Paksong Stardust (Laos)

1.5 oz. (15 - 18 cups) or 4 oz. (40 - 50 cups) Learn about this tea in our animated video! Paksong Stardust is a large-leaf, green tea grown in the meteoric soil of the Bolaven Plateau of southern Laos. Some 800,000 years ago, a meteorite 1.2 miles in diameter struck the area where this tea is grown, altering the surface composition of the region and flinging debris as far away as Antarctica. Along with its growth in such unique soil, this fine green tea owes its character to the careful hand-processing of artisan farmers. After plucking and withering, the tea leaves are hand-rolled. Then a short roast on a wood fire gives the tea a subtle, slightly smoky finish with notes of baby corn, young asparagus and seaweed. Brewing instructions Amount: 2 grams of loose tea per cup of water (a pinch) Temperature: 175 ̊ (When small bubbles appear at the bottom of the pot) Steep time: 2 - 3 minutes About Our Tea From Laos Bordering China’s famous tea-producing Yunnan Province, Laos is a “cradle country” of tea and home to some of the oldest trees in the world. While Laotian tea is superior, conflict throughout the 20th century harmed the industry. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. secretly dropped more bombs on Laos than were dropped during the entirety of World War II. That devastation largely prevented Laotian tea from reaching U.S. consumers for decades. Fortunately, times have changed. Our Laotian tea comes from Xiangkhouang Province near Phou San (“the tea mountain”) in the northeast and from the Bolaven Plateau in southern Champasak Province—an area known for its stunning waterfalls. All of our teas from Laos are organically grown in biodiverse environments and carefully hand-crafted by selected artisan families.