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Camilla sinensis will create a stunning medium sized hedge, providing both privacy and numerous 'cuppas' for your visitors. Or plant as a specimen in your garden. Spring harvest offers the finest and most tender leaves which are of the highest quality. The summer and the autumn harvests produce a more abundant but less delicate crop.
How to make your own cup of black tea at home
Harvest
You should be able to harvest the first two leaves and the bud starting in October. Continuing every 2-3 weeks and decreasing to about every week in January through to April. You only need fresh light green new growth to make your tea.
Processing
When your bushes are mature (5-6 years old) you should get about 1 kilo or more from 4 bushes. This will produce 200 grams of dry tea.
Shrinking
On a table (made from Hessian stretched over a frame or similar) dry the leaves for about 17 hours in the shade or indoors. The air must be able to circulate around the leaves. Your tea is ready when it is squeezed into a ball and stays as a ball.
Next feed the leaves through a meat mincer (twice) or chop finely and crush with a heavy rolling pin so the leaves are bruised and the flavour is released.
Fermentation
Spread your tea on a tray to 25mm thick and leave for an hour, then turn and leave for another hour.
Drying
This is to stop the fermentation. Mount an old fan heater so the hot air comes out upwards, making sure the air intake is not covered. 5cm above the heater mount a frame with fine 0.75mm stainless steel mesh. Once the mesh is hot place your tea on it and turn occasionally until it is very dry (Feel tea that you have brought to get an idea of what to aim for).
If you dry too quickly it will form a crust on the leaf which will cause a weak brew. Too slow a drying and your tea will taste like it has been stewed.
Storage
In a well sealed container (not plastic) store away from light, moisture and heat. Loose tea should have a shelf life of two years.
Fiona's Update 
We are adding to the family!!!!
Coming!!
Available late September at your local garden centre
Potato Tom is an exciting concept that brings together a delicious juicy tomato and a crop of your favourite eating potato from the one plant!
- How - same family and graft compatible
- Place - In the vege garden or in a pot
- Result - Tomatoes in summer, potatoes in autumn
- Benefits - Double crops, Double happy!
The varieties have been chosen for their great taste and stunning visual appeal.
Order Now!
Fruits to Harvest - Sep, Oct & Nov
| Avocado |
Fuerte, Hass |
| Banana |
Mons mari |
| Cherimoya |
Bronceada, Canaria |
| Citrus |
Cipo Orange |
| Guava Tropical |
Red Sensation, The Guava |
| Mountain Paw Paw |
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| Tea
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Time to Plant LemonKist™ Lemongrass
Fragrant swaying grass will add texture and movement as well as contrast among more compact plants. Ideal container plant or in a border or garden bed. Culinary supplement to provide a distinct lemon flavour for tea and Asian cookery.
Lemongrass Fruitful Facts
- Member of the sugarcane family
- Tall perennial grass
- Native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the Old World & Oceania
- When meat was first introduced to Thai cuisine, lemongrass was used to mask it's gamey scent
- For citrus flavour and aroma lemongrass is used in many Asian dishes
- Bruise tender stalks and infuse in spirits to create cocktails
- Oil extracted is high in Vitamin A
- Health Benefits of essential oil - antidepressant, antiseptic, astringent, bactericidal, deodorant, fungicidal, etc, etc
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Click here to find out more about Lemongrass |
 Mouth Watering Fig Recipe
Sharing Recipes
Poached Figs with Mascarpone
Wash and cut off the stems of approximately 12 figs. Score the figs through the cut end in a cross, just as you would Brussels sprouts to ensure they cook through. Place in a shallow oven proof dish scored side up. Pour over approximately half to 3/4 of a cup of Port, and sprinkle with brown sugar and half a teaspoon of cinnamon. Place in the oven at 180°C for approximately 30 minutes. Serve slightly warm, with some of the syrup to cover and a swirl of Mascarpone. Brandy or Sherry can be substituted for port if desired.
A very easy recipe which takes 5 minutes to put together and can be baking in the oven while you are serving up your mains and it is delicious with the creamy texture of the mascarpone and the sharp sweet syrup and figs.
Fig Candy
Our latest fig addition to incredible edibles®
(Adriatic Type)
A good looking medium sized green/yellow fruit with deep red flesh, rich and sweet flavour.
Click here to find out more about Fig Candy |
