Tea Type:
Black Tea
Where To Buy:
Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Origin: India
Certification: Organic
Ingredients: Tea (Camelia Sinensis)
Tea Oxidation: Black
Tea Leaf Grade: TGFOP
Flush: 2nd flush blendLeaf Aroma: light fruity fragrance, floral
Infusion Aroma: slight malt, floral, sweet
Infusion Color: Amber
Base Flavor: two toned flavor, slight sweetness with malt base
Infusion Strength: Medium
Tasters Review:
I know you aren’t supposed to judge a tea by it’s name…but, I admit…I sometimes do! The name of this one certainly contributed to my overall feelings of this specific tea experience as I am a fan of Renaissance Themed movies, art, stories, history, etc.
Dry – This is malty and ever-so-slight-berry notes trying to hide underneath! It has a very nice aroma!
The color is a reddish-brown.
The taste is sweet and malty with a semi-creamy finish. It has lovely fruity notes lingering onto the aftertaste.
Yet another winner from Shanti! They are ROCKIN’ the Straight-up black teas lately!!!!
Hong Yu (Red Jade) Taiwanese Black Tea from Zi Chun Tea Co
Tea Type: Black Tea
Where To Buy: Zi Chun Tea Co
Product Description:
A high quality organic black tea – this unique tea was developed & refined by the Taiwan tea research station. It is a cross between an Assam strain from Burma & a local wild strain. A truly great tea.
A noticeable cinnamon aroma and carries a subtle, but pleasant mint flavor.
Tasters Review:
WOW! Just…WOW! This is SO amazing on SO many levels! This is a mighty fine Black Tea, right here, folks!
Hong Yu (Red Jade) Taiwanese Black Tea from Zi Chun smells a little like tomato soup and/or tomato bread…I LOVE the aroma! The taste is toasty, creamy, malty, a mellow black tea, meets a hint of cherry tomato type undertone but then changes up and evens out.
By the after taste I can find that mint note the description says lingers…it’s so amazingly different I can’t NOT like this one! I would HIGHLY recommend this tea to ANYONE!
Indonesian from Mark T. Wendell
Tea Type: Black Tea
Where To Buy: Mark T. Wendell
Product Desription:
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.
Tasters Review:
I LOVE trying teas from different estates, and, of course, different countries! I LOVE learning about the histories of the estates! When I saw this one from the Indonesia’s Kertasarie Estate I HAD to try it!
The first time I tried this tea my initial thoughts were…a bold brew, slightly malty, and rich. I thought it was ‘good’ for mornings and mid-afternoon lulls. But I have to admit…the more I drank of this wonderful tea the more I liked it…the more I appreciated it. It’s a delicious cup! It’s much more meaningful than I first gave it credit for! Another interesting thing about this tea is it holds up to multiple infusions well – for a black tea. The 2nd infusion seemed to be sweeter and juicier yet still bold and very satisfying!
This could easily be a staple in any black tea lovers tea cabinet!
Malty Assam from The Tao of Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Tao of Tea
This tea is found on the Fair Trade Certified page on the Tao of Tea website.
Product Description:
Origin: India
Introduction: The region of Assam is the largest tea producing region in the world and home to some of the best black teas from India. It lies 120 miles East of Darjeeling (a high elevation tea growing area), and borders with China, Burma, and Bangladesh. The distinct tea varietal growing in Assam is the Camellia Assamica, a relatively larger leaf tea plant.
Flavor Profile: Rich, malty brew with a slight caramel sweetness.
Taster’s Review:
Assam teas are among the most temperamental teas out there, and because of that, they are sometimes avoided by tea drinkers. And that’s just sad! What an amazing flavor these tea lovers are missing!
Assam teas generally do require a bit of “babysitting” while brewing. It is important not to over-steep the leaves. Even just a few seconds of extra brew time can mean the difference between a delicious cup of tea and a disastrously bitter cup of tea. I’ve also found that pulling the kettle just a moment before it reaches the full boiling point helps (for those of you who are lucky enough to have a variable temperature tea kettle: set the desired temperature to 205° F)
Diligence does pays off, and this is so true when it comes to Assam. The flavor of a properly prepared Assam is so rewarding!
This Malty Assam from The Tao of Tea is nothing short of spectacular. Generally it is the malty quality of an Assam that is most desired when it comes to Assam, and this Assam is the maltiest that I’ve yet to taste. This is so rich and almost decadent!
This is certainly not your typical Assam, though. While it is malty, there is an amazing set of flavors to this tea that set it apart from the other Assam teas out there. The tea starts out bold, but it is a smoother boldness than I’m used to with an Assam. This is a little less rugged. It has an undertone of sweetness that is similar to caramel.
And here is where it gets really interesting: towards the middle of the sip there is a hint of bitterness to it. It is ever so faint, and if you aren’t paying particular attention, you might miss it! It isn’t that “I oversteeped the tea” kind of bitterness I was mentioning earlier. This is more of a “let’s keep it interesting” savory note that cuts through the somewhat heavier tones of the tea. And it does keep it interesting, indeed!
But even more intriguing than that is this “salty” note that I get just as the bitterness makes its quick appearance. It is a flavor profile that I don’t ever remember tasting in a tea that I’ve not salted myself. It isn’t a disturbing or distasteful flavor – in fact, I rather like it. It is just very unexpected.
This is an Assam that I would recommend to all tea drinkers, if for no other reason than to experience these tantalizing nuances. This is an exceptional Assam!
Assam Satrupa FTGFOP1 from Element Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Element Tea
Product Description:
Estate-grown Assams grow at a higher altitude, giving them a depth of flavor suitable for drinking anytime of day. Maltier than other types of tea, the Assam’s strong and weighty flavor goes well with the addition of lemon, milk, or sugar. (FTGFOP1 stands for “Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe – Grade 1”)
Taster’s Review:
This is one of the “heftiest” Assam teas I’ve come across! It has a biscuit-y taste to it, like freshly baked bread and a texture to match. This one would definitely make a great breakfast tea … even if you don’t eat breakfast! (Note: I’m not advising anyone to skip breakfast! I am just acknowledging that some of us do!)
There is a remarkable caramel-like sweetness to this tea and it isn’t just an undertone. It is a sweetness that makes its presence known throughout the sip. It is very malty – one of the maltiest Assam teas I’ve tasted.
It also has a mere hint of savory bitterness that hits just at mid-sip and seems to disappear just as quickly as it appears, making this taster question whether its really there or just my imagination! This is a bold, hefty Assam that is just right for that “first cup of the morning.”
While the brewing parameters from Element Tea suggested a four minute brew time, I only steeped it for three minutes. It is almost like an automatic mindset: Assam Tea? Three minutes. I have found that when I venture into the “beyond three minutes” realm with Assam tea there is bitterness to the cup. I sipped it without any addition and found it to be quite lovely: bold and daring, with a sharp edge that is just right for the first cup of the day. I have also tasted this tea with a drizzle of honey, and it’s quite nice with sweetener. I find it softens some of that sharp edge I mentioned previously. Milk would also be a nice addition.
This is one of those “practically perfect” Assam teas that makes a practically perfect breakfast tea! It’s amazing!