Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where To Buy: The Persimmon Tree
Tea Description:
A unique combination of hand-harvested fresh lotus blossoms blended with green loose leaf tea in an ancient scenting method comprises our Lotus Green tea. Prepared in small batches by Vietnamese traditional artisans, the unique essence of these spring-harvested flowers is released and absorbed directly into the tea. The Lotus green tea brews a pleasant, slightly sharp flavor similar to star anise, with a subtle vanilla finish. Be sure to steep multiple times to fully appreciate the flavor of these sweet, aromatic lotus blossoms infused in our Lotus Flower tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Lotus Green Tea from The Persimmon Tree really is a lovely cuppa!
Both the aroma and the taste is delightfully floral. I think that the above description describes the flavor perfectly – it is sharp, with notes that remind me of the licorice-y notes of star anise, and as the sip nears the tail, there is a hint of vanilla. It is sweet, exotic and creamy, and makes for a truly lovely tea time experience.
I like also that this tea offers multiple infusions! The first cup was sharper than the second infusion, which was a little softer, but still so sweet and creamy! I think that the second infusion was my favorite. The third infusion was also quite nice, the flavors became more unified with my third and final cup, making for a more refreshing, lighter taste, but still really flavorful.
This tea needs no additions … I think that sugar would overwhelm it. It is one of those teas that you want to spend a leisurely afternoon with … infusing and infusing again … experiencing the many layers of flavor that the tea has to offer.
The more I get to know the teas of The Persimmon Tree, the more I like this company. I have recently been checking out their blog and found some yummy recipes and lots of other fun things! And you can keep up with their happenings on Twitter or Facebook.
Tropical Pineapple from The Persimmon Tree
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: The Persimmon Tree
Tea Description:
The sweet and refreshing Pineapple Green tea comprises organic green loose-leaf tea hand-crafted with tropical flavors of pineapple, mango and papaya. Enjoy this tasty pineapple tea at any time of day.
Ingredients
Organic Green Loose-Leaf Tea, Pineapple, Organic Cornflowers, Organic Safflowers, Natural Flavors, Pineapple Tea, Pineapple Green TeaSteep 1-2 tsp at 175deg for 1-3 mins
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Tropical Pineapple from The Persimmon Tree really makes me feel like listening to Jimmy Buffet music, or Calypso music. I tried this hot first, just because I do all my reviews sipping on hot tea, but then I had to toss some ice into the cup because mmmmmm it is SO very extra good iced! I even went against my “no sweetener” grain on this one and added some rock sugar because it becomes this incredible tropical island get away treat that way! It feels like I swam up to a bar at a fancy resort and ordered this tea! Now, if only I could find an island that has a swim up tea bar! But hey this is my fantasy world here and your welcome to join me but for now I should get back to the review on this fine tea!
The organic green base has just the right amount of butteriness to make the tropical fruit flavors really pop! There is also a natural sweetness to the tea base with just a slight amount of astringency which to me only makes it seem more like a mixed drink beverage.
This is a tea you could serve family, the neighbors, your friends, or even the kids on a hot summer day, that is if you serve it iced of course.
The pineapple notes are excellent, but at the same time its not overdone to where it tastes like your drinking the syrup from a can of pineapple cuts. Its light enough to be refreshing yet sweet and fruity enough to appease the desire for something a little more than just a good green base tea. There is nothing fakey tasting about the flavors either which is a huge bonus!
I love the mixture of the fruit flavors, because its not just a pineapple flavor in here but more like a tropical punch without all the cloying syrup junk. I get a bit more of a mango flavor than a papaya flavor myself, but I have had far more mangos in my day than papayas so it is probably just easier for me to pick that flavor out.
Be sure while you are at The Persimmon Tree website that you check out their blog too!
You can follow The Persimmon Tree on Twitter here.
Or on Facebook here.
Amore’ from The Persimmon Tree
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: The Persimmon Tree
Tea Description:
The Amore loose leaf white tea features a beautiful blend of organic flower-scented white loose-leaf teas, wild roses, organic peppermint and seasonally selected botanicals.
With its refreshing and aromatic qualities, drinking a cup of Amore white tea makes a great occasion for an after meal pick-up, or for sipping in the evening with someone you love.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Amore’ from The Persimmon Tree is a beautiful tea to look at and I find it to be so soothing, relaxing, and just calming. I always have a cup of tea beside me on the table when I fall asleep at night, even if I don’t finish it, I just like to know a cup is there. This tea will be a perfect bedside companion!
Delicate big white tea leaves that look all fluffy like clouds or a big squishy pillow, pretty roses, the soothing, breathe easy aroma of mint, what more could one ask for at night?
I have found that I do not love mint teas the way that I once did, yet my love for floral teas has developed more. I still like mint, but I appreciate the floral aspect of this tea more so than the mint aspect that I used to love. I feel the balance in this tea airs a bit more on the mint side but the floral does come through wonderfully as does the white base.
Everything about this tea tastes natural. I have done a lot of essential oil and herb blending in my days and I can say that I do not detect anything less than natural in this tea blend. Plus organic elements are used which I respect greatly!
I have taken some quotes from The Persimmon Tree’s “About Us” page located here and I could not agree more!
“Simply put, tea is one of life’s rewarding pleasures. It makes us feel better by giving us a relaxing escape from life’s hectic pace.”
“A cup of tea can wake you up in the morning, compliment your afternoon, or take you away to a restful place in the evening. The tea-brewing ritual is one that can be therapeutic, enjoyable, social, and even sacred.”
I could not agree more especially when it comes to this tea, being so soothing, relaxing, calming. I think I like this even more than a chamomile tea for bedtime although I swear I do taste chamomile in here.
Visit them on Facebook.
Also as an added bonus The Persimmon Tree is offering SororiTea Sister readers a special discount which you can use between now and 1/31/2012. Just use the code SororiTea-Amore-0113 at check out for 20% off this Amore White Tea!
Coconut Cacao from The Persimmon Tree
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Organic Pu erh
Where to Buy: The Persimmon Tree
Tea Description:
The Coconut Puerh Tea is a unique blend of organic pu-erh loose-leaf tea, cocoa nibs and coconut provides a smooth, full, slightly sweet flavor with a mild hazelnut finish.
This loose-leaf puerh tea with coconut flavor can be steeped multiple times.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Coconut Cacao from The Persimmon Tree is a lovely way to experience your daily pu erh intake! I love pu erh for its health benefits but I also simply love the deep flavors of pu erh itself. Some however do not care for pu erh let alone unadulterated pu erh so they may tend toward something like this to get their health benefits.
There is absolutely none of that “fishiness” that many people experience in pu erh. Now as for me, I don’t feel a quality pu erh should taste fishy and an initial rinse usually takes care of any of that unsavory flavor, however Coconut Cacao from The Persimmon Tree is simply a deep base tea with a lovely coconut and chocolate decedent flavor!
I will say that I am not too fond of the initial aroma of this tea in its dry form or its steeped form. I personally find the aroma a bit off putting. As for the taste however, its lovely!
The chocolate notes are strong but do not mask the base flavor nor the coconut flavor, and the chocolate notes are very tasty, not a cheap artificial chocolate at all. I also find that all too often coconut notes seem too oily, or cloying, but again, not in this tea. This coconut taste very fresh and ripe to me.
The combination of chocolate and coconut into a pu erh base is genius! One reviewer on The Persimmon Tree website, and fellow Steepster, calls it their tea latte without milk! I have to agree, it is quite creamy, full, earthy without being too earthy, and just sinfully delicious. I don’t even find it too sweet either which shows what a masterful blend it is!
Another thing I respect about The Persimmon Tree is their committment to our environment. On their “About” page located here you will find the following:
We, at The Persimmon Tree®, contribute to the sustainability of our planet. Where possible, we use recycled and recyclable materials in our shipping supplies and printed materials. Using recycled products increases the demand for recycled material, which increases the rate of recyclability. Our passion is to instigate and experience positive change through the simple things, and we encourage our customers to do the same.
Now personally, this is not my personal all time favorite pu erh as I lean more toward that really earthy, mushroomy, mineral, pu erh flavor found in unadulterated pu erh’s but to be fair, this is a really delicious alternative!
Drink pu erh for enjoyment, or for its health benefits! I tell you in my experience, nothing soothes a hurting tummy like a good pu erh tea!
“Like” them on Facebook here.
Mandarin Silk from The Persimmon Tree
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: The Persimmon Tree
Tea Description:
The smooth Mandarin Silk Oolong Tea introduces organic pouchong loose-leaf tea blended with lemon myrtle, marigolds, and natural essence of vanilla. Awakening the senses with hints of cream and a stimulating citrus finish, the Silk Mandarin Tea is a rich and fragrant choice for your tea experience.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is lovely! The vanilla and the pouchong together deliver such a creamy smooth texture and taste … so sweet and indeed silky! It’s such a pleasure to sip.
The pouchong is a base that I don’t encounter very often in tea blends, it seems, and I wish that it was utilized more. It is so wonderfully soft and easy to sip, and it has such a lovely taste that melds well with other flavors. It tastes sweet and slightly vegetative on its own, but with these flavors of vanilla and lemon-y citrus, the palate seems to want to explore some of the pouchong’s fruity and floral tones, allowing for some of the flavors to come forward that I might otherwise overlook.
The citrus tones are subtle, and don’t seem to hit the palate right up front. At first, it’s really all about the vanilla and the tea, but then by about the third or fourth sip, the citrus tones arrive on the palate, just in time to give the palate something new to explore. The citrus notes start off gentle and sweet, and eventually become this very pleasantly tangy taste to offer some contrast to the creamy, sweet vanilla.
What I’m liking best about this tea is that it is a very gentle tea. It doesn’t go overboard with any of the flavors at any time. It has a very easy kind of flavor, something that you could easily curl up with while reading a good book or while relaxing in a bubble bath. It’s one of those teas that can serve as a pleasant, contemplative cup, as well as one to sip when you need something to help you clear your head after a long, stressful day.
I like this tea!