Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Starglory on Amazon
Tea Description:
Green Tea is also known as health tea . Rich in antioxidants green tea helps in fighting and controlling many human diseases. Regular consumptions Green tea helps in keeping body fit and slim. This best Assam Green Tea is sourced from Upper Assam Garden.
Learn more about Starglory Tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Nice!
The aroma of the dry leaf is distinctly grassy/vegetal. The brewed tea has a much softer scent and I pick up on very few of those strong grassy and vegetal tones that I noticed in the dry leaf.
To brew this tea, I used my Breville One-Touch. I measured out 2 bamboo scoops of tea into the basket of the tea maker and then poured fresh, cool water into the jug. The settings: 175°F for 1 1/2 minutes.
The results: The liquid is quite pale. A very pale, clear green. The aroma is soft, as I already mentioned. The flavor is really quite pleasant.
It’s sweet and smooth. There is very little astringency to it. It’s an energizing drink but it is also soothing and relaxing to sip. It’s as if it revitalizes you from the inside out. It doesn’t get you jumping but gives you that gentle nudge to get through the rest of the day.
The sip starts out sweet with hints of a honey-like note. I then notice a slight buttery/nutty note. It’s vegetal but not bitter. The vegetal tones are something between sweet grass and mild steamed veggies. The aftertaste has a light, citrusy note.
This is the kind of green tea that I would like to have in my pantry regularly for everyday drinking. It’s a smooth, sweet and even flavor, something that tastes great before, during or after meals, and all those moments in between. It’s a really enjoyable tea. I found it to be a really refreshing iced tea as well.
Top Grade Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea from Fong Mong Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Fong Mong Tea
Tea Description:
Taiwan characteristic Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea, a long narrow strip like of various colors, is also called Bai Hao Oolong Tea. Bright white-tipped leaves, a symbol of high level Oriental Beauty Tea, can only be cultivated irreplaceable strong fragrance in organic ecological tea plantation. This tea, with very limited quantity, can only be produced by a senior experienced tea master at one harvest each year.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is not the first time that I’ve sampled and reviewed Fong Mong Tea’s Top Grade Oriental Beauty Oolong, but with every new year comes a new harvest and this is a top notch Oriental Beauty! It’s definitely worthy of another examination because it’s one of the best Oriental Beauty Oolong teas that I’ve encountered.
To brew this tea, I reached for my gaiwan. I measured 1 bamboo scoop of leaves into the bowl of the gaiwan and then I heated the water to 180°F. After a 15 second rinse, I steeped the leaves for 45 seconds and strained the tea into a small teacup. The teacup holds 2 infusions, so I went ahead and infused the leaves a second time, adding 15 seconds onto the steep time (1 minute) and then combined the two infusions into the cup before I started sipping.
The first cup was delightfully sweet with notes of fruit that are peach-like. There is a honey-like sweetness to the cup as well. The liquid is very smooth and has a soft, rich mouthfeel. It has a barely there astringency. By the time I reach mid-cup, I start to pick up on a light floral tone and subtle woodsy tones.
I noticed the flavors became more developed with the second cup (infusions 3 and 4). The fruit and honey notes remain the strongest flavors of the cup and these flavors have intensified. The peach notes are like a soft, ripe peach. I can almost feel the soft, luscious texture of the peach as I sip this tea.
There is a little more astringency with this cup than in the first cup, but it is still quite a light, barely noticeable astringency. The floral notes and woodsy tones I started to notice at mid-cup are a little stronger with this cup. A pleasantly sweet and beautiful cup to sip.
Later infusions offered an even stronger sweetness. In the third cup, I noticed the floral notes emerging a little more and I found these to be sweet and as they melded with the honey notes and the sweet peach notes it intensified the sweetness of the overall cup. I also started to pick up on some earthier qualities.
A very intriguing tea, I highly recommend this one to all Oolong enthusiasts!
Top Earl Black Tea from J-Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: J-Tea
Tea Description:
The Top Earl is the fusion of two distinct elements. A high grade, tippy Assam black tea is scented with an ultra pure oil of bergamot to create our favorite earl grey tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
You can also try some of J-Tea’s teas at Medley Tea House Café
Taster’s Review:
The other day, I went to afternoon tea with my oldest daughter. I had heard about a place called Medley Tea House Café, and she and I were both anxious to try a new place for afternoon tea. Well, lunch was lovely, the food was delicious! But the most memorable thing for me – aside from my wonderful tea-time companion! – was the Earl Grey tea that I drank! I liked the “Top Earl” so much that I bought an ounce to take home with me.
After looking at the Tea Menu at Medley I learned that their Top Earl Black Tea came from a local company called J-Tea. This is an outstanding Earl Grey. If you’ve read very many of my reviews, you’re probably well aware of my love affair with the Earl. I’m always on the lookout for a stunning Earl Grey and this one is definitely STUNNING!
The black tea base is an Assam tea, and I love the difference a rich, malty Assam makes here. The background notes are full flavored and satisfying. Smooth with a sweet, caramel-y undertone, this is an Earl Grey that not only tastes great for an afternoon tea, but, it is robust and bold enough to serve as your first cup of the day too. It is somewhat astringent but not bitter (but don’t oversteep it!)
The bergamot is strongly flavored and is a good match for the strength of the Assam. The Assam tea is strong but the bergamot is on at an even pace with the Assam. Two strong flavors … but they don’t attempt to compete with each other, instead they just work beautifully together. The bergamot tastes tangy and bright and citrus-y. Just like bergamot should. It doesn’t taste like a man’s cologne.
A really outstanding Earl Grey tea, this Top Earl … this one definitely is in my top five … although I’m not sure yet which one it would displace! If you love Earl Grey like I do – you must try this one!