Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Wan Ling Tea House
Tea Description:
Hong Xiang Luo Keemun tea otherwise known as QiMen Red Tea. This 2011 China black tea is a superb example of a quality black tea. Combining great aroma, fine hairy, elegant leaf, which produces a deep, impressively bright and clear liquor. Refreshing, whilst being robust and balancing a complex blend of delicate flavours. A refined tea that offers a true taste of premium black teas.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When it comes to Keemun, I typically brace myself for a bold, robust cup that will get me energized and ready to go. This isn’t that Keemun.
This is a gentler, more refined Keemun. It doesn’t have that “heft” that some Keemun teas possess, but I think that is what I’m really liking about this one. This one is quite different from most others.
It has an exquisite complexity to it. Sweet, but not overly so. Fantastic set of spice tones in the background – this is what I noticed first. It reminded me almost of a Yunnan, but without the malty tones. A delicious, rich peppery tone that really took me by surprise.
It is remarkably smooth and well-rounded. It has light smoked tones in the distance that seem to move closer as I continue to make my way toward the bottom of the cup.
It is a strong tea, but not so much a “bold” one, if that makes sense. This isn’t the tea I’d reach for first thing in the morning when I need to shake the “sleepy” but it IS the tea I’d reach for when I want a delicious, contemplative cup … something to ponder over and simply relax … and enjoy. Very nice… and very good.
Red Tie Guan Yin (Black Tea) from Life in Teacup
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Life in Teacup
Tea Description:
| Production Season | Spring |
| Production Region | Fujian Province, Wuyi Mountain region |
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
A black (or red) … Tie Guan Yin? I was a little surprised when I read the label of this sample from Life In Teacup, because when I see the name “Tie Guan Yin” immediately I think of Oolong tea. But this is, indeed, a black tea. The leaves are dark, slender, slightly curly and I see some silvery tips amongst the dark leaves. It looks very much like a typical black tea … certainly not at all like a Tie Guan Yin Oolong.
As I poured the tea, I could smell the amazing aroma that reminded me of freshly baked cake: a sweet, rich, chocolate-y scent that made my mouth water!
And even better than this delicious fragrance is the TASTE! Every sweet, decadent smell that wafts from this cup can be tasted: the chocolate notes are so rich and satisfying, and they meld beautifully with the delicious caramel-y undertones of this tea.
This is a full-bodied tea with a malty tone – vaguely reminsicent of a fine Assam tea but without the bitterness that sometimes is present in an Assam. No bitterness here! Only smooth, rich, delicious flavor.
Definitely one of the best pure black teas that I’ve yet to taste. And I’ve tasted quite a few. If you’ve room for only one black tea in your tea cupboard – this should be the tea that occupies that space. (I do hope you have room for more than one black tea though!)
Seriously, it is that good! Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself!
Red Bush Chai from Fusion Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Fusion Teas
Tisane Description:
By itself, chai is merely the generic word for “tea” in much of South Asia and many other parts of the world. In western society chai has become to imply a spiced version of tea. Traditionally a strong base is used so that the spices and sweeteners do not overpower it. Rooibos is perfect in this manner because of the bold almost nuttiness flavor that is present.
There are a wide variety of spices that can be used. When you think of chai you immediately think of “warm” spices. Any combination of the following can be used: cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, fennel seeds, peppercorn, cloves, ginger, and star anise. Cardamon being the most common added spice for its dominant characteristic while a combination of the others play a supplemental role. Our Red Bush Chai stays true to tradition with its boldness.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve sampled quite a few chai-inspired rooibos blends. Some I’ve liked, some I didn’t. I like this one. It is warm and spicy without being too spicy.
In many rooibos chai blends, I don’t taste much from the rooibos, and usually I’m quite happy with that. However, I do taste the rooibos here – I taste that distinct nutty flavor of rooibos – and I am finding myself really enjoying the taste. The sweet, nutty flavor of the rooibos melds nicely with warmth of the spices, adding a pleasant depth to this cup. Also nice is the bright flavor from the citrus peel. It isn’t a dominate flavor, but it adds a vibrant kiss of flavor to the drink.
I really like the blend of spices. A nice peppery kick – but not too powerful a kick. A hint of sweet, sassy licorice from the fennel and anise, but unlike some chai blends that add the fennel and/or anise with a heavy hand, here, the licorice tones are in the background, providing a gentle, welcome flavor. Warmth from the cardamom, cinnamon and cloves.
Really tasty, this Red Bush Chai from Fusion Tea Room!
Red Chocolate from Shanti Tea
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Tisane Description:
Inviting and rich, the warm smell of chocolate greets you as you open the tin and settle in for a cup tea. A rich and smooth blend of Rooibos and cacao, this tea is a refined take on the comforting feeling of sipping hot chocolate on a cold day.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
YUM! This is so rich and chocolate-y that it even manages to satiate the chocoholic in me! And trust me, that’s not easy to do! It tastes LOTS of chocolate … and this tisane has got it!
It is rich and chocolate-y with hints of cacao bitterness. It’s a bittersweet chocolate taste, but the emphasis would be on the SWEET rather than the bitter, in my opinion. If you prefer milk chocolate, this would go nicely with a splash of milk, but I would recommend steeping it at double strength first so that you don’t lose any of this magnificent flavor.
The rooibos base is barely discernible amid all this chocolate-y flavor, but, I do taste some of the hints of wood and the distinct nutty tones of the rooibos. But mostly what I taste is CHOCOLATE … so much chocolate in fact that I think that this just may be the most chocolate-y rooibos blend I’ve yet to encounter. And that’s saying something, because I’ve tried quite a few chocolate rooibos blends.
If you’re an insatiable chocoholic like me, try this tisane. You’re going to love it!
Keemun Mao Feng from Life in Teacup
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Life in Teacup
Tea Description:
Production Year – 2011
Production Season – Summer
Production Region – Qimen, Anhui Province
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Keemun is among my favorite black (or red) teas. Such a wonderful complexity to Keemun tea – at once it is a deep, smoky tea, but it isn’t too heavy. It is light enough to allow the drinker to experience its delicious fruit notes. It is rich and bold and flavorful, and it has gusto to spare!
This Keemun Mao Feng from Life in Teacup is an excellent tea. It has all the flavor components I mentioned above and more. I love the sweetness to this, it is like a honey caramel and it melds nicely with the smoky tones. The sweetness of the caramel curbs the smoky tones just enough so that they do not taste too harsh, creating a very smooth, well-rounded flavor.
This would make a delicious breakfast tea (0r that all-important first cup of the day), and it has such a pleasant set of fruit tones that it would also make an agreeable afternoon cup. And while I personally prefer a Keemun served straight, with no additions, this Keemun would accept the additions of milk and honey quite well, if you like to take your tea that way!