Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Tieguanyin Oolong
Where to Buy: Verdant Tea
Tea Description:
A rich warming Tieguanyin with chocolate barley notes and traditional creamy floral aftertastes. . . .
The early steepings of this tea are surprisingly more delicate than the aroma would imply. There are subtle notes of lime and the thick saffron qualities of a green Tieguanyin. The mouthfeel is buttery like flaky pastry with a slow nuanced build-up of warm caramel notes. A velvety texture starts to come through with orchid-like floral undertones, and sweetness that extends long into the aftertaste.
The early steepings use the deep caramel qualities that the aging and roasting process introduce to truly accentuate everything that is wonderful about green Tieguanyin. The later steepings move into new territory with warming sensations particularly suited to cooler weather. The chocolate notes of the aroma come through as flavor like thick creamy Italian hot chocolate that unfolds into a warm in the chest like that of a great red wine.
Notes of puffed rice and barley start to build up and act as a contrast to the lingering floral qualities. The alternation between deep warming sensations and tingling florals creates an intriguing mouth watering juiciness. This is a very satisfying brew that balances the traditional charcoal-roasted quality of Anxi Tieguanyin with the best elements of the new greener style of processing.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a body and soul warming temptation of a tea. It delights the taste buds but also the mind in its calming and wonderful way. This is one of those teas who’s layers are complex yet not trying to evade your senses. Each and every element of this tea comes forward and presents itself to you and does not make you work to figure it out. The layers of the flavor within this tea are so delightful and one at a time they evolve, sometimes melding together, other times, standing alone, but each flavor in the profile provided by Verdant Tea is noticeable without any effort.
At first it is lightly smoky and roasty, a well done toast taste, the barley gives it a full mouthfeel and makes you feel you are drinking something good for you like a hardy warm breakfast cereal! But then it becomes caramelized in your mouth like a french dessert. Just then you will find that the light lime zest comes forward and does a gentle sweep of your palate to cleanse it for the next layer of flavor to come but before that hits your taste buds you get a quick tease by the flavor of saffron and just as you are thinking “oh please give me more saffron” the floral notes come dancing onto your taste buds leaving this lovely delicate yet intoxicating lingering flavor of orchid!
The result – a taste that is robust and toasty yet very fresh and springy as well. This is one of those tea profiles that could do well any month of the year as it makes you feel warm and cozy yet wakes you up with those fresh salad like notes of spring and summer.
The after taste is mostly of a roasted toasted oolong however when you breath in with your mouth open you get that fresh spring like flavor with the floral notes dancing about. Leaving you thinking your breath must certainly smell like flowers haha. While this is a roasted Tieguanyin I can’t help but think about country roads lined with wildflowers and the warm sunshine all about wide open fields so if this would be more of a “winter” tea it sure would make you feel like its summer time so that is not a bad thing at all!
This tea is exquisite! I love it and I am a huge fan of oolongs but honestly I feel that many people, even perhaps those who are not oolong fans really should try!
I really enjoy that the notes are so easily to distinguish! Sometimes “complex” teas can be complex to the taster. This one is not pretentious at all.
Now on the downside, currently Verdant Tea is sold out. It happened in the blink of an eye. On the positive note, Verdant is currently looking to refurnish their stash of this tea:
“We will be going to China to personally track down a larger cache of aged Tieguanyin in October. Stay tuned…”
I trust that this will happen! I have to, I want more! Verdant also now offers a Rewards Point System! Be sure to check that out and keep your eyes peeled for more of this tea so you can get some once it is back in! A tea like this won’t last long once restocked so be sure to get yours before I get it all.
Coconut Oolong from Zen Tea Life
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Bao Zhong Oolong
Where to Buy: Zen Tea Life
Tea Description:
Creamy, smooth coconut perfectly blended with a floral Bao Zhong oolong with subtle notes of lilac.
For the best infusions, we recommend you try brewing this tea in a Guywan.
We encourage you to experiment with the quantity of tealeaves and the length of the infusion time to find your desired brew strength. Varying the water temperature isn’t recommended, as water that is too hot will over-extract the bitter components of tea, while water that is too cool might not fully draw out the aromas and flavors of tea.Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I love coconut oolongs, pouchongs, etc when they are made well, and this one sure is!
The coconut flavor is perfect and NOT artificial at all!
LOVELY oolong base tea!
Sweet and floral and vegetal and a wonderful after taste!
One of the first teas I ever tried was a coconut oolong, but it was hard to restock as I bought it from a tea shop out of state. Shortly after I found a coconut pouchong and it was wonderful but I was not too happy with other teas from the same company. A few here and there but not enough to warrant an online purchase. Now enter Zen Tea Life and their coconut oolong!
One thing I look for in a tea company is consistency. I want to be able to order without reservation any number of their teas and know that at least 90% or more will be very very good! Granted we all like different types of tea and different flavors so not ALL teas will always be to my personal liking but the idea is at least the company offers quality in their teas.
What I have found with Zen Tea Life is that so far, after testing a handful of their teas, they have all be spot on! Even when it comes to white tea, which for me can be hit and miss!
With that said … this Coconut Oolong is quite yummy! It holds its flavor through a few steepings which is a plus. Has a wonderful oolong base, perhaps not the most expensive you would find if you were going for a top of the line straight oolong but at the same time you can tell they didn’t scrape the bottom of some fannings jar just to toss some oolong into this blend! Its a nice quality that I would recommend for any flavored tea blender. The floral notes are slight and subtle but present. The coconut as mentioned above is perfect! Its not artificial and does not cover up the other wonderful flavors in this tea. Yet, at the same time it absolutely lets you know that it is coconut through and through! I especially enjoy the after taste as often in a coconut flavored tea I find this after flavor that is not pleasant whatsoever. Not in this coconut tea! I also love how it is only slightly sweet, so that I can add sweetener if I want to but it is not sweet as in a sugar sweet. It is the tea base I believe adding to the sweetness here which is really quite cool! The light vegetal flavor is so lovely with the floral notes. All in all a great tea.
I am looking forward to trying more teas from Zen Tea Life and the only thing I fault them for is giving me yet another way to dent my wallet!
Marzipan Sunset from Design A Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos (Red)
Where to Buy: Design A Tea
Tea Description:
What’s better than an after dinner treat while watching the sun set? Maybe a almond cookie or two or three or four… But all that sugar is sure to keep you wide awake. We took naturally caffeine free Rooibos tea, mixed in a few ALMOND pieces and added NATURAL VANILLA and MARZIPAN (tastes a little like eggnog) flavorings to come up with Marzipan Sunset. A nice substitute to the German known Marzipan cookie… your pants will thank you!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I don’t care much for rooibos, well green rooibos I like quite well, however the traditional red rooibos, well I am just burnt out on it, and find that its difficult to get past that rooibos base flavor. So often I find anything that a tea company tries to blend with a red rooibos base just falls short for me, rarely am I impressed.
Marzipan Sunset from Design A Tea however has been one of my stead fast favorite night time and dessert teas for a long time now. It has been awhile since I have indulged in this blend but I was craving something yummy and thought maybe it was time I put an old favorite to the test.
Marzipan Sunset is filled with wonderful almond flavor that really does taste like true almond, you will find almond pieces in this blend as well, not just flavoring. Whatever flavoring they use is really quite good. You also get a lovely vanilla flavoring as well which makes the blend quite creamy. Its sweet but not too sweet. Some people even add a little extra sugar to this tea when I have introduced them to it. I prefer it without added sugar. I have added cream to this tea on occasion and it is dreamy!
I doubt I will ever fall back in love with red rooibos but Design A Tea did manage to make a solid blend here for late night sipping that does not have that intense rooibos flavor I cringe at. I don’t feel so much even that Design A Tea covered the rooibos flavor up as much as they managed to find quality flavors, and the right flavors at that to work with the rooibos instead of against it.
Brian at Design A Tea is a really nice guy too, excellent customer service and always happy to make your specific blend for you! You can have a lot of fun being your own mix master on his site!
As for this blend, its one of their Signature Blends and I always have kept it in my tea cabinet, after tonights sipping session I am assured it is one I want to continue to keep in my stash.
Black Tea from Gorreana
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Gorreana Tea
Tea Description:
Our second leaf pekoe black tea is a premium grade European grown tea that cannot be matched in flavor anywhere in the world.
Grown in the mineral rich hills of the Azores islands, hundreds of miles away from industrial pollution comes this fantastic full bodied luxurious black tea.
A smooth black tea prized for its beautiful full flavored leaves, mouthwatering fresh taste and distinctive rich aroma.
Harvested fresh annually during the summer months then processed and packaged directly at our eco-friendly tea estate to ensure only the finest organic black tea leaves make its way to your cup since 1883.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a very smooth, almost velvety tea, that has a light fruity sip to it. I like the peachy notes I am picking up and quite enjoy its lighter black tea taste. I can’t say this would kick me into high gear first thing in the morning but for an early evening tea when I need that subtle pick me up without making me feel I am being jarred awake – this fits the bill!
I adore peach notes in tea as a general rule and this one is quite refreshing indeed.
The tea steeps into a lovely rusty color and gives off only the slightest aroma of cinnamon.
This tea has absolutely no astringency or bitterness within it and is an excellent tea to have daily as a regular stash tea! I could easily see serving this tea to anyone even if they are not tea drinkers. It is so easy to sip, pleasing, and enjoyable.
From Eurpoe’s oldest remaining tea company the estate is quite impressive. You can find more information about that here.
I am not saying this is by any means the most complex tea I have ever had, but sometimes all we want is a good solid dependable tea we can count on to deliver a quality brew without all the frills.
Personally I would enjoy this tea in the morning when I have a “day off” and can ease into my day or anytime in the early evenings when I just want to kick back and enjoy the moment. Its easy and pleasing. I am enjoying it now and it is soothing me into my evening quite well.
Although it is light in flavor, bright and cherry in its ways, the mouthfeel is thicker, richer, and as I said earlier – velvety almost creamy.
I think that is what makes this tea so very interesting! When you sip you expect something heavier, maltier perhaps, but its light juicy flavor makes you do a double take!
And while this is a black tea, I am detecting some almost vegetal notes within it. For a tea that is not ULTRA complex it does have its curious notes within it!
I will have to figure out how to get more of this in my stash soon and will be sad to see my little sample go.
Taiwan Wenshan Pouchong from Nuvola Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pouchong, Oolong
Where to Buy: Nuvola Tea
Tea Description:
Wenshan Pouchong Tea has a radiant golden yellow colour and the pleasing fragrance of orchid. Its velvety body creates an exquisitely mellow mouth-feel and a sweet aftertaste which pampers the palate. This lingering flavour coupled with the subtle floral note ensures you an absolutely satisfying and delectable cup of tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Nuvola Tea brings us a very light delicate golden hued pouchong from Taiwan. The broth of this tea is thick and when I pull my steeping basket from my cup it looks like a thin light honey dripping elegantly downward back into my cup. It is quite pretty.
The aroma of the tea is beautifully floral mixed with the aroma of sugar cane.
My first steep was quite light, and I could detect the delicate floral notes, sugar notes, and the pouchong leaf itself which is delicious! However, the first steep is in fact quite light in color and taste. I could have poured this steep and considered it a rinse but it was too good to pour even though I prefer a heavier flavor in my tea. I continued to enjoy it appreciating the tea for its subtle but sweet nuances.
My second steep was more to my liking and more “robust” although this is far from a robust tea. Now admittedly I am one who likes robust flavors in my tea, and truth be told this tea has more than enough flavor and is really profound in what it offers so I do not want to minimize the depth of flavor this tea offers!
The mouth feel is heavy, creamy, broth-y, and full. There is a buttery and noticeable vegetal note dancing on my taste buds! The after taste is lingering mostly of the floral notes.
I realize that the description says “Orchid” however having little experience with orchid here in Kansas, where I live, I am detecting what I would identify or at least have a connection to, as honeysuckle. Which makes me wonder if the two flowers are somewhat similar perhaps. Regardless, I love the floral note in this tea.
I have to make a confession, when I saw how light this tea steeped up I was skeptical. I now find that I am falling in love with this tea. Between the sugary, honey dew, floral, green, and even fresh lively taste in this cup, I am imagining this being the type of tea you could enjoy in a tender romantic moment. Yet, at the same time this tea is also fitting for a luncheon with your grandmother, sister, or a group of friends. It makes me think of those quite contemplative moments as well. Perhaps another tea to add to my “meditative” tea list! I find this tea very grounding and centering. Yes, I am falling for this tea.
There is a drying sensation at the back of the throat between sips if you wait too long. That is alright, although not a favorite aspect in tea in my opinion. Although as long as I have another sip in my cup, there is nothing to worry about! As soon as I typed that however I realized its just about time for steep three. Which I am sure I will enjoy as the leaves still appear as they have much more to give, more imagery for me to contemplate.
Yes, Nuvola, you do offer a fine tea here. I look forward to trying more of your offerings!