Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: KTeas
Product Description:
“One of our best Tippy Grade offerings,” Morawaka says of this Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings grade Low-Grown Ruhuna or Ceylon tea. This tea presents larger leaf cuts with a fair amount of tips. Not what we’ve come to think of as “fannings”, to be sure, but that’s what the grower calls this grade. Produces a lighter liquor with a rich aroma and flavor.
Taster’s Review:
Don’t be afraid of the final “F” in the FBOPF here… even though it stands for fannings, these leaves are not as small as what you might think of when it comes to store-bought fannings. These are the upper-scale kind of fannings!
I think I may have used a little too much leaf in this steeping, because this is NOT a light liquor! But that’s OK because I’m really liking it just the way I brewed it. It is robust and strong! Much stronger than I would typically note a Ceylon to be.
But even with all it’s stout robustness, I don’t taste bitterness. Just a good, strong brew. Even some malty tones. This tastes a bit more like an Assam might taste than a Ceylon!
There is a fair amount of astringency to this cup, an astringency that is both tangy (almost citrus-like!) and somewhat dry. It finishes with a sweet aftertaste.
To be fair to how it was intended to be brewed, though, I decided to brew this one again, this time using the right amount of leaf and it does produce a lighter infusion. It is crisp and rich in flavor, but, it lacks the robust flavor and some of the malty tones of the first cup. Both are tasty though!
I like this tea’s versatility. If you want a good, strong cup of tea to fuel you in the morning – this tea can be that for you. If you’d prefer a light and pleasantly brisk cup – perhaps an afternoon pick-me-up? – this tea can be that for you as well. Great served over ice with a thin slice of lime!
