Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
This rare Darjeeling green tea is cultivated at about 7000ft in the Himalayas, at the renowned Makaibari Estate, the oldest (est. 1859) and most respected tea estate in the world, and also the world’s first biodynamically cultivated tea garden. This exquisite green tea has a light amber color, a mild, natural aroma and subtle flavor, with delicate floral hints.
Taster’s Review:
I have tried a few teas from Shanti Tea and one thing that I’ve noticed which remains consistent with every tea that I’ve tasted thus far is Shanti Tea’s dedication to delicious, high quality tea. This tea is certainly no exception.
I was surprised to see the dry leaves – they are LARGE! Most of the Darjeeling tea leaves I’ve seen up until now have been a smaller, cut (or torn) leaf, and while these leaves are torn, they are much larger than the small leaves I’m used to seeing when it comes to a Darjeeling. At first glance I would have thought it to be an Oolong. And that’s not the only thing that makes this different from a typical Darjeeling!
The leaves produce a clear, pretty amber colored liquor that is beautifully fragrant. The aroma is somewhat floral but there is also a somewhat toasty/musky/woody kind of scent in there too. It’s quite an interesting bouquet, bringing together feminine floral notes with a warm, masculine undertone.
The taste presents a lovely complexity to the palate, starting with a hint of flowery notes that taste almost jasmine-esque. The floral notes are soon joined by a toasty flavor that is somewhat nut-like, followed by the subtlest note of musky wood. About mid-sip, the slightest taste of sweet pear appears.
The flavor is light and refreshing, and so different from what I’m used to when it comes to a Darjeeling tea. I am used to black Darjeeling teas which tend to be crisp and light in flavor. This one has that crisp, light flavor too, but while a black Darjeeling has the muscatel that tends to come off as a sparkling, wine-like note, this one has more of a rich, toasted nut flavor. This one focuses less on the fruity aspects and more upon the rich, buttery nut taste. The muscatel is still there with this tea, but it is just … different. Deliciously, refreshingly different.
A beautifully complex Darjeeling that causes me to rethink what a Darjeeling is supposed to be. I like that!
Midnight Jasmine from Shanti Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Prepared by infusing green tea leaves with night-blooming jasmine flowers for several consecutive nights, Jasmine tea is one of the best known China Green teas, originating from the Song Dynasty around 1000CE. Cultivated at altitudes over 1500ft, this popular tea has a clean and delicate taste with the subtle yet exquisite aroma of jasmine blossoms, reminiscent of summery evenings and gentle breezes.
Taster’s Review:
Wow! This is such a lovely jasmine!
The green tea is light and slightly grassy, and at the start of the cup, I noticed that it was a little sharp and grassy. Not bitter-grassy, but it had a sharp intonation that hit toward the end of the sip. After the jasmine flavor developed, though, that sweetness washed over that sharpness and softened it, creating the perfect balance between green tea flavor and the sweet flower.
The jasmine starts out rather smooth and delicate, but it develops as I continue to sip. If you love jasmine, you simply must try this tea. It toes the line between intense and just a bit too much jasmine, but it toes that line with such grace and precision. It is NOT soapy to me, but, I can see how others would think that it might be a little too much for their palate, so if you’re one who is particularly sensitive to jasmine’s perfume-y tendencies, this may not be the jasmine for you.
This jasmine is for jasmine lovers! It is delightful hot or iced – this might just be one of my favorite jasmine green teas to chill for iced tea.
Ancient Forest Black Tea from Shanti Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Cultivated from the ancient protected tea tree forests of Yunan Province, China, this rare and exquisite black tea makes a full-bodied and earthy infusion with a rich and penetrating aroma heavy with age and collective wisdom. The flavor of this deep amber infusion is unlike any other black tea available. Truly exceptional.
Taster’s Review:
This really is an exceptional tea, and one that teaches me not to judge a tea by its dry leaf presentation. It doesn’t smell exceptional, and it doesn’t really look exceptional. But, the taste – is truly remarkable!
The tea has a very deep, rich taste to it. Earthy, yes. I can taste a Pu-erh kind of taste in the background that is earthy. But that isn’t all there is to this tea – and if it was, I probably wouldn’t consider it remarkable or exceptional, since I’m not a huge fan of Pu-erh. I like this much better than any Pu-erh I’ve ever tasted, because there is so much more to it.
The flavor has a hint of woody taste to it, like a damp wood. Consider an old growth forest just after it rains. The smell of the trees, the earth, the leaves and the air … that is what I taste in the background… that essence.
If I were to attempt to describe this tea, I would say it is somewhere between a Yunnan Pu-erh and an Assam tea. It has that maltiness that an Assam usually possesses, and there is the most exquisite underlying tone of sweetness too that is caramel-like. Sweet and almost creamy. The finish is sweet with a light, cleansing astringency. The aftertaste focuses on hints of earthiness as well as the deep sweetness that I am falling more in love with after each sip. This is really good.
An excellent black tea!
Om Chai from Shanti Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Om Chai is a blend of black tea, cardamom, and cloves, which produces a simple, lightly spiced, and excellent afternoon tea. It is our simplest blend of spiced Indian tea; but in simplicity comes great flavor. Similar to the essential nature of [Om], our Om Chai captures the most basic fragrance, flavor, and essence of spiced chai, and thus enhances the spiced tea experience.
Taster’s Review:
This is one of the most mild chai blends I’ve ever had the opportunity to taste. The first thing that came to mind when I tasted it was “where’s the cinnamon and ginger?” – because this blend doesn’t have any cinnamon or ginger in it.
But that’s not a complaint. It is what it is – and this is a solid, delicious black tea blend with cardamom and cloves. It is not a typical chai, but that isn’t a bad thing. It is a really nice change of pace from the typical spicy chai.
The black tea base is strong and invigorating. It has a nice malty taste to it – and because of the malty character, I suspect it is Assam tea or possibly a blend of teas that includes Assam. Because of this, I caution you to not over-steep it, because it will become bitter (wanna guess how I know?)
But when steeped correctly, this is really delicious. I love the warm, woodsy-rustic tone that the spice brings to the cup. The spices are not overbearing – the flavor of the tea is the star of this show – and that’s quite alright.
It is a very soothing tea . . . calming! (Perfect to sip while listening to your child practice playing the recorder. I love her, I think she’s very talented, but, the recorder? Well, that’s another thing all together.)
This is delicious with a drizzle of honey and a splash of milk – and equally as nice without the additions. A very nice cup of chai, indeed!
Tulsi India Chai from Shanti Tea
Tea Type: Chai (Tulsi Base)
Where To Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Tulsi is one of India’s most sacred herbs, an aromatic shrub recognized for its spiritually uplifting and healing properties. The minty armoa and flavor of tulsi blends very naturally with chai spices in this remarkable herbal variation to traditional black masala chai.
Tasters Review:
Shanti has come out with TONS of new Tulsi Teas and Tisanes and I have been able to enjoy many of them. I think it’s great that they are offering a variety of flavors paired with this herb!
Basically if you were to take gentle Indian Spices and pair them with sweet basil – this is IT.
This is herbally and spicy and comforting. It’s one of the better herbal-tasting tisanes and chai tisane’s I have had. It doesn’t leave a funky aftertaste either – and that I am thankful for!
