Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green Darjeeling
Where to Buy: Nuovo Tea
Tea Description:
An interesting twist on classic Moroccan Mint tea, which traditionally combines Gunpowder green tea from China with fresh mint. We kept the latter, and replaced the smoky notes of Gunpowder with the muscatel highlights of a Darjeeling from India. The result is very a refreshing cup, with bold, cool minty notes, smooth and relaxing texture and flavor. Very intriguing cup.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Wow! I’m really liking this Casablanca Twist Green Tea Blend from Nuovo Tea! I don’t usually get all “wow-ed” by a mint tea like this one, but, this one is pretty darned good. Oh, sure, I like mint, and I do enjoy a minty tea every now and again. But I don’t often take a sip of a minty tea and exclaim “Wow!” like I did with this tea.
And what makes this more surprising is the mint level in this tea. This is very minty. I might even go so far as to say it’s too minty had it been with any other tea blend. But, because I am liking the way the peppermint marries with the Darjeeling base, where I can taste subtle tones of muscatel behind the strong mint notes … I have to admit that I like this blend just the way it is! I like the way the lighter, crisper Darjeeling notes play in the background as the cool, refreshing mint struts its stuff in the foreground. I like the change up here, using a Darjeeling tea.
Although, here is where I hit a wall of confusion: this tea is categorized as a “green” tea, but from what I could learn about this blend, the Sungma Summer Darjeeling is used for this blend and to my knowledge, that is considered a “black” Darjeeling.
However, since I steeped it as I would a green tea (180°F for 3 minutes), I find the flavor of the Darjeeling tasting even lighter than it probably would had I brewed it at a higher temperature. I don’t know.
What I do know is this: I like the way the fruity notes of the Darjeeling tea and the crisp peppermint taste together. I think that a tad less peppermint could make this even better, because some of the nuanced flavors of the Darjeeling could make their way forward. As it is though, this is an enjoyable blend – it tastes amazing with a thin slice of lemon!
Organic Arya Ruby Darjeeling Black Tea Second Flush from Happy Earth Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Darjeeling)
Where to Buy: Happy Earth Tea
Tea Description:
Second Flush Arya Ruby is much sought after by Darjeeling tea enthusiasts for its rich muscatel and a floral-fruity complexity. Our earlier batch was entirely sold out even before we could put it up on the website. We are glad we managed to get a fresh stock, albeit limited.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
YES! This Organic Arya Ruby Darjeeling Black Tea Second Flush from Happy Earth Tea is the type of Darjeeling that I think of when I think “Darjeeling Tea.” This is it! When I say “I think I’d like a Darjeeling Tea today … this is the kind of Darjeeling that moves me to want that type of tea! This is the Darjeeling I LOVE!
This is as close to perfect that a Darjeeling can get.
As with most Darjeeling teas, it has a lighter body than a typical black tea. A typical black tea generally delivers a rich and robust flavor while this Darjeeling delivers a crisp and lively flavor. This has a smoothness to it and a milder astringency than many Darjeeling teas that I’ve tasted.
This is sweet! Lovely floral notes that weave their way throughout the sip. Toward mid-sip, I find that muscatel. Piquant and fruity. It’s a delicate muscatel note and keeps to the rest of the flavors within the tea. That is to say that this tea isn’t just about it’s grape-y notes. This Arya Darjeeling has a wonderfully complex character.
Toward the tail, I notice the dry wine-like astringency. Again, this astringency is mild, much more so than I might experience with another Darjeeling tea.
I think I just found my favorite Darjeeling tea. If I could, I’d put this on everybody’s MUST TRY list, because you really have got to try it!
Arya Ruby – Organic 1st Flush 2013, Darjeeling from Lochan Tea Limited
Tea Type:
Black Tea
Where To Buy:
Lochan Tea Limited
Product Description:
Your taste, your enjoyment is what this tea site is all about. Our job is to share the best products we can provide for you — and also to expand your experience with our enthusiasm for the history, the culture and the never-ending discoveries about tea and the human experience.
We bring you more than a commodity but rather the experience of the leaf, which is magical, and at the same time transcending and yet very grounded in the earth. The beautiful Darjeeling region has given rise to a unique and beautiful product that you can appreciate on all these levels. The stories of nearly two centuries in India, all are captured in a cup of tea, for those eager to see it. Let’s take this journey together.
Tasters Review:
Arya Ruby – Organic 1st Flush 2013, Darjeeling from Lochan Tea Limited isn’t currently on their website but I think it should be. It’s great! I totally understand Lochan focuses on fabulous quality of their flushes based on year so it could be they are already sold out of this one. That wouldn’t surprise me because it’s wonderful. It’s a very nice Darjeeling. It has a medium-strength sweet-woodsy flavor to it with bright energetic notes popping thru to put a smile on your face. The aroma of the dry leaf is one of my favorite parts of this tea experience. It’s fresh and airy and full of life.
Four Horsemen Black Tea Blend from Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Description:
A delicious blend of four of our most loved black teas. Rich and malty Assam provides an aromatic chocolatey note to the floral and sweet Darjeeling, while the crisp Keemun and peppery Yunnan create a strong backbone to this incredible blend. The varying flavor profiles balance each other perfectly to create a smooth, strong breakfast tea to suit any palate.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about Simple Loose Leaf’s customized subscription program here.
Taster’s Review:
As you may remember when I wrote my review of Simple Loose Leaf’s Madagascar Coconut White Tea, with this month’s subscription package, I also received several samples to “replace” last month’s tea which was one I wasn’t particularly fond of. This Four Horsemen Black Tea Blend from Simple Loose Leaf is one of the teas that I received in that package … and I’m loving it!
This tea would make a spectacular breakfast blend for those of you who want something with a little more heft than the typical English Breakfast Blend. This tea has got some gusto! This is the kind of tea that grabs you and shakes you, and then kicks your butt out of bed and out the door so that you can face the day.
And if that’s a little too edgy for your liking, you can always soften the edginess of this tea by adding a splash of milk and a drizzle of honey, because it also makes a great latte.
The Keemun and Yunnan give this tea a substantial body and a rich, full flavor. There are hints of smoke and a touch of peppery warmth to the blend courtesy of these two teas. The Assam comes in and adds a little more richness to the cup and some sweet, malty tones. And the Darjeeling helps to lighten the cup just a little bit and give the cup some sweet fruit notes and extra complexity. This is a well-rounded, delicious cup of tea.
I’m really glad I got to try this tea! Thank you, Simple Loose Leaf, for providing excellent customer service and sending me some of this tea to follow up on a less than stellar experience. This tea MORE than makes up for it! This tea is wonderful!
Sacher Blend Tea from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
Inspired by the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, this is a traditional blend of Darjeeling with a hint of Ceylon. The blend is then lightly scented with oil of Bergamot and a hint of genuine Bourbon vanilla. The result is a floral Darjeeling surrounded by soft, fruity, citrus notes. A new formula which we find especially pleasing.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I came across this Sacher Blend Tea from Upton Tea Imports in my stash, the thought that immediately came to mind is one of my favorite television shows: Grimm. Most of the show is filmed in Portland, Oregon, which is what drew me to start watching it in the first place and one of the reasons I still love the show. Portland is almost like one of the “characters” of the show, and I feel like I “know” Portland … or at least am somewhat familiar with my odd neighboring city.
Anyway, the reason this tea reminds me of Grimm is because some of the scenes over the last couple of seasons have been filmed in Vienna and the main location in Vienna is the Hotel Sacher. So when I found this tea in my stash, I was excited to try it. Is that nerdy of me?
I was even more excited when I opened the package and I realized that this was an Earl Grey blend! I could smell the bergamot – one of my favorite scents when it comes to tea! The bergamot aroma is softer in this blend than in some other Earl Grey teas that I’ve sampled, and even though I do love a good, strong bergamot (so long as it’s a good quality bergamot!) I also have an appreciation for the more subtle approach when it comes to bergamot.
And Upton took the subtle approach with this blend. The bergamot is not just a softer fragrance, but it is also represented in a more delicate way in the taste. Oh, it’s still there, definitely! But the flavor is not in your face. This Earl moves in on you slowly but surely, enveloping you in its flavor. I think that this could be an Earl Grey that those who are typically put off by the strong, perfume-y taste of some Earl Grey blends, this is not perfume-y at all. This is sweet, tangy, and uplifting.
The black tea base is a blend of Ceylon and Darjeeling teas, and this provides a mild, light-to-medium bodied tea that seems to glide over the palate. There is nothing heavy to this cup, making it a perfect choice for an afternoon tea. It is a mellow, gently invigorating cup of tea. One of the better Earl Grey teas that utilizes Darjeeling in the base that I’ve come across.
This is something I could definitely see myself sipping in Vienna at the Hotel Sacher, and hopefully avoiding any unfortunate encounters with Wesen.