Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Indie Tea
Tea Description:
Finest Earl Grey Tea Decorated With Citrus Peel.
Some Are Left Of Crazy. Others Are To The Right Of Crazy. Then There Are Those Who Are Right Smack Dab In The Middle Of Crazy.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Organic Crazy Earl Black Tea from Indie Tea is really interesting! I can definitely taste the Earl Grey coming through, but, the additional orange and grapefruit flavors add their own little twist to the classic taste of the bergamot orange notes.
The black tea is brisk and smooth. I taste a peppery note to this black tea so it is making me wonder if this is possibly a Yunnan black tea base … or at least a blend with Yunnan tea. It’s a very flavorful black tea base.
The bergamot is softer here … it is smooth and doesn’t have the perfume-y quality that is often associated with bergamot. It has that tangy taste that you expect from a bergamot but without the strong floral/perfume taste. It could be that the additional citrus notes of orange and grapefruit bring the citrus notes of the bergamot into focus while blurring the more “perfumed” quality of the bergamot … I don’t know.
What I do know is that this Crazy Earl from Indie Tea is definitely an interesting take on Earl Grey … and a nice change from the usual Earl Grey. If you’re a fan of the Earl … you should give this one a try.
Supreme Phoenix Dancong Snow Flake Oolong from China Cha Dao
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: China Cha Dao
Tea Description:
Phoenix Dan Cong, a Famous Oolong / Wulong Tea from Chao Zhou Province in China.
Tea comes with a superb aroma and sweet taste!
The Phoenix Dan Cong are noted for their ability to naturally imitate the flavors and fragrance of various flowers and fruits, such as orange blossom, orchid, grapefruit, almond, ginger flower, etc…
Dan Cong is a botanical term that refers to the morphology of the tea plant. Most tea bushes emerge from the ground as a cluster of branches, however, the uncommon Dan Cong variety emerges as a single trunk that branches off higher up the stem.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Supreme Phonenix Dancong Snow Flake Oolong from China Cha Dao (deep breath) is …. a mouthful! A mouthful of goodness that is.
This is not necessarily in line with my favorite flavors in a tea, but I absolutely appreciate it for what it is. The flavors range from citrus, to sandalwood, floral, to astringent.
The aroma is that of flowers, orange, and grapefruit. The liquid should be rather pale, be sure not to over steep this one. Gong Fu brewing is recommended.
I prefer the second steep to the first, and in the future would probably even do a quick rinse, like one would do with pu-erh, before sipping.
This is a unique tea with a completely different flavor profile from any oolong that I have ever had. I can see where some would adore this tea and where others may not care for it. I think those who adore it will want it in their stash at all times, however for those we do not, they should at least experience an oolong like this once.
I feel as though this years Snow Flake picked up plenty of citrus elements, and then secondly floral aspects. I really had hoped to pick up the almond flavor, but could not.
The leaves of this tea are long, full, and lovely but do expect some stems as well.
China Cha Dao started on Ebay but they now have their own website and it is designed quite well. Their teas are sold in larger quantity 4.4 Ounces or 125 Gram being the norm, with Worldwide Free Shipping. The site even has a language translator in the upper left corner of the page.
What I have noticed about this tea that is also unique is the heat retention. My cup seems to have stayed warm for far longer than most teas do using the same cup. It also is a heart warming tea, meaning that I feel as though I am warming up from the inside out as I drink it. Seems perfect for a winter harvest!
Be sure to check out their Chinese New Year Sale here.
Winter Warmer Black Tea Blend from Grey’s Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Grey’s Teas
Tea Description:
Looks good, ..smells good, …tastes good. Just the reassurance you need on a cold winter’s evening. China tea with citrus peels and cloves. Perfect.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Winter Warmer Black Tea Blend from Grey’s Tea is a really nice alternative to the typical “orange spice” winter blend. Other orange spice blends often overwhelm the palate with spicy notes … nothing wrong with that, of course, because I like spicy tea, but, sometimes, it’s nice to have something on the gentle side.
This Winter Warmer is just that. Warmly spiced, but gently so. The clove is exotically sweet and has a comforting, cozy kind of flavor to it without going over the top. The citrus brightens the cup but does not overpower the flavor of the black tea. The orange-y notes taste sweet, a little tangy, but it isn’t overdone.
The black tea is really the star of this cup, and that – in my opinion – is just the way it should be. The black tea tastes robust with a mild-to-moderate amount of astringency which is accented by the citrus notes.
This is a really nice black tea – one that maybe isn’t quite strong enough to serve as a breakfast tea alternative … but instead, one I’d like to sip in the afternoon – it’s something that would warm me up and energize me at the same time.
Glenburn Estate Darjeeling from Butiki Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Butiki Teas
Tea Description:
Glenburn Estate Darjeeling is a black tea that originates from the Glenburn Estate located in the Himalayas above the Rungeet River in India. Graded FTGFOP-1 (Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe, First Flush), this Darjeeling is comprised of tender shoots plucked during the onset of spring. The Glenburn Estate is working closely with the board of the Ethical Tea Partnership, which focuses on sustainability and living and working conditions of those working at tea estates, to bring the ETP to the Darjeeling region and is focused on maintaining high ethical standards. Our Darjeeling has gentle citrus, fragrant floral, and sweet juicy peach notes with some mild ginger notes. This smooth tea is free of astringency and has as substantial body.
Ingredients: Indian Black Tea
Recommended Brew Time: 3 minutes
Recommended Amount: 1 1/2 teaspoons (2.5g) of tea for 8oz of water
Recommended Temperature: 212 F degrees
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Glenburn Estate Darjeeling from Butiki Teas is a prime example of a quality first flush Darjeeling. If you are like me and generally prefer second flush you should still give this one a try, because it is worth it to have one of the best first flush Darjeeling’s as a tea lover and connoisseur.
The peachy floral notes just jump right out of the cup into my waiting nose. The aroma alone is worth getting some of this. I could bathe in this stuff!
This Glenburn Estate Darjeeling is a lighter black tea, soft, delicate, and gentle. It may not be my morning wake up cup but it sure is the perfect cup for lazy Sundays, mid afternoon tea service, a garden party, or anytime you don’t need the kick in the head but want to enjoy a delicious Darjeeling.
The flavor notes are so laid back, mellow, but absolutely present. I love the light juicy sweet peach notes, the light lilting floral flavor, and that ever so subtle touch of ginger, which I pick up more in the aroma than the flavor but again, the flavor is there. I even get a honey aroma and note on the palate.
Then to make this tea even more appealing it is vegan, and fair trade.
I requested this as a sample from Stacy of Butiki Teas in my last order and now I realize I really should have just went for it. For one thing, any tea I have tried from Glenburn Estate has been top notch, and for another reason, Stacy has the ultimate taste in tea selection and I just should have known it would be excellent!
This has made it to my shopping list.
Acai Tangerine from The Whistling Kettle
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White and Pu-erh
Where to Buy: The Whistling Kettle
Tea Description:
Inspired by Dr. Oz and Canadian natural health guru Bryce Wylde, our pu-erh/white tea blend is designed to shrink fat, burn deposits, and prevent new fat from depositing. Tastes excellent hot or iced. The rich smoothness of pu-erh is contrasted with delicate notes of white tea, and accentuated with acai, tangerine, and chrysanthemum.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
My initial reaction to Acai Tangerine from The Whistling Kettle was me blurting out loud “Fruit Striped Gum!!” I don’t know if Fruit Striped Gum is available to everyone everywhere but its one of my childhood favorites! This tea from The Whistling Kettle is a spot on reminder for me. What fun when tea can bring back a good memory.
This tea has a slightly tangy note, I presume from the acai, along with a light sweetness of tangerine, that is not cloying, but helps cut the twang of the acai. Gentle chrysanthemum adds a delicate but lovely floral aspect without being perfumery.
To me however the predominating flavor with all elements combined come together in a bright and cheerful, yet full mouthfeel cup of fruity goodness! A little tropical, and a little reminiscent of fruity pebbles cereal or fruit loops perhaps.
I can not say that the white tea flavor comes out much and now and then the earthiness of the pu-erh does slip through but for the most part this is a cup of tea for a fruity flavor lover.
It provides a nice experience and I think this would be lovely to have iced in the summer.
Another thing I really like about The Whistling Kettle is how they have “flash sales” and Tea of the Week sales here.