THE SCENTS OF TEA

TWG adds a captivating quintet of tea-scented candles to its existing line.

This month sees TWG Tea in Malaysia launching five candle fragrances named Emperor Sencha, Five O’clock, French Earl Grey, Macaron Noir and Silver Moon Tea. Each is capable of 60 hours of burning and is the result of a collaboration between TWG Tea blenders and a top-secret French parfumier. Over six kilograms of tea is condensed into each teascented candle (RM212).

At its Tea Institute, tea connoisseur and assistant operations manager Vincent Piovan demonstrates the perfect preparation method for tea, steeping it in water heated to between 90 and 95 degrees Celsius for the oxygen to develop aromas. He speaks of visiting tea plantations where massive rice mats are thrown over tea leaves to enhance the chlorophyll content, and coastal tea-growing regions where the sea spray touches the young tea buds.

Among its over 800 single- estate teas and exclusive tea blends, there’s no doubt that one of the most mystical is its Gold Yin Zhen, an extremely rare white tea blended with gold dust (approximately RM2,754 for 50g). “Only 15 kilos of this tea are made available yearly,” Piovan says. “Its legend belongs to the days of Chinese emperors, the only ones privileged enough to drink this tea which was harvested by maidens wearing white silk gloves and using golden scissors.” www.twgtea.com ≠

Over six kilograms of tea is condensed into each tea- scented candle.