Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Arbor Teas
Tea Description:
This Fair Trade Certified organic green tea is another example of the wonderful offerings coming out of the Makaibari Estate in India. Biodynamically farmed in India’s Darjeeling district, this organic loose leaf tea exhibits many of the same qualities of the black teas of this region, but with an unoxidized leaf. The varying leaf colors (ranging from green to brown to white) produce an easy-to-drink cup. This organic Indian tea also exhibits slightly lemony, vegetal and earthy qualities akin to other Darjeeling teas. Established in 1859, Makaibari is the oldest estate in Darjeeling, where a strong commitment to sustainable farming prevails.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This tea is indeed very easy to drink! It is quite smooth and flavorful, with pleasing citrus notes, and a light vegetative quality. Not what I would call “grassy,” it is more like steamed vegetables.
According to the above description (from Arbor Teas’ website), this tea was grown in the Darjeeling region, and I can taste some similarities to a Darjeeling tea. It has a lemony note that is quite similar to a Darjeeling tea as well as some of the woodsy tones of a Darjeeling.
However, I find that this green tea lacks that “crispness” of a Darjeeling, instead, this one has a smoother flavor to it. It also does not have the same astringency that I would normally expect from a Darjeeling, the astringency here is quite soft … so soft, in fact, that if one wasn’t paying attention, one might not notice it at all.
Overall, I find this tea to be very pleasant: sweet, smooth, and seems to promote a sense of tranquility as I sip it, while at the same time, restoring me. A very enjoyable cup!
Organic Idulgashinna Estate Ceylon Green Tea from Arbor Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Arbor Teas
Tea Description:
A balanced cup for all green tea drinkers, our organic and Fair Trade Certified green tea from the Idulgashinna Estate in Sri Lanka is not too vegetal and not too fruity. Manufactured in the Uva region in eastern Sri Lanka (east of the other well known regions such as Nuwara Eliya and Dimbulla), this tea is from one of the well-known Staasen group of plantations, about 3300 – 6500 feet in elevation. It withstands multiple infusions quite well and has a pleasant sweet note with a clean finish.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I love Arbor Teas, they are one of my favorite companies. They are very earth-friendly with their compostable packaging, their products are organic and Fair Trade Certified, and they work hard to minimize their carbon footprint. These things are not only important to the world we live in but to me, personally, as a consumer.
That being said, even though they are an environmentally friendly company, if I didn’t like their tea, I wouldn’t do business with them. Fortunately, they also have top-notch tea! And WOW! I’m loving this one!
The flavor is very smooth and even-tempered, much like I’d expect from a black Ceylon, but with a fresher, green tea kind of flavor that is not too grassy or vegetative. While there are some grassy tones to this, it’s really a smoother grassy flavor than you might expect from a green tea.
It has a sweetness to it that is very green tea-ish, a very mellow kind of sweetness that tastes faintly of honey. It also has a mild fruity sweetness that melds beautifully with the honey-esque tones.
This is the kind of green tea that you’d be proud to serve to guests, it has a very palatable flavor that I think everyone can appreciate, even those who don’t care for green tea would probably enjoy this one!
Rainforest Alliance Certified – Strong Black Tea from The Tao of Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Tao of Tea
Product Description:
Uplifting brew with earthy aroma and hints of black cherries and warm cane sugar.
You can learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’m loving this tea.
But, I must be honest, I was a little disappointed by it at first. And I think that disappointed is too strong a word for how I felt. I think I was mislead by the name of the tea “Strong Black Tea” to me indicates that I’m about to taste something incredibly bold, with a hefty taste and texture. Something to give you that sharp kick in the buns that is needed on those mornings that you don’t want to get going. I don’t think that this tea would accomplish that, because it isn’t as strong (at least, not to me) as the name would suggest.
But that is not to say that this tea isn’t exquisite, because it IS! It is a truly delicious tea that merely suffers from a misnomer, which after perusing The Tao of Tea’s website, I notice there is also a “Light” Black Tea from the Rainforest Alliance collection, so perhaps the strong is in comparison to the light, and not so much strong compared to other black teas outside of the Rainforest Alliance collection.
But that’s enough about that. Let me get to telling you about what makes this tea so delicious. With the first couple of sips, I noticed a similarity to an Oolong tea. It has that soft mouthfeel that I might experience from an Oolong, as well as a hint of vegetative flavor that hits the palate right about mid-sip. There is also a chocolate flavor – like bitter chocolate – that hits the palate at almost the same time, and these two notes provide a very savory tone that is quite appealing, and I think essential to the palate at about this moment in the sip, because the overall flavor of this tea is quite reminiscent of raw sugar cane. Sweet with an undertone of molasses. Let me put it this way: my sweet tooth right now is very happy!
The description suggests these notes of “warm cane sugar” (if you’re one who automatically sweetens a tea before trying it I suggest not doing that with this tea – taste it first, I found that this is pleasantly sweet without any sweetener) and also it suggests notes of black cherry. And I am getting those fruit tones as well, but it isn’t a syrupy kind of cherry flavor, this is more like a hint of fruit off somewhere in the distance. As I attempted to describe it on Steepster: “it is more of a insinuation of cherry that doesn’t quite become fully recognized.” It is there, but, then again, is it?
While I’m loving the smooth sweetness of this tea, I’m also noticing a rustic edge to it too. There is some astringency, it is fairly mild and slightly dry. And while this tea isn’t the strong, hearty tea that I was expecting, I am glad that I was mislead … or shall I say, pleasantly surprised? … by this one because I’m liking it just the way it is.
Om Chai from Shanti Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Om Chai is a blend of black tea, cardamom, and cloves, which produces a simple, lightly spiced, and excellent afternoon tea. It is our simplest blend of spiced Indian tea; but in simplicity comes great flavor. Similar to the essential nature of [Om], our Om Chai captures the most basic fragrance, flavor, and essence of spiced chai, and thus enhances the spiced tea experience.
Taster’s Review:
This is one of the most mild chai blends I’ve ever had the opportunity to taste. The first thing that came to mind when I tasted it was “where’s the cinnamon and ginger?” – because this blend doesn’t have any cinnamon or ginger in it.
But that’s not a complaint. It is what it is – and this is a solid, delicious black tea blend with cardamom and cloves. It is not a typical chai, but that isn’t a bad thing. It is a really nice change of pace from the typical spicy chai.
The black tea base is strong and invigorating. It has a nice malty taste to it – and because of the malty character, I suspect it is Assam tea or possibly a blend of teas that includes Assam. Because of this, I caution you to not over-steep it, because it will become bitter (wanna guess how I know?)
But when steeped correctly, this is really delicious. I love the warm, woodsy-rustic tone that the spice brings to the cup. The spices are not overbearing – the flavor of the tea is the star of this show – and that’s quite alright.
It is a very soothing tea . . . calming! (Perfect to sip while listening to your child practice playing the recorder. I love her, I think she’s very talented, but, the recorder? Well, that’s another thing all together.)
This is delicious with a drizzle of honey and a splash of milk – and equally as nice without the additions. A very nice cup of chai, indeed!
Malty Assam from The Tao of Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Tao of Tea
This tea is found on the Fair Trade Certified page on the Tao of Tea website.
Product Description:
Origin: India
Introduction: The region of Assam is the largest tea producing region in the world and home to some of the best black teas from India. It lies 120 miles East of Darjeeling (a high elevation tea growing area), and borders with China, Burma, and Bangladesh. The distinct tea varietal growing in Assam is the Camellia Assamica, a relatively larger leaf tea plant.
Flavor Profile: Rich, malty brew with a slight caramel sweetness.
Taster’s Review:
Assam teas are among the most temperamental teas out there, and because of that, they are sometimes avoided by tea drinkers. And that’s just sad! What an amazing flavor these tea lovers are missing!
Assam teas generally do require a bit of “babysitting” while brewing. It is important not to over-steep the leaves. Even just a few seconds of extra brew time can mean the difference between a delicious cup of tea and a disastrously bitter cup of tea. I’ve also found that pulling the kettle just a moment before it reaches the full boiling point helps (for those of you who are lucky enough to have a variable temperature tea kettle: set the desired temperature to 205° F)
Diligence does pays off, and this is so true when it comes to Assam. The flavor of a properly prepared Assam is so rewarding!
This Malty Assam from The Tao of Tea is nothing short of spectacular. Generally it is the malty quality of an Assam that is most desired when it comes to Assam, and this Assam is the maltiest that I’ve yet to taste. This is so rich and almost decadent!
This is certainly not your typical Assam, though. While it is malty, there is an amazing set of flavors to this tea that set it apart from the other Assam teas out there. The tea starts out bold, but it is a smoother boldness than I’m used to with an Assam. This is a little less rugged. It has an undertone of sweetness that is similar to caramel.
And here is where it gets really interesting: towards the middle of the sip there is a hint of bitterness to it. It is ever so faint, and if you aren’t paying particular attention, you might miss it! It isn’t that “I oversteeped the tea” kind of bitterness I was mentioning earlier. This is more of a “let’s keep it interesting” savory note that cuts through the somewhat heavier tones of the tea. And it does keep it interesting, indeed!
But even more intriguing than that is this “salty” note that I get just as the bitterness makes its quick appearance. It is a flavor profile that I don’t ever remember tasting in a tea that I’ve not salted myself. It isn’t a disturbing or distasteful flavor – in fact, I rather like it. It is just very unexpected.
This is an Assam that I would recommend to all tea drinkers, if for no other reason than to experience these tantalizing nuances. This is an exceptional Assam!