Extraordinary - Moment of Peace, Craighead Single Estate crafted superlative Ceylon Pekoe Leaf Tea

Japanese Tea Philosopher Kakuzo Okakura once explained that, “A man without tea in him is incapable of understanding truth and beauty.” That perspective has never resonated more clearly than a few days ago when we tasted an extraordinary tea from Craighead Estate. The ingredients of fine tea are not simply good agricultural practice and production method; tea requires perfect harmony amongst sunshine, rainfall, wind, temperature, soils and the art of the teamaker. The result is therefore genuinely crafted by Nature, with the flavour, intensity, texture, aroma, structure of the leaf and of made tea, indisputably fashioned by Nature.

The team on Craighead Estate had prepared, picked and produced an unique tea as a gift for my father, in appreciation of his passion and determination to see change for the better in our tea industry. The single leaf and bud were carefully harvested on Craighead, at around 1,000 feet above sea level, on Tuesday a week prior just after 10am. That is late for picking tea, but the leaf had to be supple and not too moist for the delicate flavour and texture in the bud to be nurtured. Less than 1kg., was made, and we brewed it at 80°C for 4 minutes.

It was truly a magical potion. Golden in colour with a beautiful lustre that expresses its light, bright personality, that extraordinary tea – by now referred to as the ‘Moment of Peace’ – was floral, softly sweet, mildly fruity with a creamy texture and complex aftertaste that combine the characteristics of a superlative high grown black tea, with those of a great oolong. The seconds that pass from the first experience of such a very special tea on the eye, to its appreciation on the nose and then the first sip melds into a moment that produces extraordinary peace.

The resonance that Okakura's observation had at this moment, was not only in the appreciation of the sophistication of the fine tea, but the knowledge that few aficionados would value the experience. It was undoubtedly peaceful, but that serenity lies in the exploration of the layered complexity in the tea and its relationship to the confluence of Natural phenomena that crafted the aroma, appearance and taste of the tea.

The first two numbered caddies of Moment of Peace will be presented in Sydney, Australia as a part of efforts to raise funds for Sri Lanka. In the last 24 months our MJF Foundation implemented its accelerated ‘Stronger Together’ programme for tea estate communities, with direct assistance fulfilling my father’s wish to serve humanity, in building hospitals, providing food rations, cooked food, scholarships, community centres and welfare with emphasis on mental health amongst children, youth and women in particular. Dilmah is partnering with UNDP in a private sector giving programme to efficiently source and supply essential medicines for the free state hospitals in Sri Lanka, serving those who are most in need. Dilmah is additionally partnering with Rotary and UNICEF in their Lifeline Sri Lanka initiative to fund essentials medicines, water purification and welfare measures for children in Sri Lanka.

This extraordinary tea is rare and unfortunately very limited in availability. Less than 1 kg., could be made due to the precision and perfection that is necessary for the leaf to deliver the unique personality of this tea. It is dedicated to the People of Sri Lanka and is available in only 1 of 10 fine porcelain caddies with all proceeds going towards the welfare of women and children in Sri Lanka. The tea will have its 'first tasting' at the Dilmah High Tea at Sir Stamford Sydney on Saturday 20th August, with the first and very exclusive Moment of Peace caddy being offered in a numbered, limited edition at Love for Sri Lanka, an initiative by Chef Peter Kuruvita and Eresha De Zoysa, in support of UNICEF. It will be a part of the items auctioned to raise funds to protect children in Sri Lanka from malnourishment and to ease the pain their families are experiencing.

for the full story of Moment of Peace, see here

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