Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: TeaVert
Product Description:
This tea has large elegant leaves with golden tips, and it is an orthodox rolled black tea. Golden tips, or buds on the leaves, increase the sweetness of the tea. Larger-leaf teas are generally rarer and twice as expensive to produce.
TGFOP translates to Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe. Teas from Khongea tea estate are always rich in flavor, deeper, and malted.
Taster’s Review:
Awesome!
I love writing about tea (obviously, right?) but it becomes a true JOY when I have a tea such as this about which to write. This tea is one of the very best Assam teas that I’ve ever tasted.
It has a robust flavor that is very malty. One of the maltiest teas I’ve yet to encounter. It is a very rich and delicious tea. It has real GUSTO and is strong enough to get me going in the morning. There is some astringency at the tail, but because of the malty flavor that seems to coat the palate, the astringency does not effect the palate in the same way as some other black teas might. Interesting … and delightful!
There is a chewy flavor and texture to this tea that most Assam teas that I’ve tasted only hint toward but this one really delivers. It has a baked quality to it and it would be delightful to serve along with freshly baked scones! It would actually compliment the deliciously biscuit-y character of the scones quite nicely.
Many add milk and honey to their Assam, and this one would take those additions very well. I am finding it equally as nice without the milk and just a little honey, which brings out some of the sweeter, underlying qualities (lovely caramel-like tones mingling with the malty taste!) of the Assam which are a little hard to detect without the sweetener. But if you’re looking for strong, edgy tea goodness, serve this one straight!
On the package, the steeping parameters suggested by TeaVert are four to five minutes, but I found that three minutes is a much better time for this Assam. The first time I tasted it, I steeped it at four minutes and I detected notes of bitterness. This time, I steeped it at just three minutes, and no bitterness whatsoever! It’s perfect!
This is the first tea that I’ve tried from TeaVert … and it’s a good one! With a starting point such as this, it makes me eager to want to try other teas they offer! Delicious!
Tippy Earl Grey from Golden Moon Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Golden Moon Tea
Company Description:
Smoooth. And Something Of A Paradox. You, too?
Mood: For the free spirit living in a proper society
Time: Traditionally taken in the morning or afternoon, but break free and enjoy anytime.
Cuisine: Delightful with toast and strawberry preserves. An excellent afternoon tea to serve to guests with cream cheese sandwiches, scones, and fresh or dried fruit.
Price Per Cup: .11-.20
Caffeine: MediumThis treasured Golden Moon recipe was hand-delivered (at great risk – but that’s another story for another day) by a Chinese tea trader to 19th Century British Prime Minister Earl Grey.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (and probably again sometime in the not so distant future!): I LOVE Earl Grey tea. Something else that I’ve said before (and, I’m saying again) is that not all Earl Grey teas are created equal. Some tea purveyors skimp when it comes to the quality of the bergamot flavoring or the tea used in the blend – which results in a less than delightful cuppa Earl Grey.
That is NOT the case with Golden Moon Tea with their extraordinary Tippy Earl Grey tea. Which is fortunate for me as I sit here sipping on this delicious tea.
The black tea base is brisk, bold and bright. The leaves are large and tippy (hence the name), and their exceptional quality shines through in this blend. You can taste the quality here.
The pungent bergamot flavoring is a pleasant citrus flavor and is pleasantly accented with a touch of lavender. The lavender isn’t strong in this cup – but it is just enough to play upon the floral notes of the bergamot. Yes, I know that a bergamot is an orange, but there is a decidedly floral aspect about its flavor that makes it unlike any other citrus fruit I’ve ever encountered.
And yet, it doesn’t taste perfume-y, which can occasionally be the case when it comes to Earl Grey (remember that bit before about not all Earl Grey teas are created equal?) The flavor is floral, fruity, and very smooth. This is a very pleasant cup of Earl Grey tea.
I would recommend this Earl Grey to Earl Grey connoisseurs as well as those who think they dislike Earl Grey tea (probably because they’ve once tried one of those not-so-equal Earl Grey teas). This is a remarkable Earl Grey, definitely worth trying. I’m loving it!