Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
A recent addition to our Earl Grey Blends. The base for this tea is an elegant long-leaf Ceylon BOP1. The fresh, full bergamot flavor is married with lemon notes to produce a rich and full bodied tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’m always interested (and excited!) to try a new-to-me Earl Grey blend, so when my SororiTea Sister, TeaEqualsBliss, sent me a sampling of this Devonshire Earl Grey Black Tea from Upton Tea Imports, I was thrilled!
The aroma of the dry leaf is captivating – with that distinctive bergamot fragrance mingling with a lemon-y note … it’s very citrusy … very aromatic! The brewed tea has more of a lemon note than bergamot … the bergamot is still there, but the lemon definitely stands out as the stronger scent. It almost smells like a lemon scented furniture polish … let’s hope it doesn’t taste like it!
Fortunately, it doesn’t taste like furniture polish! It has a strong citrus-y flavor, with the bergamot notes playing a balancing act with the lemon notes. Together, the two taste more like a homogeneous citrus flavor rather than a distinguished bergamot and/or lemon flavor.
The black tea takes a backseat to the strong citrus tones – that is not to say that the Ceylon BOP1 is overwhelmed completely by the citrus flavors, but, the Ceylon is not quite strong enough to hold it’s own here. It is tasted, but it doesn’t offer a bold presentation. I do like it’s smooth character though, and the moderate astringency of the tea does accentuate the citrus flavors quite nicely.
Overall, this is a pleasant Earl Grey offering. Not my favorite, but, not a bad Earl Grey tea. It would be a good Earl Grey for those who like the focus to be on the citrus-y qualities of the bergamot fruit. As for me, I found myself wanting a little more black tea flavor in the background, and I wished there were more obvious bergamot notes to the cup. Not bad though!
Green Elephant Tea from Shanti Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Tea Description:
A pleasantly sharp green tea, lively, light sweetness with some astringency.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I am really enjoying this Green Elephant Tea from Shanti Tea. It’s one of the more unique, pure green teas I’ve encountered in some time, and I’m really liking how unique it is!
The sip starts out relatively smooth and pleasantly sweet. I was expecting some sharpness to present itself right at the onset, based upon the description, but I didn’t get that at first. By mid-sip, though, I noticed a slight sharp bite to it, and by the finish, there was a unique spiced note that develops in the aftertaste, imparting a tingly sensation on the tongue that is quite interesting. It definitely is “lively!”
I really enjoy how this tea develops on the palate. I love the soft sweetness at the start, it doesn’t prepare you for the surprise you’ll get when you reach mid-sip … that really took me by surprise. I had expected more of a bite at the start, and when I didn’t get it, I sort of relaxed and enjoyed the sweet tone, and then this sharp, snappy flavor just sort of hits the palate.
Truly an interesting and inspiring cup of tea … I expected no less from Shanti Tea!
Beesakopie Estate Assam Black Tea from Simpson & Vail
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Tea Description:
The Beesakopie Estate is located in the eastern most region of Assam, closest to the Burmese border, in the Tinsukia district.
If you’re looking for a very malty, well balanced tea with a rapid infusion, then look no further. This tea is a CTC style (cut, twisted, curled) and unlike leafed tea, it doesn’t expand. The tea brews to a deep amber cup that stands up to the addition of milk. A real morning “wake-me-up” beverage!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Yay! I love a good, rich, malty Assam and this Beesakopie Estate Assam Black Tea from Simpson & Vail is exactly that! It is remarkably rich and malty and oh-so-good! It’s got that first thing in the morning kind of GUSTO that you want from an Assam too!
The dry leaf is a remarkably fine cut (or chopped?) CTC – resembling what many might think is dust or fannings. Yes this DOES indeed look like something that you got from an inferior tea bag, but, it doesn’t TASTE like it! Don’t let a finely cut CTC fool you into thinking that the tea lacks quality, this is not always the case, especially in Assam teas like this one.
However, with a fine cut tea like this one, you do need to be careful on how you brew the tea, because it can become bitter faster than a larger leaf Assam can simply because there is more surface area exposed in the brewing process. If you normally would brew a larger leaf Assam for three minutes, go just 2 1/2 with this tea. I normally brew an Assam at 2 1/2 minutes, and this one, I went with 2 minutes and I have a tea that’s been brewed perfectly to my taste sitting in front of me.
The flavor is very rich and full-bodied. It has a strong, vigorous flavor – it’s one of those teas that will help you get those eyes OPEN and your blood pumping on days when you’d rather be snuggled up in bed sleeping than up and at ’em. There is a sweet, caramel-y undertone to the tea that melds well with the strong, malty overtones. There is also that delicious “freshly baked” quality to this tea – reminiscent of a fresh loaf of french bread with the chewy crust. Nice!
I prefer my Assam teas served hot, because I find that the rich, malty flavor expresses itself best when the tea is warm. As it cools, the malty notes seem to lose something. It is still good …just not as good, you know? And because it’s a robust, hearty brew, it takes the additions of milk and/or honey well, if you care to add them. I personally like this with a half teaspoon of turbinado sugar – just enough to soften that sharp edge of the Assam without overwhelming it. On more relaxed days, I might add a splash of milk and go latte, and on the days when I really need an extra boost, I drink it straight.
However you choose to drink your Assam, this is one that you should definitely try!
White Leaf and Bud Single Estate White Tea from Teajo Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Teajo Teas
Tea Description:
Our most delicate and subtle tea contains very little caffeine and delivers a light, smooth and nutty flavor. Harvested before the leaves fully open, this tea is one of the rarest in the world.
Taster’s Review:
I couldn’t find this White Leaf and Bud Single Estate White Tea on Teajo Teas’ website, so I don’t know if it’s still available (or perhaps, it’s just temporarily sold out) but I did want to review it because this is the first tea that I’ve tried from this company and I’m absolutely in love with the quality and flavor of this tea!
The leaves are soft and tender and whole. Lots of tea buds in this too. And each leaf and bud is covered with fuzzy, fluffy down. The color of each leaf variegates from a silvery white color to a pale green, to twinges of tan. The leaves infuse a pale golden hued liquid.
The flavor stunning! It is sweet and gentle and yet amazingly full-flavored with notes of hay and a sweet nutty flavor. It’s a slightly toasted nut flavor … as though perhaps someone had slivered some raw almonds and then put them in a warm pan to toast for a minute. Not a strong roasty flavor, but just a hint of sweet, toasty flavor. There is a freshness to this … not really “vegetative” exactly … but more like the taste of the fresh air in spring.
I’m really liking this white tea a great deal … I think what I am liking so much about it is that it is SO different from the typical Bai Mu Dan or Silver Needle. Not that I dislike those – you know I love ’em! But, sometimes, it’s nice to taste something that’s just a little different.
And what makes this tea different is that these leaves aren’t Chinese tea leaves, but Indian (from Assam!) This is a difference that is immediately noticeable in the taste from the very first sip. This has a fuller flavor than a typical Silver Needle, and even a Bai Mu Dan. The flavor is less delicate than those teas, but it still has a certain lovely delicateness to it.
A really delightful white tea … I hope that Teajo will be restocking this one!
Chaz’ Chai Organic Black Tea Blend from Jasmine Pearl Tea Merchants
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Jasmine Pearl Tea Merchants
Tea Description:
This flavorful and zesty blend is our own recipe – Assam black tea is mixed with carefully hand-roasted spices to provide a delightful twist on an Indian tradition. Try simmering in milk with a touch of honey.
Learn more about this chai here.
Taster’s Review:
Mmm! I’m having a chai latte!
This Organic Chaz’ Chai Black Tea from Jasmine Pearl Tea Merchants makes a seriously good latte! It is good and spicy, and it is still spicy after I added the milk … I love that the milk didn’t dilute the spices to the point of tasting lackluster. This is still very flavorful. YUM!
The black tea is an organically grown black tea from India. The label on the canister doesn’t elaborate about which type of Indian tea is used here, but if I had to guess, I’d say that it’s either an Assam or a blend composed of Assam. After visiting the Jasmine Pearl Tea Merchants website, I see that my guess is accurate, it is indeed Assam. It is rich and malty, and something that took me by surprise is that it was not as bitter as Assam tends to get after a four minute steep. There were some bitter tones to the cup in my first couple of sips – sips that I took before adding the milk just to gauge whether or not I should make a latte. The milk eliminates the bitterness … a definite plus! It is a solid tasting black tea, full-flavored and robust and it doesn’t lose that impact even after milk is added to the cup.
The spices are strong! It surprised me at how spicy this tea actually is, especially after reviewing the ingredient list and noticing that there is NO ginger in this blend? What? It’s so peppery! The peppercorns are doing a good job at providing a very savory kick to this cup. And I love the anise! Just a hint of licorice-y flavor, and I find the combination of the licorice taste and the pepper to be really delightful. The cinnamon is warm and zesty, and the cardamom and cloves add a nice background of spice. Also worth noting is the nutmeg, not just because it adds a delicious, warm nutty flavor to the cup, but, also because it is often an overlooked spice when it comes to chai blends and I love that it was utilized here. The taste is understated but it is a really lovely addition of flavor.
To make my latte, I brewed this tea slightly stronger (by adding a little extra leaf) and then I steeped it in water. Then I added a splash of milk to the brewed tea and frothed the cup a little bit with my hand-held frother. The frothing wasn’t necessary, but I like to make it a little foamy (for more foam, I recommend heating the milk first, and then frothing before adding the milk to the tea). You could also make a chai latte the “messy way” – aka the stove top method – which entails simmering milk in a pan on the stove top and adding the loose tea and simmering for a few minutes. I don’t like this because it is messy (as I’ve so aptly coined it). And when I make a mess in the kitchen, guess who has to clean it up? Me. I prefer to make my tea brewing as mess-free as I possibly can while still experiencing the true joy of tea – in other words: loose leaf! I think that by brewing this chai double strength (or even triple strength if you like a very strong chai) in water and then adding the milk to the brewed tea still yields a very flavorful chai without the mess of the stove top method.
But, hey, feel free to brew your chai any way you want! If you do decide to go non-latte, I recommend a slightly shorter steep time to ensure that your cup of chai is not bitter. This is a really flavorful chai blend – I highly recommend it to all chai lovers out there!