Northwest Alder Leaf Reserve

RESERVE SERIES HERBAL INFUSION

Our Head Teamaker, Ravi Kroesen has turned to our own “backyard” in the Pacific Northwest to continue his hunt for the extraordinary. We are proud to showcase this domestic tea grown right here in Northwest that has never been available to the public until this moment. It will come as no surprise that North American teamakers are pushing the envelope on traditional tea cultivation techniques.

Crafted by the hands of Mr. Henger, this is a domestic tea like nothing else in the world. The buds and young leaves are harvested from wild Pacific Northwest Alder trees and processed using Chinese black tea techniques. A true micro-batch innovation with notes of rose, pine resin and sun-dried tomatoes. American teamaking at its finest.

Loose leaf 1 ounce pack
Origin: Chehalis, Washington
Elevation: 250 Feet
Variety: Red Alder
Teamaker: Balazs Henger
Harvest: Early May, 2020

Click here to read more about this exceptional offering and click here to read our interview with teamaker Balazs Henger.

Tasting Notes:

Rose, pine resin, sun-dried tomatoes

Quantity

$35.00

Customer Reviews

4.9 Based on 34 Reviews

5 ★

94%

4 ★

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03/07/2022

Cynthia H.

United States

Yummy

This tea is unique and very fresh tasting. Floral but balanced. I would like some ideas for black teas to mix it with to get some caffeine and complement its flavor.

Northwest Alder Leaf Reserve

03/07/2022

Smith Teamaker

Hi Cynthia, We felt this herbal infusion is perfectly balanced on its own and have not used it as an ingredient for blending with other teas. A couple of our Teamakers thought for a black tea, that Ceylon Dimbulla might go nicely, since it also has mineral and floral notes, though we haven't tried it. Please let us know if you have any other questions, thank you.

02/11/2022

Diana B.

United States

Rich and floral without caffeine

Unable to tolerate caffeine, this tea gives me the richness of a black tea with floral notes. It is by far the best tea I have ever tried.

Northwest Alder Leaf Reserve

09/20/2021

Sage M.

United States

You won’t regret buying this!

An absolutely wonderful idea, executed extremely well!

Northwest Alder Leaf Reserve

09/17/2021

Diane O.

United States

Favorite tea

Having found Northwest Alder Tea, I am hooked! Nothing else will do, I have drink it daily and it’s all I will drink. Thanks Smith Tea.

Northwest Alder Leaf Reserve

07/04/2021

Michelle H.

United States

good balance

This tea has flavor notes of bold teas, but without being too dark, which I appreciate. I also like that it doesn't have any grit or powder that makes it through my strainer, so I get a clean cup. If it were less expensive, I'd buy more of it.

Northwest Alder Leaf Reserve

Ingredients

Spring Harvested Red Alder Leaf

Blend Numerology

Reserve No. 202: The second tea in our 2nd Reserve Series. Also, our first-ever domestic tea release.

Preparation

For Western brewing, this tea can be brewed for single infusions using 2.5 grams of tea (or a big pinch, the leaves are quite large) per 8 ounces of 195 degree water and steeped for five minutes.

For gaiwan brewing, place 7 grams of tea leaves into 150 ml (5 ounce) gaiwan. Bring spring or freshly drawn filtered water to a boil (212 degrees). Fill your gaiwan to the top and let the leaves steep for 10-20 seconds. Set the strainer on top of the decanter and pour the tea out of the gaiwan with the lid slightly askew, without allowing the tea leaves to escape. Serve into small cups and repeat this process at least 4-5 times and notice how the tea leaves change in flavor over each infusion. Learn more about gaiwan service here.