas that have been harvested from environmentally friendly tea estates around the world. Although the tea bush grows in a wide range of climates, it is commercially productive in the tropics and sub tropics, with black tea mainly from India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Indonesia.” 

 

Reggie buys from auctions worldwide to very strict specifications. He is extremely particular about origins of teas and tastes around 300 teas in a day as every tea is unique. He tells us, "Growing tea is in a sense similar to winemaking. You have to take seasonality of growth into consideration; the climate, the weather, the soils, the gentle breezes and humidity, all influencing quality. During dry weather the bushes are under some stress and give out enhanced quality."

Daybreak, sunset or late at night, any time is the right time to indulge in the smooth taste of Five Roses Quality Tea.

Five Roses English Breakfast is great to start the day, brisk and invigorating. 

Elegant Five Roses Earl Grey has a distinctive fragrance of Bergamot of Citrus origin. 

Five Roses Prince of Wales, a smooth full bodied tea, reminiscent of Camellias, wonderful with a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint.  

For tea lovers that prefer decaffeinated, Five Roses has produced an incomparable  tea that still provides all the desirable flavour strength and aroma without caffeine.

 

 

Five Roses Rooibos Select, from the Rooibos tea estates in the Cedarberg mountains, is a low tannin, caffeine free tea that celebrates health inspired by nature. 

Tea is healthy for you! It is known that black, red and green teas are a rich powerful source of anti-oxidants called flavanoids.

Taking afternoon tea is an elegant tradition dating back two centuries experiencing a worldwide revival lauded for reducing stress. Tea has retained both its symbolic and emotional status.

Step-By-Step To The Perfect Cup!

1) Fill an empty kettle with freshly drawn cold water, as hot or reheated water contains less dissolved air making a flat tasting brew.

2) When nearly boiled pour a little of the water into the teapot and into the tea cups to warm. 

Note: Don't forget to swirl the water around in the teapot before pouring off. The reason you do this is because you want the boiling water to stay at boiling point when it hits the tea.  “This helps to open the leaves properly, releasing all the attributes of tea of colour, strength and quality”

3) Add one heaped teaspoon for each person and one for the pot. If you prefer teabags, do use one per person.  When the kettle reaches a rolling boil start pouring. Do not over boil as the water loses its oxygen.

4) The teapot should stand in a warm place, ideally covered with a tea cosy.

Note: For loose tea lovers it is worthwhile buying a perforated metal mesh tea ball. Place the tea leaves in the ball and then into a cup of boiling water and allow the tea to brew for 3 - 5 minutes before removing. 

Note: It is never a good idea to reuse the leaves as it will give you a tea with a harsh bitter taste. 

"A good cup of tea," says Reggie, "should be sparkling and clear, not opaque."

Note: For black tea a clear rich orange colour is desirable.