Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: Nothing But Tea
Tea Description:
Honeybush is gaining a lot of attention at the moment for its benefits. This blend sees honeybush blended with strawberrys, kiwi, elderberry, passionfruit and rosehip for a new take on the fruit infusion.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Hello fellow tea lovers.
Today I’m reviewing this Honeybush Malaika which I have to admit that I have not had a lot of Honeybush tea compared to the likes of Rooibos. So if you’ve heard of it but don’t really know what it is or much information about it then hopefully this will help.
Some brief information on Honeybush: The name of this plant is Cyclopia but it is better known as Honeybush purely because it’s flowers smell sweet like honey. While Cyclopia is one plant it has many different cultivars, all of which originate across South Africa. Technically speaking Honeybush is not a tea but a tisane and considering this; is also low in tannin. Similar to Rooibos in flavour but Honeybush is considered to be sweeter and with a fuller body, though similarly it is also caffeine free.
Comparing it to Rooibos is interesting as I don’t usually like Rooibos but the few Honeybush I’ve had I loved. Rooibos has a chemical flavour (at least in my opinion) and that tends to overpower any flavours added to it. Honeybush does not have that issue and while it is perhaps a little sweeter I find it does not dominate additional flavours but rather enhances them.
Back to this tea in hand. I received a sample pack of 10g from NBT a while ago as an exclusive pre-release taster before it was launched on the site. Now it’s up for sale I decided the best thing for me to do was ice it to try and get the most flavour from it. So for two days I have had 10g of this blend steeping in my fridge using 1litre of water. Coldsteeping is much softer and keeps delicate tones, it’s my preferred method of icing tea/tisanes.
I haven’t mentioned much about the look or scent of the blend but honestly there was not much to it. The blend looked floral and multi coloured which bared a subtly sweet yet herbal scent. The fruit was too delicate for me to really say much about it and I decided to let it’s flavour speak instead. So I waited for the outcome with enough time to thicken with flavour.
Today is the morning I try this and the resulting liquid is a light brown/orange colour with a delicious sweet, fruit scent. Particularly like apple and strawberry with honey. A real contrast to it’s unsteeped scent. It’s flavour is just as wonderful! Sweet honeyed fruits with a touch of floral after tones that leave my mouth feeling sweet and refreshed. The fruit tones are mixed but notable berry with a touch of sourness with an exotic fruit affair behind them.
Honestly this tisane gave me a lot more pleasure than I thought it would and I’m happy to say this Honeybush blend is a winner. I don’t think I would have liked this if it was a Rooibos base and the Honeybush really does make this blend stand out.
Until next time,
Happy Steeping!
Sweet Cocoa Genmaicha from Liquid Proust
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Liquid Proust
Tea Description:
Ingredients: Genmaicha (second flush sencha, roasted rice, popcorn), hojicha bancha (bought in Tokyo), caramel cocoa (pure cane sugar used)
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
See those ingredients under tea description? You taste each and every one of these flavors. Maybe this tea should be re-named- Coco Pebbles.
This tea is from the amazing Liquid Proust’s tea shop, a Steepster friend who I was very glad to support when he opened up his Etsy store. The Sweet Cocoa Genmaicha was the first tea that went directly into my cart when I was placing my order.
The instructions for this tea (that Andrew so graciously added into the package) said one scoop of tea but I would recommend using two scoops when prepping this tea with 1 cup of water and brew this like you would any green tea (175F-90sec).
I continued prepping this tea anxiously awaiting for the 90 sec timer to go off. When it did, I don’t think I could pour the tea into my cup fast enough. I took a deep breath of the hot steam and was greeted with a sweet green tea like aroma. Took one giant gulp (yep-gulp) and my taste buds were greeted with this delicious roasted dark chocolate sweet dessert flavor. Wow was this ever good and just the right amount of chocolate and the right amount of roasted rice like flavor. The chocolate is so rich but not overwhelming and the caramel flavoring is there but very light almost delicate like. The base of the genmaicha really delivers the roasted bright flavor I have grown to adore and love.
I love my genmaicha but the flavored ones are either hit or a mess. This one is a hit for sure and being the green tea fan I am, I love how this tea satisifies my sweet tooth by delivering a natural tasting flavor with roasted notes as well.
I’m a big fan. Great job Liquid Proust’s Teas. I can’t wait to see what else is down the line for this aspiring tea entrepreneur.
Da Hong Pao from Cha Ceremony
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Cha Ceremony
Tea Description:
This tea is medium roasted with a subtle earthy, mineral taste, it possesses fruity notes along with a distinct crispness that is unique to rock grown tea such as this offering.
Depending on how you prepare it the tea will take on different notes, we urge you to experiment and take your time enjoying each infusion.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Cha Ceremony is a new company founded by one of our Steepster friends, Marcus Reed. Cha Ceremony specializes in rock grown oolong, also known as yancha. Marcus’s vision for Cha Ceremony is full what he calls a niche market by providing quality tea with great customer service. I think he is on the right track. .
My first tea I am trying from Cha Ceremony is a Da Hong Pao. This tea is beautiful to look at. The long leaves really give this tea a gorgeous presentation. I steeped this up in my teapot and sat down at the table to get to “business”.
This tea was fabulous and so giving. My first infusion was sweet with a mineral like finish. Very smooth and slightly roasted. Very rich and full bodied. I could have drank this tea all night if the flavors would have stayed in this vein. I really really liked it. The different flavor profiles contrasted with each other providing this gorgeous balanced flavor that I just can’t get over. I haven’t had a tea like this in a long time.
My second infusion so still just as gorgeous but there was more of an earthly flavor and -the roasted flavor a bit less. The contrasting flavors still there, all just a bit more subtle.
Third infusion, so fantastic. Earthly roasted goodness. Just heaven. Hints of sweetness creeping back in and this time there are more fruity notes instead of just being sweet.
After the third infusion, I decided to try this as a cold brew so we will see what I am greeted with in the morning. I’m sure this tea would have given more, but it was bedtime and I had my herbal tea still to drink for the night to help relax me.
For my first foray into the world of Cha Ceremony, I’m a happy camper. I want to dive more into what Marcus has to offer and really spend time with his teas.
Yunnan Dragon Pearl from What-cha
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: What-Cha
Tea Description:
A unique black tea rolled into huge marble sized balls. With a sweet aroma and taste, and an incredibly thick texture.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I saw this tea was in my last package I squealed. What-Cha teas are all the rage on Steepster. I have been wanting to try their teas for a while because of how people ooohh and awe over them. And now it is my turn.
While I was formatting this review, I was sad to find out this tea is no longer available from What-Cha. It seems I am late to this party. But alas, I was able in the end to try this phenomenal tea.
This tea gave me everything I was looking for in a black tea. Ease of preparation. Versatility. Sweet Flavor. Caramel notes. Touches of honey. Slight roasted tone. Everything.
The first sip you are greeted with a nice malty like hint. Then you get that luscious caramel and honey sweetness finished with a hint of a lovely roasted profile. Each sip I find myself closing my eyes and heaving a sigh afterwards, indulging fully in the flavor. This tea is impressive. Really really impressive. I don’t think I can use enough adjectives to really describe this tea and the marvelous flavors it delivers. It makes me sad that the little pearls I have left, which I think are about 3 at this point, is it for this beauty. I wonder if there is any company that sells a comparable tea?
There will be tears when this tea is gone. Big ol alligator tears and lots and lots of wailing.
Black King 2015 from Harney & Sons
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Harney & Sons
Tea Description:
The name says it all.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’m not going to lie. I was very excited to try this tea. My adventures into straight teas has been a blast this far and have tried some pretty amazing teas in the last few weeks and had some pretty big expectations with a name like Black King 2015 for this tea.
This tea has a beautiful dry leaf appearance. The leaves have a nice curl to them and the coloring is gorgeous. Dark curls with light brown tips.
I steeped this up per H&S’s recommendations with my Breville One Touch-212F for 5 minutes.
Unfortunately after one sip of this tea, I knew this tea wasn’t for me. The flavor was nice enough. A nice malty tea with a bit of astringency. This is a solid tea but there really wasn’t anything popping out at me or any flavors that I really noted that made me think wow. There were slight subtle notes of a dark cocoa flavor but they were very subtle. I just wish those notes popped a bit more.
I think maybe a bit of parameter experimenting and possibly add in another scoop-maybe this tea will give me that wow factor I was striving for. Back to the drawing board with this one.