What is better to a tea lover than to have a little extra time in the morning in which one may prepare a simple breakfast and steep the perfect tea pairing for it, taking time to truly experience the cup? I am thus blessed this morning.
While I usually have a sensible breakfast, I am craving waffles this morning, buttered and doused with real maple syrup, warmed. This requires a tea that can cut through the sweetness and assert itself, but I am not a fan of harsh tea that must be tamed with milk and sugar.
Enter Master Matsumoto’s Supernatural Black from Postcard Teas in London. This is a Japanese black tea grown without chemicals, without pesticides or herbicides, even without manure. Thus, “super natural” in the way it is grown.
This is not your average black breakfast tea! While it is a Camellia sinensis sinensis varietal, the taste is of a fruity second flush Darjeeling. There is an aftertaste of light malt with a tingle on the tongue. The flavor lingers for quite a long time, with a little rush of fruity sweet/sour muscat rising with each breath, and finally a rising sweetness in the throat such as often follows a brisk green tea. The briskness persists. The flavor continues. I think a lover of Darjeeling tea owes it to themselves to try this one.
The leaves re-steep very nicely, adding economy to its virtues if the price has you troubled. I like to combine the first and second steep so I really only need a teaspoon of leaf to have a couple of cups of very satisfying tea, plus having both steeps made and on the table means I can enjoy without going back to the kitchen to re-steep.
This is one of those teas that you buy because life is short, and it would be a shame not to experience something fine now and then. This tea will be on my mind for a long time.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Postcard Teas
Description
An unusually aromatic Japanese black tea from Kumamoto area of Kyushu in Japan. The tea is made on a small 8 acre farm in Minamata-shi by 4th generation tea maker Master Matsumoto, who uses his great grandfather’s 90 year old Yabukita ancient tea trees grown without any chemicals, herbicides, fertilisers, or even manure – hence the tea grows ‘supernaturally’.
This is one of the most versatile black teas we have, combining some of the best qualities of Darjeeling, Assam and Chinese teas and adding something extra of its own. The tea has the aromatic qualities of a second flush Darjeeling and a plum/prune sweetness which comes out more when brewed lightly, but when brewed strong it tastes like the richest, smoothest Assam or Breakfast tea without any astringency or tannins. It can also take milk very well if required.
Sufficiently unusual to interest a seasoned tea drinker but familiar and comforting enough for someone just getting into specialty black tea – if we had to recommend just one black tea in our selection to someone overwhelmed by choice then this would be it.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Organic Assam Black Tea by Mana Organics
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Mana Organics
Description
A brisk tea with a malty, honey-sweet aroma followed deep character of taste and a pleasant pungency that will please even the most discerning of palates.Only Tippy Golden Flower Orange Pekoe Premier Grade (TGFOP1) Assam tea direct from our family’s estate, Chota Tingrai. Healthier for you and the environment thanks to our USDA certified organic practices. Packed onsite in re-sealable bag so you get that garden-fresh taste again and again. Tastes, smells, and looks so delicious that we got an award in the Global Tea Championship 2017
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
What’s in a name? Diksam TGFOP 1 2nd Flush 2013 Assam
Today I tried a tea from Lochan Tea Limited, Diksam TGFOP 1 2nd Flush 2013 Assam. Let’s start with breaking down that name! “Diksam” is the estate where these leaves are grown, part of the “Assam” tea region in India. “TGFOP 1” is the designation or grade of the tea, in this case it stands for: Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe One. “2nd Flush” indicates when this tea was collected. In the case of Indian teas like this Assam, the 2nd harvest is more prized for its higher content of “golden tip” tea leaves.
This particular batch was harvested in 2013. I’m a bit late to the party on this tea, since most leaves are at their best when fresh, but this brew still had some life in it.
Whew with all of that knowledge sinking in, let’s explore how this tea actually brewed up! These leaves steeped into a rich, dark red tea smelling slightly sharp and bold right from the start. When the tea was at its hottest, there was a scent of burnt caramel mixed in with the malty notes. The taste of this tea echoed these scents while brewing, though there were new flavors as well, like a deep foliage note at the back of each sip. This tea was definitely heavy and full-bodied, more earthy than astringent. The tea was strong enough to hold up its boldness when mixed with milk. The milk helped mellow out any bitterness and brought forward more of the barky, nutty tones.
While this particular batch isn’t available on Lochan Tea Limited at this time, they have a range of other premium black teas. Now that you’re armed with the knowledge of the tea naming system, you’ll know more about what you’re ordering!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Lochan Tea Limited
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Meleng FTGFOP 1 CL 2nd Flush 2016, Assam Tea from Lochan Tea Limited
Meleng FTGFOP 1 CL 2nd Flush 2016, Assam Tea from Lochan Tea Limited maybe a mouth full to SAY but it’s a wonderful cuppa to SIP on as well! I have to say I have always been partial to Lochan Teas when it comes to their wide selection of estate teas and different flushes especially when it comes to black loose leaf teas. Their catalog of them seems endless!
If you are looking for a very strong black tea that has a lot of character and will provide a LOUD wake-up call in the morning Meleng FTGFOP 1 CL 2nd Flush 2016, Assam Tea from Lochan Tea Limited might be for you! It sure was for me!
The aroma of this dry loose leaf comes across very strong with bold cocoa notes. It infuses to a dark brown and gives off a full, heavy-duty Assam flavor! I can taste the dark yet daring black tea base with those saught-after natural cocoa flavors that move on to the aftertaste, too! The aftertaste is that of a dark cocoa powder and I’m totally LOVING it! Meleng FTGFOP 1 CL 2nd Flush 2016, Assam Tea from Lochan Tea Limited is one heck of a morning wake-up tea!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Lochan Tea Limited
Description: As I write this post Meleng FTGFOP 1 CL 2nd Flush 2016, Assam Tea from Lochan Tea Limited is not yet on their website but you can check out their entire catalog of offerings HERE.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
The Bold Scotsman from Tupelo Honey Teas
The Bold Scotsman from Tupelo Honey Teas is said to pay homage to The Outlander Series Books and Characters. I have to admit I haven’t read them but I will tell you what I think about this tea.
It’s not the smokiest of smoky teas but there is still a bit of smoke, indeed! I’m assuming that the smokiness of the Lapsand Souchong was knocked down a bit by the addition of the Assam, Kenyan, and Keemun or maybe it was just because of the ratios used by each of the 4 black tea bases. What ever the case this blended black tea base is really fabulous!
Just because the Lapsang Souchong isn’t the prominent flavor here doesn’t mean this tea isn’t bold. It’s just a different kind of bold. In addition to the slightly smoky flavors I can also pick up on crusty and fruity notes, too! This is one of those teas that makes me say “YUM” out loud while sitting in an empty room by myself. The Bold Scotsman from Tupelo Honey Teas is one of those teas that makes you pause and think of the multiple layers of flavor it leaves dancing in your mouth. This one goes on my RECOMMENDED list! Thanks – The Bold Scotsman from Tupelo Honey Teas!
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Tupelo Honey Teas
Description:
This tea was made to pay homage to the Outlander series books. Named by the local Ahtlander group, The Bold Scotsman is for everyone’s favorite character, Jamie Fraiser.
Bold, peaty, and slightly smoky this tea is best served on a cold day with a hot bowl of parritch.
Ingredients: Assam, Lapsang Souchong
Learn even more about this tea here.