Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
A full leaf white tea, this is a super smooth brew with a full mouth feel. The lemon essence is distinct but not to the point of overwhelming the mild flavor of the base white tea. A perfect balance of flavours with plenty of anti-oxidants.
The exact origin of the lemon has remained a mystery, though it is widely presumed that lemons first grew in India, northern Burma, and China. In South and South East Asia, it was known for its antiseptic properties and it was used as an antidote for various poisons. Today, India is the largest producer of lemons and generates 16% of all lemon and lime output worldwide.
Taster’s Review:
This tea was a very pleasant surprise. I expected the lemon to completely overwhelm the white tea, but it is very well-balanced.
The white tea tastes fresh with mere whispers of a vegetative quality. Shanti Tea does not specify what type of white tea leaf this is, but, if I had to guess, I would say it is a Bai Mu Dan. It has a crisp flavor that melds very well with the bright flavor of the lemon.
And while the lemon flavor stands out in the cup but it does not overwhelm the white tea as I thought it might. It has a sweet, lightly tart, sunny flavor that is delightful.
I am enjoying it hot at the moment, but, it is equally as delicious iced. I found this to be an extraordinarily uplifting, refreshing cup of tea, and it is certainly one of the best lemon flavored tea I’ve tasted yet! Bravo, Shanti Tea!
Acai Matcha from Shanti Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Matcha (Green Tea)
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Matcha tea is kind of like a super-powered green tea—since you’re ingesting the whole leaf instead of just the brewed beverage, you get up to ten times the antioxidant effect and nutritional value of your standard green. Matcha’s rich in antioxidants, as well as chlorophyll and fiber, and has been found to have natural mood enhancing effects. All in all, matcha’s got no match when it comes to healthy teas.
Taster’s Review:
This is a really good flavored Matcha. Flavored Matcha is not as common a product as other flavored teas, so it’s an exciting thing to find one.
The flavor is a bit different than other flavored Matcha teas that I’ve tried, I don’t know if that is because this is intended to use to make Matcha Lattes. The first time I tasted it, I enjoyed it as I would normally prepare Matcha – that is with some hot water in my chawan and whisk with my chasen. And this results in a pretty tasty tea.
The flavor is smooth and rich, with very little bitterness. It is a lot less bitter than I usually experience with Matcha (which is typically a little bitter and a little sweet – a delicious contrast). It is also not quite as vegetative. Prepared traditionally, what I taste mostly is a creamy, sweet and rich tasting tea with mere hints of a vegetative taste (it’s kind of in the background!) and a tart note from the Acai berry. It isn’t an unpleasant tartness, though. I’m really enjoying it.
But because I didn’t feel like I was truly experiencing this tea as it was intended, I decided that I should also try this as a latte. I put a few heaping scoops (I used my Chashaku) of the Matcha in my Chawan, and then I made a thick paste using two tablespoons (I eyeball it) of hot (not boiling) water. Then I added steaming milk and whisked it until blended and frothy.
As a latte, I notice that I get more froth than I did preparing it traditionally. The flavor is much creamier, and I notice more of the vegetative notes as a latte, but less of the acai berry, which slowly creeps up to the palate in the finish and imparts a lovely tart note. Not a pucker-y type of tart, just a pleasant, fruity tart taste.
After trying it as a latte, I decided to get a little more adventurous and try it with some orange juice. So using the same method as before (a few heaping scoops, a little hot water, thick paste), I replaced the hot milk with a little bit of cold orange juice. This may be my favorite way to enjoy this particular matcha because I like the way that the acai berry and the orange flavors mingle. There is very little vegetative taste, it is sweet, slightly creamy, and pleasantly tart.
This Matcha is incredibly versatile. It would also make a great addition to a smoothie, if you’re so inclined! I like that the acai berry is subtle, but just enough to help smooth out some of the bitter notes of the Matcha. I really enjoyed my time with this Matcha!
Strong Assam from Shanti Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Fair Trade Certified & Organic Black Tea
This lowland tea known for its rich aroma and strong, malty flavor is named after its origin, Assam, in North-East India. Our Strong Assam tea is cultivated at the famous Rembeng Estate, a 100% organic tea garden and the pioneering organic estate in the region, making their teas highly sought after. Dark and copper-colored, it is a full-bodied broken leaf black tea that is great for lovers of a strong morning cup of tea. The rich flavors are accentuated by adding milk and sugar.
Taster’s Review:
W0w! When they say strong, they mean STRONG! This is one seriously bold, in-your-face Assam!
This is a bold and robust tea, but, there is a lot more going on than just mere strength. It has such a lovely complexity to it. There are delicious undertones of sweetness that remind me of caramelized fruit. This is a note that comes through on the aroma, and carries through to the sip: when I first inhaled the fragrance, I could smell the distinctive caramel scent, and then upon tasting – DELICIOUS!
There are also hints of fruit and spice, as well as a very malty quality to this tea – the combination of the malt and caramel is quite yummy. This combination is further enhanced with a splash of milk as it lends a creaminess to the malt and caramel.
I recommend careful steeping parameters with this one. You don’t need to use a little extra leaf because this tea is plenty strong without it, in fact, you might find that it’s too strong with extra leaf. So I recommend using just 1 teaspoon for your first tasting, and then experimenting to find your perfect cuppa. Also, watch your timer carefully! 2 1/2 minutes is the perfect time for this tea (at least, for me!) but don’t go over 3 minutes for your first tasting, as it will become bitter.
This is delicious hot or iced, but I prefer it hot, it is a delightful “cold, foggy morning” kind of tea! It helps you clear the fog in your head after a not-so-great night’s sleep (or even if you’ve had a good one!) If you’d rather head back to bed, but can’t because you’ve got to “seize the day” – this tea will get you headed in that direction! This tea has got bite to it, so if you need to soften that edge, a little drizzle of agave nectar will do the trick.
An excellent Assam!
White Lemon from Shanti Tea
Tea Type: White Tea
Where To Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
WHITE LEMON
Fair Trade Certified & Organic White Tea
Tin / Bio-bag: 45g / 57 cups • Sample: 5 to 7 cups
A full leaf white tea, this is a super smooth brew with a full mouth feel. The lemon essence is distinct but not to the point of overwhelming the mild flavor of the base white tea. A perfect balance of flavours with plenty of anti-oxidants.
Story
The exact origin of the lemon has remained a mystery, though it is widely presumed that lemons first grew in India, northern Burma, and China. In South and South East Asia, it was known for its antiseptic properties and it was used as an antidote for various poisons. Today, India is the largest producer of lemons and generates 16% of all lemon and lime output worldwide.
Tasters Review:
White Lemon from Shanti Tea…another lovely Shanti offering! Ahhh!
Dry this smells a little like Lemon Pledge and White Tea. It’s Very Clean. (no pun intended)
Post infusion…it’s more of a gentle lemon and white tea aroma!
This tastes wonderful! Of course, I like lemon, so that helps! The White Tea is PERFECT and the Lemon just makes it even more tempting!
I had 1 cup hot and another cold and LOVED both!
Ceylon Forest Green from Shanti Tea
Tea Type: Green Tea
Where To Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Slightly vegetal, full-bodied with a mellow, distinctive aroma.
Reminiscent of a China green, with its vegetal taste, but with a greater degree of fermentation. This rare, rainforest grown tea is mellow yet full-bodied, serene, and uplifting.
Tasters Review:
I have sampled MANY of the teas Shanti has to offer and I can honestly say I like almost everything I have tried. This one sure follows suite! Ceylon Forest Green is another great tea from Shanti!
This is a nice mouthwatering green tea! It’s mellow and relaxing! It smells more chewier than any other green that I can remember smelling this way. It’s a little buttery, a little roasted, a LOT of lovely flavor!