Tea Type:
Black Tea
Where To Buy:
Golden Tips Tea
Product Description:
Doke Organic Silver Needle Second Flush from Driftwood Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Driftwood Tea
Tea Description:
This second flush Doke Organic Silver Needle White Tea shows how this family run garden is constantly innovating (Chinese Silver Needles are only harvested once per year). Like most second flush pickings these loose leaves are slightly darker yet, here this simply concentrates the delicious white tea flavours – a truly extraordinary Silver Needle tea.
Key Flavours: Soft dried fruits – apricots and peaches – hints of straw and a delicate sweet long lasting aftertaste.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Doke Organic Silver Needle Second Flush from Driftwood Tea offers a crisp, clean, and juicy sweet cup.
It seems that it has been a long time since I reviewed a white tea, or at least a straight white tea. This tea from Driftwood is a nice reintroduction to a quality white tea.
The mouthfeel is what I can only describe as medium, not light yet not heavy, it is somewhat brothy but it has a very nice cleansing effect on the palate.
There is a slight drying sensation in the after effect of the sip.
The natural sweetness is delicious but I find the fruity notes very light, more apricot than peach on my palate.
The straw note is stronger than the fruit note but it is a sweet straw which makes for a contemplative cup.
This tea is quite grounding and I find it would be good for meditation relaxation.
I must admit this is not my all time favorite tea from Driftwood tea, but then again they have so many teas I have throughly loved, and obviously white tea is not something I drink a lot of. I enjoy it, but have to be in the mood for a straight white tea.
With that said, this is a very unique white and I respect that Driftwood Tea takes such great care in selecting cherished teas for us to purchase.
You can read more about Driftwood Tea and its founder, James Henderson Robe, here.
Giddapahar Muscatel (2nd Flush) from Darjeeling Tea Lovers
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Darjeeling)
Where to Buy: Darjeeling Tea Lovers
Tea Description:
GIDDAPAHAR MUSCATEL, manufactured by Giddapahar Tea Estate which produces some of the world famous Darjeeling Teas. The garden is famous due to its distinctive 2nd Flush. The larger part of the garden is planted with CHINA BUSHES which are ideal for the 2ND FLUSH MUSCATEL.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Having just gotten over a bad cold, I was worried that perhaps I would not miss the wonderful subtle flavors of this Darjeeling. I feared that perhaps my taste buds were still impaired and that I’d not be able to detect the lovely muscatel that is promised in the name of this tea.
Fortunately, my taste buds seem up to par now, because I can taste the amazing muscatel notes here. Sweet and fruity, with a slight fermented fruit note going on … like fermented grapes. That is to say, there is a wine-like character to this cup that is quite delightful!
In the background, I can taste notes of earth and wood … deep and oak-y. These flavors come in toward mid-sip and are especially noticeable in the aftertaste, and they offer a very intriguing contrast to the sweetness that is introduced to the palate at the start.
Shortly after the fruity sweetness, I notice a sweet, exotic floral tone followed by a clean, almost bubbly kind of sensation over the palate. It’s almost effervescent. I want to describe it as a sparkling mineral water kind of taste that together with the astringency of this tea, creates an almost champagne-like experience. I don’t know if this is why some refer to Darjeeling as the “champagne of teas,” but, it would certainly give me cause to refer to it as such. It’s quite remarkable, and really very enjoyable.
Overall, the flavor is very light and crisp. I find this lightness to be very invigorating. Something that can put a skip in one’s step. Vibrant, complex and bright. A lovely experience!
Assam Mangalam Second Flush FTGFOP1 from Zen Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Zen Tea
Tea Description:
Golden tips evoke the hot sun of the early June Second Flush Harvest. One of finest producers in region delivers a beautiful example of what is possible under the right conditions. Slightly heartier and creamier than some whole leaf Assams, this selection picks up deep malty notes of cocoa and subtle fruit.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
It’s been a little while since I’ve had a really good, pure Assam tea … so when this tea arrived I was quick to brew up a pot of it, forsaking some of the other teas that I’ve had waiting for me for some time now. (Don’t worry, my pretties, I’ll get to you soon!)
And I am so glad that I decided to brew this … it’s just exactly what I needed! I’ve been feeling a bit off lately … not exactly sick, although I’ve had symptoms, but really, the cause is lack of sleep. My youngest daughter just started up school again not too long ago and I am one of those people that if they don’t get enough sleep, I start feeling sick with the aches, cold sweats, and nausea. But, I go back to bed for a couple of hours and presto, I’m feeling much more like myself now. Hopefully, I’ll get used to the new sleeping schedule soon!
Until then, thank goodness for Assam tea which has the delicious flavor and strength to help me shake what little residual feelings I might have after my short nap.
And this Assam is one of the very best that I’ve tried in a very long time. The aroma of the dry leaf is earthy and sweet and it brought a smile to my face like I had just met up with an old friend that I hadn’t seen in a while. The brewed tea maintains that sweet fragrance, although the scent is softer than when the tea is dry.
As for the taste: Oh wow… this tastes amazing. It is bold and earthy, with a delectable caramel-y sweetness. The caramel is further emphasized by the malt tones, and I even just noticed a hint of freshly roasted coffee in there too. It has a creaminess to it (and this could be enhanced with a splash of cream if you want to go latte, I did not, and still find it quite creamy without) Very rich, very complex, and very much a joy to drink.
And oh yes… it definitely has the gusto to get one motivated, too! If you like Assam, you’ve really got to try this one … it’s AMAZING!
Nepal Kuwapani 2nd Flush from Stone Leaf Teahouse
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Stone Leaf Teahouse
Tea Description:
Grown in the shadow of Makalu (27,765 ft), the cool Himalayan air currents envelope the gardens to produce a truly unique environment that is best suited for tea. Add the considerable wisdom and experience of the tea manager, and you have the tea we present to you. A fine leaf selection with a remarkable honey aroma, followed by bright amber infusion with a full body. This black tea has characteristic tannins similar to Darjeeling, but distinctly holds up on its own.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
While I haven’t tried a large number of teas from Nepal, I have had several, and I’ve always been very pleased with what I’ve tasted from this country. This tea is no exception. This is fantastic!
The flavor is similar to a Darjeeling, but it has a fuller body and more robust flavor than what I typically experience from a Darjeeling tea. The flavor is deliciously bright, with lovely honey-esque notes that are detectable not just in the flavor but in the inviting aroma as well. There is some astringency to the cup that dries the palate slightly, as if to ready it for another sip. The aftertaste is lightly sweet.
There is a lovely wood tone to the flavor with hints of earth. There is also a delicious dark cacao note in the distance that mingles with a hint of flower. So many wonderful flavors, so deliciously complex, such an amazing tea!
I highly recommend this one!