Today is one of those days where I need all the caffeine to keep going. I literally bring a tote bag full of tea wherever I go so I dug into my lovely portable tea stash and landed on this lovely option.
Black Ruby from Terroir Tea Merchant is a black tea described as having a smooth, sweet, and cinnamon mint flavor. That description alone peaked my interest. I’ve tried a few offerings from Terroir Tea Merchant and I have to say, even though I typically reach for flavored teas, they’ve even turned my head and made me re-think my mostly flavored tea stash and possibly add in more straight teas.
Brewed up with fresh prepped water, I accidentally allowed this tea to steep a bit to long. Recommendations called for 3 minutes and I think the tea steeped about 5 (at work and failed to multi-task properly).
I will say this tea had gorgeous cinnamon notes going in to steep but has an incredibly strong malty flavor. Even though I did steep the tea longer than I should have the flavors were stop on with a slight twinge of astringency (which is totally my fault). This tea is one of those that gives you that whole mouth feel and demands your attention. I can’t say that I picked up any hints of mint, the cinnamon was present. Combine that flavor and the malty tone, you’ve got yourself one heck of a cuppa tea.
I think I have enough in my sample to brew up another cuppa properly and this time I’ll pay closer attention to my steeping parameters. I’m hoping with a bit of patience, I can draw those minty notes out because a cinnamon mint tea just sounds so darn interesting!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Terroir Tea Merchant
Description
cinnamon and mint flavour. This tea is guaranteed to excite even the most jaded taste buds. Flavour: Cinnamon, mint and malt sugar
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Lung Ya from Terroir Tea Merchant
99.9% of the time I start each day out with at least one black tea and then move on to other tea types throughout each day. Recently, I had a morning that was out of the norm for me. I started the day with this tea. The tea I’m referring to is Lung Ya from Terroir Tea Merchant. I was intrigued by this green tea because it’s NOT your typical green tea.
The company’s website says it’s organic and hand-picked at the earliest point of the spring harvest. On this cold wintery day I sure could use any and all nod to spring and warmer weather that is for sure!
The leaves of this tea are thin, twisted, fine, and a deeper, darker grey-green color with random silver tips and has a jasmine aroma with a speck of biscuit to it, too!
Sure this tea is on the sweeter yet floral side but it seems to also have a hint of artichoke and/or water chestnut flavor to it, too! I can still make that semi-crusty, biscuity flavor connect, too!
I was able to get 2 to 3 solid infusions out of this tea which I found pretty impressive! I’m looking forward to trying more teas from Terroir Tea Merchant in the future if I am ever so lucky! Two thumbs up on this lovely green tea!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Terroir Tea Merchants
Description
Refreshing, fruity, floral and vegetal.
This is not your typical green tea. Organic and hand-picked at the earliest point of the spring harvest, the leaves are thin, twisted and fine, emerald green with silver tips and a jasmine aroma
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Honey Scent Red from Terroir Tea Merchant
Have you ever encountered a tea that literally shook you and changed your thoughts on what teas you should be drinking? I will admit it. I drink mostly flavored teas knowing full well that I should expand my horizons and enjoy more straight teas to grow my tea knowledge and palate. But I just have such a fondness for those fun crazy flavored teas that I don’t take the time to enjoy straight teas.
Well that is until now. Terroir Tea Merchant recently sent the Sisters an amazing care package with a fabulous sampling of their offerings. I decided that I needed to try one of these teas before I passed along the rest. So I decided to grab this one.
Honey Scent Red is striking from the moment you set your eyes on the leaves. The leaves are gorgeous with a lovely malty and slightly spicy aroma. I prepped my water, brewed the tea according to the recommended parameters, and sat down to enjoy. I braced myself for a rich malty astringent flavor. That isn’t what this tea gave me at all.
Warm soothing apple notes followed by a sweet honey flavor that ended with an almost baked bread feel. This tea is simply divine. There are so many warm flavors going on without any strong malty or astringent characteristics. Sip after sip, this tea just keeps delivering on this sweet apple bread flavor. I’m excited to spend more time with this tea and see what other flavors I can draw out in future infusions.
A perfect tea to welcome in the cooler weather we are starting to experience here in the Midwest. Really wonderful tea that I just can’t get enough of and one that has me on a kick for more Terroir Tea Merchant offerings.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Terroir Tea Merchant
Description
Although not fully oxidized this tea is considered a black tea and in Taiwan and China, a black tea is known as hong cha or “red tea”. This refers to the colour of the liquor once the leaves are infused. The deep, rich caramel liquor with its reddish hue is much more fitting as a red tea.
Just like the dry and wet leaf aromas, honey dominates the flavour with notes of raisins, spice and a malty finish. As it cools, the natural sweetness shines through and this tea can be enjoyed iced with no need to add sugar.
Served warm or iced Honey Scent Red is a beautiful accompaniment to any meal. Try a cup for breakfast with baked scones with jam and cream, or on its own in the afternoon whilst you contemplate the tea’s journey from the bush to your cup.
For another high altitude, bug-bitten tea from Central Taiwan, you’ll also enjoy our Shan Lin Xi Concubine
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!