Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Our naturally flavored Orange Black tea is made with a blend of Indian black teas and infused with natural orange flavor and orange peel. The taste is sweet and fruity with the underlying support of a robust black tea. Can be served iced or hot.
Story
The Golden Apple
Growing in the mythological garden of Hesperides were “golden apple” trees which granted immortality to those who ate its fruit. Legend has it that these golden apple trees were grown from the fuited branches Gaea gave to Hera as a wedding gift when she married Zeus. These golden apples were in fact oranges, however the Greeks did not yet have a word for it. The word orange was introduced to Europe from the Sanskrit word for orange tree, “Narangah”. Incidentally, the color orange is named after the fruit, and not the other way around.
Taster’s Review:
This is a fantastic orange black tea.
I’ll be honest with you, I wasn’t really expecting much with it. I mean, it’s orange flavored black tea. You’ve tasted one, you’ve tasted them all, right? It seemed so very ordinary to me.
WRONG! This is no ordinary orange flavored black tea, and it tastes quite different from other run-of-the-mill orange flavored black teas that I’ve encountered.
First of all, the black tea is the strongest presence in this cup. It is strong and brisk, with a very pleasing depth of flavor. It’s quite rich, and while I’m pretty sure it’s a Ceylon or a Ceylon blend, it’s one of high quality and creates a delicious base for this tea.
There is some astringency to the tea which is something I expect when I try citrus teas especially, as the citrus seems to highlight the pucker-y effect of the astringency with its tangy character. The astringency is a little drying, but there is no bitterness to this tea. It is sweet and pleasant.
With the first couple of sips, the orange flavor seemed almost hidden. It’s there, certainly, but it isn’t as strong as one might expect it to be. The flavor develops gradually as I continue to sip. It isn’t so much that its “hidden” but that it melds so well with the black tea that it almost becomes one unified flavor. It’s quite unique and makes for a very delicious experience.
The orange flavor becomes much more apparent in the finish and aftertaste. The orange lingers in the aftertaste. It’s as though a drop of freshly squeezed orange juice has hit my tongue. It’s sweet and citrus-y delicious, just like a fresh, juicy orange.
I really enjoyed this tea much more than I expected to. A not-so-ordinary Orange Black Tea for those who have come to expect the unexpected!
