Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: The Jasmine Pearl
Tea Description:
Tangy Grapefruit White is a blend of organic Chinese Baimudan white tea, grapefruit essential oils, organic calendula petals for color, organic lemongrass, and organic lemon myrtle, brewing a true-to-life grapefruit burst.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have been on a mad white tea kick as of late. Even with all of these fall flavors going on, I feel like in the mornings I’m still gravitating towards a floral or white tea to get me thru my last parts of deadline at work each day.
Today, I saw this little guy hanging out by my bag and knew that today was my day to try this one. I was a bit excited. Brewed this up at work with the help of my Sei Sei Tumbler to take care of the brewing part. Added in water around 190 per the packaging instructions and let this tea steep for about 3 minutes or so.
I loved watching this one steep. The dry leaf mix was gorgeous with all the lovely long leafs with pops of a bright orange color.
First infusion in and this tea is delicate and lovely. One that takes you away and allows you to indulge for a moment before the phone starts ringing again and there are emails to read. This tea gives you that much needed blissful moment where you can wrap your hands around the mug and the the tea do its thing.
The white tea flavor is the first to wash over you and it is delicate with subtle notes of a floral kind. The grapefruit flavors are there but they really don’t become prominent until that last part of each sip. That last part of the sip is where all the tangy grapefruit lovin is. Wow.
Another impressive tea from The Jasmine Pearl. I’m really digging this one and heading now to the kitchen to prep up more water for my second infusion. This tea is a keeper!
Honey Pear Black from Golden Moon Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Golden Moon Tea
Tea Description:
Our Honey Pear begins with top-quality black tea. Then we add the sweet flavor of ripe fruit and rich, smooth honey.
Reminiscent of a succulent Mid-Eastern dessert treat, this loose leaf tea delivers a full-bodied, amber liquor and a sweet, rich flavor that is delicious hot or iced.
Learn more about this tea on Steepster.
Taster’s Review:
So, this tea is incredibly aromatic – even with my sample in a Ziploc over top of the foil sample pouch I can see smell intense, fragrant notes of pear. It reminds me of this really sweet, kind of ‘dewy’ pear scented hair detangler I used to have before I shaved off all of my hair. I know that doesn’t sound appealing, but I think that hair detangler was the best smelling ‘beauty product’ I’ve EVER owned. I remember even spraying it as a ‘perfume’ too (I was twelve at the time; don’t judge). And then, when I was out of it I was never able to find it again. If the taste of this tea translates into the smell of that detangler as well as the dry aroma makes me think it will I know I’m gonna be all over this tea.
I cold brewed my sample; and I have to say this turned out to be absolutely incredible. Honestly, the black base is a little drowned out but it’s not surprising given how intense the flavourings are. I would have been more surprised if the base had been able to compete with pear notes that strong. The mouthfeel is also incredibly thick and full; if I didn’t know better I could probably be persuaded that I was drinking the sweetened pear juices from a can of halved pears. It’s also just a sliver floral tasting. It compliments the pear notes well though. And you know what? It does kind of taste like that detangler smelled.
One thing I will say is that the ‘honey’ seems a lot less obvious; sure there’s absolutely 100% a sweetness to this tea that isn’t representative of just the pear on its own, but nothing identifies it specifically as honey. Though comparing this again to a ‘beauty product’ (but in the best way), my personal favourite perfume is ‘white tea and honey’ scented and this does have the same effervescent, fresh sweetness that I enjoy when I wear that perfume. The common denominator between the two is the ‘honey’. So that’s something.
Overall, I’m really impressed with this tea! At this point, it takes A LOT for a pear tea to sweep me off my feet and this blend certainly did it. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a good pear tea or just a fruity tea in general with an over the top juiciness and freshness.
Staring at the Sea from August Uncommon Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: August Uncommon Tea
Tea Description:
Comfort from the hearth while gazing at fog as it gently drifts over the sea. The odor of warm buttery country bread rises to your nose, tenderly warming your face. A faint note of macadamia and bits of crust browning on a brick oven floor linger on the tongue. Hints of sweet grasses spring forth to brighten and balance the thick, chewy texture. Come in from the cold.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have heard so much about this company on Steepster that I was very excited to see it in one of the traveling tea boxes that hit my house late last week. This was the first one I grabbed to try. I’m such a green tea fan that I couldn’t wait to dig in and try out some new green teas.
August Uncommon Tea has unique tea blends that I’ve heard varied reviews about. This particular blend is a Japanese Green Tea with Barley in it. I brewed this delight up like all my green teas with the help of my handy dandy Breville and allowed the brew to cool off for a few moments.
Took my first sip and this is a different tasting green tea for sure. And one I’m enjoying. The green tea base is buttery and smooth. The barley that has been added in provides a nice nutty background that gives the tea an added richness. Like the description says, there is a crust like flavor and even faint notes of macadamia nuts.
This is one of those teas where the description really matches and translate well into the flavor you are given. I’m curious what this one would taste like as a cold brew and hope to be able to try that soon.
The more I drink of this one, the more I really like it. This could easily be an every day sort of tea for me for sure!
Lychee Burst Black from The Persimmon Tree Tea Company
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Persimmon Tree Tea Company (On Hiatus)
Tea Description:
Lychee Burst tea is a fruitful blend of lychee essence and organic, black loose-leaf tea. It steeps a sweet infusion; with delicate notes of apricot, osmanthus and ripe pear. Bring out the flavor with rock sugar, and pour over ice for a refreshing change to regular iced tea.
Learn more about this tea on Steepster!
Taster’s Review:
Recently I received a sample of this tea from a tea friend in the mail! I didn’t even realize that The Persimmon Tree Tea Company offered a black lychee tea, but I was certainly excited to learn that they do and be able to try it. The last black lychee tea I fell in love with, The Tea of Kings, was from RiverTea so I can’t buy it anymore. I need a solid replacement.
My thoughts about this cold brew are that the flavor level of the lychee and black base are pretty equal, which is how I feel it should be. The black base is brisk, clean and full bodied with malty notes and slightly more floral notes. It reminds me vaguely of a high grown Ceylon? The lychee is juicy and realistic and doesn’t taste overly floral or chemical which is a trap that flavour often falls into with lower quality lychee teas. I taste the pear notes a little too, but they’re fairly flat and certainly not the focal point of the blend.
I don’t think this is my new lychee black to keep on hand, but it’s definitely one of the better ones I’ve had the pleasure of tasting. If you’re looking for a black lychee tea, my suggestion would be to start here after The Persimmon Tree’s hiatus is over.
Ana’s Green Tea from Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Description:
Succulent green leaves from select bushes with high chlorophyll content are selected for our signature green, second-flush tea. The result is a liquor with an exquisite lime brightness and sweet vegetal aroma and flavor. This tea reflects the best qualities of our high-altitude Himalayan green teas, vibrant, fresh and flavorful. Ana’s also reveals a smooth mouthfeel and lovely sweet finish.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Thanks to an amazing Steepster tea pal, I was able to try this one and I’m so glad I was. I have been impressed by the teas I’ve had from Nepali Tea Traders and I am looking forward to trying more.
This tea is a delicious green tea. Vibrant with a gorgeous color. There is a distinct vegetal profile but there are also hidden notes of sweetness that appear in every other sip or so.
What I think I love the most are the smooth rich velvet rich mouthfeel (just like the description of the tea) you get with every sip. The tea coats your mouth giving off such a warm and fuzzy feeling. This is one of those teas you drink while you are cuddled with your favorite book and blanket on a rainy day.
This is a tea that I can’t wait to share with the twins. They have been really getting into tea lately!