Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black, Green
Where to Buy: Nina’s Paris
Tea Description:
NINA’S JAPON
Black tea, sencha, genmaicha, caramel, vanilla
A marvelous blend of black tea and roasted green tea from Japan. An irresistible dreamy concoction made with crispy rice, vanilla and caramel.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I opened by sample bag of Nina’s Japon from Nina’s Paris the first aroma that struck me was the genmaicha. That fresh popcorn smell was captivating as it always is for me when I smell Genmaicha. This was different though. A sweet caramel aroma wafted up into my nasal cavities seducing me! I could only hope the flavor was as wonderful as the scent!
It was!
Creamy, and sweetly caramel flavored tea with a wonderful base of black tea for a robust kick, yet the sencha still shining through, with the genmaicha playing nice in a supporting role. I had thought maybe the genmaicha would overtake the cup since it was the predominant smell.
The after taste is that of caramel popcorn and really so very good. I can’t believe I have taken so long to review this tea. I have had it waiting on me to try for over a month or two. This is a definite reorder once I let myself off tea buying hiatus.
Somehow this blend is creating a chocolate flavor in my mouth even though there is no chocolate in the blend. It is delightful, surprising, and trust me I need a surprise in tea now and then. It is wonderful to try so many teas, write about them, but this is a tea that renews my faith that there are new things out there to discover!
Now I admit, I failed to look up brewing instructions before making this tea. I steeped it in 195 degree water for 3 minutes. I did not realize before steeping that it had green teas in the blend. Yet, not one bit of bitterness, nor astringency in this cup. Amazing, it is idiot proof!
The vanilla has a lovely presence in this tea and I keep getting seduced and charmed by it as I sip I just keep thinking about letting myself our of the corner and buying this tea! I think I could have let it steep a little longer without getting any bitterness as well and perhaps even more depth to flavor but it is not necessary as this cup is just astounding.
I will admit, when I try new teas, from new (to me) companies I am always apprehensive. Nina’s Paris has not let me down! The cup has a mouth watering aroma, the flavor is perfection, I can taste the sencha, the black tea, and the genmaicha, all of them melding in beautiful harmony together! Caramel and vanilla always play nicely together, and nothing about this cup tastes artificial.
I am really very impressed here! A big thanks to Nina’s for this sample. Request your samples too! Nina’s Paris has been more than accommodating to new customers who would like to sample their teas. You can request three samples at a time and trust me, you will want to order once you try them!
Organic Oolong 17 from Driftwood Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Driftwood Tea
Tea Description:
Organic Oolong 17 is considered to be Thailand’s finest tea. Oolong 17 was developed from imported Taiwanese stock and, given Mae Salong’s similar altitude and climate, is highly comparable to the quality and taste of high mountain teas grown in Taiwan.
Key Flavours: Oriental flora, edges of soft cream and a delicate tropical fruit aftertaste.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Organic Oolong 17 from Driftwood Tea brings us an oolong that is for the faint of heart. That’s right, IS, rather than isn’t. This is a very delicate, soft, gentle, oolong that does not pack a powerful punch. It is lilting, and lovely. This is the perfect oolong for those that typically do not like oolong’s rougher edge.
There is a slight resemblance to a Dong Ding, but more like Dong Ding’s well-mannered female cousin. She is younger, more playful, and less intense, yet has enough of that robust nature that you know your drinking a tea of quality. Yet on the other side you get her floral breath that beckons you to come out and play with her in the sunniness of her color, and she makes everything feel cozy and smooth with her creaminess.
I detect a hay like essence, but the lingering after taste is that of the bouquet’s companion of baby’s breath. A light mineral note also plays a key role. As for fruity, perhaps, but not as much as I had expected from the key flavors listed by Driftwood Tea. Perhaps a light touch of starfruit juice, maybe a tiny splash of not yet ripe pineapple, but only very slight.
I feel this would be an excellent beginners oolong, or an oolong to try if you have not yet found an oolong you enjoy fully and want something a bit lighter than those you have tried before.
I can see why this is considered Thailand’s finest tea though, with it’s polite mannerism I can easily see this being a tea sipped in many households.
Taiwanese Dong Ding Oolong from Verdant Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Verdant Tea
Tea Description:
This Dong Ding exemplifies the union of sweet and savory flavors that are a hallmark of Taiwanese oolong craftsmanship.
Taiwanese oolong is an incredible and worthwhile counterpoint to the Tieguanyin growing cross the straights in Anxi. While mainland oolongs tend to be more floral, Taiwanese oolongs edge towards savory. In love with the unique taste, we are pleased to have found this standout example despite difficult growing conditions in Taiwan this past year.
The wet leaf aroma is like being in a small bakery with rising whole wheat walnut currant bread in the oven and redwood bark’s warm smell wafting though an open window. The first steepings start with a bright raspberry tartness followed by a darker note of flax and spicy green peppercorn. These initial flavors swell and then diminish leaving a sweet whipped cream pound cake aftertaste.
Later steepings expand upon the spicy flavor with the sweetness of red bell peppers and the savory satisfying taste of fried cactus paddle. The aftertaste moves towards sweet corn bread and lingers long after the tea is gone.
NOTES: pound cake, raspberry, peppercorn, corn bread, flax, cactus
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
A tea like Taiwanese Dong Ding Oolong from Verdant Tea must be experienced over several steeps, otherwise you will miss out on so much flavor and complexity. I won’t say that this is my all time favorite tea from Verdant Tea, but it is very nice and should be experienced.
I will start by saying I am a little disappointed that I never got those pound cake notes, corn bread notes, or even really any raspberry notes, but what I did get was flavorful, and delicious.
Early steeps give off a nice light flavor, white floral notes, a dash of a pepper note, but only very slight, and a wonderful earthy note like well nourished soil, not to be confused with dirt. This Taiwanese Dong Ding by Verdant has a perfectly sweet flavor, not too sweet, but just right. To me this resonates most as a floral milk oolong.
It is slightly vegetal, with some nutty goodness, and in later steeps becomes even more milky and creamy with a full mouth feel. It is weighty, buttery, slightly astringent, and really quite good. I still am looking for some of those dessert notes, but sadly not finding them.
Toward steep four and five I am still getting a wonderfully flavorful cup which becomes even more creamy, maybe this is where the cake note comes in – through all the creaminess, but for me I wish it had a little more because while it is creamy, it never quite develops into a full on cream like flavor, rather teases and hints at it. Perhaps if I were finding that raspberry note I would enjoy it more. This is not to imply I am unhappy with the cup, but I would have been more happy had I not seen those yummy notes that I am missing out on.
This is a really nice flavorful cup with key notes on my palate being floral, creamy, milky, and vegetal. Its not nearly as strong as other Dong Ding I have had, and I do love Dong Ding Oolong. Of course this is a lighter roast but even still it is lacking many of the qualities I am used to in Dong Ding. Again that is not to say I don’t like it. I like it a lot, but I am confused a little by this tea. I plan to work with it more to see if I can uncover more of what it has to offer.
Caramel MATCHAccino from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Have your MATCHAccino your way! Easy to make for those on the go or sit back and indulge in sweet healthy goodness! Caramel MATCHAccino is a flavored green tea matcha latte that is decedent, delicious, and full of caramel flavor. Some say that the flavor matches that of a crème brûlée, or caramelized sugar. Others are reminded of the old fashioned caramel candies their grandparents savored. We just know it is delicious!
There is no healthier or tastier way to indulge your senses in something this sweet, and energizing! Just scoop, put into your container, shake with milk and ice, and your good to go. It couldn’t be easier, or more affordable to have a MATCHAccino in your hands right now. MATCHAccino is best mixed with milk and ice, but can also be served hot as a latte. Add a dollop of whipped cream if you care to indulge in a luscious caramel candy sensation. All natural, with premium quality ingredients. You will think you are doing something sinful!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
MATCHAccino from Red Leaf Tea is anything and everything a person on the go could want! For that matter it is anything a person who wants to lavish in a sweet inexpensive matcha latte at home could want! Its everything anyone could want! It provides a healthy way to indulge in sweet caramel goodness that provides a nice energy boost without feeling cruddy like you would after a typical energy drink. The flavor is perfection. Sweet caramel candy like yumminess with a sweet green matcha flavor to boot. I do add whipped cream to mine often and love it. Just like the description says, it tastes as good as, if not better than a milkshake!
I can’t express how easy this is to make, and I admit, I’m rather lazy. If something takes too much prep time I lose interest in it fairly quickly. Now with that said I do love having all of the pretty chawans, chasens, sifters, whisks, etc and so on, but I only use those on occasion and will generally prepare something that only takes a little time. Well this is it my friends, this literally takes me no longer than two minutes to prepare. Using their measuring scoop I put the powder into my lidded glass drinking vessel, after adding my almond milk so that the powder does not get weighted down and stuck to the bottom, put the lid on, shake about ten times, and I’m sipping on what I could have paid five bucks for at a coffee (now trying to be a tea shop) shop. Big difference though is that this is only a little over a dollar, under a dollar when you buy a larger size pouch!
Fact is that where I live the only coffee shops that even offer a matcha latte are clear across town. I don’t live in a big city that offers these drinks on every street corner, but even if I did it would make no sense to pay that exorbitant price for a matcha latte with Red Leaf Tea’s option! Also, personally, I don’t care to give my money to the big chains that really have no honest interest in serving good quality tea, I mean they are coffee chains and tea is an afterthought. Anyway, I didn’t mean for this post to become crass. I just really love this MATCHAccino and am really excited about how good it is.
Thank you Red Leaf Tea for coming up with so many great ideas!
Organic Silver Needle White from Nature’s Tea Leaf
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Nature’s Tea Leaf
Tea Description:
Organic Silver Needle White Tea has exquisitely shaped buds enveloped in white down. This white tea excites with its savory aroma, rich body and a sweet flavor with rounded finish that is soft and airy on the palate. White Teas which include our Organic Silver Needle variety are known to promote weight loss and stimulate the metabolism. This low caffeine antioxidant packed tea is delicious hot or cold and can be enjoyed any time of day.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Soft, Fuzzy, Pillowy, Billowy, White tea is what Organic Silver Needle White from Nature’s Tea Leaf is! Its so pretty to look at. Delicious to smell, even in its dry state. I love touching and examining the silvery white needles. This is very much a tactile tea leaf.
The steeped leaf smells slightly minty, and very sweet. The flavor is also lightly minty, but just delicately so. The sweetness does translate into the taste beautifully, but a a mid-range vegetal note is also present. There is a very brothy mouthfeel to this tea and it almost has a creamy feel in the aftertaste. I could see this tea being a major part of a soup broth if you are into using tea in cooking. This is definitely a greener tasting white than I have had before and has a nice lingering aftertaste that lasts longer than most.
This is right up there with some of my favorite white teas because it offers something different from others I have had before. It is unique and it is Organic which makes it even better in my book!
The sweet notes I have been tasting have had me perplexed for a bit, as they are not honey notes, or even that of cane sugar, nor molasses, its more of a fruity sort of sweet, like raisins perhaps, yet it does not taste fruity. Also there is absolutely no astringency in this cup.
This tea is a little more pricey than others but it is organic, and it is delicious, therefore it is worth it!