Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Rare Tea Republic

Tea Description:

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This is an outstanding tea!  But then, I’ve come to expect nothing less from Rare Tea Republic.  Every tea that I’ve tried from them thus far has been nothing less than stellar.

I never tried a Turkish apricot, but, this tea does have a certain fruity note to it that is similar to an apricot or a peach.  It is sweet and luscious!   The above description also suggests notes of caramel, and I’m tasting that too.  However, the caramel tones here are different than ones I might experience in another black or even a pu-erh tea.  This tea has a lighter body, and the caramel tones are not a heavy, “thick” kind of caramel taste, but instead, it tastes like hints of caramelized fruit:  a sweet, light, vibrant taste that delights the palate!

This tea has many similarities to what I’ve come to know as Darjeeling-esque qualities, but, it doesn’t have that muscatel note.  This does have the light crispness of a Darjeeling, however, and a similar dry note toward the end of the sip.  The aftertaste is sweet and slightly fruit-like.

Overall, I found this to be a remarkably refreshing and delicious tea, one that I think should be on the MUST TRY list of every tea aficionado!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong (Darjeeling)

Where to Buy:  Rare Tea Republic

Tea Description:

This rare terracotta-toned oolong has lightly worked leaves that offer a wide range of sweet and woody notes including chestnut, parsnip and Autumn leaves.  There is a satisfying mineral quality in the finish suggestive of a Wuyi Rock Oolong.

Castleton Estate’s altitude and specific location in southeastern Darjeeling keeps this garden constantly veiled in mist.  It is the resulting slow leaf growth that makes Castleton’s teas some of the most flavorful in the region.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This is an exceptional tea.  I find myself savoring every sip … and while I find it difficult not to raise my cup to my lips immediately for another sip, I want to wait … linger over the deliciousness of it, relishing every moment this tea has to offer.  Yes … this tea is that good.

The flavor is remarkable.  It starts out very Darjeeling-esque:  a crisp muscatel, sweet grape notes mid-sip with a dry wine-like finish.  Woody tones throughout the sip.  As I continue to sip, the Oolong notes begin to reveal themselves, reminding me of a very fine Formosa Oolong or perhaps a Wuyi.  It has a lovely sweetness, peach-like, with a light earthiness and a soft mouthfeel that starts out very light and develops as I continue to sip.

The astringency is remarkably light.  It starts out a bit stronger, but as I continue to sip, the softness of the Oolong notes curb the edge of the astringency, making it almost non-existent.  The finish is clean, with lingering grape notes in the aftertaste.

Rare Tea Republic continues to impress me with their amazing teas.  This one might just be the most impressive yet.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  East Pacific Tea Co.

Tea Description:

Our most exquisite black tea from the Darjeeling region of India is available today. Try this rare and exotic tea to experience a bold rich taste with an unsurpassed aroma.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This is a wonderful Darjeeling – it is quite robust for a Darjeeling.

I typically think of Darjeeling to be a lighter tea.  It possesses a lighter body and somewhat of a light, almost sparkling kind of taste, a trait that I think may have earned it the title the “Champagne of tea.”  But this Darjeeling is different.  Yes, it still has a sparkling kind of taste to it, as well as that wine-like muscatel, but, the flavor is quite a bit bolder and not quite as light and crisp as a typical Darjeeling.  This one is really unique and quite special!

The fruit flavor that give it that wine-like quality is quite strong.  I taste the grape-y, black currant-y kind of flavor but I also taste a plum-like kind of flavor in there.  The medley of naturally occurring fruit flavors is quite delicious, and melds nicely with the woody kind of note that I taste in the background, creating a somewhat earthy note to add depth and contrast to the fruit tones.

The flavors are also quite smooth and there is a mild astringency at the tail.  The finish is less dry than in a typical Darjeeling.  There is a slight drying effect on the palate at the finish, but, not nearly as pronounced as I have experienced with other Darjeeling teas.  The aftertaste is sweet with a hint of tangy flavor.

Quite a lovely Darjeeling, one I’d recommend to Darjeeling enthusiasts … this is one you’ll want to savor often!

Tea Type: Black Tea

Where To Buy: Happy Earth Tea

Product Description:

DRY LEAF: The leaves are small, wiry and well rolled, with colors raging from black to dark brown with a smattering of green. The aroma is a complex smorgasbord of floral and fruity notes with also biscuity and nutty characteristics.

INFUSION: The overall color of the wet leaves is dark brown. It has traces of green. The nose is long with mix of nutty, peppery and sweet aroma.

CUP: The light golden liquor has a sparkle that tells of the healthy bushes that went into making this tea. The flavor is brisk and sweet with a floral fragrance and a nutty undertone. The cup is refreshing, with a slight dry kick that does not detract from the enjoyment of the tea. The aftertaste is a lingering malty sweetness.

Brewing Directions: The leaves of this tea infuse pretty strongly. Please use only half a teaspoon for a cup/mug of tea. Do not steep for more than 3 minutes. If you find the liquor strong, you may add a pinch of sugar.

Company “About Us”:

Happy Earth Tea brings to the US tea enthusiasts Darjeeling, a classic vintage of the tea world.

Founded in 2010 by husband-wife team, Niraj Lama and Mary Boland, HET’s objective is to offer a variety of Darjeeling tea.  While Indian teas are our basic interest – because we are most familiar with it – at HET we are also developing our own blends. We are trying combinations of tea and herbs to optimise taste and health benefits. All our ingredients are sourced from certified organic businesses.

HET, as a business, is a small home run venture, keen to reach out to people and foster a community of tea drinkers who believe in wholesome and sustainable living.  We set up  “shop” in 2010 in upstate New York, where people are warm and farms are all around. A perfect place to dream of a better world.

Niraj hails from Darjeeling. (Yes, Darjeeling is a actually a beautiful hill resort, located in the north east Himalayas of India.) He worked as a journalist until about five years ago, when his cup gained precendence over the pen.

Niraj and Mary set up Darjeeling Tea Exclusive, an online Darjeeling tea store in 2005. It was based in Darjeeling, and successfully purveyed the couple’s passion for fine teas around the world. Darjeeling Tea Exclusive still exists, grateful to the support of tea enthusiasts from different parts of the globe.

Happy Earth Tea caters currently to the North American market. Tea has entered an exciting new world in this region, and we want to be here to share in it and take it further.

Tasters Review:

Recently Anne and I received a package from Happy Earth Tea – a company based in Rochester, NY, and after emailing back and forth with the owners we know these people KNOW their Darjeeling Teas!  They KNOW the Tea and the LOCATION of Darjeeling as you can see above from the company’s “About Us”.  They are very nice to deal with via email!  You can tell customer service is a TOP priority with this company!

So far I have tried a few of the teas and I am very impressed!  They are delicious!  But…this is my first of many reviews of their tea I will be posting here at Sororitea Sisters!  I really couldn’t wait to post one!

I was in LOVE with this Marybong Spring after the very first sip!  What really MADE this cup for me was the SMOOTHNESS of it.  There are many Darjeelings out there that have a bite.  This is one that highlights the SMOOTHNESS!  It’s Incredibly smooth!  It’s also fairly malty!  This tea is a bit floral – but not grassy floral.  It has a hint of nuttiness as well!  This is an awesomely smooth Darjeeling!  I think it’s just lovely!

The color was beautiful too!  Post infusion – it glows of a medium brown with a tinge of orange!

This tea made my day shiny and bright!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black (Darjeeling)

Where to Buy:  Canton Tea Co.

Product Description:

The Giddapahar Tea Estate is a small, family-owned Darjeeling tea estate and is also known as ‘Eagles Cliff’. The slopes are shrouded in mist most of the time, giving the Chinese tea bushes just the conditions they need to produce wonderfully fragrant leaves. Once they have been skilfully processed according to age-old methods, the Giddapahar China Delight Darjeeling is one of the very best teas available of this grade with wonderfully sweet, mildly nutty, complex characteristics.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This is such an interesting Darjeeling.  Usually, one of the first things that becomes apparent to me when I sip a Darjeeling is the grape-y, wine-like flavor to it … the muscatel.  But here, I noticed first a warm, toasty nut flavor.  It tastes sweet, like almonds.

That is not to say that the muscatel is not there … it is.  But, it is presented differently.  Instead of a straight-forward muscat grape flavor, I notice this almond with mere hints of the muscat.  Toward the finish, I notice a slight black currant flavor peeking its way through.

It is a light tasting tea, as is usually the case with a Darjeeling, and this lightness allows for the lovely complexity of the tea to shine through.  It begins sweet and crisp, with the aforementioned almond taste, by mid-sip, I notice hints of musty wood … again, mere whispers of flavor, and the fruit-like tones begin to reveal themselves as the sip nears the finish.

There is a fair amount of astringency that arrives toward the end of the sip … but, even as astringency is generally expected with a Darjeeling, I am noticing that the astringency here is a bit softer than in other Darjeeling teas.  It finishes sweet with a lingering nutty tone in the aftertaste.

A deliciously intriguing Darjeeling, one deserving of the time to contemplate it’s many layers of flavor.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  KTeas

Product Description:

 picked 30 May 2011

Direct from the Glenburn Tea Estate in Darjeeling, India!

This second flush Darjeeling is plucked during the early summer months of May and June. Shoots of the bush which draw their succulence from the late spring rain showers are selected to make the stylishrolled leaf. The cup is clear amber to the eye, nonetheless full-bodied with a mature flavor compared to the First Flush that preceded it. Glenburn’s unique growing conditions imbue the very select clonal plants with a special character in their liquor all its own, yielding a complex layer of maltiness with musk and nutty undertones.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I’ve hung on to this sample for a while, waiting for that moment when I really wanted a Darjeeling … and I didn’t bother to really read the label.  This tea was picked on my birthday!

Anyway… today seems like a good Darjeeling day.  I’m not in a particular rush to get anything done (at least not for the next hour or so), and so I’d like to just sort of slowly ease into the swing of things.  Darjeeling does that for me with it’s crisp, light nature.  Or so I thought!

These Darjeeling teas from Glenburn Estates are so unique – quite unlike any other Darjeeling teas I’ve encountered.  It is as though these Darjeelings want to be an Assam, but couldn’t quite get there.  They are a bit lighter, of course, than a typical Assam, but, they are a bit heavier than a typical Darjeeling.  Where Darjeeling tea tends to be quite crisp and light (somewhat reminiscent of a white wine), this Darjeeling has some body to it, with a thicker, smoother texture, and even a hint of malt in the background.  It also has a toasty flavor in the background, providing a slightly nutty taste.  Nice!  Different, but nice!

But that is not to say that this Glenburn Second Flush Darjeeling is not at all like a Darjeeling because it does possess many of the characteristics that you’d expect from a Darjeeling as well.  A fruity overtone – muscatel grapes! – providing a nice sweetness to the overall cup.  Pleasantly sweet and delicious.

The astringency here is quite unusual as well.  Astringency is that sensation that either leaves your palate feeling clean, or sometimes sort of dry, and still other times it imparts a slightly tangy sensation.  But this astringency isn’t quite like any of those … instead, it is more like a tingly, almost prickly kind of effect on the tongue.  Interesting.

I am so very pleased to have had the opportunity to try this Darjeeling.  It is one of the best that I’ve tried yet.  If you’re a fan of Darjeeling teas, you should definitely try this one… it will surprise you!  It would also be a great Darjeeling for those who are new to them … although, be warned, after you try this one, other Darjeeling teas just may not satisfy.  This one is a keeper!

Right now, through December 11, KTeas is having a BIRTHDAY SALE!  Be sure to check out their homepage for details on how you can save 20% off the subtotal of your order!  The only thing better than ordering tea is being able to save money when you’re doing it! 

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Rare Tea Republic

Product Description:

This excellent first flush tea delivers a rich liquor with sweet floral notes and creamy undertones.  Hints of juicy pineapple are apparent in this well balanced selection. Plucking date: April 19, 2011.

Taster’s Review:

OK, let me say it right now.  I’m LOVING Rare Tea Republic.  First of all, their packaging is really cool.  Not necessarily the box that it was shipped in, or even the pouches that they packaged their samples in.  It’s the “packing peanuts.”  That’s right.  I saying I love their packing peanuts.  They aren’t the typical Styrofoam peanuts, or even the new biodegradable cornstarch peanuts… these are little, light-weight (cardstock weight) cardboard bits that have been folded into a dimensional triangle.  I love them because they ARE biodegradable, and beyond that, they’re even recyclable and perfectly acceptable to toss into the recycle bin!  But, I plan on re-purposing them and turning them into a holiday decoration of some sort (add that onto my list of art projects!)

And… that’s just me excited about the packing peanuts!  I haven’t even gotten to the best part about Rare Tea Republic – their TEAS!  This First Flush Darjeeling from the Sikkim region is absolutely delightful.  The freshness of this tea is apparent from the flavor:  it tastes light, crisp and very fresh. 

I would classify this as a medium-bodied tea because of it’s light-weight feel to the palate, but it offers an astonishing amount of flavor for a medium-bodied tea.  So many beautiful layers of flavor to this complex Darjeeling:  in one sip, I note floral tones, a hint of earth, a musky wood-tone, and an outstanding fruit note.  Yes I can taste the pineapple as mentioned in the above description, but there’s something else too.  Something that tends to be pretty important to those of us who love Darjeeling:   Muscatel!  Yes, I am getting that distinct muscat grape taste to this, but, there is a surprising smoothness to this too.  I don’t taste much astringency, something that I generally prepare myself for when I sip a Darjeeling … it is quite unnoticeable in this cup.

This is an excellent Darjeeling – one that I would say stands out amongst even the best Darjeeling teas that I’ve tasted.  In fact, I even rated it 100 on Steepster.  Yes, it’s that good.  I highly recommend it to those who like Darjeeling, and I would even recommend this to those who have tried Darjeeling in the past and felt it was not for them.  I think this one can change your ideas about Darjeeling.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  East Pacific Tea Co.

Product Description:

This certified tea from the Darjeeling region of India produces a cup of refined exotic flavours like no other. The mountain grown leaves have a distinct rich taste that you will love.

Taster’s Review:

Wow!  When I first opened the pouch and smelled the slightly spicy tones of this tea, I didn’t realize it was an Oolong.  I read the package and saw that it was a Darjeeling tea, so I steeped it according to the parameters I generally set for a Darjeeling black tea (that is:  195° F, for 2 1/2 minutes in my Breville One-Touch).  Fortunately, these parameters seemed to work well with this Oolong.

Even as I sat here, contemplating my initial thoughts about this tea (the color and aroma:  clear, medium-toned amber and sweet, spicy notes with a raisin-y front note), I hadn’t thought of this as an Oolong, but as a rather intriguing and unusual Darjeeling black.   However, after the first few sips, I knew that this wasn’t a black Darjeeling, it is more similar to an Oolong.  A quick visit to the East Pacific Tea Company’s webpage for this tea confirmed my suspicions.

Having only tried a few Darjeeling Oolong teas, I am very pleased to be able to have the opportunity to try this one.  And of the ones that I have tried, I must say that this one is probably the most memorable.  It has a sweet, somewhat fruit-like flavor (raisins?) to it.  The texture is smooth and silky.  There is some astringency to this, but not nearly as much as I would usually associate with a Darjeeling black.  The astringency here is nice as it seems to cleanse the palate of the soft mouthfeel.  The soft, smooth texture doesn’t build up on the tongue.  It feels fresh and new each time I take a sip.

What is very special about this Darjeeling Oolong are those aforementioned sweet, spicy notes.  This set of spice tones combined with the fruit flavors (I’m starting to notice an apricot-y kind of taste now, along with the raisin) makes for a very rewarding cuppa.

Now that I’ve tried this tea, and realized it to be an Oolong, the next time I shall enjoy it even more fully by brewing in my Gaiwan!  I look forward to my next experience with this tea – and I highly recommend that my readers try this one.  A truly memorable tea, one with which you will enjoy making memories!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong Darjeeling

Where to Buy:  KTeas

Product Description:

We received 8 pouches of the 2010 harvest (still the current year, as 2011 has not been harvested yet). Each pouch contains 4oz (113.5g) of the marvelously huge leaves constituting this ultimate whole-leaf tea. At Glenburn’s recommendation of 3-4g in 200ml (7 fl-oz) water, the pouch yields from 28 teacups (4g tea) at 88¢ per teacup to 37 teacups (3g tea) at 66¢ per teacup–if only one infusion is made. Keep in mind that oolongs stand up famously to multiple infusions of the same leaves, so you may get twice to three times as many bright reddish cups of this lightly-oxidized Oolong!

Taster’s Review:

This is exquisite!

The photo above is accurate as far as what the leaves look like.  They’re long and curly, green with lots of silvery tips.  The aroma of the dry leaves is light and evokes thoughts of the cool, crisp air of autumn.  It’s a clean and invigorating scent with notes of grass and flower.  The brewed liquor has a very Darjeeling-esque kind of fragrance.  I can smell the grape-y, wine-like tones.

But what really blows me away is how it tastes.  What I am tasting is what might be the love child of a fine Darjeeling brimming with muscatel notes and a smooth green Oolong.  The mouthfeel is soft and velvet-like.  The flavor is sweet with notes of grape and black currant, finishing off with a wine-like sweetness, but without any bitterness.  There is very little astringency to this cup, which is another surprise.  It is incredibly smooth and very pleasant.

As I sip this, I consider myself so very lucky to be amongst the few to whom this tea has been made available.  If you are a fan of Oolong or Darjeeling, I strongly urge you to grab some of this tea while it is still in stock at KTeas.  This one is great for multiple infusions – each subsequent infusion just as lovely as the first.

So good.  So very, very good.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Silver Tips Tea

Product Description:

The prize crop of Darjeeling, the champagne of teas! This is first flush at its best – slightly astringent, a green hue to the leaf and a pleasant floral tone to the cup. Enjoy the spirit of the Himalayas – Organic, Biodynamic & Fair Trade.

Taster’s Review:

As I’ve said many times before, I love Darjeeling.  So, I’m always happy to try new Darjeeling teas.  This Darjeeling I received as part of the Steepster Select monthly subscription.  This new program from Steepster is really great.  For just $19 per month, I receive three packages of tea (an ounce of each tea, I think?)  I love receiving tea in the mail, and I was all giddy (like a kid on Christmas morning) when this package arrived last week.

But… let’s get on with the review, shall we?

This First Flush Darjeeling from the Makaibari estate is very pleasant.  It has that clean, crisp flavor and lightness that I have come to expect from a first flush Darjeeling.  The muscatel of this tea really stands out.  It is deliciously fruity with a very wine-like finish.

About mid-sip, I notice a sharp bitterness.  It isn’t an unpleasant bitter tone, but it does seem to shift the flavor focus from sweet to bitter.  However, just as quickly as the bitterness displaces the sweetness, the astringency seems to cut out the bitterness.  It is a very smooth transition from sweet fruit notes to sharp bitterness to tangy astringency.  The aftertaste is mildly sweet with an almost wood-like flavor in the distance.

I generally do not drink Darjeeling teas as iced tea, but I found this one to be exceptionally tasty when it cools.  The bitterness becomes more of an afterthought, and the astringency nearly disappears as well.  It becomes less focused – somewhat like a blurry photograph – but, even without the hot tea’s complexity this is still incredibly flavorful.

I really like this.  I’m glad it was part of the Steepster Select box this month!