Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Tulsi
Where to Buy: The Tao of Tea
Tisane Description:
Flavor Profile:Very fragrant, notes of kafir limes, orange, mint and cloves.
Ingredients:100% Organic Wild Forest (Vana) Tulsi leaves and stems.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I often find myself at a loss on how to describe an “unflavored” tea or herb, because, even though the natural flavor of the product has not been altered by flavoring, it is often quite flavorful on its own and therefore I don’t feel the word “unflavored” applies.
Unadulterated? Unaltered? Untainted? These words seem to intimate that the act of flavoring tea is somehow wrong, and I don’t agree with that sentiment, as I enjoy many types of tea, both flavored and “unflavored.”
Unmixed? This almost seems like the reverse sentiment … like tea and herbs should be blended, flavored or mixed, and I don’t agree with that either.
How about Plain? This seems to imply that the tea or herb is boring. Plain. Dull. And I don’t agree with that either.
So, after what has seemed a long “inner debate” with myself, I think I may have finally settled upon the word PURE to describe an unflavored tea or herb.
And, I think that the word pure is the perfect word to describe this Wild Forest Tulsi from The Tao of Tea. The aroma of the dry leaf is quite herbaceous, reminiscent of the fragrance of the air one might experience while taking a hike in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. (We have a lot of mint growing wild up here!) Once brewed, the tea becomes extraordinarily fragrant. I noticed a medicinal quality to the aroma as I poured it, reminding me a bit of vapor rub.
And to tell you the truth, that isn’t exactly what I would consider to be a mouth-watering scent. But, I still managed to get myself to take a sip … and I found myself taking another, and then another. At first, it seemed to be more curiosity than anything else, but, by the time I made my way to mid-cup, I found myself really enjoying what I was drinking.
The flavor is incredibly complex for an herb: I taste hints of mint and a warm, spicy note to it (not “spicy hot” really, but more of an exotic spicy note) as well as notes of citrus. It has a very satisfying savoriness to it; it is very calming and relaxing to sip.
A lovely, pure herb. I love how it offers a sense of tranquility to me as I wind down this evening.
Wild Monkey Marsala from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Product Description:
Here it is at last! The Wild Monkey Marsala Tea, a wickedly zesty tea that comes from our wine-infused group. There are several spicy teas available from Red Leaf Tea, and we think that this may be the most exotic one of all! We begin with a strong Chinese black tea and then add a heavy dose of cinnamon to that sweet and rosy brew. We finish this complement of dominant flavors with the powerful musty sweetness of an infusion of marsala wine. It all balances out perfectly, with the marsala melding into the black tea and the cinnamon lending a peppery effect. Let the Wild Monkey into your tea service today!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I was a little worried about this tea prior to tasting, but, it really is quite tasty. I think that it is the wine. While I’ve enjoyed almost all of the alcohol-infused teas that I’ve tried, I am always a little apprehensive; I’m not big on strong alcohol flavors. Fortunately, it’s been my experience that the flavor of the alcohol compliments the tea flavor, and it is the flavor of the tea that prevails. And that is the case here, too.
The aroma of the dry leaf is a bit unusual, but certainly not unpleasant. The sweet, fruity scent of the Marsala wine is apparent, and the cinnamon is quite strong. It smells sweet, spicy and rather intriguing, actually.
The flavor of the cinnamon and the Marsala wine meld together quite nicely here, the cinnamon is warm and spicy and it does have a slight peppery kind of taste to it. The Marsala wine is sweet and fruity, and the combination of the two tastes a bit like mulled cider. It doesn’t taste strongly of wine, but I can taste hints here and there that are reminiscent of wine, especially as it cools.
And the flavor of the tea is there too; it is a good, strong black tea base that creates a pleasant backdrop for the flavors of the wine and cinnamon. Together the flavors of wine, cinnamon and black tea offer a very well-rounded, smooth taste for the palate to enjoy. There isn’t a whole lot of notable astringency to this tea. The aftertaste is cinnamon-y sweet and pleasant.
I really enjoyed this tea, a delightful tea to sip on these chilly winter afternoons, as it will warm you from the inside out.
Hong Yu (Red Jade) Taiwanese Black Tea from Zi Chun Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Zi Chun Tea
Product Description:
Hong Yu is fast becoming an internationally recognized, premium class, organic black tea. It is grown & harvested in limited quantities in the beautiful Sun Moon lake area of Central Taiwan, where the Taiwan Tea Research & Extension Station, in collaboration with local farmers, have developed one of the most truly unique and finest quality black teas in the world. The tea plant is a cross between an Assam & a local wild tea strain.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is AWESOME!
I enjoy most of the teas that I try. There are a rare few that I really don’t like, but for the most part, I enjoy the teas I drink, and I express that in my reviews. I guess that’s one thing that I love about teas the most … I am able to find something to appreciate about almost every tea I taste.
But every once in a while, I come across a rare tea … that tea that is so exceptional in flavor that it makes me want to get up and dance and sing praises to the tea gods for making such a wonderful tea. A tea that is so good that it makes me forget anything in my life that may not be going my way and it somehow makes everything else melt away except for me and my cup of tea.
This is one of those teas.
My first couple of sips – while it was piping hot – I couldn’t really taste much. But, after allowing it to cool just a couple of minutes, the flavor exploded! Now I taste rich, incredible flavors! All at once, I can taste hints of malt, cocoa and caramel, while a sweet plum flavor lingers in the distance.
The cup is incredibly smooth and rich, and free of any of the bitterness that is normally associated with an Assam. There is some astringency to it, but it is a very gentle, cleansing astringency. The finish is sweet.
This tea does not need anything added to it. I suppose it would be alright if you chose to add milk or honey or something, but please do try it straight first. If, after allowing it to cool those first couple of minutes, and after taking a sip, the tea doesn’t taste as amazing as I’m describing, then, by all means, add something to it. But, I really don’t think you’ll want to after that initial sip.
Ye Sheng Wild White Tea from Canton Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where To Buy: Canton Tea Company
Product Description:
Other names: Wild White
This is a glorious, limited edition tea with a great story. This tea farm was once owned by the government but had been abandoned for many years and the tea bushes were left to grow wild. Our producer recognised the potential in the farm, the natural tea bushes, the excellent terroir and particularly the yellowy, rocky soil – perfect for giving the tea a delicious mineral note. He bought up the estate and produced this great tea from the first, small harvest of all the tea bushes that had been left untouched, in a natural state for decades.
We are the only people in the UK (and probably anywhere outside China) to have this tea. It is an ideal all-day, summer tea, very soft on the palate with a creamy depth and a satisfying full-bodied, warm fruity note, lifted by the mildest hint of flint (from that excellent ground).
Taster’s Review:
I find myself somewhat surprised when I hear someone say “I don’t like white tea.” It is such a blanketing statement and it almost irks me because I have learned that just because I have tried one white tea, does not mean that I’ve tasted them all. There are many white teas out there, each with their own unique nuances. Just because you may not like one that you’ve tried, doesn’t mean that you’ll dislike all of them.
This is a wonderful white tea that is so very different from others that I’ve tried.
The dry leaf smells a bit like hay, and it keeps that fragrance after its been brewed. The liquor is such an enchanting color. So pale, almost like alabaster!
After seeing such a lightly colored liquor, I figured that the flavor would be equally as light. And, it does start out that way. But by the time I’ve reached the bottom of the cup, the flavor and body have both developed significantly.
The flavor is very pleasantly sweet with a mild undertone of citrus and wood. It feels incredibly soft on the palate, almost creamy, which seems to encourage my taste buds to taste a cream-like flavor as well. These delightful flavors intensify as I continue to sip it, and by the time I reach the end of my cup, I recognize it as a bright, full-bodied, delicious cup of tea.
I highly recommend this one!
Single Mountain: Yiwu Wild Arbor Sheng (2004) from Verdant Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pu-erh
Where to Buy: Verdant Tea
Product Description:
Mt. Banzhang is considered the absolute top of the line in pu’er leaf, but Mt. Yiwu is giving Banzhang a run for its money. The art of pu’er in Yiwu is thriving and threatening to take 1st place. Compare this to the American cheese and wine movement that is finally strong enough to hold its own against France. Because Yiwu is not yet as famous, the tea is much more affordable, even certified single origin bricks like this one. Buy a brick if you can and watch this tea age into some of the best. In ten years it may be much more difficult to even obtain Yiwu leaf for import.
To Learn More, click here.
Taster’s Review:
This is Pu-erh? I found myself questioning it the moment I opened the pouch and noted the aroma, which was not strong nor as earthy as a typical Pu-erh. The earthiness is very slight, smelling a bit more like mushrooms to me than earth. The brewed liquor takes on a slightly stronger earthy tone, but, still, not nearly what I’ve come to prepare myself for when I drink Pu-erh. There are lingering notes of wood, reminding me of a walk through the forest – again, not so much of the smell of the earth in that forest, but the trees and the surrounding air which is enhanced with a hint of smoke from a nearby cabin.
The complexity of the aroma translates into the flavor. I taste a fruit note in this cup – something I can’t ever recall noticing in another cup of Pu-erh. It is not a strong flavor, but more of a whisper of a flavor in the background, a mystery that is hidden behind the solid notes of wood and spice. The spice tones start out “almost” peppery – almost but not quite. As I continue to sip, I find that the peppery tones develop somewhat, but it remains a subtle spiced note.
The tasting notes on the Verdant Tea website suggest a hibiscus tone, but I have to say that I don’t really notice hibiscus. Perhaps a hint of tartness from the berry/fruit notes that I mentioned earlier, but as I don’t like hibiscus, and I am enjoying these fruit notes, I don’t taste hibiscus when I taste the berry-like flavor; but I can see where the comparison to hibiscus is made.
It is incredibly smooth with no astringency or bitterness. The body is lighter, delivering a taste that is not quite as heavy as a typical Pu-erh. It has a light sweetness that is not so much the caramel-like sweetness that I’ve come to appreciate in Pu-erh … it’s different, but no less enjoyable. In fact, that this IS different, it becomes even more enjoyable; intriguing me to continue to sip so that I may pinpoint what it is I taste.
Subsequent infusions seem to deliver more complexity. Just as the previously mentioned tasting notes from Verdant Tea suggests, the berry/hibiscus-y notes develop into more of a tart apple taste. I can really taste the cedar notes now. The spice has developed as well, a light peppery note without those high spice notes. A subtle, low pepper tone.
If you’re new to Pu-erh, I think that this would be an excellent Pu-erh with which to start. If you’re a seasoned Pu-erh veteran, I would still recommend trying this Pu-erh for its unique set of flavors, you may find it to be a deliciously different addition to your tea cupboard.
An exquisite Pu-erh (and I really don’t think I’ve used exquisite to describe a Pu-erh before!)