The crisp aroma of these maroon, CTC BOP leaves transports you with their smell of brambles dried in an arid forest.
Zesta aims for this tea collection, which includes this Uva, to provide an authentic Ceylon journey, well, mission accomplished! Turns out, this selection is from Sri Lanka’s 4th largest grower.
Zesta recommends brewing with boiling water, which produces a rich mahogany brew.
I also made a cup at my usual 175F, which had more of a ruby color to it. I didn’t detect any major differences in taste between the two temps. Though I know its pure tea, I taste lots of refreshing red apple and somehow a sweet, fresh-cut grass in there.
Sweetener also made a negligible difference in taste. Pairs deliciously with all kinds of milk!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Loose Black Tea
Where to Buy: Zesta
Description:
The perfect gift for the tea devotee, the enchanting pine wood gift box has premium black teas from all five tea growing regions in Sri Lanka – Dimbula, Ruhuna, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Uva. Ceylon tea became famous for its unique taste variety that differs across the regions and elevations which are reflected in these teas.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Uva BOP Ceylon Black Tea from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
Classic rich Ceylon from a prestigious region in the highlands.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Yeah! This Uva BOP Ceylon Black Tea from Upton Tea Imports is just what I needed today. I was feeling just a wee bit sluggish, in need of some caffeine and mostly what I wanted was rich, delicious black tea … and this Ceylon satisfies!
But I do have one complaint: the photo above is supposed to be a close up of the leaves … but, the actual leaves that I put into my tea maker today didn’t really look like this. The cut is much smaller than what I’d expect from a BOP. And really, this is my only complaint about this tea. The leaves are much more like a fine chop CTC tea leaf, rather than a Broken Orange Pekoe.
That complaint aside, the tea that the leaves produce is very flavorful. RICH and bold … but also very even-toned as I have come to expect from Ceylon. I don’t taste bitterness, and I don’t get a lot of astringency from this cup, although as I continue to sip, the astringency builds somewhat, providing a tangy “pucker” in the finish by the time I’ve consumed about half a cup of the tea.
The sip starts with an earthy note. I notice some sweetness, sort of honey-esque. I get some lovely citrus-y notes that come forward toward the finish. Notes of malt – which is a little surprising because this is a Ceylon and I don’t usually associate Ceylon teas with a malty note like this.
I would classify this as a rich yet medium-bodied cup of tea. Very tasty.
Nuwara Eliya BOP Ceylon Black Tea From Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
Due to its high altitude and cooler climate, Nuwara Eliya produces an aromatic, bright-flavored tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Dry, this Nuwara Eliya BOP Ceylon Black Tea From Upton Tea Imports has an aroma that is somewhat earthy. There is a sweetness to the scent as well, and a note that is reminiscent of leather. It’s actually quite appealing to the nose. Once brewed, the tea keeps that slightly earthy scent, but smells more sweet than earthy now. I still smell those intriguing notes of leather.
It’s a very flavorful cuppa! It is sweet with notes of fruit that are evoking thoughts of plums and apples and grapes, although I can’t tell you that is exactly what I’m tasting … those are the thoughts that dance in my head as I sip. As the sip approaches the finish, I notice a more distinct citrus note.
It’s not as earthy tasting as the aroma might suggest, although I do taste faint notes of earth. Mostly, I taste sweet fruit. It has a moderate level of dry astringency and the aftertaste is citrus-y.
Overall, a very tasty Ceylon tea. I get a lot of what I expect from a Ceylon: a pleasing, medium-bodied tea, even tempered, not too aggressive … mellow and enjoyable. Something you’d want to drink in the afternoon for a pick-me-up … it would also make a refreshing iced tea.
Organic BOP Iyerpadi Estate Nilgiri Black Tea from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
A rich tea with solid body and full mouth feel. A pleasing, balanced cup with a classic Nilgiri flavor and style.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Organic BOP Iyerpadi Estate Nilgiri Black Tea from Upton Tea Imports is such a satisfying cup of black tea – ideal for that all-important first cup of the day, but equally as nice when served as an afternoon tea.
The dry leaf has a sweet, slightly earthy aroma, and it brews up dark, with hints of the sweet, earthy tones that were more prominent in the dry leaf. The flavor is sweet and smooth.
The tea is indeed a rich tasting tea. It is a hefty kind of tea – strong and bold – which is why I stated before that this would make an excellent choice as a breakfast tea. It has that “wake-me-up” kind of quality to it. It is nicely round with a pleasing malty tone to it, with notes of a tantalizing, freshly baked kind of taste. It is not bitter, and there is only a very mild astringency to the cup.
A very enjoyable cuppa!
Glenburn Estates Khongea Chai Assam (2nd Flush) CTC-BOP from KTeas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: KTeas
Product Description:
Freshly picked 8 June 2011.
“Chai” is a word meaning “tea” in many parts of the world. In addition, these CTC black tea leaves are called “chai” because they make a popular base to which to add those luscious spices that turn the tea into the deliciously spicy beverage we call “Chai”. These CTC leaves of second-flush assam can certainly steep into a thoroughly enjoyable cuppa all on their own … well, okay, maybe add some sweetener and milk or cream (yes! this tea will stand up to cream!).
Taster’s Review:
If you’re like me, when you first saw the name of this tea, you thought this would be a spiced tea blend. It is not. Here, “chai” is used as it was originally intended: to mean “tea” and not “spiced tea.”
By now, I’ve tasted several of the Estate teas offered by KTeas, and I’ve been impressed with every single one of them that I’ve tried. And this brilliant cup of CTC-BOP Assam from the Glenburn Estates is no exception.
One thing that impresses me about these Estate teas from KTeas is that it says – right on the package! – the date this tea was harvested. So I know the tea that I’m drinking is very fresh. And one sip tells me that the tea I’m drinking is very delicious!
This Assam is bold and full-flavored. It has a very bright flavor with a prominent malty flavor. It has a very strong character: this tea can get you GOING in the morning; even on those mornings when you’re feeling sluggish and really need a boost. This tea will give you that boost you need.
This tea has a sweetness to it that is quite like burnt sugar caramel. The sweetness is enhanced by the aforementioned malty tones, and these two qualities linger long into the aftertaste. There is a fair amount of astringency here, but I don’t mind it. If you want to curb it a bit, add a splash of milk to the cup – this tea takes it quite well.
Because this is a CTC-BOP, the leaves are granular – about the size of a grain of couscous! – and you’ll want to take this into account when you steep the tea. Use a little less tea when you measure the tea and do not infuse quite as long as you might steep a whole leaf tea; otherwise you may end up with a somewhat bitter brew. With this tea, it is definitely worth the extra thought and effort to steep it correctly, because the reward is a delicious cup of Assam.