Tea Information:
Leaf Type: BlackTea
Where to Buy: Tea For All Reasons
Tea Description:
For all of you Downton Abbey and Earl Grey fans, this is a must! I’ve created this new blend in honor of the irrepressible Dowager Countess. You are aware of a strong presence whenever she enters a room, impeccably dressed, with rows and rows of creamy white pearls. She makes no apologies for her strong sense of tradition, and underneath her sharp, dry wit, there is a sweetness that she tries to keep well hidden. Much like the Dowager, our new Earl Grey blend is “steeped” in tradition, has a strong, tart Pomegranate presence, with an underlying sweetness, and is dressed up with creamy white pearl dragees. Enjoy!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve reviewed teas from Tea For All Reasons in the past and you may already know that I love their thoughts behind their blends. I love their names. And they are pleasing to the nose, eye, and tongue. This time around I am tasting the Dowager Countess Grey – a specialty black tea – from their Downton Abby Series Collection – which makes a cross over to their Earl Grey Collection, too!
What isn’t overly present is the stereotypical bergamot you would find in an Earl Grey. Instead – Tea For All Reasons has ‘thought outside the box’ (or the tea bag rather) and decided to pair this blend with pomegranate. I really enjoy the Pom-Flavor in this loose leaf black tea based blend of flavors. It provides a subtle tartness without it going to wild. There are hints of cream towards the end sip that are quite intriguing as well.
I infused for about 3 to 4 minutes and eventho this is a black tea base the post-infused liquid color isn’t all that dark in the cup. But that’s ok…what it lacks in color/tone – it makes up for in aroma and taste! This is a nice sipping tea when hot and a jolly-good gulping tea when cold.
If you are looking for a creative blend with a little bit of tarty-fruit notes – try this one, if you are a Downton Abby fan – put this one on your list – or if you are into flavored Earl Grey’s – give this one a whirl!
Castleton Muscatel 2nd Flush from Darjeeling Tea Lovers
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Darjeeling Tea Lovers
Tea Description:
CASTLETON MUSCATEL is one of the finest muscatel teas that we have come across this season. This tea has been made from selective leaves that come from PURE CHINA BUSHES at an altitude of 6200 ft above sea level which is ideal for the MUSCAT FLAVOUR.
When this tea is steeped for 3 mins it gives a very SMOOTH MEDIUM GOLDEN LIQUOR which has a rich fruity aroma. With every sip, you get a very rich fruity flavour and it leaves a ‘twang’ of mint in the pallets. A perfect cup to make your mornings delightful.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The moment I removed my brew basket from my cup I could smell the distinct muscatel aroma in this Castleton Muscatel 2nd Flush from Darjeeling Tea Lovers. My mouth watered in eager anticipation for that first sip. Even though this is not the freshest Darjeeling, since I got it as a sample from one of my SororiTea Sisters, and have had it tucked away for awhile now, it is still delicious! The muscatel flavor is simply divine.
As my SororiTea Sister LiberTeas said it has such a crisp flavor almost a snappish like flavor to it. Like biting into a fresh juicy grape with a thick skin, you get that POP like flavor in the mouth! Perfection! The taste is lightly sweet which I prefer to refer to as naturally sweet, just as nature intended fresh fruit to taste, this tea exemplifies that perfectly! I can’t believe I have not made any of my own purchases from Darjeeling Tea Lovers, but I need to sometime soon.
After looking at their website, I am seeing some of my favorite Darjeeling and some I have yet to try, all in one place, it is like a smorgasbord of Darjeeling, my eyes widened in excitement just browsing the site! Seriously I am having to hold myself back from placing an order until I sip down some of the teas I already have in my stash, plus saving for college for my daughter in the Fall is a bit more pressing right now.
Regardless, if a tea from Darjeeling Tea Lovers from their 2012 harvest, which has been haphazardly stored this long tastes this good, I can’t wait to try some of the fresher and better stored teas!
As for this tea, well this tea, and me, will be spending some precious time alone with a good book, in the sunshine, while it lasts, both the sunshine and the tea.
Tai Ju Wang Chrysanthemum from Tea Valley
Tea Type: Herbal
Where To Buy: Tea Valley
Product Description:
Harvest when the flower is only partially bloomed, the Tia Ju Wang is one of the most excellent chrysanthemum teas available. Made with only the finest Hangzhou white chrysanthemum flowers, the tea’s fresh and sweet aroma never fails to elicit an “Mmmm” reaction. When brewed, the chrysanthemum flowers produce a light-bodied tea that is vibrant yellow in color. The tea has a honey-like sweetness and a heaven-like fragrance. This tea finishes with a delicious aftertaste.
Graceful and pure, you will find this tea incredibly refreshing. Superior all around, the Hangzhou Tai Ju Wang is a truly a king among all chrysanthemum teas.
Tasters Review:
I have been wanting to try Tea Valley’s teas and recently I have been able to try a few of them! Including Tai Ju Wang Chrysanthemum. I have several thoughts about this tisane and here are a few of them…
This herbal tisane surprised me. It started off smelling like Chamomile and then switched gears into something much more pleasing to my nose! For that I am grateful. I’m not really into Chamomile. Perhaps Chrysanthemums are more my style?
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one…after all I am looking at the dry mix and thinking to myself…I’m going to drink flower buds!
If anything I was thinking it would taste more like bitter flowers like rose or marigold or something but that wasn’t the case…thankfully!
In the company’s product description it says “Honey-like sweetness” and that is completely right!
This is a pure delight! It’s a lovely-sweet – almost honey-like after taste but a bit more buttery or slippery than others I have thought to be honey-like. Maybe Buttery-Popcorn covered in honey…Not sure…but there is something more to the aftertaste than just honey-sweetness and sweet-floral notes and I just think it’s darling!
This Herbal is delicate and pretty and flavorful and surprising and I am so happy I was able to try it! I’m looking forward to my next cup!
Pure Black Tea/Ji Hong Men Tea from In Nature
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where To Buy: In Nature
Production Description:
Ji Hong Men
The best Black Tea in the market. Superior taste and aroma. One can drink at any time and even during meals. Unlike with most Chinese Teas, people will often add sugar and milk. It is also known as Red Tea (hong cha).
This tea brews to a reddish-brown colour with an exquisite rich soothing taste and aroma. An Hui region
Pack size: 50g
Servings: 50 cups or more. Full instructions on how to prepare the perfect cup of tea inside each box
Tasters Review:
Recently I received a shipment of tea from the UK. I always LOVE getting tea from different countries! In Nature or innteas.com has a very attractive website, great customer service with wonderful email correspondence, and their packaging is unique and very reminsicent of Nature and it has their Nature-Themed Feel to it.
The first tea I tried was their Pure Black Tea also known as Ji Hong Men. At first I thought…oh…ANOTHER “Pure Black Tea’…BUT…this is NOT your average tasting black tea! This is fantastic! The taste is so full and so bold!
I’m truly amazed! It infused pretty dark and smells almost ‘baked’. The taste is a magnified black – not a bitter black but a cakey, bakey, chewy type black!
It’s very memorable and I am already telling my friends about it!