Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Mandala Tea
Tea Description:
One of our favorite oolong teas capable of many infusions.
This tea is a variation on a Taiwanese oolong named “Oriental Beauty”, utilizing large-leaf wild arbor Yunnan grown leaves. Nearly black leaves and silver tips impart a dark, sweet, wine-like flavor unto the water. Great no matter how you choose to brew it. This tea is quickly becoming a favorite in the tea thermos. It will keep well and develop new flavors over 2-3 years.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Yunnan Beauty from Mandala Tea is a lovely sweet and aromatic oolong that looks much like a black tea in dry form.
The sweet aroma is present both in dry leaf and when steeped. There is a wonderful sweetness in the taste of this tea not quite honey but not quite molasses, more like sourgum. This lends to the tea being somewhat wine like in flavor, but not muscatel. If memory serves this tea is similar to a barley wine, but it has been years since I have sipped barely wine.
The flavor of this tea really coats your mouth leaving behind a long lasting delicious flavor and aroma that sticks in your nostrils. As you breath you can taste the tea even more.
At 6.00 per ounce, discounted to 21.60 if you purchase 4 ounces this tea is a steal for a high quality and totally unique oolong.
The tea has an interesting effect on the palate, in the front part of your mouth you will get a watery sensation but toward the back it is slightly drying. Not nearly as drying as some oolongs I have sipped but the drying effect is there. The watering mouth mixed with the drying in the back keeps you fully hydrated in between sips yet at the same time makes you just want another and another!
I really quite enjoy Mandala Tea’s Yunnan Beauty Oolong and am happy it is in my stash.
Eggnog from Trail Lodge Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White and Green
Where to Buy: Trail Lodge Tea
Tea Description:
This is our own holiday creation; green and white tea combined with the flavors of eggnog. The combination of China Green and white tea brews up to a light and sweet liquid that combines perfectly with the flavor of eggnog. Real pieces of vanilla beans and nutmeg turns it into a truly guilt free decadent treat. Be sure to get some for gifts and to sip while you decorate the tree and listen to holiday music. Ingredients: Fair Trade Certified TM Organic China Green Tea, Fair Trade CertifiedTM Organic Pai Mu Tan, and Organic Vanilla, Organic Nutmeg, and Organic Natural Flavoring
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Eggnog from Trail Lodge Tea has a distinct aroma of spices and custard when steeped. From the visual aspect, white tea, is my favorite tea. The dry leaf is beautiful, downy, and whole.
The cup steeps to a golden yellow and is clear.
Trail Lodge Teas are organic and Fair Trade Certified which is always a plus in my book!
The flavor is quite creamy, but the spiced notes do not come out in the taste as much as in the aroma. There is a nutmeg spice in the flavor, its not strong, but there is enough. In the aroma I get more of the clove spice as well.
There is a lacking in the sweetness for me personally, yet I did not try it with any added sugar, so I can’t say if that would have helped or not.
I keep looking for the white or green tea base flavor to jump out at me because it is not as if the spice or other flavorings are overdone, and I do get a touch of vanilla in the flavor, yet I keep straining to find the base tea. I get a tad more of the green base than the white, but I think I would enjoy the tea more if the base were a bit more outstanding.
Overall this is a good eggnog blend and it does indeed taste like eggnog. Its creamy, and it has the right flavors with the spice and vanilla bean. I don’t know if this is one I would personally go right out and order, yet I would suggest if you enjoy this flavor profile to try some. I know Trail Lodge Teas has several other teas in their arsenal that I adore, so now and then I would probably add this to my cart before checking out.
Peach Melba from Mahamosa Gourmet Teas, Spices, and Herbs
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Fruit Tisane
Where to Buy: Mahamosa Gourmet Teas, Spices, and Herbs
Tea Description:
Peaches, hibiscus, apple bits, elderberries, and sunflower petals with peach cream flavor.
Time: 10-12 minutes; Temperature: 203-212⁰F: 1-2 level tsp./6 oz serving
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Peach Melba from Mahamosa Gourmet Teas, Spices, and Herbs is a sweet, tangy, treat.
I want to address the hibiscus in this blend. Its done so well! I am not one to favor hibiscus in any amount. I see no need for it 99% of the time, however in this blend it actually does something good! To begin, it provides the right amount of tart to make this rather sweet tea balanced. Secondly, it does not cover all the other flavors in the tisane.
Often times I think tea companies add hibiscus because it is so inexpensive and helps to expand the blend, however in this case Mahamosa has done right by this blend.
The peach flavor comes through nicely and the creamy flavor is present. The apple flavors taste as if they were fresh apples picked right from the teas in an orchard! The elderberries, which I love, happen to have a very fresh and slightly tart flavor too but that is okay because there is a deep sweetness in this tea that needs a dash of sour, and tart to help it stay down to earth.
If you enjoy this tea hot you simply must try some on ice! It is something I can see myself serving in place of juice this summer and far more healthy!
Glenburn Estate Darjeeling from Butiki Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Butiki Teas
Tea Description:
Glenburn Estate Darjeeling is a black tea that originates from the Glenburn Estate located in the Himalayas above the Rungeet River in India. Graded FTGFOP-1 (Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe, First Flush), this Darjeeling is comprised of tender shoots plucked during the onset of spring. The Glenburn Estate is working closely with the board of the Ethical Tea Partnership, which focuses on sustainability and living and working conditions of those working at tea estates, to bring the ETP to the Darjeeling region and is focused on maintaining high ethical standards. Our Darjeeling has gentle citrus, fragrant floral, and sweet juicy peach notes with some mild ginger notes. This smooth tea is free of astringency and has as substantial body.
Ingredients: Indian Black Tea
Recommended Brew Time: 3 minutes
Recommended Amount: 1 1/2 teaspoons (2.5g) of tea for 8oz of water
Recommended Temperature: 212 F degrees
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Glenburn Estate Darjeeling from Butiki Teas is a prime example of a quality first flush Darjeeling. If you are like me and generally prefer second flush you should still give this one a try, because it is worth it to have one of the best first flush Darjeeling’s as a tea lover and connoisseur.
The peachy floral notes just jump right out of the cup into my waiting nose. The aroma alone is worth getting some of this. I could bathe in this stuff!
This Glenburn Estate Darjeeling is a lighter black tea, soft, delicate, and gentle. It may not be my morning wake up cup but it sure is the perfect cup for lazy Sundays, mid afternoon tea service, a garden party, or anytime you don’t need the kick in the head but want to enjoy a delicious Darjeeling.
The flavor notes are so laid back, mellow, but absolutely present. I love the light juicy sweet peach notes, the light lilting floral flavor, and that ever so subtle touch of ginger, which I pick up more in the aroma than the flavor but again, the flavor is there. I even get a honey aroma and note on the palate.
Then to make this tea even more appealing it is vegan, and fair trade.
I requested this as a sample from Stacy of Butiki Teas in my last order and now I realize I really should have just went for it. For one thing, any tea I have tried from Glenburn Estate has been top notch, and for another reason, Stacy has the ultimate taste in tea selection and I just should have known it would be excellent!
This has made it to my shopping list.
Organic Sencha from Aiya
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Aiya
Tea Description:
Organic Sencha is one of the highest in quality in the Japanese internationally certfied organic Sencha category. This grade of Organic Sencha is rare even in the Japanese market. This tea is grown to meet strict organic regulations while maintaining a light refreshing flavor and aroma with a clear green appearance.
Preparation:
Bring the water to a boil and allow it to cool to 80°C/176°F. Steep 1 heaping teaspoon (3g) of Organic Sencha for 1.5 minutes in 1 cup (240 ml/8 oz) of hot water. With this tea, one can pour more hot water over the tea leaves and enjoy another cup.
Ingredients:
Organic Japanese Green Tea – Organic Sencha
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Organic Sencha from Aiya provides a clear, clean, flavorful cup. Aiya’s sencha is organic, which is always a plus in my book.
Steeped correctly, (175 degrees, or 80c, for 1.5 minutes), you will find no astringency or bitterness in Aiya’s Sencha.
I found this cup to have a nutty appeal, grassy of course, and just a slight seaweed flavor. While also vegetal, I find the vegetal notes to be somewhat tame.
Sencha is the most popular tea in Japan from what I have learned, and I can see why. It is light, clear, refreshing, flavorful, and thirst quenching.
Sencha can be enjoyed both hot and cold.
This sencha also leaves a lovely floral essence on the palate. It is a surprising and delicious experience.
Aiya’s website is truly a sight to behold. The flash site has a cool viewing and user experience, although it takes a little time to learn proper navigation, I did enjoy it and I am not one who is usually partial to flash sites.
Aiya sells their Organic Sencha for 25.80 USD excluding any applicable taxes in an 80 gram size and I do believe that it comes in its own tin, which is always a plus.
I have also found some useful and fun information on their blog, which is mostly dedicated to matcha. You can find Aiya’s blog here.