Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pu-erh
Where to Buy: Wymm Tea
Tea Description:
This shu pu-erh brews with a rich and honey flavor and long-lasting jasmine rice aroma. Small buds from high mountains in Menghai County, located in west of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, are picked to make the tea in 2008. Pu-erh tea has the potential to ferment over time, and this tea has been post-fermented for 6 years since production. Post-fermentation gives the tea vibrant flavours and richer aroma as well as deep wine colour.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I was so excited when I received my package from Wymm Tea! What a fun presentation I received from them! They sent me four samples of Pu-erh and they were all nestled in this really cute carton. I really love it when a tea company puts thought into their packaging like this. It’s a little like getting a gift in the mail. And the only thing that’s just as much fun as getting tea in the mail is getting a gift in the mail – when the two are combined – we’re talking Pure Tea Joy!
And it may surprise you to hear that the tea inside that carton is also eliciting joy from me too! Yep, it’s pu-erh, and yep … it’s making me happy! Each of the samples was wrapped in rice paper (I love rice paper) and it was like a little gift inside each rice paper bundle!
I’m really enjoying this Menghai Shou Pu-erh Third Grade (2008) from Wymm Tea. My first two infusions were very mellow – mild tasting with very little earthiness (I like that a lot!) but with a deep, lovely flavor that evoked thoughts of molasses. I also pick up on some slight woodsy/earthy notes that remind me of a walk through the woods after a rain. (There are a lot of places up here in the Pacific Northwest that offer that kind of experience!)
These first two cups disappeared so quickly, that I’m having to write most of this from the memory of them.
My third cup has a stronger flavor than the first two. It’s a very mellow tasting tea with a very delicate earthiness to the flavor. The earthiness slowly emerges with this tea and I like that. I’m not being hit over the head with a strong, earthy flavor.
I taste notes of jasmine rice (a favorite staple in this house). The texture is smooth and there is no astringency. No bitterness. It’s sweet, molasses-y, with hints of rice. I’m not tasting any briny, fishy or other ‘odd’ undesirable flavors that sometimes are tasted with Pu-erh – this is the GOOD stuff.
I find that with each new cup of this tea – the flavor gets deeper with a more developed sweetness. I never encounter any bitterness or strong, off-putting flavors. Just a lovely, mild, remarkably smooth tea experience.
And, just in case you’re wondering what the different “grades” mean, according to the website:
First grade contains the smallest leaves while seventh grade contains the largest leaves. There is marginal difference in the taste; first grade has a slightly stronger and woodier flavour, while the seventh grade has a milder and sweeter flavour. The third and fifth grades fall in between of the first and seventh grade.
And if this tea is something “in between a stronger/woodier flavor and the sweet/mild flavor, then I’m in for a real treat when I get to the seventh grade tea!
A really lovely, delightful ancient tree pu-erh – I highly recommend it!
Red Grey Tisane from Pipers Loose Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Roiboos
Where to Buy: Pipers Loose Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
A caffeine free version of Earl Grey using the finest Rooibos enhanced with organic Sicilian bergamot oil resulting in an absolutely delicious rich, flowery tea with bright citrus notes.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve sampled some decent tasting Earl Grey inspired rooibos blends and some not so decent tasting Earl Grey inspired rooibos blends, and I think I’ve probably tried more not so decent ones than decent. So when it comes to trying one that I haven’t yet tasted, I tend to be a little hesitant because the memories of the not so decent ones outweigh the decent ones.
So, I was a little hesitant to try this Red Grey Tisane from Pipers Loose Leaf Tea – but fortunately, this tea surpassed my expectations. This is really quite good!
The sweet, nutty flavor of the rooibos complements the bright citrus notes of the bergamot really well. The bergamot is not overdone and I think it’s important to note that because with bergamot, when overdone, it can end up tasting soapy. Here, there is just enough bergamot flavor to add a tangy-sweet flavor to the cup without it tasting soap-ish.
And while I’m not often a fan of the flavor of rooibos, I like the way the nutty flavors go with the bergamot. The earthy flavor of the rooibos balances out that zesty flavor of the bergamot nicely. Hints of flower add some dimension to the tea.
Overall, a very pleasant cuppa.
Cucumber Melon White Iced Tea from Southern Boy Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Zoomdweebies
Tea Description:
Our premium organic shou mei fannings white tea blended with organic cucumber and melon flavors. This is a seriously refreshing glass of yum. Don’t miss your chance to nab one of these.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn about SBT’s subscriptions here.
Taster’s Review:
Nice! I’m really LOVING this Cucumber Melon White Iced Tea from Southern Boy Teas! It’s so refreshing!
Having previously enjoyed the original 52Teas version of Cucumber Melon White tea and to a lesser extent, the SBT Cucumber Melon Black Iced Tea, I was excited to try SBT’s version of these flavors with a white tea base. I really think that the delicate qualities of the cucumber and melon are better suited for the softer white tea base!
To brew this, I tried something just a tad different. I hot brewed it (as usual) – heating 1 quart of water to 160°F and letting the teabag steep for 1 1/2 minute and then straining that tea into my glass tea pitcher. But for the second quart, instead of steeping it for 2 minutes (I usually add 30 seconds onto the resteep time), I only steeped the bag for 1 minute with the resteep. And the flavor is PERFECT.
I’m getting a strong melon flavor with notes of cucumber. It’s sweet with a hint of savory and the white tea base comes through nicely without overpowering the soft flavors of the cucumber and melon. A really delightful balance has been achieved here and I daresay that this is just as good as the original 52Teas version!
Darjeeling Black Currant Tea from Russian Tea Time
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Darjeeling)
Where to Buy: Russian Tea Time
Tea Description:
Unique blend of the finest Dareeling and black teas infused with Black currant aroma. The delicate and flavorful taste of this blend will keep your palate satisfied. Drink and enjoy it hot or Iced, all year around.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Recently, Russian Tea Time sent me a tea party in a box! They shared with me their amazing Darjeeling Black Currant Tea that I’m going to review here, plus they sent me this gorgeous tea glass from which to drink the tea and they even sent me yummy, buttery shortbread cookies! Like I said, a tea party in a box!
What makes this particular tea so unique is that it’s Russian Tea Time’s own, unique blend of Darjeeling and Black teas with black currant essence and currant leaves. Most tea rooms out there are brewing up tea to serve to their customers. They usually get that tea from other vendors (nothing wrong with that!) but Russian Tea Time is not just brewing up tea to serve to their customers, they’re brewing up their own blend that they created and serving it up with scrumptious treats.
Since I’m not in Chicago, I can’t visit the Russian Tea Room in person, so I’ll just have to imagine what it might be like as I sit here, sipping on this Darjeeling Black Currant Tea from this gorgeous tea glass that they sent to me. (They also have some other gorgeous tea cups available in their online shop!)
So, I brewed up the tea in my Breville One Touch Tea Maker. When I opened the tin of Loose Leaf tea – they offer this tea in both Loose Leaf and Sachet form, and since I prefer loose leaf, that’s what I chose to try today – I could see that the tea was a CTC leaf. It’s not a super-fine chop though. Because the leaf has been cut, I opted for slightly less time for the steep, and set the timer for 2 minutes. I measured 2 bamboo scoops into the basket of my tea maker and poured 500ml of tea into the jug. I set the thermometer for 195°F (my go-to temperature for Darjeeling) and let it steep.
The tea is delicious. I like the base tea. I can definitely taste the Darjeeling tea – it has a distinctly crisp taste that’s undeniably “Darjeeling-esque”. The Russian Tea Room doesn’t go into details about the “black teas” that also comprise the base of this tea. I definitely taste the Darjeeling, but I am also tasting a more substantial tea in there too. This tea has that crispness and even a hint of muscatel that I’d expect from a Darjeeling, but there is a thicker texture to the tea too and that’s something that I’ve tasted in only a very few Darjeeling teas. It’s usually a characteristic that I experience from other black teas.
It’s not an overly astringent tea. This could also have something to do with the fact that I set the tea to steep for only 2 minutes. But whatever the reason, I am finding this to be really smooth and easy to drink.
The black currant flavor is a subtle taste – it doesn’t overpower the cup or the black tea. It adds a pleasant, mild fruit flavor that’s a little grape-like and it melds beautifully with the Darjeeling tea’s natural muscatel notes. It’s not overly tart, but I do experience a slight tart tingle on my tongue in the aftertaste.
This is a really delightful tea. It tastes great served hot and I suspect it would be a really excellent iced tea too. (For the record, the cookies were quite tasty too!)
What a lovely day for tea – thank you Russian Tea Time for the chance to enjoy tea time with you!
Iron Buddha Oolong Tea from Canton Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Canton Tea Co.
Tea Description:
This classic Tie Guan Yin produces a delicious, light-coloured, medium-bodied liquor. The first infusion combines toasty, floral notes with a touch of honey and becomes more fruity with successive infusions.
The dark, lightly oxidised green leaves are rolled into small tight fists. The liquor is amber-green with a smooth, heavy texture on the tongue. The flowery and fruity profile of this tea has a touch of honey and at first releases the pleasant orchid notes – after a couple of brews it yields the soft fruitier notes and has a sweet long lasting after taste.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Tonight’s Oolong is this lovely Iron Buddha Oolong Tea from Canton Tea Co.!
My first cup (infusions 1 and 2) is very much like the above description suggests: a medium-bodied tea with a soft, silky texture. Warm, toasty notes with hints of nutty flavors and beautiful floral tones that hint at a honey-like sweetness. The cup is sweet and flowery. Delightful!
My second cup (infusions 3 and 4) is where I begin to notice some fruit notes emerging. I taste notes of apricot. The honey notes that I picked up on in the first cup are still here and I love the way the apricot and honey play together on the palate. Sweet and delectable. The nutty flavors I noticed in the first cup have waned somewhat, this cup is less ‘toasty’ and more about the notes of fruit and flower. The body of this cup is a little creamier than the first cup.
My third cup (infusions 5 and 6) is a marriage of most of the flavors that I mentioned previously. The flavors of honey and apricot have melded together to create a unified flavor. The floral notes are a little sharper now because this cup isn’t quite as creamy as the second cup was, which seems to allow the floral notes to come into focus. I taste very little of the toasty notes of the first cup now, this cup is much more floral than either of the two previous cups were.
I really enjoyed how the flavors transitioned as I sipped on each cup. It was a lovely tea journey, one I was very happy to take!