Kathy's Digital Log

July 11, 2005

Marco Polo

Name: Marco Polo
Kathy's Rating: 8.0/10.0
Company: Mariage Freres Teas
Origin of tea: China/Tibet
Price: $18/3.5oz (100g)
Tea form: Loose black tea with fruity and floral scents.
What they say: Uncontested success of Marriage Freres, this secret mixture will make you travel to remote and mysterious regions. The scents of flowers and fruits from China and Tibet confer a single velvety flavor. Presents an extraordinary bouquet for the most mythical of the scented teas.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea and steep for 4 minutes.
Review: I have read a lot of good reviews about Mariage Freres Teas, and finally got the chance to try one of their teas. I have to say that I'm not disappointed. This was a very good tea. When I opened the hermetically sealed (they're not kidding) tin, a strong aroma of chocolatey spices and florals rushed out. I was worried that the taste would be overwhelming, but it was surprisingly mild. However, the mildness is good, not bland. I imagine that this tea is dubbed 'Marco Polo' because Mariage Freres wanted to evoke the imagery of the Silk Road, and of Marco Polo drinking such a tea blend. I recommend this tea highly - it also makes a good iced tea (hey, it's summertime).

Posted by Kathy at 10:29 PM | Permalink

February 12, 2005

Valentines Tea

Name: Valentines Tea
Kathy's Rating: 8.5/10.0
Company: Adagio Teas
Origin of tea: Sri Lanka
Price: $6/4oz (~113.4g)
Tea form: Loose Sri Lankan (Ceylon) black tea with rose petals.
What they say: What could be better than a chocolate-dipped strawberry for your Valentine? Simple: The rich taste of dark chocolate and fresh summer strawberries, without love handles! Our new, improved formulation of the amorously rich Valentine's Day Tea has the tantalizing taste without guilt that usually follows. With delicate rose petals and sweet strawberry pieces, your Valentine is sure to fall in love.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 5 minutes.
Review: First of all, I'm not really a big fan of Valentine's Day. It's a marketing ploy to boost lackluster profits following the holiday month of December. That said, I still couldn't resist posting something having to do with Valentine's Day for those who would indulge in the event.

Back in January, when I ordered Adagio Tea's entire herbal line to sample and write reviews on them, I also received a free sample of Valentines Tea. I figured I'd wait until around Valentine's Day to write a review about it. So here it is.

This is a black tea scented with chocolate, and interlaced with rose petals - very appropriate for Valentine's Day. Upon opening the tin, this tea earned my approval with its enticing, rich, dark chocolate aroma. I hoped then, the taste would also wow me. Well, wow me it did. Drinking the tea reminded me of really good 60-70% cacao content chocolate, which I love to eat. You really have to try the tea to believe it, so I suggest getting online and ordering some for yourself, especially if you're a dark chocolate fan.

Note: I noticed that Adagio Teas changed the formulation of this tea by adding strawberry bits. I have no idea how this alters the overall flavor of the tea. You should keep in mind that my review is based on the old formulation, which looks to be just like the new blend, without the strawberries. I'm not sure what they're thinking at Adagio Teas, but I certainly would not mess with something that already works.

Posted by Kathy at 09:33 AM | Permalink

February 09, 2005

Keemun Supreme

Name: Keemun Supreme
Kathy's Rating: 5.5/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $10/50g (~1.8oz)
Tea form: Loose black tea.
What they say: Keemun is the famous China "Red" tea. The small, tightly rolled, high-grade leaves yield a mighty rich brew.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water onto tea and steep for 3 minutes.
Review: This is a fairly typical Chinese black tea. I should mention that the Chinese actually call black tea 'red' tea, while the Western world thinks of red tea as rooibos, which is actually not made from Camellia sinenesis. This can be confusing to tea newbies.

The taste of Keemun Supreme is very bold, with almost a coffee-like liquor. Somehow, I thought this was kind of a ho-hum tea, so I rated it just above mediocre. This tea is probably the closest to being an English breakfast tea of all the Chinese black teas I've tried. I'm definitely interested in picking up some other Keemun teas from various merchants, just to see how this particular one ranks against them. Stay tuned for more Keemun tea reviews.

Posted by Kathy at 09:54 PM | Permalink

February 06, 2005

Pear & Pomegranate

Name: Pear & Pomegranate
Kathy's Rating: 6.5/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $5/50g (1.76oz)
Tea form: Loose pear and pomegranate flavored black tea.
What they say: A blend of China black tea with natural fruit flavors and scents. Pomegranates with a tart but fresh taste and pears produce a sweet, light flavor. The two working together yield a truly singular effect. A sophisticated blend that can be enjoyed any time of day. Exceptional with dessert.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 4 minutes.
Review: Tealuxe is usually pretty good at creating fruit blends. This tea is no exception to that norm. Pear & Pomegranate has a smooth, slightly fruity taste that is mostly pear. I could not really taste the pomegranate at all. This is really a pear black tea.

As far as the black tea component goes, it's not of the highest quality. But then again, why use the highest quality black leaf tea, just to have that taste overpowered by the pear? Still, I can't help but wonder what a pear infused Tippy Yunnan would be like? Probably even better than this still pretty decent blend.

Posted by Kathy at 09:48 PM | Permalink

January 31, 2005

Lapsang Souchong Imperial

Name: Laspsang Souchong Imperial
Kathy's Rating: 2.0/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $5/50g (~1.8oz)
Tea form: Loose, smoked black tea.
What they say: The Best China Lapsang Souchong we have found yet. Superior in flavor. Very smoky, yet quite mellow.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water onto tea and steep for 4 minutes.
Review: Earlier, I reviewed another Lapsang Souchong here. I thought I'd give this another shot, and see if I would like Lapsang Souchong better this time around.

Well, not really. The infusion still smells horrible. Remember those scratch-and-sniff smelly stickers? This tea smells like the football sticker. Yep, like a fresh rubber skid mark on asphalt in the summertime. The taste was slightly better, but not by a whole lot.

So, what can you infer from my rating for Lapsang Souchong? Only that I personally don't have a taste for it. I'm aware that there are people out there who really like this tea variety. Also, you can infer that Tealuxe's Lapsang Souchong is better than Twinnings, or, as I should put it, the lesser of the two evils.

Posted by Kathy at 10:14 PM | Permalink

January 27, 2005

Victorian Rose Tea

Name: Victorian Rose Tea
Kathy's Rating: 7.0/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $5/50g (1.76oz)
Tea form: Loose China black tea with rose petals.
What they say: China black tea prepared by hand in the traditional 'Congou' method. [Kathy's note: 'Congou' tea is finer quality China black tea, according to this site.] The tea is then naturally flavored by repeated layering with fragrant rose petals. The resulting tea is quite pleasant, smooth drinking and fragrant.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea leaves. Infuse for 4 minutes.
Review: I brewed this tea along with Republic of Tea's Rose Petal Tea. Both are China black teas scented with rose. I was careful to brew both teas with the same water source, and infused both for 3 minutes. I know that Tealuxe recommended 4 minutes, but I like to avoid the bitter taste of tannins by not brewing black teas too long. You can read my review of Rose Petal Tea here if you're interested.

As it turns out, I'm glad I didn't brew this tea for 4 minutes. It was plenty strong at just 3 minutes. So, if you really like strong tea, go ahead and infuse for longer than 3 minutes.

I really liked this tea. The infusion has just the right amount of strength that I expect from a black tea. As I mentioned in my review of Rose Petal Tea, it is important to distinguish clearly between black and green teas. Rose Petal Tea was a bit too lackluster for my tastes. This tea, however, has a bolder taste, which is why I gave it a higher rating than Rose Petal Tea.

Overall, if I'm looking for a rose-scented tea, I'd probably still gravitate to TenRen's Rose Pearl Green Tea. Read that review here. But this tea would be second on my list for when I'm thinking of a zestier rose blend.

Posted by Kathy at 09:45 PM | Permalink

Rose Petal Tea

Name: Rose Petal Tea
Kathy's Rating: 6.5/10.0
Company: The Republic of Tea
Origin of tea: China
Price: $10.50/2.8oz (~80g)
Tea form: Loose China black tea with rosebuds and petals.
What they say: Tea for the Queen of Hearts - Royal tea blend has the light spice of delicate, young rose buds & petals atop the sweet fullness of China black tea. This Victorian tradition is perfect served in fine China cups for kings, queens, friends & loved ones.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Infuse between 3-5 minutes.
Review: I decided to compare this tea with Tealuxe's Victorian Rose tea. Both teas are loose black teas, scented with rose. I carefully prepared both infusions exactly the same way - same water source and same infusion time. If you are interested, you can see my review on Tealuxe's Victorian Rose tea as well.

Overall, I liked Republic of Tea's Rose Petal tea. The tea itself is visually stunning with full-sized rosebuds. I can see why this tea is seasonal and hard to find at retail stores - it must cost a bit more to process than most other teas Republic of Tea offers. The taste is surprisingly subtle for a black tea. I felt that the black tea base was perhaps a bit too subtle. I say this because I also have a green, rose-scented tea which I enjoy very much, because of its subtle, more vegetal taste. The review for that is here.

For a black tea, the taste should be richer and bolder than this one is. I'm looking for a significantly different taste for those occasions when I need something stronger than green tea. Otherwise, I'll just go back to the green rose-scented tea, which overall, I like the best of all the rose-scented teas.

Posted by Kathy at 09:33 PM | Permalink

January 10, 2005

Peachy White

Name: Peachy White
Kathy's Rating: 5.0/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $5/50g (1.76oz)
Tea form: Loose peach flavored black tea
What they say: A Tealuxe favorite. Peachy White combines a China black tea base with the natural essence of white peaches. They are just as juicy and aromatic as their yellow sisters, but considerably more sensual and flavorful.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 4 minutes.
Review: I was expecting this to be a white tea with peach flavoring, but it's a black tea with peach flavoring. If you're looking for a great peach-flavored tea, Teavana's Peach Oolong (which I've reviewed) is more likely to knock your socks off than this tea. I know that black tea is not the same as oolong tea, but this tea left an acidic taste that I didn't like, and that made me wish I was drinking Teavana's Peach Oolong instead.

Posted by Kathy at 09:03 PM | Permalink

Tippy Yunnan

Name: Tippy Yunnan
Kathy's Rating: 5.5/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $10/50g (1.76oz)
Tea form: Loose Yunnan black tea
What they say: Yunnan teas have a slightly sweet, spicy and smoky character. This one is quintessential with a full body and golden tippy leaf.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 4 minutes.
Review: China's Yunnan region is most famous for two types of tea - Yunnan black tea and pu-erh tea. This tea fits in the black tea category. I thought the taste was very bold, and definitely reminiscent of English breakfast tea. Although I have not reviewed it, Numi Teas makes a better Yunnan black tea than this one (Numi's has a richer taste). Also, given the choice of drinking Yunnan black tea or pu-erh tea, I much prefer the pu-erh tea, one of which I've already reviewed.

Posted by Kathy at 08:47 PM | Permalink

December 25, 2004

Holiday Tea

Name: Holiday Tea
Kathy's Rating: 6.5/10.0
Company: Harney & Sons Teas
Origin of tea: Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
Price: $3.75/5 sachets (4.5g/.16oz)
Tea form: Ceylon tea with citrus, almond, clove, and cinnamon flavors in silken sachets
What they say: A sweet, spicy and fruity fragrance that awakes the holiday spirit within.
Preparation method: Boil water and pour over sachet. Steep for 5 minutes.
Review: This tea smells wonderful - richly spicy and fruity at the same time. The actual taste is much more mellow, though - there's no sharpness or tartness to the taste - although I thought there should have been more spiciness to it. If you are the type of person who likes apple spice cakes and pumpkin pies, this is the kind of tea you want to drink while eating those types of desserts. This tea's moniker is very well-chosen, and does indeed conjure up images of the Christmas holidays. The rating for this tea is not higher than it is (6.5/10.0) because I can't tell by the ingredient listings what exactly is in there. I realize that blends are usually proprietary, but it surely wouldn't hurt to just list the ingredients (just not the quantity ratios)? Anyhow, I felt annoyed that I didn't know exactly what I was drinking.

Posted by Kathy at 03:20 PM | Permalink

Indian Nimbu Black Tea

Name: Indian Nimbu Black Tea
Kathy's Rating: 7.0/10.0
Company: Harney & Sons Teas
Origin of tea: India
Price: $3.50/5 sachets (11.2g/.4oz)
Tea form: Darjeeling tea with lemon and caramel flavors in silken sachets
What they say: Nimbu is Hindi for lemon and that, together with caramel flavor, is what was added to Darjeeling to get this wonderful tea.
Preparation method: Boil water and pour over sachet. Steep for 4 minutes.
Review: This is a tea that can be enjoyed with milk and sugar - although I enjoyed it very much without. The caramel flavor is pleasantly rich, and gives the Darjeeling tea a more complex note. If you are a caramel fan, this will be a favorite tea of yours. Although 'nimbu' means 'lemon', I didn't pick up any citrus undertones in this tea - there really weren't any. This tea blend does remind me of Harney's Wedding Tea, which I also reviewed, in that both are dessert-style teas. While this tea is good, I doesn't quite compare to finer Darjeeling teas (see my review for Mukaibari Estate's Darjeeling tea) and also is not as good a dessert tea as the Wedding Tea blend. This is why I gave it a 7.0/10.0 - very drinkable, but not spectacular.

Posted by Kathy at 02:29 PM | Permalink

November 15, 2004

Lapsang Souchong

Name: Lapsang Souchong
Kathy's Rating: 1.0/10.0
Company: Twinings Teas
Origin of tea: Fujian, China
Price: ~$2.39/25 tea bags
Tea form: Minced smoked black tea in tea bags
What they say: A golden tea with a very distinctive smoky character. Ideal when relaxing in the afternoon, or in the evening after dinner.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over the tea bag and steep for 3-5 minutes.
Review: This is the first Lapsang Souchong I've tried, so I did some research on how this tea is produced. This is a black tea that was traditionally laid out on bamboo trays with small openings and smoked with pine wood. Because of the bold smoky flavor, this is considered a man's tea. Whatever. I was very skeptical because I thought the tea bag smelled like tar, which isn't exactly the most enticing smell. However, I was relieved when tasting the tea that the bark is worse than the bite, so to speak, although the bark is truly horrific. The tea did dry my throat out though, so I had to follow up with drinking some water. I can't say I really enjoyed this tea or anything, so I'll just chalk it up as being an interesting experience and worth at least one try. As a tea drinking friend of mine remarked to me: "Lapsang Souchong was the vilest tea I have ever had!". Now that I've tried Lapsang Souchong, I will be on the lookout for other brands of Lapsang Souchong to try in the future - but only because I'm curious as to whether it's Twining's fault, or if all Lapsang Souchong is truly this bad.

Posted by Kathy at 08:19 PM | Permalink

November 09, 2004

Organic Darjeeling

Name: Organic Darjeeling
Kathy's Rating: 8.0/10.0
Company: Hampstead Tea & Coffee Company
Origin of tea: India
Price: ~$11/125g (4.38oz)
Tea form: Loose biodynamically grown black tea leaves
What they say: Our signature biodynamic and fairtrade Darjeeling leaf tea is a favourite for its clean, satisfying taste. It has a rich, smokey flavour with a delightful, mellow aroma. Enjoy the distinctive flavour on its own or add a splash of milk. The tea is harvested from the Makaibari tea estate in India, one of only a few owner-managed estates still in existence. The leaves are picked in the autumn when the sun is mild, imparting a gentle flavour. No artificial inputs are used at any point during farming or production. The entire system emphasises environmental responsibility.
Preparation method: Boil water and pour over tea. Steep for 3 minutes.
Review: I picked this tea up from Whole Foods Market thinking that I've never tried biodynamically grown tea before. Would the taste be better? Since I'm new to Darjeeling, I only had one other Darjeeling to compare against this one. The other Darjeeling I've tried - Twinings - I didn't like too much. See my review on it for more details. Makaibari Estate's biodynamic Darjeeling is another story. I thought this tea was so pure, clear, and non-bitter in taste that I wanted to send some to a friend who recommended that I try Darjeeling in the first place. I realize that there are probably those out there who would suggest to me that comparing Twinings tea bags against loose leaf tea is hardly a fair comparison. I will continue to acquire and taste difference Darjeelings because I agree with that sentiment. However, this tea so impressed me that I'm reluctant to drink any other Darjeeling.

Posted by Kathy at 07:58 PM | Permalink

November 08, 2004

Organic Earl Grey Tea

Name: Organic Earl Grey Tea
Kathy's Rating: 9.0/10.0
Company: Hampstead Tea & Coffee Company
Origin of tea: India
Price: ~$11/125g (4.38oz)
Tea form: Loose biodynamically grown black tea with bergamot oil
What they say: Our biodynamic and fairtrade Earl Grey tea is a refreshing alternative to the heavier versions on the market today. We have recreated the original formula of Earl Grey, a tea created for the second Earl of Grey after a successful diplomatic mission. Our Earl Grey uses the natural oil of the bergamot fruit, imparting a distinct but not overpowering flavour. The base tea is harvested from the Makaibari tea estate in India, one of only a few owner-managed estates still in existence. No artificial inputs are used at any point during farming or production. The entire system emphasizes environmental responsibility.
Preparation method: Boil water and pour over tea. Steep for 3 minutes.
Review: I picked this tea up from Whole Foods Market thinking that I've never tried biodynamically grown tea before. Would the taste be better? Black leaf Earl Grey tea is a good control case for me because I've tried many, many different brands of black leaf Earl Grey teas - probably between fifteen and twenty brands. Like most people, I'm definitely for avoiding pesticides whenever possible. Hampstead's - or more accurately Makaibari Estate's - black leaf Earl Grey tea is superb. It is the best black leaf Earl Grey tea I've ever had. The taste of bergamot is rich, but not cloying as some bergamot essences in other brands of bleak leaf Earl Grey can be. This tea never produced bitter tones. Down to the last sip, the clarity of the aftertaste impressed me. If you like black leaf Earl Grey teas, then this tea should be your standard.

Posted by Kathy at 08:57 PM | Permalink

November 05, 2004

Darjeeling Tea

Name: Darjeeling Tea
Kathy's Rating: 4.5/10.0
Company: Twinings of London
Origin of tea: India
Price: $2.39/25 bags (50g/1.8oz)
Tea form: Darjeeling black tea in tea bags
What they say: A tea from the Darjeeling region of India, in the foothills of the Himalayas. Darjeeling is valued for its fine, delicate flavour and aroma and is considered the 'champagne' of teas.
Preparation method: Boil water and pour over tea bag. Steep for 3-5 minutes.
Review: I specifically bought and reviewed this tea because a friend of mine asked if I'd do a review of a Darjeeling tea. Just reading the description on the box describing Darjeeling as the champagne of teas, I was a bit wary. In my experience, Oolong tea takes that honor. I decided to put that thought aside though, and give this tea a shot. I think in some ways, Darjeeling is similar to breakfast blends. They are both robust. However, Darjeeling's undertones are more delicate, whereas the breakfast blends tend to buzz. Although I don't dislike this tea, it didn't exactly excite me either. I think it's because I can't quite think of the right occasion to drink it. If I'm feeling chilled, I would want something a bit more robust. In a more exploratory mode, I'd want something more exotic. Perhaps I need to buy more brands of Darjeeling and try them before I get a sense for where it belongs in my list. It could be that there are better purveyors of Darjeeling than Twinings of London out there.

Posted by Kathy at 09:58 PM | Permalink

Ceylon Breakfast Tea

Name: Ceylon Breakfast Tea
Kathy's Rating: 4.0/10.0
Company: Twinings of London
Origin of tea: Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
Price: $2.39/25 bags (50g/1.8oz)
Tea form: Ceylon black tea in tea bags
What they say: A blend of fine teas grown on the hillsides of Ceylon producing a rich liquor with superb flavour.
Preparation method: Boil water and pour over tea bag. Steep for 3-5 minutes.
Review: Ceylon Breakfast Tea is a stiff blend that turns water the color of dark coffee. I made a mental note to follow up with brushing my teeth so they don't get permanently stained. My dentist is very quick to point out tea stains, so I don't want to go there. Anyhow, I like breakfast blend black teas when I feel cold, for some reason. It's probably the same reason why denizens of cold climes like Russia and Finland are partial to vodka. In fact, I was in Finland just a few months ago walking around when it started pouring. We made it to a cafe, but were soaked and cold. I ordered a breakfast tea, and that really made the chills go away. I find it difficult to drink this tea if I'm not feeling cold or if I have to focus on getting a sit-down task accomplished. Teas are completely different from coffees, but if there were any teas that could be made 'honorary' coffees, this tea would be it, due to its extreme robustness.

Posted by Kathy at 09:32 PM | Permalink

November 03, 2004

Bouquet of Flowers Tea

Name: Bouquet of Flowers Tea
Kathy's Rating: 6.5/10.0
Company: Kousmichoff Tea
Origin of tea: France
Price: ~$12/125g (4.4oz)
Tea form: Loose black tea blend with natural flavoring
What they say: From Kousmichoff & Sons, founded in 1867 in St. Petersburg and revived in 1920 in Paris. Bouquet of Flowers features a blend of China, India and Ceylon teas with natural scents of lemon, bergamot, orange, lime and mandarin orange.
Preparation method: Boil water and pour over tea. Steep for 4-6 minutes.
Review: This is a full-bodied black tea with strong aromas of sweet citrus - not the sour citrus taste of herbal citrus teas. If you're a person who likes to get some caffeine in the morning, this would be a good breakfast tea for you. Just let the tea steep for a bit longer than 4-6 minutes to get a stronger flavor and more caffeine. I like this tea because it is vastly different from the Chinese and Japanese teas I usually drink. It feels like a special occasion, "there needs to be pastries served with the tea" kind of tea, but I digress. It stands fine on its own. One thing I've noticed with this tea: the leaves are very finely chopped, so make sure you are using a strainer or infuser of some type so that you're not sipping bits of the tea. Dilligent readers will notice that this review is very similar to my review of Prince Vladimir Tea, also from Kousmichoff Tea. The ingredients are almost exactly the same, except Bouquet of Flowers contains more citrus components, and no vanilla flavoring. Overall, Bouquet of Flowers is more mild in taste than Prince Vladimir. Unfortunately, like Price Vladimir tea, Bouquet of Flowers is flavored tea. Flavoring is a way to cut production costs of tea making - one that I disapprove of in a tea that is marketed for upscale grocers. That's why this tea was rated a 6.5/10.0. I expect more out of an upscale (more expensive) tea.

Posted by Kathy at 07:43 PM | Permalink

Chai Organic Spiced Black Tea

Name: Chai Organic Spiced Black Tea
Kathy's Rating: 5.5/10.0
Company: Tazo
Origin of tea: India and Ceylon
Price: ~$5/20 bags (52g/1.8oz)
Tea form: Crushed black tea leaves and various spices in tea bags
What they say: Organic Tazo Chai is an aromatic, sensual experience that comes from many exotic parts of the world. Rich Indian and Ceylon black teas are combined with spicy, sweet cinnamon, Madagascar cloves, and other spices from the Malabar Coast of India.
Preparation method: Boil water and pour over tea bag. Steep for 5 minutes.
Review: This is an extremely robust chai blend. I'm a big fan of chai, and will confess to drinking it most mornings for breakfast. However, the chai I drink is a concentrate sweetened with honey, which I blend with soymilk in an approximate 40:60 chai:soymilk ratio, depending on how much caffeine I need. This chai tea that I tried today is a bit overwhelming for me. Although I usually like my tea on the strong side, Tazo organic chai tea has black pepper as one of the ingredients. Yes, you read that correctly. Black pepper. Oh, and if that's not spicy enough, there's also ginger root and cinnamon bark. Whew! I'm definitely not a wimp when it comes to eating spicy foods, but I'm not sure I like my tea spicy. I did appreciate the cardamom and cloves that were also part of the mix. I could smell the cardamom in the tea bags from five feet away - I'm not kidding. I'd say if Tazo left out or reduced the black pepper, this would be just about perfect. Actually, if you're the type of tea drinker who likes to add sugar and milk, which I rarely do, this tea could come out pretty nicely.

Posted by Kathy at 06:33 PM | Permalink

November 01, 2004

Prince Vladimir Tea

Name: Prince Vladimir Tea
Kathy's Rating: 6.5/10.0
Company: Kousmichoff Tea
Origin of tea: France
Price: ~$13/125g (4.4oz)
Tea form: Loose black tea blend with natural flavoring
What they say: From Kousmichoff & Sons, founded in 1867 in St. Petersburg and revived in 1920 in Paris. Prince Vladimir is a spciy blend of Ceylon, China and India teas with a strong citrus flavor and vanilla undertones.
Preparation method: Boil water and pour over tea. Steep for 4-6 minutes.
Review: This is a full-bodied black tea with strong aromas of sweet citrus - not the sour citrus taste of herbal citrus teas. If you're a person who likes to get some caffeine in the morning, this would be a good breakfast tea for you. Just let the tea steep for a bit longer than 4-6 minutes to get a stronger flavor and more caffeine. I like this tea because it is vastly different from the Chinese and Japanese teas I usually drink. It feels like a special occasion, "there needs to be pastries served with the tea" kind of tea, but I digress. It stands fine on its own. One thing I've noticed with this tea: the leaves are very finely chopped, so make sure you are using a strainer or infuser of some type so that you're not sipping bits of the tea. The site I linked to is Dean and Deluca, which does charge a bit more for its products. You can probably find the same tea for a couple of bucks less elsewhere. The one thing I dislike about this tea is the use of 'natural flavoring'. Whether natural or artificial, flavoring should be avoided. Instead, the tea leaves should be processed with as much real bits of fruit and florals to achieve whatever the specified taste should be. In other words, the tea leaves should be allowed over a period of time, to absorb the flavoring of the real bits of fruits and florals mixed into it. To me, flavoring the tea by other means is a cop out of the proper way to scent the tea. Natural and artificial flavoring is more acceptable when producing budget teas, but this particular tea is clearly being marketed for upscale gourmet chains (Dean and Deluca's, for one). So, sadly, I can't bring myself to rate this tea higher than 6.5/10.0.

Posted by Kathy at 08:51 PM | Permalink