Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Kyoto Obubu Tea Plantations
Product Description:
Roasted green tea, or Houjicha (ほうじ茶 sometimes 焙じ茶), is unlike any green tea you’ve tasted before. With a richly smokey flavor that is simultaneously light and sweet, houjicha has none of the bitterness of traditional green teas. And like decaf coffee, the roasting process removes the caffeine from the leaves making it the perfect after dinner / before bed drink.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is my third and final tea from the December “Steep for Japan” Steepster Select box … yes I am a little behind this month! It was the 12 Day countdown with 52Teas that did it to me! But at least I am indeed tasting and reviewing it in the month of December, right?
The idea of this box was to celebrate the teas from Japan, and I think that the varieties offered in the box showed three very different types of tea from one very small country – all unique and very delicious reflections of a country that endured some pretty rough times this past year.
I’ve tried a couple of different Houjicha teas from Kyoto Obubu Tea Plantations, including the Organic Houjicha and their Houjicha Dark Roast. And I must say that even though they are all Houjicha, each possess their own unique qualities depending upon how they are grown and processed.
This Smoky Roast Houjicha is indeed smoky. The other Houjicha teas tend to have a smoky element to them due to the roasting process, but, here, the smoke is very well defined. It is evident in the aroma of the dry leaf and brewed liquor, and it is especially evident in the flavor. That being said, I wouldn’t call it overly smoky (this is no Lapsang Souchong). I like the level of smokiness to this Houjicha; it’s not too smoky for my palate, and I like that it does not overwhelm the other notes in the cup.
This tea is smooth and pleasantly sweet, reminding me a bit of caramel and I like the way the caramel-like notes meld with the smoky tones. A complimentary wood note fills in the background, providing a well-rounded flavor. It has very little astringency, and it is not bitter. Just a very enjoyable and relaxing cup!
As as it cools the flavors remain pleasantly warm and agreeable. The effect is something I’d liken to a soft, cozy blanket or fuzzy slippers; I get that kind of warm, comfortable sensation from this tea. Very nice, indeed!
Sugar and Spice from Shanti Tea
Tea Type:
Oolong Tea
Where To Buy:
Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Origin: China
Certification: Organic
Ingredients: Tea (Camelia Sinensis), Cloves, Cinnamon, Apple Pieces, Natural Essences
Tea Oxidation: Oolong
Tea Leaf Grade: Loose LeafLeaf Aroma:Smoky, coconutInfusion Aroma: Sweet, spicy, light coconut
Infusion Color: Light Amber
Base Flavor: Sweet coconut, clove aftertaste
Infusion Strength: Medium
Tasters Review:
Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice? When it comes to this flavored Oolong from Shanti Tea…I totally AGREE!
The dry aroma sort of reminds me of caramel candied apples with a hint of cinnamon and orange, perhaps?
Post infusion I can smell the ginger and cinnamon and less of the citrus and fruit.
There is a woodsy yet spicy flavor to it. Underneath that I can taste the cinnamon and ginger more-so when it cools at room temp for a few moments. The ginger and citrus notes draw out well on to the aftertaste.
This is unique….and you know how I LOVE unique! This is a tasty cup!
Lapsang Souchong Tea from Culinary Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where To Buy: Culinary Teas
Product Description:
A superior leaf Lapsang Souchong offering a smooth, crisp, and heady aroma of an oak wood fire. A popular and certainly unique black tea.
Taster’s Review:
I have never been fond of Lapsang Souchong. There was a time when I couldn’t even have it in my house because the smell repulsed me so. Since that time, I have come around and gained some appreciation for this tea. It will probably never become a favorite tea of mine, but, I have come to a point where I can sip on a cup every once in a while and actually enjoy it.
This is a strong Lapsang Souchong. The dry leaf is very dark, and there is a deep smokiness to the aroma. Some might liken it to a campfire scent, but, I can’t recall the fires at camp smelling like this. This smells like it’s been slowly smoked over oak.
That slow-smoked essence translates into the flavor. It has a very deep, smoky taste. I agree with the above description – it does have a certain crispness to the taste, as well as a smoothness that I didn’t expect. With such a smoky essence, I might have expected more of a rustic feel to it; however, this one is more of a sophisticated smoky taste with its smooth character.
Beneath the smoky notes, I taste subtle notes of oak and even the faintest hint of dark cocoa. It’s really quite nice. I can also detect a lovely caramel-like sweetness. The discovery of the caramel-y undertones in a Lapsang Souchong has been its saving grace for me, because I actually really like the combination of the smoke and the caramel.
This Lapsang Souchong from Culinary Teas is a top-notch Lapsang Souchong, with a beautiful complexity just below its smoky surface. I am glad that I have been able to come to gain some appreciation for Lapsang Souchong tea, otherwise I may have offered this one to someone else without giving it a taste – and I would have missed out on all this fabulous flavor.
My first cup of this tea I first tasted with no additions and decided it needed a little bit of turbinado sugar to help bring out those caramel undertones. For my second cup, I decided to try it as a latte, and it really is good. The milk subdues the smokiness and plays to the caramel sweetness – giving it a creaminess. It’s wonderful!
Queen Catherine Tea from Harney & Sons
Tea Type: Black Tea
Where To Buy: Harney & Sons
Product Description:
We created this blend of three Chinese black teas in honor of Queen Catherine, who introduced her love of tea to the British. We are privledged to have this tea featured in the Museum of Tea in Hangzhou, China. Harney & Sons is the only Western tea company to receive this honor.
Tasters Review:
Thus far – Queen Catherine – is one of my favorites from Harney & Sons! I think it’s a great tea for mornings and afternoons as well as hot or cold. It’s just one of those black teas that is good to have on hand at all times!
My first impressions of this tea?
Once I first started infusing this tea I could smell a very faint hint of smoke. It’s a deep burgundy brown.
The taste isn’t what I expected and that’s not a bad thing…it’s certainly your typical black tea taste but then I found a semi-bitter/semi-sweet berry type taste at the end of the sip! It was a surprise but I liked it! YUP! The tea description that I read didn’t mention that it had berries in it but I can certainly taste hints on the tongue. And they are subtle, beautiful hints!
Product Review: Lapsang Souchong Tea-Infused Chocolate Truffle from Arbor Teas
Where to Buy: Arbor Teas
Company Description:
A rich, smoky combination of dark chocolate ganache and our smoked Lapsang Souchong Black Tea, square cut and dipped in dark chocolate.
Taster’s Review:
Editor’s Note: This review represents part 1 of 6 reviews, one review for each of the six flavors in the truffle collection available from Arbor Teas
Oh yummy! Is there anything more exciting than tea-infused chocolates? As a foodie, I love it when two of my favorite edibles are paired together in one delectable item. And as a tea enthusiast AND chocoholic, I simply cannot resist these Tea-Infused truffles from Arbor Teas.
The appearance of this truffle is truly luxurious. Regal even! It has a brush stroke of glittery edible gold leaf, which adds a bit of sparkle and elegance to this yummy truffle.
And as some of you are probably aware, I’m not particularly fond of Lapsang Souchong. I am slowly acquiring a taste for this classic, but, still, it’s not my favorite tea. So, this is the one chocolate truffle in the six about which I was the most skeptical.
But, it is truly amazing! The smokiness that usually throws me off in a Lapsang Souchong tea tastes absolutely divine in this dark chocolate truffle. The deep, dark caramel-y notes of the tea create a flavor that is euphoric!
If this chocolate is any indication of what lies ahead with the other five truffles – I am truly in for a treat! This truffle is amazingly, SINFULLY delicious!