Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: New Mexico Tea Company
Tea Description:
The tea is bright and lively with a unique sharpness accented with bouquet and a slight touch of herb. The body is deep and long for a baked green tea. Its character differentiates it well from other varieties in this region and adds an unmistakeable breadth in the taste spectrum of Chinese green teas.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have loved New Mexico Tea Company for some time. Their teas are fresh and vibrant. The packaging is fantastic and the art work on their packages is phenomenal. Everything about them is just brilliant and I have recommended them to so many tea drinkers, newbies and tea enthusiasts alike. They have a tea blend for everyone.
This tea I picked up some time ago, I think from a Steepster Stash Sale. I am always on the look out for new green teas to check out and just hadn’t had a chance to try this one until now. When I first opened the bag, I was in awe of the gorgeous longer leaves that filled the pouch. I scooped a few spoonfuls into my tea pot and poured in the prepped water. I loved watching the tea leaves dance in the water.
First sip in and shame on me for not trying this tea sooner. This tea is one of those green teas that give you everything. Slightly floral with subtle vegetal notes and a buttery finish. Just delicious. One of those teas that you crave more of and hate to see your tea pot empty. I’ve already drank a few infusions out of this first serving and I have to say each infusion delivers that same gorgeous flavor. This is one of those satisfying teas that delivers on the flavor it promises. This one is a keeper!
Witch’s Broom Raw Puerh Tea (2001) from New Mexico Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pu-erh
Where to Buy: New Mexico Tea Co.
Tea Description:
A bizarre and wonderful tea. This aged green puerh tea is made up of extraordinarily large tea leaves that have been gathered into small bundles (hence the name). It has a marvelous flavor and delivers a lighter, sweet taste with a lingering aftertaste of dark peaches or plums. We recommend six to eight leaves per cup with multiple steepings.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I ordered this 2001 Witch’s Broom Raw Puerh Tea with my last order from New Mexico Tea Company, mostly because I found the tea’s appearance to be so intriguing! It really does look like the bristles of a witch’s broom!
With the leaves on the darker side, I was surprised at the color of the liquid produced when I brewed the leaves. And, I’m used to Pu-erh teas producing a rather dark liquor, but, this is quite pale. But … the flavor is LOVELY!
I decided to take this tea through its paces and go for at least six infusions. However, because of the size of the leaves, I couldn’t fit them in my gaiwan without breaking them … and I just couldn’t bring myself to doing that! So, I brewed them in a larger vessel (my Smart Tea Maker did the job very nicely).
The first infusion (following a quick 15 second rinse) delivered just what I was promised with the above description from New Mexico Tea Company … a sweet, light taste with notes of fruit. I don’t know that I taste peaches or plums just yet, but, there is definite sweet fruit notes here. There are notes of earth, but I’m pleased to report that the earthy tones are subdued and off in the background.
With each subsequent infusion, this tea became sweeter and sweeter. By the third infusion, I began to pick up on more of the fruity notes that were promised in the description … I can definitely taste stone fruit … a sweet plum and hints of peach. Amazing!
By the time I reached my fourth infusion, I was really delighted with how sweet this tea had become. It’s so sweet and mellow and the fruity notes evoke thoughts of a thinned fruit nectar. Very nice, indeed.
I stopped at six infusions … not because the tea was ready to quit on me, but because it was time to go to bed! This is truly an amazing Pu-erh. I highly recommend it to those looking for a unique Pu-erh that is less earthy and more sweet and fruit-like!
Green Plum & Pear from New Mexico Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: New Mexico Tea Co.
Tea Description:
Pan fired green tea, safflowers, and marigolds with plum and pear flavor
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh yum!
This tastes so good. I’m often afraid when it comes to pear flavored teas that the pear flavoring will be somewhat lacking, but, with this blend, the pear comes through quite nicely. The plum tastes slightly tart, and this tartness is especially noticeable in the aftertaste, and the pear arrives at the start of the sip, and maintains its sweetness throughout.
I like that while there is some tartness to the plum, it isn’t a strong flavor. I am not particularly fond of anything too terribly tart. Here, the tartness is experienced primarilyin the aftertaste with a sort of tarty twinge on the tongue. Not strong, but, somewhat acidic, like the sensation from a bit of the powder from a sour candy on the side of your tongue. Together with the sweetness from the green tea and fruit flavors, it’s an intriguing contrast.
The green tea is a sweet, broth-y kind of green tea that has a creamy, mild vegetable taste to it. Somewhat buttery, smooth and nicely complements the flavors of pear and plum. It is a summery kind of flavor, something that I think would be excellent served iced, but, I am quite enjoying it now, on a chilly autumn afternoon, served hot.
Another enjoyable tea from New Mexico Tea Company!
Roasted Kukicha from New Mexico Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: New Mexico Tea Co.
Product Description:
Kukicha, or twig tea, is a Japanese blend of green tea made of stems, stalks, and twigs, and has a nutty, slightly creamy flavor.
Uniquely flavorful, kukicha is also one of the preferred teas of the macrobiotic diet. Kukicha can also be added to juice to make a children’s drink. Kukicha is a powerful antioxidant and is very low in caffeine, in fact the lowest in caffeine of all traditional teas.
Taster’s Review:
This is the last of the three teas that were included in November Steepster Select box. As I mentioned before, the theme for this month was “Migration” and this tea represents the “scattered branches” left by the migrating birds. Very clever, Steepster. I find this month’s theme to be almost as enjoyable as the tea.
But that’s not said to take anything away from this month’s tea selections, which have all been extraordinarily good. The Diyi Cornfields Shu from Verdant Tea was one of the most unusual and delicious Pu-erh teas I’ve ever tasted. The Bai Mu Dan from Canton Tea proved to be one of the very best white teas and changed my beliefs about Bai Mu Dan! And this Roasted Kukicha is also quite exceptional.
The aroma of the dry leaf is a very strong roasted flavor. It’s really quite delightful and toasty. The fragrance of the brewed tea is quite subdued in comparison. The flavor is a much lighter roasty-toasty kind of flavor than the aroma of the dry leaf would lead me to think.
There is an amazing sweetness to this Kukicha that tastes a bit honeyed as well as caramel-like. It has that sweet, cozy kind of taste that I have come to expect from a Kukicha. The lighter roasted notes allow for some of the nuances of this Kukicha to shine through. It has a beautiful creamy undertone, and a delicious nutty finish. The aftertaste is sweet with the barest hint of smoke that softly lingers.
A very lovely Kukicha. Calm, relaxing and delicious.