Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Mandala Tea
Tea Description:
Although this amazing tea is pu’er leaf buds, it is best described and prepared as a white tea since it is picked in the late winter/early spring of 2011 and only sundried. No other processing takes place.
The liquor is clear and the flavor is sweet and floral with hints of pine. Complex flavors and yet so simple to enjoy. Mild and pleasant. This tea is rare and beautiful, as fresh as spring!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is one of the more unusual looking teas that I’ve come across in my tea adventures. These buds remind me of the tops of the grassy weeds that I used to run through when I was a kid … you know the ones that would deposit burrs in socks and then keep poking you as it got further and further embedded into the fabric of the sock, becoming more and more uncomfortable? Well, the uncomfortable feeling never stopped me from running through those grassy fields when I was a kid, and this tea’s unusual appearance isn’t going to stop me from trying this tea!
It brews up to a very pale color … it almost looks like water that is in my cup, it is so pale. But for such a light color, there is a lot of flavor to this. I hadn’t read the description above until after I had taken my first couple of sips, and my initial reaction was that this tastes very much like a pu-erh. It has that pu-erh earthiness to it, although it is more like a “white tea” pu-erh earthiness (which is quite appropriate for this IS a white pu-erh) than the darker pu-erh teas that I’m used to.
It also has some characteristics that I’d expect from a white tea, although it is not as delicate as most white teas I’ve tasted. But this does have that hay-like quality to it that I often taste in a high quality Bai Mu Dan.
The sip starts sweet, with an almost immediate transition to the earthiness of the cup, and hints of hay, as well as woody tones and floral notes weave their way throughout the sip. Towards the end of the sip, I notice a mineral-y kind of taste toward the end of the sip that settles on the palate. The finish is slightly earthy with hints of fresh pine.
It’s quite a nice cup, and a different way to experience pu-erh.
Twisted Leaf Assam from The Tao of Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Tao of Tea
Product Description:
Made as per The Tao of Tea specifications. This Twisted Leaf Assam is probably a first for this tea growing region. We provided the insight to develop an Assam tea with actual full size tea leaves that are sideways rolled and baked (The Northern Taiwanese Baozhong teas are also made in this rolling manner and known for their clear flavors). As the tea steeps, you can see the entire tea leaf unroll and open up. For those who are wary of brisk teas, this tea doesn’t have a hint of bitterness or briskness.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a FANTASTIC Assam.
It is incredibly rich and flavorful, but, without any tone of bitterness that is often associated with an Assam. Sure, I was careful how I brewed it, but, even with careful brewing, I can often taste a subtle hint in an Assam that isn’t quite bitter, but it sort of says “if you over steep me, I will be bitter.” This Twisted Leaf Assam does not have even that subtle hint of bitterness in the background.
It has a delicious malty tone that is coupled with a caramel-y sweetness that makes for a very irresistible taste. In the background (but not too distant background) there are notes of cocoa … not a milk chocolate-y kind of cocoa, but more of a deep, rich cocoa powder.
This is the kind of Assam that I wouldn’t mind enjoying every morning. It has that hefty kind of taste and texture I expect from an Assam – that sort of deep, freshly baked bread-y kind of taste. But what is so amazing about this cup, also, is that the flavors are so clean and delivered clearly. With some Assam teas you need to really focus to understand the complexity of the tea, but not with this one. It is a very upfront, straight-forward kind of tea that isn’t afraid to show me what its made of.
If you’re a fan of Assam tea, you should give this one a try. I’d also recommend this to anyone who has tried Assam in the past and found them to be too harsh or brassy, this one will surprise you!
Broken Leaf from Gorreana Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Gorreana Tea
Product Description:
Gorreana’s broken leaf tea has been a staple on European tables for over a century. Grown in the highly aromatic hills of the Gorreana estate, comes this fantastic breakfast tea that indulges the senses. Once you mix your boiling water with this fantastic loose leaf tea you witness what tea lovers calls a “dancing of the leaves,” where the water begins to turn a golden jaune as the fresh loose leaves ignite your tea.
This tea is perfect for those who like to add milk or sweetener to their tea. Higher in caffeine content then our green tea -still significantly much lower than a cup of coffee. Picked from the lowest leaf, this tea has a smooth aroma and taste, with very little in tannin. A European treat 5 generations in the making!
Taster’s Review:
This tea surprised me – in a very good way. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from a tea called “Broken Leaf” because the tea snob in me has my mind set that says whole leaf is better. And, usually, it is. But this is an example of not judging a book by its cover … or, not judging a tea by its name.
This tea is delightful. The body is a little lighter than a typical black tea – I would classify it as a medium-bodied tea. It doesn’t feel as strong or gutsy as, say, an Assam might, making this an excellent afternoon tea. It would also be great iced, served with a little lemon, perhaps?
The flavor is smooth and sweet. Overall, I’m finding this tea to be pleasant and light – a perfect refreshment for days when you don’t want to feel weighed down. This is the kind of tea that I’d keep on hand when I want something simple and unfettered.
This is what every day tea should be!
Organic Topaz Pu-er from The Tao of Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pu-erh
Where to Buy: The Tao of Tea
Product Description:
Native Name: Shu Bing
Origin: Central Yunnan Province, China
Plucking Season: Fall
Introduction: A cooked style pu-er, made at one of the few certified organic tea gradens in central Yunnan. Can endure many steepings, and does not become astringent. We don’t expect it to gain any flavor change over time.
Taster’s Review:
As I’ve mentioned before (several times), Pu-erh is a little intimidating to me. My first few experiences with Pu-erh were not pleasant ones, and since that time, I’ve been very hesitant to try it again. It wasn’t until about a year and a half ago that I decided to try to expand my horizons and try to develop a taste for Pu-erh. It is, after all, an acquired taste (for some of us at least! I do understand that there are some people that love this stuff right off the bat! For the rest of us though, it takes a little time!)
The dry leaf does not possess much of an aroma, and this was encouraging me, because it is often that strong earthy essence that I find off-putting when it comes to Pu-erh. However, after steeping, I noticed the liquor developed an earthy scent. Fortunately, though, it was not nearly as strong as some Pu-erh teas that I’ve tried, so I remained optimistic. Given the fact that I’ve been very pleased with other teas I’ve tried from The Tao of Tea, I had good reason to remain optimistic!
This is remarkably smooth. It is a bold, full-flavored cup with a pleasant tone of sweetness. In the past, I have often compared the sweetness of cooked Pu-erh to caramel, and while this does possess some of those “caramel” tones to it, I would say that this is not quite as caramel-y as some of the teas I’ve tasted. It is more like molasses, but without that molasses-y bitterness.
The flavor is earthy, but a subdued earthiness with a woody undertone to it. This is a very pleasant Pu-erh. Not one I would consider a favorite but, one that I am happy I had the opportunity to try and one that I wouldn’t turn down if I were offered it again. The Tao of Tea does it again!
Green Mulberry Tisane from Tula Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Tula Teas
Product Description:
Mulberry “tea” is drunk throughout Asia for health and wellness and it’s the personal favourite “comfort tisane” of Tula’s founder. Its flavour is often compared to green tea, so it is a popular alternative to green tea for those who are lowering their caffeine intake and those who love green tea, but want something that doesn’t taste bitter when overbrewed.
Our award-winning Green Mulberry tisane is made from the most aromatic strain of mulberry plant (Morus Alba). It is organically grown and processed by a small, woman-owned company in Northeastern Thailand, where the climate and soil are ideal for mulberry leaf production. The result is an antioxidant-rich, great tasting, caffeine-free infusion.
The deep golden infusion has a savory aroma with hints of hand-rolled green tea, steamed lacinato kale, toasted pumpkin seeds and brewed raspberry leaf. The flavour is boldly nutty (a bit like a fine Long Jing) with vegetal undertones and delicate berry sweetness. The aftertaste is a completely different experience from the taste: the flavour is still nutty, but it’s far, far sweeter. It has notes of mulberries (of course), but also blackberries, raspberries, slippery elm bark and crushed rose petals. This wonderfully layered infusion is a supertaster’s dream come true.
Taster’s Review:
This is surprisingly delicious. I was unsure about it at first. It looked different and smelled different. Not bad, just … different. In fact, it smells quite good and it reminded me of my vegetarian days when I ate quite a bit of kale. It is something that I don’t prepare now because I’m the only person in my family “brave enough” to eat it. Sometimes, I find myself missing it.
One of my favorite preparations for kale was to boil it until it was barely tender enough to eat, and then I would sauté it in browned butter with a little bit of garlic and blanched, slivered almonds.
And while it may seem as though I am digressing a bit, I’m not. Because this tisane tastes quite a bit like this kale dish. It has a pleasant vegetative taste with faint butter notes and a sweet nutty taste. There are also some berry-like flavors that come through.
Overall, this is a very flavorful and rewarding tisane. It is sweet, it is savory, and it is delicious. While many tisanes may come across as somewhat thin in flavor and/or texture, you won’t find that to be true with this tisane. It has a smooth, pleasing texture and the complexity of a fine Oolong!
YUM!