Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Tiesta Tea
Tea Description:
The 2008 World Tea Champion is a smooth and sweet blend of flowery fruit and sencha with a fantastic base that no one can resist. The synchronization of pineapple, passion fruit, and strawberry form a perfect fruity triangle.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh wow … this Fruity Pebbles Green Tea Blend from Tiesta Tea smells AMAZING! The dry leaf is very fragrant with floral notes and strong fruity tones. It smells like something you’d want to set out as potpourri to freshen your home!
I kind of chuckled when I read the name of this tea … of course, my thoughts turned to the popular rice cereal (which I LOVE but try to avoid because it isn’t the healthiest item in the cereal aisle, is it?) As I waited for the tea to brew, I found myself wondering just how similar it would taste to the cereal.
OK, so it doesn’t TASTE like the cereal. But, I can see the connection. The cereal is sweet and fruity … this tea is sweet and fruity too. But I like that I still taste TEA in there. There is a balance.
The green tea is soft and buttery, with subtle notes of vegetation that meld well with the notes of fruit and flower. I don’t notice quite as much of the white tea notes in this … the Pai Mu Tan is very subtle here, but, this blend would not be the same without it. It adds a lightness and a certain earthiness that directs the palate toward the “tea” notes, if that makes sense. The earthiness is what makes this taste more like tea than of a fruit drink.
The combination of pineapple, papaya and strawberry is delectable! It is definitely tropical-ish because the pineapple and papaya are strong here, but they do not overwhelm the delicious, sweet-tart notes of the berry. I like that I taste elements of each fruit in this tea.
The rose is a little less apparent, and its contribution is definitely seen and smelled more than it is tasted … but, there are very subtle floral tones to the taste and it really heightens the overall experience by adding just a hint of SOMETHING, you know? Just that subtle touch … makes a big difference to the cup.
I really enjoyed this tea immensely … I look forward to trying more of Tiesta Tea’s green tea offerings too … their Jolly Green Kiwi looks intriguing!
Dragon Well Green Tea from Far Leaves
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Far Leaves
Tea Description:
This famous pan-fired green tea was bought direct from this champagne region. Its green spears provide a sweet buttery brew and conjure up pastoral scenes and clear mountain springs.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
My relationship with Dragon Well tea has not always been such a fond relationship, there was a time when I didn’t really care for the stuff much. But, I’m glad that has changed, because I am loving this Dragon Well Green Tea from Far Leaves!
So, how did I come around from a point where I actually disliked Dragon Well to a point where I love it? Well, my first cup of Dragon Well I had when I was still learning the best ways to brew tea … and I did not know that green tea should be brewed at a lower temperature than black teas. I used to brew everything in boiling water, and my first cup of Dragon Well was BITTER! Ugh!
Now, I brew Dragon Well at a hot but not too hot 175°F for just 2 minutes. This produces a really lovely cuppa. The flavor is pleasantly sweet, vegetative, and not at all bitter. It is smooth and nearly free of astringency (there is just a bit of astringency, but, it is barely noticeable).
I love the buttery tones of this Dragon Well. The buttery taste gives the overall cup a taste that reminds me of mild steamed vegetables that have been topped with melted butter … but sweeter! Delicious!
It tastes pure and refreshing. A really pleasant cuppa. Do yourself and infuse these leaves a second time – add another 30 seconds to the brew time – the tea is even better with the second infusion!
Smaug Tea from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green & Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
We had some discussion about what base tea would be used in a Smaug tea, but clearly it had to be a DRAGON Well. For those unfamiliar, Dragon Well (aka Longjing, aka Lung Ching) is a green tea from the Zhejiang province in China. Legend has it the tea derives its name from the beneficent dragon said to live in a local well.
Our Smaug tea is a blend of Dragon Well, cinnamon chips, a hint of lapsang souchoung (I only used a single ounce in five pounds of Dragon Well, just enough to give it a little smoky character), some cayenne pepper and organic flavors. It’s a fiery feast for your tastebuds!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh WOW! This Smaug Tea from 52Teas is amazing!
I love the level of spice here – it is spicy, in fact, my first few sips, I could feel it in my sinuses! That’s how you know it’s got the spice! But, it isn’t SO spicy that I feel like I need to put out a fire on my tongue. I’m not running for a drink of water to dilute the spice, nor am I needing a bite of something dairy-ish to extinguish the flames on my palate (my personal favorite in instances such as these is ice cream). So … it is spicy and just a little smoky, but not to the point where I find it uncomfortable to drink. On the contrary, I’m really enjoying the burn!
The Dragon Well tea offers a light sweetness and a hint of vegetal taste. If I had any complaint about this tea at all, it would be that the Dragon Well almost seems a little overwhelmed by the flavors of cinnamon and cayenne pepper … almost, but not quite. I can taste the Dragon Well, but, the flavor does seem to be competing with the other flavors here.
The Lapsang Souchong is a barely there addition … there is just enough to give the cup the faintest insinuation of smoky undertones.
Another idea would be to use Chipotle pepper which would provide smokiness in addition to heat … Frank, if you’re reading this … how about a Chipotle Raspberry Chocolate tea? Spicy Love! YUM!
The cinnamon offers a nice, earthy character to the cup in addition to a zesty spice which compliments the cayenne pepper very nicely. The cayenne adds … just the right amount of heat here. It isn’t over done. If you’re wimpish about spices, you probably wouldn’t like this, but if you enjoy taking a walk on the spicy side now and then … I think you’ll find this tea is right up your alley!
Loving the burn! Absolutely LOVING it!
Longjing Tea from Infussion
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Infussion
Tea Description:
This is the tea which early harvests gets the highest prices on the market out of all green teas. It’s very potent and exquisite. The taste is uncommon for green tea with strong vegetal and nutty notes accompanied by the blissful sweetness. It’s aroma is very delicate and refreshing. Dragon Well tea is A MUST for every tea enthusiast. It also has unbelievable potential for converting non-drinkers – it is that good! We think everyone should try this tea, that’s why we’re offering it so cheap despite good quality. Give yourself a chance to taste the unmistakable Longjing.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I do love a good Dragon Well tea so when Infussion approached me and asked me which of their teas I’d like to try, I decided to include this one … I find it so interesting that with all the different Dragon Well teas that I’ve tried from different companies, that some taste better than others … I mean, part of me thinks that if you’ve tried one, you’ve tried them all, but, that is absolutely not the case! This Longjing Tea from Infussion is definitely one of the BETTER ones that I’ve tried.
The aroma of the dry leaf is very fresh, with a scent that evokes thoughts of something between freshly mown grass and seaweed. The fragrance of the brewed tea is a little more delicate than that of the dry leaf, but, still quite similar to this. It’s a very sweet, bright scent, reminiscent of the early days of spring, when the new green leaves and fresh buds of grass are beginning to form and their smells fill the air, and in these cold days of winter, those spring days are definitely a welcome thought!
This tastes so vibrant! Sweet and leafy-green-ish, like steamed spinach that’s been topped with a drizzle of melted butter. It is a mild and fresh taste, very soothing and relaxing … but at the same time, the green taste has an energizing quality to it too. It’s one of those teas that I can imagine drinking any time of the day … if I want a quick pick-me-up, this tea will do the trick … then again, if I want something to help calm the nerves after a busy day, this tea can do that too.
A really wonderful Dragon Well! I recommend it highly as a must-try for green tea lovers!
Grapefruit Dragon from Butiki Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Butiki Teas
Tea Description:
Our Grapefruit Dragon has an Organic Dragon Well base that originates from Anhui, China. At the beginning of the sip, the grapefruit is almost immediately noticed then the mellow sweet marine notes of the green tea appear. Towards the end of the sip, more intense natural grapefruit notes produce a slight tartness that tingles the tongue. The grapefruit flavor most resembles pink grapefruit or perhaps a gentle white grapefruit. With a little brown crystal sugar the grapefruit flavor is much sweeter and juicier with only minimal tartness and somewhat resembles a Grapefruit Brulee but sweeter.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I was really happy when I learned that Butiki Teas recently introduced a grapefruit flavored green tea to their collection! I’m so fond of the flavor of grapefruit + green tea, which is actually kind of funny to me, because I don’t regularly eat grapefruit. I like it alright, but, I wouldn’t say it’s one of my favorite fruits … or even one of my favorite citrus fruits. But, the tangy, bitter flavor of grapefruit seems to marry so well with the sweet, grassy tones of green tea – something that I discovered a couple of years ago when I visited the Tahono Chul Park in Tucson, Arizona.
Oh my goodness, I so loved that place, I was ready to move there. I don’t know where I would have slept in the park, exactly. Perhaps someone should make a park like that in Portland. Yes, I think it would be a perfect addition to Portland!
Butiki Teas has nailed the grapefruit flavor here perfectly! It is tart and tangy and even a little bitter, just like a true grapefruit! I can feel the tingly sensation on my tongue in the aftertaste that is similar to the way my tongue feels after eating grapefruit, or drinking grapefruit juice. It truly tastes as though someone squeezed a liberal amount of fresh grapefruit juice into a cup of Dragon Well tea!
And let’s not forget that we’re drinking tea … and I’m happy to say that the flavor of the Dragon Well tea is there too. Dragon Well seems a good choice for the base, it is sweet and a little vegetative, and offers a pleasing broth-y texture and a lightly buttery taste to the cup. The sweetness from the Dragon Well softens the taste of the grapefruit in a very appealing way, so that the true nature of the fruit is intact but, some of the sweeter tones can also be enjoyed.
These two flavors have a good balance. Neither flavor attempts to overwhelm or overpower the nuances of the other. I can taste the many subtleties of the grapefruit, as well as those in the Dragon Well.
Refreshing and zingy, this grapefruit green tea is even BETTER than the grapefruit green tea that I enjoyed at Tohono Chul Park!