Zest Tea, a new company to me and one that is apparently focused on getting the caffeine levels of coffee into a cup of tea. As a non-coffee drinker myself, I can get behind that since it would be nice to have a pick-me-up that I would enjoy for those days I am feeling extra sluggish.
I brewed this hot first for 2 minutes at 175 degrees. The flavor is mild but distinctly pomegranate and mint with one following after another as opposed to blending together to create the mojito. The base is hidden beneath the flavors which is my personal preference but may be a downfall for some. Lime is also fleeting, which I am more sad about because I think it would have been a nice component to round out the flavors and bring them together.
Given this is a mojito tea, I figured I should try it iced. Since the flavor of the hot tea was so mild, I decided to brew this cup just a bit longer, 2.5 minutes at 175 degrees. Though that might have added more pomegranate sweetness, it did not add more flavor. Instead, the base came out a bit more making for a sweet grass iced tea with a more generic fruit note. A touch bitter too, though that didn’t show up in the hot cup so my guess was the increased timing threw this off. Mint is more harmoniously blended with the other ingredients here but somehow that adds an earthiness to make this more grassy/medicinal.
I was surprised that this was better hot than iced since the flavors are inspired by a beverage best served over ice. It has a nice enough flavor but I don’t think I will personally be seeking this tea out again. It was fun to try though and I certainly am intrigued to investigate Zest Tea a bit more.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Zest Tea
Description
At Zest, we start every morning with a Mojito. This aromatic blend of young hyson green tea, peppermint, lime, and pomegranate will bring back memories of lounging on a beach, or maybe whatever memories you have left of college. Either way, our Pomegranate Mojito Green Tea is an amazingly refreshing blend, great for any time of day.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Blissful Buds from Mellow Monk . . . .
Tea has become more of a mindfulness exercise for me lately, rather than simply a means to caffeination. I reverently begin this tasting by getting on the level with the loose, green grinds. Dry leaves are sweet-smelling like a japanese tea. They tease me with something that almost smells of raspberry, though I know there is none in this blend.
After brewing the tea leaves got much lighter in color and presented a cloudy olive-green infusion with lots of tiny stowaways from the gravity brewer into my cup.
I cannot stress enough, as with all green and white teas, watch your temperature or you will be drinking something akin to Satan’s bath water (to put it nicely).
I started off with my usual 175F for 2 min but was caught off guard by the bitter chemical type taste. I’d overbrewed it, serious bummer. The leaves were ruined and I’d have to start again from scratch. My second try was with half the steep time. Better tasting, but still a tannic nirvana (different from Darjeeling though). Not my cup of tea. You know those monks are seriously being tested when they drink a tea this strong all day. It for sure keeps them awake in church! I certainly couldn’t keep a vow of silence after drinking it.
As proud as I am of my scientific problem solving approach, I should’ve just read the package instructions. At 160F and right around a minute brew time, the third try was a charm. This delicate leaf brews strong! Tangy still, with a long lingering pucker-worthy aftertaste. But much more palatable than Satan’s bathwater. Upon resteeping, it was a much different flavor because a bit more of the sweetness came out.
This blend is described as sweet like other Japanese teas but that was not my experience, even with a cold brew attempt. But on a good note, I learned my lesson about reading the package instructions. Thank you monks!
Here’s the scoop!
Type of Tea: Green
Where to Buy: Mellow Monk
Description:
Blissful Buds™ is made by picking the small young buds at the pinnacle of the tea plant — the leaves richest in catechins. These tender leaves yield a refreshingly sweet infusion, redolent of apples, with berry-like tangy overtones and much less astringency than conventional senchas. This type of tea is also served at the end of a meal at fine Japanese restaurants. (In sushi lingo, this type of tea is referred to as agari.)
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Plum Pear Green from the Pekoe Sip House
I couldn’t resist giving Plum Pear Green tea a try from the Pekoe Sip House. It’s nice to see a tea featuring these fruits. I feel as though both plum and pear don’t get enough love in the fruit-flavored options of the world. There’s plenty of peach and strawberry teas and candies, but not so many for plum or pear.
This tea did not disappoint, and even the dry leaf was fragrant with mellow plum fruit flavors. The stone-fruit taste of plum and apricot reminded me of some of my favorite oolong teas, with their trademark smooth earthy and fruity tones. The pear comes forward with the green tea taste, both a bit nutty and grassy at the same time.
This tea is best brewed while following the instructions, with cooler water and a two minute steep time. To further bring out the fruit’s nature sweetness, consider adding a touch of honey to you mug. Or give this tea a try as a cold brew and mix in a few fresh pear slices to dress it up.
This blend is juicy and fruity, against a savory green tea backdrop. There’s a lovely buttery mouthfeel and the crisp-sweet note of pear on the aftertaste. The blend isn’t too candy-like or over-flavored, but it’s also not too boring. The plum and pear are nicely balanced in the overall palette of the tea and make for a very comforting, drinkable cup.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Pekoe Sip House
Description:
A gentle blend of green tea with the flavors of fresh pear and soft sweet plum.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Kukicha Green Tea by Aiya America
Steeping specs: 3 g 1 cup 175° 1.5 minutes
This one was a tea that I could not find on the company’s website, so please forgive me if I don’t steep it according to the ideal specifications. I kind of guessed a bit and I hope I didn’t steep it too hot. It turned out pretty well with the steeping specs I tried, but who knows what would happen with different steeping specs? (I didn’t have a large enough sample to really experiment.)
As it steeps I’m catching buttery, seaweedy fragrances. After steeping, the liquid isn’t nearly as clear as I would’ve expected. It’s cloudy and has what look like tiny T specks throughout the liquid, similar to matcha specks (?) and much smaller than the type of tea specks that normally escape from my tea strainer. So I’m thinking maybe this is an intentional feature of this tea and not a bug. It doesn’t seem to detract from the drinking experience at all and does enhance the tea’s strength.
The flavor is rich and full, with vegetal savory notes, not bitter, and only a little astringent. And it’s very fragrant, but not really floral– it’s more on the grassy side. Its flavor is not just vegetal, but savory in a smooth and buttery kind of way which creates a cohesive flavor profile.
This seems to be quite a strong green tea with plenty of flavor, yet without any unpleasant bitterness. It goes well with sugar too, but seems to be a somewhat less immersive experience somehow once the sugar has been added. Also, I notice the seaweedy notes more once sugar has been added.
This tea is great for when you want a strong, unflavored and non-floral green tea that’s more on the savory side and yet has a very strong presence of its own without any bitterness. (If you don’t like the tiny specks floating around your tea, I would recommend using a very fine steeping mesh or strainer.)
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Aiya
Description
Kukicha literally means “stem tea” and is made from different varieties of tea stems. Aiya’s Kukicha is a blend of stems from Gyokuro and Sencha. Most of Kukicha available in the market is made by stems from 100% Sencha, however, Aiya’s Kukicha is adding more than 50% of Gyokuro stems for more natural sweetness and rich aroma
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Gunpowder Green Tea from Frontier Co-Op. . . .
I buy almost all of my spices in bulk. It’s so much cheaper. I never realized how much spice companies charge for the jars until I started buying in bulk. Almost every store I’ve ever bought my bulk spices in sells Frontier spices, and I’ve always been happy with the quality.
Last week when I was picking up some curry powder, I noticed that the store I was at also had a few Frontier teas in bulk. I figured I should give them a try and see if they are as good as the spices. I decided to try Gunpowder Green Tea first. It comes in little pellets that loosen up in your strainer once the water hits. I’ve had gunpowder green tea a few times, but not in awhile so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I brewed myself a cup and was very pleasantly surprised. It’s nice and mellow, with a very faint bitter aftertaste.
But it’s a pleasant, kind of smoky bitterness that I’ve come to enjoy with green teas. It’s pleasant both hot and cold. I had a hot cup this morning when I first woke up, and now that it’s warmer I’m enjoying a glass iced and it’s very refreshing. Something that I really like about the pellets is that it stays in my strainer. Sometimes with loose leaf some of the tea comes out of the holes and although I don’t really mind drinking the loose herbs I prefer a nice smooth clean cup or glass of tea and the pellet form allows me that simple pleasure. If you happen to see a bulk spice section at your grocery store, check and see if they have tea.
It’s a great inexpensive way to try new things and see if you like it. And of course it’s an excellent choice for the earth because less packaging is always better! I give Frontier spices and now teas a huge thumbs up for quality and price!!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Frontier Co-Op
Description
This tea has a very rich flavor, with a hint of sweet smokiness. The leaves are rolled into little pellets that unfurl and ‘bloom’ in the cup.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
