The other day I was in the mood for a tea that was different. . .a game changer . . .one that would shake up my taste buds and Formosa Lapsang fit that bill perfectly!
This particular tea is an oolong with that familiar smoky tone and flavor of a Lapsang black tea. So you are getting the best of both worlds. That gorgeous oolong setting with a smoky backdrop. Talk about shaking up a flavor profile. This tea does just that.
First you are greeted with this aroma of pure smoke. This tea variety is not for the faint of heart. (If you aren’t one that enjoys smoky teas, than this tea may not be your cuppa, but if you are, I highly encourage you to check this tea out. ) The flavor profiles are bold with
With each sip, you are greeted with that smoky rich flavor that gives both your taste buds a high five right along with your sense of smell. Bold, yet rich and smooth. The smoky notes combined with that familiar oolong flavor that I have come to really enjoy. Towards the end of the sip you start to get this earthy finish that completes the sip while that smoky tone does start to come back in a subtle aftertaste.
I can’t say that this tea would be an everyday drinking sort of tea, but for a switch on what I normally drink -which is green or white teas- this Formosa Lapsang was a very welcomed palette cleanser and one that reminded me of how tasty smoky teas are. Usually I do shy away from them, but I feel myself starting to open up to those varieties more.
All in all, a tea variety that absolutely delivers on flavor, quality, and uniqueness. this tea will be one that I will remember for some time to come!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Grey’s Tea
Description
- Formosa Lapsang: a most unusual Lapsang tea from Formosa (Taiwan).
- It combines the earthy characteristics of Formosa’s oolongs with the pinewood aromas of Fujian Lapsang Souchongs.
- This aromatic tea is smoked uniquely over a combination of oak and pinewood.
- The typically coarse yet deep brown leaf produces a wonderfully balanced and subtly smoky tea.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Rou Gui Oolong from White2tea. . . .
If Big Red Robe (Da Hong Pao) had a brother this would be him.
It makes sense being that they are both Wuyi Oolongs. This one is unique.
Of course all teas are but this one in particular has a unique scent. New car smell? Earthy, woody, new car.
A very delicate flavor. Hits your palette and is gone before you know it. It is definitely earthy but somehow hard to pinpoint exactly what earthy flavors I am tasting.
Smooth mouth feel and golden amber color along with the unique flavor profile make this a must try.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: White2Tea
Description
This tea does not appear to be available now but click below for oolongs that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Enlightening Lotus from Flower Pot Tea Company. . . .
Not being a huge fan of strongly floral teas, finding the right floral tisane can be tricky. I have issues with lavender so when ever I see a floral tea without lavender especially a tisane, I get quite excited.
Enlightening Lotus is by far one of the most stunning flowering teas I’ve brewed up. Basically this tea is one gorgeous flower. When put in just the right tea pot, you have one stunning presentation. Simply gorgeous. My husband even commented by how lovely the presentation of this tea was. Pops of brilliant yellow filled my tea pot. How can you not smile when you see that?
But this tea’s presentation doesn’t match the flavor. I will try my best to explain this tea because it is so incredibly unique and unusual. Each sip delivers a wonderfully musk and earthy tone from the start to finish. Gone is that sweet typical floral that you normally pick up when you drink a floral tisane. Robust yet gentle woodsy flavors swirl around with a very subtle hint of sweetness at the end of each sip.
This tisane is remarkable and a unique drinking experience. I love how this tea pops with bright and vibrant colors but the flavor has more of a dark flavor. A tisane after my own heart!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Tisane
Where to Buy: Flower Pot Tea Company
Description
A symbol of purity and enlightenment, lotus flowers floating serenely in still waters, soaking in the sun. Our Enlightening Lotus Tisane blossoms with a unique, golden honey aroma that evolves with a subtle herbaceous finish. Grown only in a single plantation adjoining a Buddhist temple, these golden flowers…
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Ripe Puerh from Teaspec. . . . . .
Puerh is one of those varieties of tea that intimidates me. In the past, I’ve had these teas go horribly wrong me and those situation just stick in my head when I go to think abut trying to drink puerh again. I will admit it. I recently purchased a good variety of puerh from a well renowned and adored company yet a good chunk of that order is still untouched. I just find myself grabbing my beloved green or white teas.
Well today I broke out of my tea safety zone and tried a ripe puerh from Teaspec. I also tried their raw puerh but that will be for another day.
Prepped my water, and brewed the tea. I have to say, I instantly fell in love with the earthy aromas that were omitting from my tea cup. I was hoping those tones would translate into a rich robust brew with earthy notes and that is exactly what happened. This tea was full of an earthy undertone with a full bodied feel. I will be honest and say that I totally winged the brewing and steeping parameters which may have caused an abundance of that earthy flavor but never the less, I drank my cuppa done and starting prepping the water for a second cup.
This may not be a tea that I would drink everyday but I love the rich earthy tones that just do not disappoint sip after glorious sip.
I may not have brewed the tea exactly correct, but I loved the flavor that I was able to produce. I have to say, my first experience with Teaspec’s Ripe Puerh and I may have just dabbed my toe into a new tea adventure.
Anybody have any good suggestions and/or advice for a puerh newbie?
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Puerh
Where to Buy: Teaspec
Description
Our ripe Pu’er loose tea, Ripe Marvel, has a mildly aromatic taste with a more mellow, full-bodied flavour, and is made from extremely high-quality tea leaves. Each 50g (1.76 oz) comes packaged in a clear pouch inside our custom colored magenta canister and decorative box.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Snowflake Kenyan Earth from Williamson Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Williamson Tea
Tea Description:
Our take on the classic English Breakfast. Kenyan Earth is named after the coppery red soils that symbolize Kenya and this bright, brisk cup of tea. Grown on the high altitude slopes of Kapchorua and picked in the early morning sunshine our Kenyan Earth is an awakening, full bodied liquor that stimulates the body and mind.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Before you read my review. You have to take a look at the tea tin this tea comes in. That tin is gorgeous! Makes me want to place several orders for the tins alone. Not sure what I would do with them but who cares, they are stunning 🙂
Ok, the tea geek out is over and we can move on to the tea itself. Ha!
Williamson Tea is a tea I’ve never tried before. I’ve see and heard other reviews and pictures of their tea before but I just haven’t ever ordered from them. I have a feeling that is soon to change.
This particular Snowflake Kenyan Earth tea that I tried was tea bagged form and I have to say, you could see some pretty huge tea leaves hanging out in each tea pyramid. The tea itself has a nice sweetened aroma which I found a little difference since this is supposed to be a breakfast tea. Typically those tend to be a bit more malty and astringent.
Brewed this up with water freshly boiled and allowed the tea to sit a tad too long, totally my bad, multi-tasking failed me! But after what I’m guessing was about a 7 minute steep, I took my first sip.
For being a tea that I oversteeped, you really couldn’t tell at all! This tea was delicious at all fronts. Malty and rich with a slightly earth flavor here and there. This is the kind of tea that kicks your taste buds into gear! So rich and indulging. The tea was on the point of asking for a touch of cream or milk to really drink it proper. Towards the end while it cooled and became astringent (drink this one up hot if you don’t like astringent teas), there seemed to be a need for sweetening but wow. What a lovely tea to really give me a change of pace from the flavored teas I have been drinking. I’m not sure where that sweetness was coming from when I first checked the tea out but I have to say, this cuppa was just fantastic.
This is the kind of tea you want to greet you first thing in the morning!