Generally when someone says Yunnan I think Pu er.
So before I even looked at the leaf I figured that’s what this tea was. Even now while I write this and look at the leaves it looks like it could be. Tightly rolled leaves in various shades of brown.
When brewed the wet leaves have a musty, wet earth smell. It’s a relaxing smell in some ways.
Dark, clear amber liquor. An earthy brew with notes of cedar and wet forest floor.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea and Tins
Description
The principal growing regions in Yunnan are located in altitudes of 4,000 to 6,500 feet. At annual average temperatures between 53 F and 73 F, high-grade, black and green qualities are produced.
The very large portion of large, golden leaf tips gives the full sweet-spicy taste and malty, soft aftertaste to the Yunnan Imperial. The large leaf is dark, matt green and contains many bronze-colored tips, the infusion is heavy and dark
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Georgia Black Tea – Nagobilevi Village from Simpson and Vail. . .
If it’s a straight-up black tea – chances are – I’m going to have to try it! Georgia Back Tea – Nagobilevi Village – from Simpson & Vail – was one of those teas.
I know – I know…twist my arm, why don’t ya?
I was pleased to experience the extremely long, bold, jet-black, wiry leaves of this tea and more thrilled that they produce a light amber cup with a mild, smooth, full flavor, a mellow winy character and a lingering delicate sweetness.
I was equally excited to learn more about the teas origins which are rooted in the western area of Georgia, at the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains.
Pulling from the S&V Website they said the fertile soil, fresh running water, and clean air make exemplary growing conditions for this tea. Isn’t nature wonderful? It’s what really MAKES tea! That and all of the TLC from the Tea Farmers!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Description
In the western area of Georgia, at the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, the fertile soil, fresh running water and clean air make exemplary growing conditions for this tea. The extremely long, bold, jet-black, wiry leaves produce a light amber cup with a mild, smooth, full flavor, a mellow winy character and a lingering delicate sweetness.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Ruhuna Tea from Zesta Tea . . . . . .
The Ruhuna (sometimes spelled Ruhunu) tea from Zesta is part of their regional tea tasting set. This black tea came in a beautiful red patterned box, and I’m tempted to try the rest of their regional tea set just for the eye-catching packaging alone. Beneath the red box is a foil bag of tea, so I popped it open and started brewing.
The dry leaves were small and tightly rolled, almost like pellets. When I put my nose into the bag of tea the leaves were very fragrant, with both earthy almost-tobacco notes complimented by bright lemony scents.
In brewing, the leaves unfurled and quickly produced a dark and potent cup of tea. The taste is definitely that of a strong black tea, but not so strong that it makes your mouth pucker. This is where the Ruhuna blend stands out. It doesn’t have the fuzzy and chocolatey mouthfeel of some assam or malty breakfast teas. But it is not sharp or bitter like other brighter black teas I’ve tried, even after a longer steep time.
Ruhuna is powered by its citrus flavors, tasting as sunny and lemony as you can without adding flavoring or lemon peel to the tea. Beneath that first flush of lemon, there are sweeter orange notes, all supported by a a robust and figgy black tea base.
Sweet without being artificial, and bright without being too tart, it is easy to enjoy such an uplifting and drinkable tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Zesta Tea
Description:
Enjoy our regional tea packs featuring teas from five tea growing regions of Sri Lanka – Dimbula, Ruhuna, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Uva. This variety from such a small island is what made Ceylon tea famous – try it – from the low grown Ruhuna teas to the high grown Nuwara Eliya – a true journey in Ceylon tea, packaged in teabags for convenience and offered in a pine wood box. Perfect for gifting.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Darjeeling Castleton Second Flush 2017/Grey’s Tea. . . .
If you know me at all, you know that black teas are my jam! I love them! Adore them and downright devour them! So when my fellow Sister, CuppaGeek told me about this tea that she really enjoyed, I knew this tea was one I had to instantly brew up when the tea arrived at my door.
Fellow tea enthusiasts-let me tell you, THIS TEA IS FABULOUS! And honestly, I will declare this tea the Tea of the Week for me!
Right from the start, you can tell this quality tea is going to be amazing. The tea leaves are described as having a dark umber leaf and that is exactly what you get.
The directions from the sample package we were sent says “One teaspoon per cup plus one for the pot with freshly drawn, boiling water for four minutes”. And that is exactly what I did, give or take a moment or two.
This tea hits all of the points on the description and more. Smooth- Check! Rich- Check! Delicious-Check! Check!
Like CuppaGeek said in her review of this tea, this tea delivers on all points and would one that I would happily drink as an everyday tea to start off my day or as a cuppa after lunch to get myself over that lunch wall I sometimes hit.
All in all -if you are a fan of darjeelings like myself, do yourself a favor and check this tea! You’ll be so happy you did!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Grey’s Tea
Description
- Darjeeling Castleton Second Flush
- From the Castleton garden in the foothills between Darjeeling and Siliguri.
- Established by Dr Charles Graham in 1885.
- In 1996 it was awarded the ISO 9002 certificate of quality.
- This renown new season Darjeeling Castleton Second flush has a dark leaf.
- It is smooth, rich and has a distinct muscatel character and a long finish.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
BOH Single Garden Palas Afternoon Premium Black Tea from BOH. . . .
This is the tea for the purists.
For those that don’t like fruity tuity flavorings and additives. Boh’s Palas Afternoon Tea is a black tea, of the orange pekoe variety.
I didn’t have any background info on this tea when I taste tested it, other than that it was called Palas Afternoon Tea, which was surprisingly not enough to find in a google search! The product certainly looked more like a black tea, but had a very nutty, earthy flavor that I tend to associate more with green teas. I found it to be much lighter and smoother than most other black teas (in taste and appearance!).
If I’m going to take my tea plain, I generally prefer mine green, so I was surprised when I discovered it was in fact a black cuppa. It lacked the bitterness I often find with black teas, but also the dryness I typically find with green teas. It combined the qualities I prefer from each into one product! It appears to be offered as a canister of loose leaf tea, so if you want to stock up on a mild black tea, check this one out!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Amazon
Description
A fine, flowery pekoe from the cool slopes of Sungei Palas. A light and delicate full leaf tea. We pick the finest quality of leaves to make our tea. Aromatic and delicate, this smooth blend uses only the tender shoots.
With a light aroma, this full leaf Orange Pekoe “A” afternoon tea is carefully chosen and picked from select tea fields. Its delicate flavours create a tea that is soothing and calming, and is best served and enjoyed plain.
