Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Darjeeling Tea Lovers
Tea Description:
JUNGPANA TEA ESTATE was the ‘show stopper’ last season. Some of the best teas of 2013 were produced in this Vintage Jungpana Tea Estate. We were very eager this season to see what is in store from this estate, and YES yet again this tea has re-defined the First Flush. Undoubtedly this tea is NIRVANA.
When steeped for 4 mins, it gives bright amber liquor and the flavours are very natural. It has a mouthful of flowery notes which only keeps you anxious for what is in store with the second sip. The aftertaste has a faint muscatel note which is a trademark for Darjeeling. Overall a clean crisp flavour with zero astringency.
We actually feel proud to have this tea in our store and THIS IS WHAT A PURE ORGANIC FIRST FLUSH DARJEELING BLACK TEA SHOULD BE. No wonder the teas from this estate make it to the Royal Tea Parties in England.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
On the Darjeeling Tea Lovers website, this tea mentions that it’s a “Special China Black Tea” and I’m not sure exactly what is meant by that. I was operating under the belief that the Jungpana estate is in India (Darjeeling). Does the Special China refer to the type of tea plant?
Despite my confusion (it’s easy to confuse me) I found myself falling in love at first sip with this Jungpana Nirvana First Flush from Darjeeling Tea Lovers!
When I’m about to indulge in a first flush Darjeeling, I don’t expect a strong “muscatel” essence from it, it’s been my experience that muscatel is more common with the second flush, not so much the first. Both flushes are great for different reasons, but if it’s muscatel that a tea drinker is looking for, then they’d be better served to choose a second flush tea.
But, that’s not the case with this Jungpana Nirvana First Flush! There are some delightful muscatel notes to this tea! Sweet, grape-y notes with a luscious body to it – I’d describe it as a thick, silky mouthfeel. There is an almost sugary sweetness to this cup that I’m finding irresistible. In fact, it’s difficult to actually write this review because I find myself wanting to keep sipping. I don’t want to put my cup down long enough to write!
It’s sweet and fruity, with hints of earthy/woodsy tones in the distance. There is a very light astringency to this. With the first few sips, the astringency was barely noticeable at all, and now that I’m more than halfway through the cup, I am starting to notice the astringency a little more – it develops.
Overall, a really, really good Darjeeling Experience, even if it’s a little different than I would have expected from a Darjeeling. Different is good! And be sure to re-steep the leaves! The second infusion is just as flavorful as the first!
Lovers’ Leap Tea Estate Black Tea from P.M.David Silva & Sons
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: PMD (P.M.David Silva & Sons)
Tea Description:
Sitting proudly above the town of Nuwara Eliya, Lovers’ Leap Estate is steeped in tradition and legend. The Nuwara Eliya district is famed for producing the “champagne of Ceylon teas” and is often mistaken for the British countryside with its red post boxes and colonial bungalows. The estate bears the name from the tragic tale of a young couple that leapt of a waterfall on the estate. Moreover, it was the only tea to be served at the HM Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee in 2012 – a tea for those who enjoy the finer things in life!
Lovers’ Leap teas are reputed for their delicate and elegant characteristics. The estate is home not only to tea, moreover, the abundance of eucalyptus, cypress trees and wild mint bushes give the air a pleasant mentholated fragrance. The tea absorbs the fragrances and when infused it bears a remarkable golden, light green infusion. The flavours are bright, crisp and clean – the pleasant mentholated undertones will leave your taste buds tingling! We recommend Lovers’ Leap to be taken without milk or alternatively with a slice of lemon.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I know that I’ve tried Lovers’ Leap estate teas before, but, I can’t recall ever trying one quite like this one. The description states that this is a Ceylon, and the leaves look like Ceylon to me. But the color of the brewed tea and the crisp, light flavor is almost Darjeeling-esque to me. It’s like a beautiful marriage of the two tea types.
As I said, it’s light and crisp … almost effervescent in flavor. There is something very uplifting about the flavor of this tea. It is sweet, and I taste the notes of eucalyptus and cypress trees that surround the Lover’s Leap estate, as well as the wild mint! These aren’t strong flavor profiles in this cup, but they are definitely present in the many layers of this complex cuppa.
I am really enjoying the different flavors this tea has to offer within it’s layers. Notes of menthol, woodsy notes, grape-like tones, light notes of citrus and sweet whispers of flower are just some of the flavors I’m experiencing here.
The sip starts out with a crisp note. I can taste the notes of wood and flower right at the start. As the sip develops, I notice the mint-like notes – very clean and cool! – and then I taste notes of grape. Toward the end of the sip, there is a brightness to the cup, it’s almost citrus-y and this is noticeable especially toward the finish. These citrus-y flavors linger in the aftertaste. It’s not an overly astringent brew, but I’m experiencing some puckering of the inside of my cheeks toward the finish. If I inhale after the sip is finished, the air that floats over my palate delivers a light mint-y note.
If I were to choose a season to compare this tea to, I’d choose summer, because it has a sunny flavor, reminiscent of a warm day with a gentle breeze blowing through the countryside. The air is clean and invigorating with notes of the trees, flowers and some of the herbaceous tones that surround you.
This is not a tea that I’d choose for a breakfast or early morning tea, mostly because those earliest cups of tea I want to be more hefty and substantial. This would make a stunning afternoon cup, though, and one that I’d serve to guests, because it makes a very impressive beverage.
A bright and beautiful cup of tea! I’m becoming more impressed with the quality of teas that I’m trying from this company – PMDavid Silva & Sons – the more I taste from them, the more I like them!
Kenilworth Ceylon Black Tea from Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Description:
A satisfying stand alone black tea, this richly robust Kenilworth Ceylon needs nothing to compliment its full-bodied stature. Stronger then our Ceylon Supreme, this fruitier, seemingly apricot flavored, fuller bodied tea exhibits a little tart acidity that lingers on the tongue for a touch of bite. This tea is best served hot or as a strong iced black tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about Simple Loose Leaf’s Selection Club subscription program here.
Taster’s Review:
A lovely Ceylon! I find myself in agreement with the above description provided by Simple Loose Leaf, this is a Ceylon that requires no additions, it is a good, sturdy, robust black tea that has some real heft to it. This would make a good breakfast tea as well, and I think it would take well to the additions of milk and honey (or sugar – preferably raw! – or for a real treat, try drizzling some real maple syrup in your cup!)
As for here and now, I’ve selected this as a cup of tea to enjoy as my afternoon cuppa, and it is versatile enough to become a brisk afternoon tea as well as that strong first cup or that well-rounded breakfast tea.
It has a very pleasing flavor: rich with notes of stone fruit. As the description above suggests, there is a distinct apricot note to this cup. Toward the finish, I notice a hint of citrus, as if someone added just a drop of freshly squeezed lemon juice to my cup. The acidic note of the citrus like flavor cuts through the sweeter notes – think molasses! – so that the cup doesn’t become overwhelmingly sweet.
I’m surprised at just how full-flavored this Ceylon is, as I have come to expect a Ceylon to be a milder tasting tea. This is malty! Layers of earth and flower lie just beneath the more dominate layers of sweet fruit.
It is a very nicely round, satisfying cuppa that has the ability to become what you want it to be! An iced tea? Sure! Try cold-brewing this one, or if you prefer the hot-brew method, add a sprig of mint to the teapot before you add the hot water or try adding a thin slice of lime to the chilled tea for a truly refreshing drink. Want a robust breakfast tea? This tea has that covered too. A pleasant afternoon tea to share with guests? Yep, this tea will serve your friends well. This tea is one of those teas that should be a standard in every well-stocked tea cupboard.
Inverness Estate Black Tea with Essence of Bergamot from Eden Grove
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Amazon Trading
Ingredients:
Black Tea with natural bergamot flavor.
Learn more about Amazon Trading here.
Taster’s Review:
I saved my review of this tea for a while since TeaEqualsBliss had also reviewed it, and I figured I had a lot of other teas from Eden Grove to sample, so I’d save this bergamot for one of the last ones I’d try from this company. Well, that and … it IS bergamot. I saved what I thought I’d like best for one of the last teas I’d try from them.
Now that I taste it, I can’t say that I do actually like it best. I think there were some other teas from Eden Grove that I preferred over this Inverness Estate Black Tea with Essence of Bergamot. That’s not to say that I dislike this one, because it’s actually quite nice.
That said, when it comes to bergamot, I prefer it strongly flavored and this is a little on the subtle side. The Iverness single estate black tea is brisk, however, I think I’d like the bergamot to be on even footing with the robust flavor of the black tea and it isn’t.
There is a nice, bright, citrus-y note to this, but it tastes more like lemon than it does bergamot to me. Again, not necessarily a bad thing, but, for an Earl Grey fan like me … I’m all about the Italian orange! I want bergamot!
Overall, this is a tasty cuppa, and I was happy with it. I just could have been even happier if the bergamot were stronger.
Craighead Single Estate Black Tea from P.M.David Silva & Sons
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: PMD (P.M.David Silva & Sons)
Tea Description:
Craighead Estate is stationed 1,100 metres above sea level in the picturesque Gampola valley within the Kandy district. The Kandy district saw the success of the first commercially planted tea in Sri Lanka. This triumph led to the conception of the Ceylon Tea industry and in due course the establishment of Craighead Estate..
The combination of the western quality season and the skills of the resident tea maker create a truly regal mid-grown tea. Craighead possesses intense malty characteristics whilst embodying a brisk finish. It is ideally drunk with milk during the late morning or early afternoon.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I was very excited when I got a package from the UK! From P.M.David Silva & Sons … a new to me company! Double excitement from one package! Woo hoo!
This Craighead Kintyre Oya Seasonal Single Estate Ceylon Tea is the first tea that I’m sampling from them, and it’s a really lovely Ceylon!
When I think of Ceylon, I often think of the smooth, medium-bodied, even tempered, easy going black tea that has a moderate flavor that seems to take to adding flavor to quite well, which is why it’s one of the often utilized teas when it comes to selecting a base to create flavored teas. However, there are a lot of different Ceylon teas out there, and some have really surprised me. Like this Craighead, for example!
This is a rich and malty Ceylon, and if I had to compare it to another tea, I’d say that this is very Assam-like! It has that rich, bold flavor of an Assam, with a sweet, caramel-y undertone and a wonderful malty note. It isn’t quite as hefty as a typical Assam, I don’t think that I would turn to this tea for my first cup of the day. It doesn’t have that “shake me awake,” invigorating quality to it that I get from Assam tea.
But, it does have a very robust character, and it’s a tea that I’d want as my second cup of the day, and it would make a lovely afternoon tea as well. Because it does have a strong, assertive flavor, it would take well to the addition of milk and honey, if you’d like to add those. It would also make a great tea to serve to guests at a tea party, because usually, people like to add tea cubes and a splash of milk to their tea at tea parties. (This is based on my observation of the behaviors of guests at my favorite tea room.)
This is slightly tannic, but not overly so. I find that the tannins here seem to keep the sweeter notes of the tea in balance, so I get a nice, well-rounded taste with every sip.
I like that this tea makes me rethink “Ceylon.” This is not at all what I expected from a Ceylon, and I’m loving that!