I received a generous sample of this tea in my box from the Sisters. Many thanks!
I am not usually a big drinker of Assam tea. I liked it when I first started drinking “fine” tea but back then I added milk and sugar.
As I began to take my tea plain, Assam and a few other teas (like really pepper-y Yunnan) were not only a little strong for me but seemed to cause tummy trouble. Some of the high quality ones don’t bother me as long as I steep carefully with a lower temp and shorter time. But I really gravitated toward Chinese black teas, especially Fujian and Qimen.
I have never even heard of this tea company, so naturally I looked them up before writing this. Their “about” info says that they carry carefully curated organic teas that are better for you and better for the environment. I clicked on shop and…there are only two teas for sale! This one and a jasmine green from China.
This one is super affordable. At the time of writing this, it is around $3 an ounce.
I made it to go with breakfast and…well, I’ll be danged. This is really good.
Bracing myself for a puckered mouth, dreading the potential burning stomach later, instead I got a pot of really enjoyable, moderately bracing, good black tea. I even resteeped it, and extra Assam isn’t something I often go after. In fact, I am already a little excited about having it again tomorrow!
There is absolutely no need of milk and sugar but it can take it if that’s how you roll.
This is rich and malty, has good body, lightly brisk without sourness, and really nice with breakfast. Now I am intrigued by that Jasmine Green they sell…
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: OLLTco
Description
Organic loose leaf black tea from Assam, India
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Earl Grey Cupcake/52Teas
I am picky when it comes to my Earl Grey teas. I like them to be balanced. So often the bergamot is too strong, the cream flavors too artificial tasting or the black tea base is too weak.
Almost every tea manufacturer puts out their version of an Earl Grey and sadly I have a box full of Earl Grey teas that just didn’t make the cut. What is the point of drinking something that you don’t love?
When I saw that 52 Teas was again offering their Earl Grey Cupcake tea I really was interested. The tea itself is very pretty, full of star-shaped sprinkles. The smell of the dry leaf is very heavy on the bergamot so I was at first worried that the bergamot would be too overwhelming.
I steeped the tea for 3 minutes. The instructions on the packet indicate that the tea flavor develops as the tea cools, about 10 minutes. I am happy to report that this tea is lovely. The black tea base is solid, it is malty with very little astringency. The bergamot is perfect, not too strong at all, and the back end of the taste is a delightful vanilla flavor. The vanilla is not artificial tasting, it is a nice, natural flavor.
I did try the tea at the 10 minute mark and I do agree that the vanilla becomes much more prominent as the tea cools. I have been so pleased with all of the teas I have tired thus far from 52 teas and this tea is no exception. I highly recommend this tea if you love Earl Grey.
This probably would rank in my top 5 Earl Grey teas of all time and that is saying a lot as I have tried many!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
This tea is currently not available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Organic Nonpareil Fujian Black Tea/Teavivre. . . .
This story begins with a tragedy. A tea tragedy.
What is a tea tragedy, you may ask? A tea tragedy is anything tea related that breaks your heart a little bit – or a lot – like dropping the tin and spilling the last of a now-discontinued tea, or forgetting you were steeping a tea you were looking forward to and ruining it, or failing to read the instructions on a special tea that doesn’t go by “the usual parameters.”
The last was my tragedy. I was looking forward to this tea and didn’t look at the instructions. I assumed the sample pouch was heavier than it was and made 22 ounces of tea with enough leaf for twelve. All was not lost, and the tea was nice but it was obviously not all it was supposed to be.
To make up for my blunder, I had a gongfu session with this tea this morning. Many of the finest teas are really good steeped Western style but downright gorgeous gongfu. I gave it the full treatment – traditional Asian music playing, a tea tray on the carpet, and a surprise guest – a ladybug – who wandered around my linen tea towel the whole morning!
To begin: Steep one – much thicker mouth feel than the underleafed Western cup as one would expect. The honey notes are intense. If someone else had prepared this, and said to me “By the way, I took the liberty of adding some honey to the tea,” I would have believed them. The aroma was that sweet and the feel that thick, but not sickeningly sweet. Honey overwhelms me easily, and this was a lovely, natural taste.
Steep two – Oops. Minor tea tragedy. I got lost in thought for just a moment and slightly oversteeped. And I only had to pay attention for twenty seconds! But it turned out to be one of my favorite steeps. Now the baked sweet potato is joined by a hint of orange and the flavor is even more intense than the first steep. The honey aroma is still there, and the sweetness.
Steep three and onward – increasing the time a bit for each steep, this 5 grams of leaf continues to deliver. On steep eight I do see a noticeable decrease in color but the aroma is still at a desirable level. Perhaps because the sweet potato flavor is fading, a light briskness is now present. And on steep nine, I know it is time to stop. The color has lightened further, and the body is thinner. Still good and still drinkable, nevertheless it is time to stop, and to sit back and enjoy the lingering flavors of the tea.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Description
Thick, full bodied texture with pure and clean profile
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Organic Nilgiri Black Tea from Bare Leaves Tea via Sipsby Box. . . . .
Black tea is a variety of tea that just isn’t my go to. Give me a solid white, green, or oolong and I’m a happy camper. For some reason I seem to shy away from black teas more and more. Which is why I adore Sips By boxes so much.
Sips By is a company that curates a monthly tea box for about $15 that contains tea from a variety of different tea companies. Usually get 4 different selections in your box. These selections are based on your tasting profile that you fill out when you sign up for the service.
So I will admit. . . this sample has been hanging out in my tea stash for a few months. Again, because black tea just isn’t what I grab as my daily drinker. But after you discovering my love for my Wall Infuser Mug, I thought this tea may just be the way to start off my day today.
Brewed up freshly boiled water and scooped in a hearty serving of the tea into my Wall Infuser Mug. Allowed the tea to steep for a few minutes and took my first sip. And to be honest, this tea isn’t too bad. Actually, I’m digging this tea a lot!
The tea is very soft and subtle. The malty notes are slight and so is the astringency factor. I’m also noticing this flavor that reminds me of a floral note. This is such a gentle blend that I would have no problem drinking this as a daily drinker. I’m excited to try this tea as a cold brew. I can only imagine the dynamite cold brew this tea could offer.
And before I know it, my mug is empty and I need more water for a second steeping. If you are like me and maybe black tea varieties just aren’t your (ahem) cup of tea. . . maybe check out this offering from Bare Leaves. It might just give you a change of pace that you didn’t realize you were even looking for!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Bare Leaves
Description
This bright and fragrant tea comes from the South Indian mountainous region of Nilgiri, which translates to “Blue Mountains.”
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Takarabako Tea Farm: Organic Shimane Aged Black Tea 2016 Vintage from Yunomi. . .
The Takarabako Tea Farm in Shimane Prefecture has been experimenting with creating aged black teas, “vintages” specific to a year, and allowed to age under fixed low temperature storage conditions. For this specific tea – Takarabako Tea Farm: Organic Shimane Aged Black Tea 2016 Vintage – I have to say I was blown away by the quality and flavor!
Straight-up this is an AGED Black tea. Cultivar: Yabukita with the harvest being that of Spring, 2016 from the Oba Sorayama District, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture region.
It’s Eco-farmer certified by Shimane Prefecture, has the Organic certification of JAS (Tea, Persimmon) for agriculture, processing and packing, Local GAP certification by Shimane Prefecture, and received the Excellence Award for the 19th Japan Environment Preservation Agriculture Promotion Competition. IMPRESSIVE, eh!?
The tea brews up a red/orange/brown color while the aroma shines with maltiness and a hint of cinnamon and plum. It’s smooth cuppa with the aftertaste of honey or agave!
This is a very special tea. I would share it with those I know would appreciate it. I can’t wait to see what other lovely leaves come from this region and farm!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Yunomi
Description
The Takarabako Tea Farm in Shimane Prefecture has been experimenting with creating aged black teas, “vintages” specific to a year, and allowed to age under fixed low temperature storage conditions.
- Ingredients: Black tea
- Cultivar: Yabukita
- Harvest: Spring, 2016
- Region: Oba Sorayama District, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture
