Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Amoda Tea
Tea Description:
This is our Mother’s Day Tea. One of the Amoda moms has been asking for a black tea “that’s not boring”. So we found one for her.
There’s 7 different black teas layered in here! Medium-body, medium-strength, full taste. There’s citrus, malt and honey and that amazing smoky character that likes to linger.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn how to subscribe to Amoda’s Monthly Tea Tasting Box here.
Taster’s Review:
I have wanted to try this Lord Petersham Black Tea Blend from The Devotea for a long time now – and the monthly tea tasting box from Amoda Tea made that possible for me today! Thank you, Amoda Tea!
The Devotea maintains an active presence on Tea Trade, and that’s our home here on SororiTea Sisters too, so I’ve been hearing a lot about this tea blend. I tried to win it back when the Devotea was hosting regular giveaways on Tea Trade, but, I never won anything. Bummer! I have been meaning to order from them for a while, but, every time I have funds available in my “Can Buy Tea” budget, somehow, I forget to order this!
Now I HAVE to order more of this, because this blend is FREAKING awesome! Seriously … it’s extraordinarily good. I know I’ve said that this tea or that tea is good, and I’ve meant it. But, if you have room for only one black tea in your tea cupboard – this is a tea you should definitely consider as your one and only. I’ve encountered a few “one and only” black tea blends … this tea blend is absolutely a contender for that distinction as well.
I think that Amoda Tea describes this tea well when they say that it’s medium-body, medium-strength with full-flavor. It is all those things. It doesn’t taste or feel too heavy or overwhelming. It isn’t one of those “kick you in the backside” kind of teas that you would turn to on those mornings when you are too drowsy to focus. Instead, it’s one of those teas that you drink because you LOVE tea and you want the optimal tea experience. As I sit here and drink this, I am so astonished at how beautifully round it is. It is completely satisfying in it’s flavor.
I steeped this for 2 1/2 minutes in my Breville One-Touch, and this worked out perfectly. It is not overly tannic, it isn’t bitter, it is just … divinely delicious. A wonderfully balanced cuppa that tastes rich with its notes of sweet honey-like tones, malty goodness, and hints of earthy notes. There is a citrus-like finish to it. The smoky tones that Amoda Tea mentions in their description … there is just the right amount of smoke to this blend. It doesn’t taste aggressively smoky.
This is so close to perfection – this blend – that I can’t think of a black tea blend that I like better than this one at the moment. There might be one … but, this tastes so good that it is clouding any other opinion that I might have!
Capital Breakfast Organic from Capital Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Capital Teas
Tea Description:
Capital Breakfast Organic is a blend of luxury teas from Sri Lanka, India, Kenya and China; a blend designed to compliment and enrich your day as you make your own history. The Assam component (2nd flush, June Production) gives a thick malt and full-bodied character. The Kenyan component gives a floral-like cup and coppery infusion whereas the South Indian component gives superb fruity and sprightly flavor with a lovely finish. From Sri Lanka we used a January Dimbula pick that gives an airy piquant flavor that opens the blend. Lastly, to draw everything together we added some Keemun, which gives a burgundy depth with light oaky notes.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve tried quite a few breakfast blends … and this one ranks right up there with some of the very best that I’ve tried. This is really good!
The first thing I notice is how well-rounded it is. It is full-bodied, and possesses such a delightfully rich flavor. After a couple of sips, the smokiness of the Keemun becomes apparent. It hits the palate at about mid-sip and then seems to linger through to the tail, offering wisps of smoke in the aftertaste.
The malty tones are rich and offer a pleasant, caramel-like sweetness. The Assam gives this tea a very cozy, comforting kind of taste that melds beautifully with the smoke tones that are tantalizing my taste buds. The Ceylon adds a pleasing fruity background, while the Kenyan adds to the heft of this cup … it’s got a lot of gusto, this Capital Breakfast!
The rich, satisfying flavor is delicious served straight up, but, it also takes the additions of milk and sugar (or honey) quite nicely. I think this one is best served hot, but, I think it would be good iced too.
If you have room for only one breakfast blend in your tea cupboard, I’d recommend giving this one a try – but, be warned, it is so good, you may find yourself replacing your trusty old breakfast blend for this one. It’s amazing!
Sweet Ginger Peach Tea from Revolution
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Revolution
Tea Descripton:
Revolution Tea’s Sweet Ginger Peach is a flavor-packed, original tea made from fine Ceylon and Assam teas, fresh peach flavoring and ginger root. This hand-blended wonder has emerged as the most popular flavor in Revolution Tea’s award-winning line of teas.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
As I’ve mentioned before (many times!), I tend to be skeptical of bagged teas. Even when they’re in the new(ish) pyramid sachets that allow more room than the traditional tea bag does for the teas to expand as they steep, I find myself less than enthused about them. However, every once in a while I come across a decent bagged tea – and on the rare occasion, I’ll even find one that’s better than decent – like the teas from Revolution.
I’ve not had a lot of experience with Revolution’s teas, before tasting this tea, I think that I’ve tried one of Revolution’s teas … and that was a white tangerine tea that I drank at PF Chang’s during a recent visit – and I didn’t even realize it was a Revolution Tea … I heard it from a friend who commented on my review of my visit to PF Chang’s! And after visiting the Revolution website, I can’t find this tea, so I’m not sure if this tea is available anywhere else other than PF Chang’s.
Anyway … this black tea based Sweet Ginger Peach Tea is delicious. I may have oversteeped it slightly, because I forgot to set the timer (I think this is one of the dangers of becoming too spoiled by my Breville One-Touch! When I brew tea without the Breville tea maker, I sometimes forget that I need a timer!) however, the flavor doesn’t seem to be affected by the oversteeping. This surprises me because it is an Assam and Ceylon tea blend, and Assam teas tend to get bitter when they’re subjected to prolonged steep times.
The flavor of the black tea is dominate. It is rich, flavorful and well-rounded, but it doesn’t overpower the flavor of peach and ginger. The ginger starts off rather soft, but, by mid-cup, I notice that the ginger flavor really starts to pick up … it’s got a little bit of a peppery kick to it! It’s not overly spicy, though. The peach is sweet and juicy tasting, and offers a pleasing contrast to the heat from the ginger.
I’m really glad I got the opportunity to try this tea – it’s really good, and the more I sip it, the more I’m liking it. This would be excellent iced too!
Breakfast Earl Grey from Whittard of Chelsea 1886
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Whittard of Chelsea 1886
Tea Description:
Earl Grey has become a defining flavor of Britain, distinguished by its fragrant taste. Traditionally an afternoon tea, our customers wanted a version strong enough for breakfast. So we created a fine blend of black tea with malty Assam, crisp Ceylon and mellow Kenyan. It is a vigorous blend with a beautiful, delicate bergamot taste.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
There is just something about Earl Grey that … when I encounter a new-to-me Earl Grey (one that I’ve not yet tried), I get all giddy, quite unlike any other flavor of tea. There’s just something about that bergamot that makes me happy.
Occasionally, I’ve been disappointed. Occasionally, I’ll come across one that just doesn’t do the name “Earl Grey” justice. But it is a rare occasion, indeed, and fortunately, today is not such a rare occasion. This Breakfast Earl Grey from Whittard of Chelsea 1886 is lovely!
The aroma is beautiful – although, I must admit that it did scare me just a bit. It is a strong bergamot fragrance, but there is just a hint of … something … there that made it smell a bit more like perfume than like tea. It scared me momentarily, but once the tea was brewed, that worry was over. The aroma of the dry leaf is a tad perfume-y, but the brewed tea smells much more like a proper Earl Grey. Sweet, bergamot-y (which is much now much lighter here in the brewed tea), and possessing a pleasing earthiness from the black tea base.
The black tea base of this Earl Grey is a blend of Assam, Ceylon and Kenyan tea. I know I’ve tasted a lot of Earl Grey teas, and I can’t possibly be expected to remember all the Earl Grey bases I’ve tried up until now (can I? … hope not, because I can’t!) but I don’t remember a blend of these three particular teas used as a base for an Earl Grey. The result is a robust background with malty intonations and a really rich, solid, well-rounded flavor.
The bergamot is rather soft in the presence of this powerful black tea base, but I still find it rather pleasant. Usually, I like my bergamot bold and in-your-face, but, I have also quite enjoyed the softer side of bergamot on occasion. I find that with these particular teas, the citrus-y tones are much more bright and sweet … it’s almost juicy!
There is much more of a fruit note than an “exotic” note, if that makes sense. Yes, I’m aware that bergamot IS a fruit, so indeed it should not be unusual that it actually tastes like fruit, but, bergamot is quite unlike any other fruit that flavors teas that I’ve encountered. Here, it is mellowed somewhat, allowing the distinct fruit tones to express themselves in a different way. As I continue to sip, I notice some floral notes begin to reveal themselves … a taste that becomes more dominate as I reach mid-cup.
What a lovely bergamot experience I’m having with this Breakfast Earl Grey. This is one that all Earl Grey lovers out there should try!
Feliz Cumpleaños Black Tea from BourgeaTea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: BourgeaTea
Tea Description:
The specially selected Sri Lanka Black Tea is combined with the flavors of a creamy, soft vanilla and caramel birthday cake to remind you of birthday sweetness. The celebration will continue in your mouth bringing a tantalizing, moist sweetness to every birthday and un-birthday.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Today is not my birthday … but it is my un-birthday! And what a lovely tea to drink to celebrate my un-birthday!
The black tea base is strong and offers a robust flavor with hints of malt that emphasize a baked-bread, cake-y kind of flavor. There is some astringency to this tea, and it comes close to being just a tad bitter, so I would recommend not over-steeping this one. I steeped it for two and a half minutes in my Breville One-Touch and found that to produce a perfect cup without bitterness, however, there is just a hint there that suggests if I had steeped it longer, it might have been bitter.
The flavors are quite nice. There is an overtone of vanilla that is sweet and creamy and smooth, and undertones of caramel that are enhanced by the malty tones of the black tea. Together, they really create that sort of “birthday cake” (or un-birthday cake!) kind of flavor.
The sprinkles melt as this tea brews, adding a little bit of sweetness, but not a whole lot of flavor to the overall cup. There is some sweetness to this cup, but, if you want a sweet cake taste, try adding just a little sugar to bring out the flavors a little more. You won’t need a lot, just a pinch! Some milk or cream might be nice in this too.
A lovely, whimsical tea. I’m glad I got to try it!