Akiya Estate Arunachal Pradesh FTGFOP (CL – SPL) from Capital Tea Ltd. is the tea of the moment here at Sororitea Sisters. Akiya Estate Arunachal Pradesh FTGFOP (CL – SPL) from Capital Tea Ltd. is an Assam that is of medium strength and offers malty and fruity flavors, naturally! The fruity flavors I speak/write of are more like stone-fruit such as a nectarine or peach.
The leaves of Akiya Estate Arunachal Pradesh FTGFOP (CL – SPL) from Capital Tea Ltd. are multiple shades of brown. Tri-colored, even. The aroma has a bit of a peppery aroma if steeped a bit too long but if steeped a bit too long the flavor of the tea is still yummy. It’s quite forgiving, actually.
I can’t remember having another Aikya Estate tea and if I have I don’t think I ever gave it an appropriate review. I’m glad I was able to sample and write one for Akiya Estate Arunachal Pradesh FTGFOP (CL – SPL) from Capital Tea Ltd. It’s a very tasty tea. The full tea experience that will awaken all of the senses! A great way to start the day and for those who like to live life on the wild side maybe ever end your day with this one! I know I have and I enjoyed it! YUM!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Capital Tea Limited
Description
Exceptional quality golden tipped leaves from and esteemed tea maker in Arunachal Pradesh near Assam. These leaves produce an incredibly well rounded and sweet tasting medium bodied tea liquor with complex malty flavour notes and with stone fruit-like overtones.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Maharajah Collection Organic English Breakfast from Hope and Glory
I remember the first full day of my study abroad semester in London like it was yesterday (instead of 2009– wait, am I getting old? Don’t
answer that). After a sleepless trans-Atlantic flight and a lazy day of getting acclimated, we were invited to a proper cream tea at a local historic hotel. My love of tea had begun long before my international journey, but it was fairly exclusive to basic herbals and the occasional green– every time I tried to drink straight black tea, I got this stomach-turning ick and would set it aside until it turned cold and eventually would be dumped out. Something about this particular day, though– maybe it was my eagerness to acclimate to my new (kinda) foreign home, maybe it was jetlag– but I poured myself a cuppa, and it was like the heavens parted above me. I was ALL. IN. As if in an instant with my first sip, I understood what all the fuss was about in this country I was to call my home for the next six months– cream tea? Yes please.
Pretty much not a day went by for that next half-year that didn’t begin with my favorite strong cuppa, wasn’t intersected mid-day for a break with another, or my commute home that wasn’t warmed and nourished by a creamy, strong to-go. I learned that the best–and only way to brew really *good* English breakfast was to drop your (strong, very strong) tea bag in some hot water, swirl for a few seconds and immediately draw out, leaving dark, golden-brown nectar in the cup.
And that’s how I judge my English Breakfasts to this very day– can it brew to full strength in just a few stirs? Does it hold milk and sugar (or now, a few years later for me– coconut milk and honey) well?
And I was abundantly pleased to see that Hope & Glory fit the bill– and with the ‘organic’ delineation to boot! This robust breakfast tea does the English stereotype of strong tea justice, and hits that perfectly balanced, comforting flavor that I’ve come to expect from a well-brewed cup. For a pyramid bag, the leaves were well-intact, and I’d absolutely keep this one in my desk at work for a mid-day pick-me-up without the fuss of loose leaves.
Well done, Hope & Glory!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Hope and Glory
Description
A lively, full bodied blend of Assam and Ceylon organic black teas. Assam provides body and thickness to the tea while Ceylon gives it brightness and citrus character. This blend is best served with milk.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Handcrafted Black Tea (Blended For Sweet Tea) from Sweet Tea Junkie
This Handcrafted Black Tea (Blended For Sweet Tea)from Sweet Tea Junkie was yet another tea I took my time with before 
reviewing. Mostly because I’m NOT a Sweet Tea person as I have stated a time or two (or ten) before. I HAD to try this straight-up and without any sweeteners before going out of my comfort zone. I will say that as-is it was a bit weaker than I thought it would be but I will just add more loose leaf next time and maybe for longer. I would strongly suggest infusing this loose leaf for the suggested 5 minutes as it states on the packaging!
On to the Sweet Tea! For this specific cuppa I used organic clear Agave Nectar as my sweetener! I added a little bit and then increased the amount according to my liking as I am sure you could do, too! Handcrafted Black Tea (Blended For Sweet Tea) from Sweet Tea Junkie did brew to a darker and more powerful brown after the full 5 minutes!
I forgot to mention that the dry loose leaf of Handcrafted Black Tea (Blended For Sweet Tea) from Sweet Tea Junkie smells pretty wonderful…fresh and crisp!
By adding the Agave it seemed to consume the aroma of the black tea once it was ‘brewed’. I’m not saying that the Agave I used had
an aroma just that it seemed to have muted the black tea scent, naturally. At first sip I wasn’t sure if using Agave as a sweetener was the best choice but as it started to cool I quickly changed my mind! I noticed unexpected yet welcomed floral notes in the middle of the sip. Handcrafted Black Tea (Blended For Sweet Tea) from Sweet Tea Junkie has certainly grabbed my attention. It has changed my way of thinking when it comes to Sweet Tea. I’m looking forward to further exploring Handcrafted Black Tea (Blended For Sweet Tea) from Sweet Tea Junkie with alternative ways of sweetening! I’m also going to make some of this for my husband who grew up on Sweet Tea! I’m betting he will LOVE IT!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Sweet Tea Junkie
Description
Our Handcrafted Black Tea is best enjoyed as a Southern Style Sweet tea. Simply put, that means make it sweet, pour it over ice and drink it anytime throughout the day. When we say “Southern Style,” we mean to say… enjoy this tea with good company. Sweet Tea is always better with friends and family! Some folks like to add some lemon or lime for a spritz of extra flavor.. this is up to you!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Sessa Estate Black Tea from Pekoe Sip House
I recently started my day with a cup of Sessa Estate Black Tea from Pekeo Sip House. Sessa Estate Black Tea from Pekeo Sip House is a single estate Assam made from whole golden leaves.
It ‘brews’ to a deep, dark brown – which I adore! The tea – once in the cup – smells malty and slightly sweet. On the tongue Sessa Estate Black Tea from Pekeo Sip House tastes malty, astringent-in-good-way, and quite strong. There are dark chocolatey notes in the middle of the sip that I picked up on. But they just played peek-a-boo and then the flavor changed up to move on to the end-sip which was much like the beginning of my tea sipping experience. I guess the flavor came full-circle or maybe just walked around in a circle…either way…Sessa Estate Black Tea from Pekeo Sip House was a hefty cuppa that I enjoyed early in the morning to help wake me up!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Pekoe Sip House
Description
Broad and full golden leaves with a deep, sweet, and malty aroma.
A single-estate tea from India, our Sessa Estate tea is an Assam black tea made from whole golden leaves, creating a sweet and malty aroma.
We recommend serving hot as black tea or with a milk and sweetener of your choice.
Ingredients: Single estate golden-tipped Indian Assam tea.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Guangxi Golden Pearls from Tea Shirt
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea Shirt
Tea Description:
Premium black tea pearls from Guangxi Province, China.
Handmade pearls of about 1cm in diameter with distinctive golden tips. Fruity and characteristic aroma.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have been devouring the teas that I picked up from Tea Shirt and this is another fantastic offering! Little pearls lovely hand rolled. Who wouldn’t love these?
I have always loved the “pearl” or “ball” like teas. There is something so alluring about watching the tea leaves uncurl in the steeper creating this illusion of the tea leaves dancing in the water. Just a lovely sight.
I prepped my water per the instructions on the package and grabbed a few of the pearls. Dropped them into my steeper and poured the water. I couldn’t wait to watch those leaves uncurl and dance.
Finally the tea was ready and poured myself a huge cuppa and sat down to enjoy. I have to say, this tea was fantastic! Lovely malty notes with a hint of a fruity finish with a slight astringent mouth feel. Everything you would hope a black pearl like tea would be. The flavors yield such a lovely mix of the right amount of each characteristic. So much so that I can’t seem to put my cup down.
My favorite flavor note is this lovely malty woodsy like flavor. It really does mix well with the sweet almost fruity or jam like hint that I’m getting. The fruity notes are very subtle and gentle allowing the black tea flavor to really shine.
Another tea I can’t get enough of from this company. I see a second order on the horizon!
