Darjeeling Tea, is among the most special, and for good reason. The taste of many Darjeelings – especially THIS Jungpana Spring Delight from Tea Swan – is a wonder as it gives the smell of pure chocolate blended with spicy herbs. This variant of Darjeeling tea, hand plucked and hand rolled, is nature’s purest gift to mankind.
What makes this even more special in my eyes is that it’s organic. This was a 1st flush of 2017 and I’m coming to the end of my sample and wanted to write about it and share it with you before I ran out.
I infused the loose leaf for about 3 minutes at between 200-215 degrees and it seemed to infuse perfectly! At least perfectly for my own personal liking, that is.
Jungpana Spring Delight Black Tea from Tea Swan gives off the taste of fresh corn with a speck of marigold and gives off a deep, golden yellow brew. It’s truly delightful and delivers a full, robust flavor with very little astringency. When I read ‘smooth, refined and regal’ – according to the company’s website – I couldn’t agree more. It even finishes with a whisper of sweet citrus…how lovely!
This is a KEEPER to say the very least! Two thumbs up, indeed!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Tea Swan
Description
The taste of this tea is a wonder as it gives the smell of pure chocolate blended with spicy herbs. This variant of Darjeeling tea, hand plucked and hand rolled, is nature’s purest gift to mankind.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Purple Youth from The Whistling Kettle. . . .
Purple Mountain Tea from The Whistling Kettle (or “Purple Youth” as its labeled on my sample) is a cup I’ve revisited recently.
The Whistling Kettle describes this tea as…Purple tea combined with a variety of herbs that provide a healthy dose of anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Well rounded herbal notes with a floral-spice finish.
As much as I adore my black teas I need to change it up every once and a while. Plus, I have been incorporating more and more anti-inflammatory teas and tisanes into my tea-sipping-rotation as of late.
This Purple Tea seemed to check all the lists.
The product description page on their website breaks down all of the potential benefits to each and every ingredient they added to this loose leaf blend. I find all of that fascinating because I love learning about plant/herb based healthy and healing properties.
Of course, I’m not making any claims here…I’m just sharing with you what I find interesting about this offering and how they relate to what I’m trying to do to improve my intake, personally.
I’ve been on a Nettle Leaf kick the last couple of weeks and the more I learn about it the more I feel like I need to continue to use it or consume daily.
The flavor of this cup is mild, mellow, soothing, slightly herbal but not medicinal, and an easy drink.
If you want to include more herbs into your life but have been turned off by some other herbal offerings…this tea/tisane just might be for you! I know I enjoyed it and will look for it again, soon!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Purple
Where to Buy: The Whistling Kettle
Description
We’ve designed this mostly herbal blend around purple tea as an all day, every day sipper. You’ll get loads of antioxidants from purple tea but also the benefits from numerous other herbs that help with skin complexion, hair and nail health and overall mental focus. Hydrate the healthy way!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Organic Leafy Black Colombian Tea from Simpson and Vail. . .
This Organic Leafy Black Tea from Simpson & Vail is the 2nd tea that I’ve tried (that I know of) that hails from the Bitaco Tea Estate. This is a lovely loose leaf tea that features large, twisted leaves. When steeped, this tea yields a cup that’s sweet and mellow with a soft fruity character at the end of each sip.
I did have a little time to play around with this tea, however, and it can be a versatile cuppa if you want it to be. What I mean by that is if you double the amount of loose leaf and cut the steep time in half it gives off a different flavor than described on the companies website. With this steeping method I’ve noticed it’s a much more heartier, and bold brew with a fair amount of maltiness, too!
I think I mentioned this in another tea review recently but this tea is what we call a chariTEA…
Bitaco Tea not only cultivates exceptional teas, they also are committed to their community. They created the Agricola Himalaya Foundation to develop and improve programs focusing on education, especially for local children. Activities focus on the improvement of infrastructure, recreational opportunities, local culture and access to technology.
So not only is it a good cup – it’s a good cause! An all-around feel-GOOD tea!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Description
From the mountainous region of Colombia, in an area steeped in biodiversity, along the western slope of the Andes, is the Bitaco tea estate. The gentle mist from the mountains, rich soil, and ample rainfall all stimulate the growth of the tea bushes, producing a tea with unique characteristics.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Assam Marangi Estate Black Tea (FTGFOP1) from Simpson and Vail. . .
Many of you know I start each and every day with a Black Tea and then move on to the other tea bases from there and sip on different teas all day long…but…I have to say that Assams are generally among my favorite!
May I introduce you to a new offering from Simpson & Vail? Assam Marangi Estate Black Tea (FTGFOP1).
This lead me to my own personal research and enrichment on the Marangi Estate. The Marangi Estate is located in the Golaghat district of north-eastern Assam south of the Brahmaputra River. This district’s economy is agriculture in nature, with crops of tea, rice and sugar cane its major crops. Tea is the largest agricultural crop grown here with over 63 large tea gardens as well as many small scale tea-growers. 63 LARGE tea gardens? Yes, please! While this is a small estate, with approximately 250 hectares in cultivation, Marangi is a well respected garden that produces very high quality Assam black tea. After sipping on this tea I would completely agree! This estate seems to be the definition of QUALITY over quantity!
This Assam – that I am sipping on again while typing this review – is from the Marangi Estate and has black and golden leaves and is graded as a FTGFOP (finest tippy golden flowery orange pekoe). It brews to a rich, amber colored cup with a slight cocoa aroma with floral and woodsy notes. Taste-wise it is malty with a balanced astringency and a smooth, slight cocoa finish. I have to say that malty and cocoa type Assams are among my favorite of the Assams!
This might have to go on my Top Ten Teas of this year so far! YUM!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Description
This tea from the Marangi Estate has uniform black and golden leaves and is graded as a FTGFOP (finest tippy golden flowery orange pekoe). It brews to a rich, amber colored cup with a slight cocoa aroma with floral and woodsy notes. The taste is malty with a balanced astringency and a smooth, slight cocoa finish.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Nepal Organic Gold Pathivara Black Tea from Simpson and Vail. . . .
Nepal is one place I have always wanted to travel to. I try and picture the place, the people, the culture. Since I probably will never have the opportunity to go there I will be living my wanderlust thru tea sipping. Nepal Organic Gold Pathivara Black Tea from Simpson & Vail helped me with this recently.
Nepal is located in South Asia, and bordered by China and India, and home to some of the largest mountains in the world, including Mount Everest which is the highest point anywhere on Earth. According to S&V and other sources – Nepal is comprised of 75 districts, one of which is the district of Panchthar. Panchthar is located in the Mechi Zone in the easternmost part of Nepal. It borders the Darjeeling region of West Bengal, India, and enjoys the same soil and climatic conditions as Darjeeling.
This certified organic garden is located in Panchthar, Nepal at an elevation of 1900 to 2100 meters above sea level. Simpson and Vail’s product description of this tea says that this garden sits among beautiful forested areas and has a stunning view of Mount Kumbhakarna. Pathivara Tea was planted in 1990 and is a relatively young garden that employs 35 people (mostly women). Pathivara almost borders the Sikkim border and the location is quite remote. The yields from Pathivara are not large which allows the growers to concentrate on producing this high-quality tea.
Nepal Organic Gold Pathivara Black Tea from Simpson & Vail consists of large black, golden, and well formed leaves that brew to an amber cup. It gives off a delicate yet full flavor on the tongue. The astringency (that is found in many high-grown Himalayan teas) is present in the cup although it is on the lighter side of things. The taste is smooth with a slightly sweet rose taste. An truly delightful cup of tea that I – for one – am thrilled they offer! Yet another great cuppa from our friends at S&V!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Description
Pathivara Gold tea consists of large black and golden well formed leaves that brew to an amber cup with a delicate yet full flavored taste. The astringency that is found in many high-grown Himalayan teas is present in the cup although it is slight. The taste is smooth with a slightly sweet rose taste. A truly delightful cup of tea that we are thrilled to offer.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!