Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea At Sea
Tea Description:
Grown in the Halimun Mountains of Indonesia at 800m above Sea-Level, treated with natural spring water and fresh mountain air. The fully oxidized tea leaves have a complex smoky aroma and a rich, smooth, malty taste of deep forest with hints of cedar.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve had a few different Indonesian black teas, but, I can’t recall having one that I liked more than I’m enjoying this Organic Mountain Indonesian Black Tea from Tea At Sea. It’s so good!
The first thing that I notice is the malty notes. It’s almost “thick” with malt taste. And unlike other malty teas (Assam, for example) I detect no bitterness with this tea. Just smooth, sweet, rich flavor with a delectable sweet caramel note that complements the malty flavor well. It reminds me of the sweet, caramelized crust of a freshly baked loaf of bread.
Then I start to notice the complexity of this tea. It’s not just sweet and malty and richly full-flavored. It has lovely woodsy notes to it as well as a far-off smoky note, evoking thoughts of walking through the woods and smelling the smoke billowing out of a chimney from a log cabin in the distance. It tastes warm and earthy and cozy.
This is the kind of tea that I’d like to curl up to on a chilly afternoon. Then again, it does taste quite nice as it cools, making a tasty iced tea. However, with the chill comes less of the complexity, so if you want to enjoy the many flavors this tea has to offer, I recommend trying it hot first!
Malabar Estate Java OP Clonal Black Tea from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
This selection was harvested at the peak of the summer flavory season. Dark, crepy leaves, combined with gold and silver downy tips produce a dark, clear liquor. The cup has interesting flavor notes and a hint of mahogany wood in the aroma. This is one of the best high-grown Java teas we have seen in years.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about Steepster Select here.
Taster’s Review:
This Malabar Estate Java OP Clonal Black Tea from Upton Tea Imports is the first of the five teas that I’ll be sampling as part of this month’s Steepster Select box. Every month, I receive two individually packaged single serving size of high quality, loose leaf tea of FIVE different teas.
The dry leaf of this tea is beautiful with its dark chocolate-y brown leaves with golden tips. The tea brews up dark in color and rich in flavor.
The tea has a sweet undertone of caramel. I detect notes of malt. It’s a strong, robust sort of tea, one that would make a good first cup of the day. I find that as I sip this tea, I am invigorated. An excellent pick-me-up sort of tea.
Beyond that first impression, I am noticing some complexity. I can taste fruit notes. There are some grape flavors in there, evoking thoughts of wine. And there is a sort of dry, astringent note toward the end of the sip which is similar to what I’d experience with a glass of wine too.
Mid-sip, I notice a slight orange-y note, as if this might be a “blend” with orange rind in it. I can even taste the slight bitterness from the pith of the orange. The orange notes seem to intensify as I continue to sip. Others who have tasted this tea have mentioned a cinnamon note to this, and I get a very subtle, warm cinnamon note that seems to weave its way in and out of the sip.
Overall, a very good cuppa. I’d happily drink this again.
Java – Pasir Nangka OP Black Tea from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
The dark, bold, and wiry leaves of this selection yield a red coppery liquor with full flavor and smooth character. Notes of spice in the aroma add to the overall appeal. A great value to be enjoyed at any time of day.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I don’t know if it’s just coincidence that I’ve been encountering more and more Indonesian teas lately or maybe it has something to do with the fact that I’ve been concerned about the volcano and maybe I’m unconsciously looking for teas from Indonesia. However, I do want to say that my thoughts go out to those in Indonesia in the aftermath of the volcano.
This Pasir Nangka OP (Orange Pekoe) from Upton Tea Imports and produced in the Java region of Indonesia is a very pleasing full-flavored black tea. It is robust and energizing!
It has a very hearty flavor – this tastes like something that I’d want in my teacup first thing in the morning on those mornings when I don’t really want to get up, but I have to. This will help me feel that sense of alertness that I’ll need on a day like that.
It has a strongly “roasted” sort of flavor. I don’t know if this is how black teas are usually processed in Indonesia … but, this definitely has a rich, roasty flavor to it. I can taste hints of smoke and earth to it, as well as a background of spice notes that meld especially well with the aforementioned roasted notes. There is a fair amount of astringency to this cup as well – my palate feels a little dry after each sip.
This is a tea that I’d recommend keeping your eye on the timer for, because while my cup was not what I’d call bitter, I could taste a subtle bitter tone that tells me that had I oversteeped this tea, it would have been bitter. I brewed it for 2 1/2 minutes in boiling water, and that seems to be just the right amount of time for my palate.
Overall, an enjoyable cup of tea, but not my favorite black Indonesian tea. It’s good though, and I’m glad I had this opportunity to try it.
Indonesian Tea from Mark T. Wendell
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Mark T. Wendell
Tea Description:
An exquisite tea sourced from Indonesia’s Kertasarie Estate, this is a favorite of those who love a strong and stimulating flavor in their cup. Indonesia’s high altitudes, volcanic soil and tropical climate produce a dark and rich tasting tea that is truly unique.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a delicious black tea – one that is strong enough to serve as that all-important first cup of the day, and it also would make a lovely tea to serve with breakfast (or brunch!) or to guests in the afternoon.
This full-bodied tea is bold and slightly malty, but, not as astringent as other teas with these characteristics. It is remarkably smooth from start to finish. There are fruity tones within the sip with an undertone of sweetness that melds deliciously with the malty notes, giving it a rich, almost-caramel-y kind of taste.
Overall, the flavor is really delightful – offering much of what you’d expect from a high-quality black tea, but with far less of the astringency and absolutely no bitterness detected. It would also make a delicious iced tea – try serving with a sprig of fresh mint or perhaps a thin slice of citrus.
This is one of those teas that really “grows on you” – I find that I really enjoyed my first cup, with with each subsequent cup, I found myself enjoying it more than I did before. I think what I’m liking best is that it is uncommonly smooth and well-rounded.
A thoroughly satisfying and delicious cup of black tea.
ITFA Global Tea Taster’s Club, December’s Shipment, Part 3: Oolong Tea
Leaf Type: Oolong
Produced By PT Harendong Green Farm
For More Information, visit the Tea Farms webpage
About ITFA Global Tea Taster’s Club:
By subscribing to the Global Tea Tasters Club, you will receive tea from ITFA tea farms 6 times per year. Each time, we will select a different region to feature and as we grow in tea farm members, so will your tea experience.
Your tea will also be accompanied by info about the tea and the tea farms themselves.
To know where your tea is coming from, who has grown and produced it, to taste the difference in teas from around the world…what could be better?
Taster’s Review:
December’s Shipment from ITFA was unique in a couple of ways. First, it was teas from Indonesia, and I don’t think I’ve had the opportunity to try teas from Indonesia prior to receiving this package. Second, it was unique because all three teas were from the same farm: PT Harendong Green Farm.
So far, I’ve reviewed for you two of the three teas I received from December’s Shipment: the Black Tea (aka Red Tea) and the Green Tea, and I enjoyed both of those quite a bit. Now, I’m reviewing the third and final tea in December’s Shipment: the Oolong!
And this is unlike any Oolong I have ever tasted. Dry, the tea looks very much like a Tie Guan Yin with its tightly wound, deep green pellets. But it doesn’t smell like a Tie Guan Yin. This one smells fruity and a little floral before steeping, and the brewed tea smells a bit vegetal, losing much of the fruit and flower notes that I noticed prior to infusing the leaves.
The flavor is also different. It has a smooth vegetative taste with sharp floral tones in the background. The contrast between these two flavors is quite compelling. The vegetative flavor is earthy and somewhat reminiscent of fresh herbs, and this herbaceous taste lingers in the aftertaste. The floral tones are sharp yet sweet. The finish is dry with strong astringency at the start of the cup, and as I continue to sip, I notice that this astringency seems to taper. In subsequent infusions, the fruit tones develop, and I notice a juicy taste that begins to emerge as the astringency wanes.
I really enjoyed this memorable journey to Indonesia by way of tea, and I’ve been so honored to take part in the Global Tea Taster’s Club. I look forward to what the next shipment might have in store!