Kathy's Digital Log

July 02, 2007

Organic White Chai Tea

Name: Organic White Chai Tea
Kathy's Rating: 8.0/10.0
Company: Revolution Tea
Origin of tea: China
Price: $7.99/1.06oz (30.0g)
Tea form: Loose chai-infused white tea in biodegradable sachets.
What they say: Rich and wonderfully fragrant, this exquisite blend combines White Bai Mu Dan Leaf with cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom, all organically grown. White tea, whose silvery buds are the least processed of all teas, contains the highest amount of antioxidants.
Preparation method: Pour below boiling water (180F) over tea and steep for 5 minutes.
Review: This tea blends a mild and pleasing balance of chai components, of which the ginger portion is the most apparent. However, even the ginger essence is not very strong, so that I could still appreciate the white tea.
Since white tea is the most delicate of all the tea varieties, it is important not to overwhelm the tea with more robust flavors. Blending white tea with traditionally strong spices such as ginger and cardamom was a risk Revolution Tea took, and I'd have to say that they succeeded in creating a unique and enjoyable tea.
Full-disclosure: Organic White Chai Tea was a gratuitous sample sent to me from Revolution Tea. My policy is to rate free tea samples with the same unbiased standards with which I rate personally purchased tea. To read more about my personal thoughts on tea review ethics, see this post.

Posted by Kathy at 10:02 PM | Permalink

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

May 12, 2005

White Blueberry

Name: White Blueberry
Kathy's Rating: 7.0/10.0
Company: Adagio Teas
Origin of tea: China
Price: $7/1.5oz (~42.5g)
Tea form: Loose blueberry flavored white tea.
What they say: Premium white tea from Fujian region of China flavored with sweet blueberries. A wonderfully smooth and subtle treat, delectable both hot and cold. If you're new to white tea, this would be a good place to start.
Preparation method: Pour below boiling water (180F) over tea and steep for 7 minutes.
Review: This is a decent fruity white tea. I was a bit worried, since the smell of blueberries was quite strong. However, the taste of blueberries was much more subtle than the smell suggested, so that was good.
White tea itself has a very subtle taste, so the blueberry flavor dominates this infusion. Therefore, if you like blueberries, then I recommend this tea. Otherwise, if you're looking for a more robust underlying tea taste, then perhaps you can try a blueberry black tea instead. Adagio does sell one, but I haven't tried it.
Full-disclosure: Blueberry White was a gratuitous sample sent to me from Adagio Teas. My policy is to rate free tea samples with the same unbiased standards with which I rate personally purchased tea. To read more about my personal thoughts on tea review ethics, see this post.

Posted by Kathy at 09:33 PM | Permalink

April 24, 2005

Vanilla Rooibos

Name: Vanilla Rooibos
Kathy's Rating: 9.5/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: South Africa
Price: $4.50/2 oz.
Tea form: Loose rooibos pieces scented with vanilla.
What they say: Rooibos flavored with authentic Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over rooibos and infuse for 5 - 6 minutes.
Review: This is one great infusion that I keep coming back to. It's not caffeinated, which means I can drink it all day and night if I want to. I'm also hard-pressed to think of a more suitable infusion combination than rooibos and vanilla.

Rooibos has a slightly buttery flavor to it, and when vanilla is added to rooibos, the result is very dessert-like. I reviewed Celestial Seasoning's Madagascar Vanilla Red Rooibos Tea earlier. This is the same infusion as Celestial Seasonings' Vanilla Rooibos, but I like Teavana's better. Somehow, the taste of vanilla feels less artificial in Teavana's blend. I've also tried other scented rooibos from Teavana, but not liked it as much as vanilla-scented rooibos. As far as perfection goes, this infusion is pretty close to it.

Posted by Kathy at 01:25 PM | Permalink

March 25, 2005

Tea in the US

I've finally run out of teas at my place to review. So, that means a load of tea buying is going to occur soon. I noticed that Stephane in Taipei read some of my reviews and had the following comment:

... you can see that in the US people almost exclusively buy branded teas... and are willing to pay good prices for few tea leaves.

That's an interesting observation, but speaking from experience as someone who lives in the US, I can say that Stephane's observation is only partially true. Sure, Americans buy mostly branded teas. By 'branded' I'm assuming Stephane means tea that's distributed by larger franchises. However, I think the number of people 'willing to pay good prices for a few tea leaves' is not that high. Let me go into more details on both of those observations...

Undoubtably, coffee is much more popular than tea in the US. Just go into a Starbucks, and you'll see that the ratio of folks ordering coffee over tea is quite high. It almost seems like tea is supplied as an afterthought at more coffeehouses. Don't even get me started about teahouses - there are not nearly enough of them.

Now, knowing what I said in the previous paragraph, you can see why there are almost no 'unbranded' teas being sold. How could someone hope to open a mom-and-pop tea shop selling generic teas around here and do a brisk business when many folks who think of drinking tea will just go to Starbucks? I'll bet in Taiwan, tea shops are plentiful. The last time I was in Taiwan, I didn't check for tea shops, so don't quote me on that.

I think many folks in the US have rather low expectations for tea. That is to say, tea connoisseurs are rare. Here, I routinely see folks order their 'venti, skim, caramel mocha with no whipped cream', but couldn't tell you the difference between black and green tea. Whereas coffee is more of a way of life here, tea is a cyclic fad. 'Quick! Buy some tea, I hear it has antioxidants!'

I think I only know a few people who are as interested in drinking tea as I am. These are people who like tea for its own sake and care very little about its health benefits. It's a lot of fun to talk to these friends about tea. These are also the only people I know who are willing to drop some dough on good tea. So, going back to Stephane's obsrvation about people in the US spending serious money on tea: I wish that was true, but it's not. If it was true, then perhaps we'll see more generic family-run tea shops popping up to compete with the larger distributors.

Posted by Kathy at 11:15 PM | Permalink

March 01, 2005

Berry Blast

Name: Berry Blast
Kathy's Rating: 5.5/10.0
Company: Adagio Teas
Origin of tea: China
Price: $7/5oz (~141.7g)
Tea form: Loose bits of fruit and spices.
What they say: A delicious blend of natural fruits and spices that brews up a mouthwatering cup of herbal tea. Entirely caffeine free, it holds a special appeal for kids and sweet-toothed adults. Yet contains no sugar or other sweeteners. The flavor is all natural, emanating from black currants, raspberries, elderberries, bilberries, hibiscus flowers and rosehip peels. Highly addictive; Please proceed with caution!
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 6 minutes.
Review: Earlier, in my review of Fruit Medley, I voiced apprehension about Berry Blast. So, I was prepared to find this tea unpleasant. Well, as it turns out, Berry Blast is a lot better than Fruit Medley, Strawberry Patch, and especially that icky Dewy Cherry blend. Not tons better, mind you, just somewhat better. This is because the taste is not nearly as tart as the other blends mentioned above have been. So, I was actually able to finish drinking the entire cup without puckering. If you're looking for a berry-based herbal tea from Adagio, this is definitely the best of the bunch.

Posted by Kathy at 10:55 PM | Permalink

February 28, 2005

Spicy Lemon

Name: Spicy Lemon
Kathy's Rating: 5.5/10.0
Company: Adagio Teas
Origin of tea: China
Price: $7/5oz (~141.7g)
Tea form: Loose bits of fruit and spices.
What they say: A delicious blend of natural fruits and spices that brews up a mouthwatering cup of herbal tea. Entirely caffeine free, it holds a special appeal for kids and sweet-toothed adults. Yet contains no sugar or other sweeteners. The flavor is all natural, emanating from lemon and orange peels, apples, currants, pineapple, papaya, hibiscus flowers and rosehip peels. Highly addictive; Please proceed with caution!
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 6 minutes.
Review: Spicy Lemon is a just above mediocre blend from Adagio. There's nothing spicy about it, and I think Adagio should have added some kumquat bits and perhaps a few peppercorns or ginger to spice it up so that it lives up to its moniker. However, barring that, this was an OK tea. If you're looking for a citrus tea from Adagio, I liked the Blood Orange blend better. Here's a review of it.

Posted by Kathy at 11:00 PM | Permalink

February 21, 2005

Jasmine Chur Shi Estate

Name: Jasmine Chur Shi Estate
Kathy's Rating: 7.5/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: China
Price: $4/2 oz.
Tea form: Loose green tea scented with jasmine blossoms.
What they say: Chinese green tea flavored with jasmine oil and flower petals.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water over leaves and infuse for 2 - 2.5 minutes.
Review: I am partial to jasmine green teas, and this is a very good tea to try. The taste is clean, with strong floral notes. Be careful not to oversteep, as this tea can turn bitter when infused too long. However, I still prefer the 'pearl' formed jasmine teas over the broken leaf forms. This tea included jasmine flower blossoms, which is very unusual. The traditional method of processing calls for picking the tea leaves out of the blossoms rather than leaving the blossoms in the leaf mixture. Overall, though, I liked this tea quite a bit, and would recommend it to anyone.

Posted by Kathy at 07:27 PM | Permalink

February 20, 2005

Pina Colada

Name: Pina Colada
Kathy's Rating: 6.0/10.0
Company: Adagio Teas
Origin of tea: China
Price: $7/5oz (~141.7g)
Tea form: Loose bits of fruit and spices.
What they say: A delicious blend of natural fruits and spices that brews up a mouthwatering cup of herbal tea. Entirely caffeine free, it holds a special appeal for kids and sweet-toothed adults. Yet contains no sugar or other sweeteners. The flavor is all natural, emanating from a mix of ripe pineapple, savory coconut, fresh apples, rose hip and hibiscus flowers. Highly addictive; Please proceed with caution!
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 7 minutes.
Review: I used to love drinking non-alcoholic pina colada 'cocktails' as a kid, and was hoping this tea would invoke that past. To that end, I'm somewhat disappointed. Upon opening the tin, the strong aroma of coconuts seemed promising. Once I infused the tea, though, I realized there was practically no coconut taste to this tea.

That's why this tea didn't get a very high rating. There needs to be more coconut in here! The pineapple bits were a nice touch, and overall, the tea is somewhere between mediocre and good. I'll bet more coconut flavoring will improve things quite a bit. After all, coconut is the strongest component of a non-alcoholic pina colada drink.

Posted by Kathy at 01:25 PM | Permalink

February 19, 2005

Blood Orange

Name: Blood Orange
Kathy's Rating: 6.5/10.0
Company: Adagio Teas
Origin of tea: China
Price: $6/4oz (~113.4g)
Tea form: Loose bits of fruit and spices.
What they say: A delicious blend of natural fruits and spices that brews up a mouthwatering cup of herbal tea. Entirely caffeine free, it holds a special appeal for kids and sweet-toothed adults. Yet contains no sugar or other sweeteners. The flavor is all natural, emanating from orange peels, hibiscus flowers, apple pieces, rose hip and safflower. Highly addictive; Please proceed with caution!
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 7 minutes.
Review: I was thinking of the review I wrote a while back on Tazo's Wild Sweet Orange herbal infusion as I was preparing this tea, so I was ready to be disappointed. The question in my mind was - should I even bother to try this? Well, I'm glad I did. This orange infusion was tons better than Tazo's blend.

For starters, the orange was actually a bit sweet, not citric acid sour. I think the apple and orange peel bits complimented the blood orange flavor. If I was a bigger citrus herbal tea fan, I would have definitely rated this tea higher, but coming from me, a 6.5/10.0 is a high rating for a citrus tea.

Posted by Kathy at 11:25 AM | Permalink

February 18, 2005

Chamomile

Name: Chamomile
Kathy's Rating: 6.0/10.0
Company: Adagio Teas
Origin of tea: China
Price: $6/4oz (~113.4g)
Tea form: Loose chamomile blossoms.
What they say: Chamomile is one of the oldest garden herbs, whose reputation as a medicinal plant shows little signs of abatement. Considered a universal remedy by the ancient Egyptians, Chamomile continues to be used today to battle illness, promote calm and relieve anxiety at bedtime. As a tisane (herbal tea), it is naturally caffeine-free. The finest varieties of Chamomile, of which our tea is great example, continue to come from Egypt. If you have yet to try it, you'll be pleasantly surprised by its superior flavor.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 7 minutes.
Review: I haven't had a great experience with chamomile teas in the past. There's something about chamomile that makes the infusion taste flat and bland. I think chamomile is much better as a small note to a more flavorful base. That said, Adagio's chamomile tea is not bad at all, considering my past experiences.

That's not to say I thought this tea was spectacular - just that I thought it better than most chamomiles. That's why I rated this herbal tea a 6.0/10.0. Better than mediocre, but not drink-several-cups better. If you're a chamomile fan, you should definitely try this tea, though.

Posted by Kathy at 11:15 PM | Permalink

February 17, 2005

Yin-Hao Special Grade Jasmine

Name: Yin-Hao Special Grade Jasmine
Kathy's Rating: 7.0/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $10/50g (~1.8oz)
Tea form: Loose jasmine scented green tea.
What they say: The choicest of the standard grades of Jasmine tea. Delicate flavor with a natural sweetness that is enhanced by the subtle aroma of the finest Jasmine flowers.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water onto tea and steep for 3 minutes.
Review: There are so many jasmine teas out there that I should try and clarify for tea newbies. First of all, most Chinese jasmine teas are green tea based. There are some black tea based jasmine teas, but the greens are the most well-known. Among green jasmine teas, there are the rolled gunpowder (or pearl) forms, and there are the loose-leaf forms. The loose-leaf form can vary from higher quality whole or near-whole leaves to lower-quality broken pieces of leaves.

This jasmine green tea falls in the loose-leaf form category. If you order jasmine green tea in a Chinese restaurant, you'll likely get this type of tea, assuming you get loose tea and not teabags. To me, there's a comforting sense about this tea, because it evokes memories of dimsum feasts. How does this tea rank? Pretty well, although definitely not up to the quality of pearl jasmine green teas. The jasmine scent isn't quite as intense or multi-dimensional as I'd like, but it's fairly decent, which is why I gave it a 7.0/10.0. If you're interested in pearl jasmine green teas, check out my TenRen review or Tealuxe review on them. They're both equally good, if not equally priced.

Posted by Kathy at 07:51 PM | Permalink

February 13, 2005

Thai Tea Blend

Name: Thai Tea Blend
Kathy's Rating: 7.5/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: Africa and Sri Lanka
Price: $5.50/2 oz.
Tea form: Loose black tea with rooibos, coconut, almonds, and vanilla flavoring.
What they say: A delightful Thai restaurant blend of black and red teas, Hawaiian coconut pieces, almonds, and authentic Madagascar vanilla beans. Enjoy this delicious tea chilled with milk and Rock Cane Sugar.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over leaves and infuse for 4 minutes.
Review: I'm a big fan of Thai iced tea drinks, so I was really looking forward to trying this Teavana blend. It was actually really good. Although it doesn't taste exactly like the tea mix used at Thai restaurants, it's very, very close. This is the kind of tea that would be great with sugar, ice, and cream in the summertime. I rated this tea a 7.5/10.0, which is a good rating. If you're a fan of coconut and vanilla (who isn't?), definitely try this tea. It's almost like having dessert.

Posted by Kathy at 03:09 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 10, 2005

Green Tea Mojo

Name: Green Tea Mojo
Kathy's Rating: 6.0/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: Sri Lanka, Japan
Price: $5/2 oz.
Tea form: Loose Sri Lankan black and Japanese sencha green tea with fruity and floral bits.
What they say: Full-leaf Ceylon black and Japanese Sencha green tea mixed with cactus blossoms, guava, strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb and sunflower petals.
Preparation method: Pour slightly boiling water over leaves and infuse for 2-2.5 minutes.
Review: This is an interesting blend of teas, but I thought Teavana way over-scented the fruity component of the blend. The guava was overwhelming here, and felt cloying. Also, I thought rhubarb was a very strange ingredient to add in a tea. Clearly, I never did understand why rhubarb and strawberries had to be combined in so many recipes. I think strawberries should stand alone.

Anyhow, although guava was a key component of Teavana's Empress of China blend, it was used to better effect there. This is because Empress of China has a black tea base, which is more complimentary with the intense fruity tones of the guava. For the record though, I still thought there was too much guava in Empress of China.

In a mostly green tea base such as Green Tea Mojo, the fruity component should be light, so that the delicate taste of the green tea isn't overwhelmed. That is why I didn't rate Green Tea Mojo as highly as I rated Empress of China. If you're interested, you can read my review of Empress of China here.

Posted by Kathy at 10:09 PM | 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 07, 2005

Fruit Medley

Name: Fruit Medley
Kathy's Rating: 4.0/10.0
Company: Adagio Teas
Origin of tea: China
Price: $7/5oz (141.7g)
Tea form: Loose bits of fruits and spices.
What they say: A delicious blend of natural fruits and spices that brews up a mouthwatering cup of herbal tea. Entirely caffeine free, it holds a special appeal for kids and sweet-toothed adults. Yet contains no sugar or other sweeteners. The flavor is all natural, emanating from a mix of raspberry, strawberry, hibiscus flowers, blackberry, apples, rose hips, elderberry and bilberry. Highly addictive; Please proceed with caution!
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 7 minutes.
Review: I just don't get it about Adagio Teas. On one hand, I know they are capable of producing sophisticated herbal blends. Foxtrot, which I reviewed here, comes to mind. On the other hand, Adagio has produced some of the most unpleasant herbal blends I have ever tried. Fruit Medley, Dewy Cherry, Strawberry Patch, and Apple Cantata are all pretty bad. I haven't gotten to Berry Blast yet, but I'm not holding my breath.

Fruit Medley tastes like a hot, watered-down Kool-Aid fruit punch mix, without the sugar. The color of the infusion is bright red too. All in all, this blend just seems very amateurish. Maybe that's what this is - a child's tea. My suggestions for improving this tea? Tone down the red color. If I wanted bright colors, I'd buy a pack of Gobstoppers. Also, go lighter on the acidic notes, which means reducing on the rosehips and tart berries. Instead, add some coconut, pear, or rooibos to 'sweeten' the blend.

Posted by Kathy at 10:02 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

February 03, 2005

Foxtrot

Name: Foxtrot
Kathy's Rating: 8.0/10.0
Company: Adagio Teas
Origin of tea: China
Price: $6/3oz (~85.0g)
Tea form: Loose chamomile flowers, rooibos, and bits of peppermint leaves.
What they say: Like the dance that inspired its name, our Foxtrot tea is an overnight success that will leave you giddy with joy. It is an herbal cocktail of Egyptian chamomile, South African Rooibos and fresh peppermint leaves. A soothing blend of familiar tastes that produces a pleasantly original combination. It is entirely caffeine-free. The spring in your step is due entirely to its enticing taste.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 7 minutes.
Review: This is quite a sophisticated herbal tea blend. I'm not a huge fan of chamomile, but the rooibos and peppermint managed to mask the taste of chamomile blossoms. The whole infusion has a sweet, almost vanilla-based taste, which I liked very much. The peppermint punctuates the overall taste in an invigorating way. If you've been reading my earlier reviews of Adagio Tea's herbal infusions, you'll see that this is the first herbal infusion of Adagio's I rated quite highly. I'm happy to give credit where it's due, and this tea definitely earned its rating.

Posted by Kathy at 02:05 PM | Permalink

February 02, 2005

Young Hyson

Name: Young Hyson
Kathy's Rating: 5.5/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $5/50g (~1.8oz)
Tea form: Loose green tea.
What they say: China green tea with a natural plum-like sweetness. Steep only about two minutes.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water onto tea and steep for 4 minutes.
Review: Supposedly, this is a popular Chinese green tea. The "young" part of the tea moniker is due to the fact that the leaves are picked before the spring rainy season. Regular Hyson - as opposed to Young Hyson - is considered to be inferior in quality.

I thought this was a rather mediocre tea. It's fairly bold for a green tea, but not in an impressive way. If just seemed to me like this is a bold tea that falls flat on its face in terms of taste. In terms of Chinese green teas, Dragonwell has so much more character than Young Hyson. If you're interested, I even have a couple of reviews on Dragonwell here and here.

Posted by Kathy at 09:54 PM | Permalink

February 01, 2005

Pouchong Bao Lao

Name: Pouchong Bao Lao
Kathy's Rating: 6.5/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $10/50g (~1.8oz)
Tea form: Loose pouchong oolong tea.
What they say: Pouchong tea is slightly oxidized, producing a taste that is slightly "oolong." Our BAO LAO is exceptional with a strong vegetal flavor. Brew traditionally or Gung Fu style.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water onto tea and steep for 4 minutes.
Review: The term "pouchong" is used to describe the least oxidized variety of oolong teas. So, this tea is an oolong tea, which undergoes an oxidation process somewhere between black and green teas. Keep in mind that black teas are fully fermented before drying, while green tea is not allowed to ferment before drying.

This is a difficult tea to rate. I liked the light, clean taste of this tea, but there's not a lot of character to it. It's good, but not remarkable. So, I gave this tea a 6.5/10.0 because while I thought it was good, I didn't think it merited a higher rating. Pouchongs are probably a good place to start if you're a beginning oolong tea drinker.

Posted by Kathy at 08:43 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 28, 2005

Dragon Pearl Jasmine

Name: Dragon Pearl Jasmine
Kathy's Rating: 8.0/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $20/50g (~1.8oz)
Tea form: Loose jasmine-scented green leaf in gunpower form
What they say: An extraordinary jasmine tea. Two leaves and a bud scented with the finest jasmine flowers and then tightly rolled into pearl sized balls.
Preparation method: Steep 3 minutes at water temperatures around 180F (below boiling).
Review: A while back, I wrote a review on TenRen's Jasmine Pearl Green Tea, which is the same type of tea as this one from Tealuxe is. I brewed TenRen's blend again along with this new tea so I can do a taste test.

The verdict? There's no difference whatsoever between these two teas. In fact, I don't think I could tell the difference in a blind taste test. Both teas are wonderfully fragrant, although not cloyingly so. I infused both teas for four minutes and there's no bitterness at all. The 'pearl-rolled' leaves even unfurled the same way. I wouldn't be surprised if both of these tea suppliers got this tea from the same source. I rated both teas 8.0/10.0, which is a great score.

That said, when I need to restock on this tea, I will be going to TenRen instead of Tealuxe. Why? TenRen's price is more reasonable. At the price of $26/113.4g (TenRen) vs. $32/100g (Tealuxe), I can see where the better buy is. Please note that in my review of TenRen's Jasmine pearl Green Tea, I have $80/lb as the price. If you go to TenRen's page now, you'll see that the price has gone up. I used the current price (January 2005) rather than the price I had on my older review to make comparisons on these teas.

If Tealuxe's price was higher because of Fair Trade practices, or because it is a certified organic product, I would consider paying more for it. But since the higher price doesn't appear to be the result of those factors, I have a hard time justifying buying this particular tea from them.

Posted by Kathy at 08:18 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 17, 2005

Organic Silver Needle

Name: Organic Silver Needle
Kathy's Rating: 9.0/10.0
Company: Rishi Tea
Origin of tea: Fujian, China
Price: $25/4oz (113.4g/.25lb)
Tea form: Loose silver needle white tea.
What they say: Organic Silver Needle consists of only the young, silvery down-covered buds harvested in early spring. Silver Needle, known as Bai Hao Yin Zhen, is the most sought after white tea and only harvested for a few days each year in the northern districts of Fujian, China. The white tea bushes of Northern Fujian were domesticated from wild tea trees and exhibit silvery down-covered leaves that have been prized for their medicinal properties for more than 1000 years. Silver Needle has a clear, light golden infusion with a rich flavored body, unique savory aroma and sweet mellow finish.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water over tea. Steep for 4 minutes.
Review: Please see my review of TenRen's Silver Needle white tea for more background information. I prepared TenRen's Silver Needle white tea along with Rishi Tea's Silver Needle in order to cross compare. Both teas are wonderful and of high quality. Rishi Tea's Silver Needle made for a more visually striking infusion in that the buds are longer, larger, and greener, while TenRen's buds were more anemic looking. The taste of Rishi Tea's Silver Needle tea is more vegetal and earthy than sweet and smooth, which is also good in its own respect. It really depends on personal tastes. Personally, I preferred TenRen's Silver Needle just slightly over Rishi Tea's Silver Needle, but think everyone should try both.

Posted by Kathy at 12:15 AM | Permalink

January 16, 2005

White Down Silver Needle

Name: White Down Silver Needle
Kathy's Rating: 9.5/10.0
Company: TenRen
Origin of tea: Fujian, China
Price: $22/4oz (113.4g)
Tea form: Loose silver needle white tea.
What they say: White Tea is grown in the high mountains of Fujian province. Like Green tea, White teas undergo little processing. This purity may be what researchers from Oregon State University report may cause White tea to have a greater concentration of polyphenols than Green tea and therefore may have the strongest anti-cancer potential of all teas. White tea has the sweet aroma of fresh tea leaves and is unique in quality.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water over tea. Steep for 4 minutes.
Review: I didn't start out with a favorable impression of white tea, as my first experience wasn't that great. Over time, I've really come to appreciate white tea, though. In case you're wondering, white tea is actually the buds of the tea plant instead of the leaves, and is not allowed to ferment at all. It's called 'white tea' because the buds have little downy white hairs on them when harvested. Another name for this type of white tea is 'Yin Zhen', which translates to 'Silver Needle'. Today, I prepared TenRen's Silver Needle along with Rishi Tea's Organic Silver Needle, which I will also review.

The results? Both teas were spectacular. TenRen's Silver Needle tasted sweeter and had a smoother aftertaste, which was why it got a slightly higher rating, but really, both teas are star performers. I was careful not to over-infuse the tea, which would have given it a bitter taste.

Posted by Kathy at 11:49 PM | Permalink

January 15, 2005

Pear & Green Tea

Name: Pear & Green Tea
Kathy's Rating: 6.0/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: Japan
Price: $5/50g (1.76oz)
Tea form: Loose green tea flavored with pear.
What they say: This blend is a wonderful marriage of light green tea and pear flavors. Great hot or iced.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water over tea. Steep for 4 minutes.
Review: I'm guessing that this is a sencha green tea flavored with pear. As far as the pear flavoring goes, it wasn't overdone, which is nice. While I didn't think this was a spectacular tea, I didn't dislike it either. If you're a pear fan, you will probably like this tea. In fact, this tea may be even better iced, so if you're one of those people who only like iced tea, give this a try as well. I found some instructions for brewing loose-leaf iced tea here.

Posted by Kathy at 05:53 PM | Permalink

Strawberry Patch

Name: Strawberry Patch
Kathy's Rating: 4.0/10.0
Company: Adagio Teas
Origin of tea: China
Price: $7/5oz (141.7g)
Tea form: Loose bits of berries, rosehip, orange peel, and hibiscus flower.
What they say: A delicious blend of natural fruits and spices that brews up a mouthwatering cup of herbal tea. Entirely caffeine free, it holds a special appeal for kids and sweet-toothed adults. Yet contains no sugar or other sweeteners. The flavor is all natural, emanating from black currants, raspberries, elderberries, bilberries, hibiscus flowers and rosehip peels. Highly addictive; Please proceed with caution!
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 7 minutes.
Review: There's too little strawberry, and too much rosehip in this infusion. The taste was too sour for my liking, although I'll bet that it's high in vitamin C. So, at least I'm getting a dose of vitamin C. Other than that, there's not a lot of positives about this brew. If you like rosehip tea, perhaps this will suit you. I thought the rosehip was a bit overwhelming. If I were to improve this infusion, I would cut back on the rosehip (or get rid of it altogether), and up the amount of strawberries. Perhaps a touch of vanilla or almond will 'sweeten' the tea as well.

Posted by Kathy at 05:15 PM | Permalink

January 13, 2005

Dragonwell

Name: Dragonwell
Kathy's Rating: 6.5/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $10/50g (1.76oz)
Tea form: Loose green tea.
What they say: A superb grade of Dragonwell tea. One of the most popular grades of tea anywhere. Excellent aroma with a light body make this a desirable green tea.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water over tea. Steep for 3 minutes.
Review: Lung Ching (which literally translates to 'lung' - dragon, 'ching' - well) green tea is very famous in Chinese tea history. Probably, most dragonwell tea originates from the West Lake region of China. Back in December I posted a review of TenRen's Dragonwell. Today, I brewed TenRen's Dragonwell again, in order to compare with Tealuxe's Dragonwell.

One thing I noticed when the leaves started unfurling - TenRen Dragonwell tea leaves are less broken than Tealuxe's. In addition, the color of the tea leaves is a nice green for TenRen's Dragonwell, whereas, for Tealuxe's Dragonwell, the leaves are yellowish. The color of the liquid is about the same in both brews. The taste of TenRen's Dragonwell is somewhat more articulate and clean. Tealuxe's Dragonwell tastes a bit muddy, compared to TenRen's Dragonwell. So, that said, I liked both brews, but felt that Tealuxe's Dragonwell was about one point below TenRen's quality rating. Thus, I gave this tea a 6.5/10.0.

Posted by Kathy at 11:28 PM | Permalink

January 12, 2005

Apple Cantata

Name: Apple Cantata
Kathy's Rating: 4.5/10.0
Company: Adagio Teas
Origin of tea: China
Price: $7/5oz (141.7g)
Tea form: Loose bits of dried apple pieces, lemon peels, hibiscus flowers, and other fresh fruits.
What they say: A delicious blend of natural fruits and spices that brews up a mouthwatering cup of herbal tea. Entirely caffeine free, it holds a special appeal for kids and sweet-toothed adults. Yet contains no sugar or other sweeteners. The flavor is all natural, emanating from dried apple pieces, lemon peels, hibiscus flowers, and other fresh fruits. Highly addictive; Please proceed with caution!
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 7 minutes.
Review: This herbal infusion is better than the Dewy Cherry blend I reviewed earlier, in that it's less cloying and sour. I still didn't like this blend very much, though. There's definitely cinnamon added in this blend, which I thought was promising, but in the end, the cinnamon taste was barely discernable. I think Apple Cantata could also use some cloves and possibly, ginger to spice it up a bit. The overall taste just seemed too bland for me.

Posted by Kathy at 09:10 PM | Permalink

Dewy Cherry

Name: Dewy Cherry
Kathy's Rating: 3.5/10.0
Company: Adagio Teas
Origin of tea: China
Price: $7/5oz (141.7g)
Tea form: Loose bits of sour cherries, apples, orange peels, rosehip, and hibiscus flowers.
What they say: A delicious blend of natural fruits and spices that brews up a mouthwatering cup of herbal tea. Entirely caffeine free, it holds a special appeal for kids and sweet-toothed adults. Yet contains no sugar or other sweeteners. The flavor is all natural, emanating from sour cherries, apples, orange peels, rosehip, and hibiscus flowers. Highly addictive; Please proceed with caution!
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 6 minutes.
Review: When I opened the canister containing this herbal mix, I was immediately greeted with the strong fruity scent of cherries. In fact, the scent was so strong, it smelled almost like soap (I'm thinking about the Rose Soap made by Bee & Flower). Uh-oh. The extreme sourness of the taste that couldn't be discerned from the scent manifested itself in the infusion. Double whammy. I just really didn't like this brew. This is a real shame, since I love the concept of Adagio Teas. Despite the fact that I ordered only sample sizes of fourteen different herbal infusions (Adagio's entire herbal repertoire), each sample arrived beautifully contained in the neatest little tin canister (as opposed to a paper bag or envelope). On each tin was a label identifying the tea, as well as the water temperature and time duration to infuse the tea in. How cool is that? No more looking up recommended infusion times and water temperatures on the website while I'm downstairs in the kitchen making tea. No other vendor (so far) is this meticulous about both packaging and being user-friendly. Well, I have another thirteen herbal teas to try. Stay tuned for more Adagio reviews.

Posted by Kathy at 08:12 PM | Permalink

Gyokuro Imperial

Name: Gyokuro Imperial
Kathy's Rating: 8.5/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: Japan
Price: $15/2oz (56.7g)
Tea form: Loose gyokuro green tea.
What they say: The finest of Japanese teas, Gyokuro bushes are covered for several weeks before harvest with bamboo or straw shades to increase the chlorophyll content of the leaves. The results of this transformation are the renowned dark green leaves with high concentrations of anti-oxidants, vitamins and amino acids. Celebrated for its emerald green infusion and sweet aftertaste.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water over tea. Steep for 3 minutes.
Review: Amongst Japanese green teas, I usually drink sencha, so gyokuro is new to me. That said, I selected a gyokuro from Teavana, and a gyokuro from Tealuxe in order to cross-compare them. This way, I will have a stronger basis for rating the quality of gyokuro green tea (at least from more than one supplier). I was very careful to prepare the two samples exactly the same way. This was done by using the same pot of slightly below boiling water to infuse both teas, and allowing the two teas to infuse for the same amount of time (3 minutes). I really liked this tea. The taste was light and pure, with almost no bitterness. The liquid was clear light green in color, and the tea leaves were a vibrant green, with some of the leaves appearing to be almost completely unbroken (a sign of higher quality leaves). I also reviewed Tealuxe's gyokuro, which I thought was pretty good, but didn't like as much as this one. This tea inspired me to look into trying gyokuro from other suppliers, so stay tuned for more future reviews of gyokuro tea.

Posted by Kathy at 07:21 PM | Permalink

Gyokuro

Name: Gyokuro
Kathy's Rating: 7.5/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: Japan
Price: $10/50g (1.76oz)
Tea form: Loose gyokuro green tea.
What they say: A must try for green tea enthusiasts. Literally translated "Jewel Dew," this full body tea offers unparalleled sweetness.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water over tea. Steep for 3 minutes.
Review: Amongst Japanese green teas, I usually drink sencha, so gyokuro is new to me. That said, I selected a gyokuro from Teavana, and a gyokuro from Tealuxe in order to cross-compare them. This way, I will have a stronger basis for rating the quality of gyokuro green tea (at least from more than one supplier). I was very careful to prepare the two samples exactly the same way. This was done by using the same pot of slightly below boiling water to infuse both teas, and allowing the two teas to infuse for the same amount of time (3 minutes). Overall, I thought Tealuxe's gyokuro was pretty good. The taste is slightly more bitter and heavier than Teavana's gyokuro, which is why the rating is a bit lower. Interestingly enough, the color of Tealuxe's gyokuro has a slight brownish tinge compared to Teavana's gyokuro. This is probably because Tealuxe's gyokuro tea leaves are smaller overall, and contain more brown than Teavana's gyokuro tea leaves. If you're interested in my rating of Teavana's gyokuro, check it out here.

Posted by Kathy at 07:03 PM | Permalink

January 11, 2005

To Life Blend

Name: To Life Blend
Kathy's Rating: 6.0/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: China
Price: $10/2 oz.
Tea form: Loose white and green tea with scented rooibos.
What they say: An invigorating union of red, white, and green teas. combines the aroma of Rooibos Tropica, health benefits of rare Silver Needle and soothing undertone of Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls. Virtually no caffine. Good for multiple infusions.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water over leaves and infuse for 2-2.5 minutes.
Review: This is a very interesting blend. Silver needle white tea is very light and mild by itself, but in this case, has been supplemented by jasmine green tea and rooibos scented with orange peel. Actually, I think the bulk of the flavor comes from orange peel. I didn't like this infusion too much, but I should say that I'm not a fan of orange peel flavoring. As far as Teavana's signature blends go, I liked Empress of China much better. However, if you are a fan of orange-scented teas, this tea will likely make you happy.

Posted by Kathy at 09:10 PM | Permalink

Empress of China

Name: Empress of China
Kathy's Rating: 7.0/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: China
Price: $4.30/2 oz.
Tea form: Loose guava-scented green and black teas with bits of marigold, violet, and roses.
What they say: A fusion of green and black teas with guava, marigold and violet.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over leaves and infuse for 3-4 minutes.
Review: This has to be one of the most visually stunning tea blends I have ever seen. The marigold, rose, and violet petal colors definitely bring to mind the requisite silk robes of past Chinese empresses. The scent of guava is a bit overpowering, though. Not surprisingly, this was a very fruity tea. I'm not sure guava is the best scent for this tea combination. If I created this, I would have used lychee instead, which would have imparted a slightly sweeter tone to the tea blend. While I have not heard of a Chinese empress who was a big fan of guavas, the lychee fruit was the infamous Yang Gui-Fei's favorite. All in all, this blend was still very enjoyable, and would have rated higher if the guava scent was a bit more subtle.

Posted by Kathy at 06:48 PM | Permalink

January 10, 2005

China Oolong Restaurant Style

Name: China Oolong Restaurant Style
Kathy's Rating: 5.0/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $5/50g (1.76oz)
Tea form: Loose oolong tea
What they say: This organic oolong will remind you of the dark and smooth teas you're served at Chinese restaurants.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 4 minutes.
Review: True to its claim, this tea really does taste like Chinese restaurant tea. Unfortunately, that's not a good thing. This tea was highly fermented - it almost tasted like a black tea. Overall, it lacked the bold characteristic flavor of oolong teas. I thought it was more of a tea to wash dim sum down with rather than to enjoy drinking alone.

Posted by Kathy at 09:11 PM | Permalink

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

January 09, 2005

Gen-Mai Cha

Name: Gen-Mai Cha
Kathy's Rating: 8.5/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: Japan
Price: $10/50g (1.76oz)
Tea form: Loose Japanese green tea with toasted and popped brown rice
What they say: Bright, delicate Kyoto green tea mixed with toasted and popped rice. A visual treat like snow in the springtime. The roasty aroma is from the toasted rice. The flavor is mellow and unique. Sometimes called 'popcorn' tea.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water over tea. Steep for 3 minutes.
Review: Gen-Mai Cha (brown rice tea) became popular during WWII, when tea supplies were low. The Japanese added toasted and popped brown rice to green tea in order to conserve on the amount of precious green tea used in each infusion. This turned out to be a savory combination, and Gen-Mai Cha remains popular to this day. The flavor of toasted rice gives this tea a hearty and nutty flavor that retains lightness, all at the same time. I really liked this tea. It reminds me of eating piping hot rice on a cold day. Gen-Mai Cha seems to be the perfect tea for almost any food you may be eating. Do yourself a favor and buy some of this tea. You won't regret it.

Posted by Kathy at 04:00 PM | Permalink

Royal Coconut

Name: Royal Coconut
Kathy's Rating: 7.5/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $10/50g (1.76oz)
Tea form: Loose pouchong oolong tea with coconut flavoring
What they say: Like a sojourn in the South Pacific. Bold pouchong tea flavored with fresh coconut.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water over tea. Steep for 3 minutes.
Review: The term 'pouchong' pertains to the class of oolong teas that is the least fermented. This is one of the first (if not the first) flavored pouchong oolong teas that I have tried. The smell of this tea is very potent (mostly coconut) and tastes like a cross between oolong tea and coconut milk. The taste of the coconut is much subtler than I expected, which is a good thing. I rated this tea a 7.5/10.0 because while I liked it, I didn't exactly feel like drinking a second cup either. Overall, I recommend this tea, especially if you're a coconut fan, or if you're a pouchong fan looking for something with a bit more flair.

Posted by Kathy at 03:44 PM | Permalink

January 07, 2005

Strawberry Sencha

Name: Strawberry Sencha
Kathy's Rating: 6.5/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: Japan
Price: $5/50g (1.76oz)
Tea form: Loose sencha green tea with bits of strawberries
What they say: Rich Sencha leaf flavored with bits of strawberry and other red fruits. A delicious way to get to know green teas, but be careful, it's habit forming.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water over tea. Steep for 3 minutes.
Review: This tea was just a bit bitter, but I expected that from green tea. There's a very distinct strawberry taste which tells me that perhaps extra flavoring has been added. The sencha tea (a type of Japanese green tea) tastes clean and light. I probably would have rated this tea more highly if the strawberry taste was suggested, rather than so 'in my face'. It takes a long time to allow just the dried strawberry pieces to infuse their flavors into the dried tea leaves, so I can understand that adding natural flavors can cut down on that processing time. However, I think the longer process would make the strawberry taste more subtle, and thus, more enjoyable. Overall, this tea was not bad, but even a big strawberry fan like me thought the strawberry taste was a bit overwhelming.

Posted by Kathy at 11:50 PM | Permalink

January 01, 2005

Madagascar Vanilla Red Rooibos Tea

Name: Madagascar Vanilla Red Rooibos Tea
Kathy's Rating: 7.5/10.0
Company: Celestial Seasonings Teas
Origin of tea: South Africa and Madagascar
Price: ~$3/20 tea bags (42g/1.5oz)
Tea form: Herbal rooibos with vanilla flavoring and vanilla beans.
What they say: With its magnificent fragrance and lush taste, this naturally caffeine-free red tea flavored with real Madagascar vanilla beans resonates with the wonders of Africa.
Preparation method: Boil water and pour over sachet. Steep for 4-6 minutes.
Review: Rooibos (pronounced "roy-bus") is an African shrub from which the leaves are used to make this tea. Although rooibos tea is called red tea, it is not naturally caffeinated, nor are the leaves from the traditional tea plant known as 'Camellia sinensis'. In fact, the Chinese sometimes call black tea 'red tea'. This is not to be confused with African red tea, which is more like an herbal tisane. OK, now that I have gotten some of the semantics out of the way, let's move on to the taste. Rooibos tea is pretty mild on its own. I think it needs extra flavoring to give it a stronger character. Celestial Seasonings has done just that by adding a natural vanilla flavor and vanilla beans. I didn't think the vanilla taste was going to be very strong, but it was. I like this tea because it's great to drink before bed - no caffeine. The vanilla taste is very pleasant, and I would even call this tea a 'dessert tea'. I will confess that I have purchased International Delight coffee creamer (French Vanilla flavor) in the past - and drank it straight up. This tea reminds me of the creamer, without the sugar. Very creamy and perfect for before bedtime. I'm giving it a 6.0/10.0 as opposed to a higher score because I think the tea would taste even better if the ingredients were just rooibos and vanilla beans. This would obviously bump up the price of the tea (vanilla beans are costly compared to vanilla flavoring), but I think it would give the tea a richer and more sophisticated taste.

*Revision* (1/7/05)
I have decided to raise the rating for this tea. Initially, I gave it a 6.0/10.0, but now I'm modifying the score to 7.5/10.0. The reason I'm changing the score is because I have been drinking this tea before bedtime for nearly a week now, and it seems unfair not to rate a tea that I consistently drink more highly. I can only imagine that this tea might reach a 10.0 if it was processed as I suggested in the previous comments.

Posted by Kathy at 10:20 PM | Permalink

December 25, 2004

Dragon Well Green Tea

Name: Dragon Well Green Tea
Kathy's Rating: 7.5/10.0
Company: Ten Ren
Origin of tea: China
Price: ~$10/4oz (113.4g)
Tea form: Loose green tea
What they say: Ten Ren's First Grade Dragon Well is a good Dragon Well Green tea. This grade uses tender tea leaves picked during spring.
Preparation method: A steeping time of 1 to 2 minutes with about 70°C/160°F water is recommended, with an additional 15 seconds for each successive infusion. Use about 1 tablespoon (3 grams) of tea leaves for about every 5 ounces (150 ml) of water.
Review: 'Dragon Well' is a special name for green tea that originates from the West Lake area of Hangzhou, China. Compared to other green tea varieties, Dragon Well is more full-bodied and complex than most. However, in keeping with the character of green tea, it is still mild compared with say, black teas. This tea almost imparts a taste of the Chinese mung bean - which is used to make desserts such as ice cream and sweet fillings for buns.

My sister-in-law told me an amusing story about Dragon Well tea. She was part of a tour group in China visiting the West Lake region, and their Chinese tour guide warned them about buying Dragon Well tea from the vendors in the area. The warning was that some unscrupulous vendors may pick leaves off of the willow trees nearby, and sell them as Dragon Well green tea. But, the tourists could be spared of such an experience by only buying the tea from a specific factory that the tour guide will take them to. It turns out that the tour guide gets a hefty commission from the factory for bringing all the tourists to buy tea there.

Posted by Kathy at 03:43 PM | Permalink

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

December 21, 2004

Spring Cherry Green Tea

Name: Spring Cherry Tea
Kathy's Rating: 4.5/10.0
Company: The Republic of Tea
Origin of tea: Japan
Price: ~$10/3 oz (85g)
Tea form: Loose tea with Japanese sencha leaves, rose petals, and paklum flowers.
What they say: Beginner"s Mind Tea--The fresh essence of cherries and sweet taste of sencha leaves is welcoming introduction to green tea. Rose petals and white paklum (rare, white tea buds) add a sweet, floral note.
Preparation method: Steep 2-4 minutes at water temperature slightly below boiling.
Review: This tea blend smells faintly of cherry preserves, and evokes a feeling of hanami - the Japanese word for cherry blossom viewing. I knew this was going to be a pleasant tea. This tea is acceptable if you are looking for a simple green tea taste with something extra. I disagree that this is a beginner's tea - try a plain green tea first so you can fully appreciate the moderately floral tones of this tea. This is not a very high quality enhanced (scented) green tea. To me, this tea tasted like there's flavoring added in to cut the costs of relying solely on fruit and flowers to scent the tea. Although added flavoring brings the cost of production down, it really cheapens the taste of the tea. If you are interested in some references, I have a couple of high quality enhanced green tea reviews here, and here. This tea was still fun to drink, though. I drank it while reading a book.

Posted by Kathy at 08:32 PM | Permalink

December 12, 2004

Organic Wild Tree Pu-erh Tea

Name: Organic Wild Tree Pu-erh Tea
Kathy's Rating: 8.5/10.0
Company: Rishi Tea
Origin of tea: Yunnan Province, China
Price: ~$12/5oz (140g)
Tea form: Tea leaves compressed into small bowl-like structures
What they say: Known as Xiao Tuo Cha in Chinese, the name of this tea translates to “small bowl tea” due to its shape. Our Mini Tuo Cha is made with a select grade of Pu-erh which is hand harvested from 1300 year old tea trees on Jing Mai Mountain. Mini Tuo Cha has a surprisingly rich and sweetly flavored infusion with a big body and smooth finish not found in most Mini Tuo Cha grades. Each Mini Tuo Cha is individually wrapped and perfect for a single serving. Simply unwrap and steep 1 Mini Tuo Cha per every 8 ounce cup you wish to prepare. Like most Pu-erh, 1 serving of Mini Tuo Cha can be steeped many times.
Preparation method: Boil water and pour over tea bag. Steep for 30 seconds and discard just the water. Pour the rest of the water over the tea, and steep for 4-5 minutes before drinking.
Review: This is my first review of a pu-erh tea, which is processed in a different manner than the other tea categories - black, oolong, green, and white. In fact, this process is so different, pu-erh tea earns its own category within the tea family. You might wonder, how is the processing different? I did some research, and found a good source of information that explains pu-erh tea is actually post-fermented. This means like black tea, pu-erh tea is fully fermented. However, instead of the process ending after full fermentation, pu-erh tea is fermented a second time some time after the first fermentation process is stopped. So, the intense fermentation process explains why the pot of tea I made with pu-erh leaves yielded the darkest red-black liquid I have ever seen from a tea.

Given the color of the liquid, I expected the taste to be extremely strong. Surprisingly, the tea was incredibly mild (given the post-fermentation), with earthy notes. This is a really good tea that I really enjoyed! I'm a bit hard-pressed to give more details on why I liked it, because sometimes, I just like something not for a lot of specific reasons. I will say that this tea had a wonderful aromatic quality that never felt clingy, which reminds me, strangely, of perfectly cooked piping hot white rice. This is a tea that I can reflect with. Definitely, I would encourage you to try it. I will be looking for more pu-erh teas to review in the near future.

Posted by Kathy at 04:43 PM | Permalink

Sweet Cinnamon Spice Herbal Infusion

Name: Wild Sweet Cinnamon Spice Herbal Infusion
Kathy's Rating: 5.0/10.0
Company: Tazo
Origin of tea: Southeast Asia, India, Turkey
Price: ~$5/20 bags (44g/1.5oz)
Tea form: Crushed fruits and spices in tea bags
What they say: A big flavorful herbal tea swirling with cinnamon, star anise, and other fragrant notes. In a past life, perhaps you spent an evening sitting in Marco Polo's camp on a return trip from the spice markets of the Far East. This is the tea you were drinking.
Preparation method: Boil water and pour over tea bag. Steep for 5 minutes.
Review: Sweet Cinnamon Spice Herbal Infusion is very spicy and bold, with a slight hint of sweetness from the licorice and sarsaparilla roots. Sarsaparilla root has been used to make root beer. I liked this herbal brew. The cinnamon provides a mild bite and sharpness to the tea. Although orange peel is an ingredient in this blend, I didn't taste much of that. The way the licorice root taste sticks to the back of my palate bothered me - enough to keep my from really enjoying the tea.

Posted by Kathy at 04:11 PM | Permalink

Persimmon White Tea

Name: Persimmon White Tea
Kathy's Rating: 6.0/10.0
Company: The Republic of Tea
Origin of tea: Fujian Province, China
Price: $13/80g/50 tea bags (2.8oz)
Tea form: Tea bags
What they say: The Color of Royalty. Cultivated for centuries in China and honored for the royal red-orange color of its glossy skin, this succulent tangy-sweet fruit has a spicy finish.
Preparation method: Steep 30-60 seconds at water temperature slightly below boiling.
Review: When I opened this canister and sniffed at the contents, an overwhelmingly sweet, candy-like smell greeted my nose. I was afraid that the tea would be cloying, but surprisingly, it wasn't. If you read the 'What they say' section of this review, and expected the tea to be spicy and/or tangy, don't. I didn't taste spicy or tangy notes in this tea. Instead, the tea is fairly fruity, mildly sweet, and slightly earthy, which is a good combination - much better than spicy and tangy. This is a great tea for the tea drinker who likes more complex fruity teas - which can be hard to come by. This tea would have gotten a higher rating than its current 6.0/10.0 if real dried persimmon pieces had been included as opposed to using flavorings (whether artificial or natural) to scent the tea.

Posted by Kathy at 03:55 PM | Permalink

December 09, 2004

Chinese Flower Green Tea

Name: Chinese Flower Green Tea
Kathy's Rating: 6.0/10.0
Company: Harney & Sons Teas
Origin of tea: Unknown
Price: ~$3.50/5 sachets (.27oz)
Tea form: Loose flower and green tea bits in silken sachets
What they say: A beautiful blend of green teas and three types of flowers accented with citrus flavors.
Preparation method: Use slightly below boiling water and pour over sachet. Steep for 3 minutes.
Review: I love green tea when it's grey, cold, and rainy outside. This is definitely that kind of day. Chinese Flower Green Tea is probably not Chinese at all, but it's pleasant anyway. Since Harney and Sons Tea Company did not disclose the blend ingredients, I'm making a guess here. It looks like there are some rose petals, cornflower petals, and chamomile bits in the bags - in addition to the orange zest and green tea, of course. This tea is a decent blend. Overall, the tea is flowery and delicate, which has a relaxing effect, and the orange zest keeps it interesting. I wish this tea was slightly more flavorful - delicate doesn't have to mean flat. I'm thinking of a particular jasmine (now, that's a real Chinese flower) tea here, which I reviewed.

Posted by Kathy at 06:42 PM | Permalink

December 08, 2004

Iron Buddha Oolong

Name: Iron Buddha Oolong
Kathy's Rating: 5.5/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: China
Price: $10/2 oz.
Tea form: Rolled loose oolong leaves
What they say: Entirely hand picked and processed, this oolong originates from the Fujian Province of China. Very complex flavor with a hint of orchid fragrance.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over leaves and infuse for 3-5 minutes.
Review: Holy cow, this is one strong oolong tea! It's not that I'm against bold, complex teas or anything. It's just that this tea gave me such a massive headache, and made me feel about half as buzzed as a shot of espresso would. Needless to say, I did not enjoy this experience. The taste of Iron Buddha Oolong is definitely very strong, but there's no orchid flavor - I wonder where Teavana got THAT from? In fact, there's no floral in this at all - I did not consider this to be a delicate tea.

Posted by Kathy at 06:27 PM | Permalink

December 07, 2004

Ti Kuan Yin Oolong

Name: Ti Kuan Yin Oolong
Kathy's Rating: 5.5/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: China
Price: $7.50/2 oz.
Tea form: Rolled loose oolong leaves
What they say: A high quality semi-fermented tea from the Chinese Anxi County. Ti Kuan Yin translate from the Chinese to "Iron Goddess of Mercy." This oolong gets its name from the legend depicting its devine origins. Famous for its mild flavor and brownish-green infusion.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over leaves and infuse for 3-5 minutes.
Review: I did not have a great experience with Teavana's Iron Buddha Oolong, so I wan't quite sure how it was going to be with Ti Kuan Yin Oolong. In case you're wondering why I'm even associating the two oolongs, let me just explain that the word 'Ti', as in 'Ti Kuan Yin' means 'Iron'. So, both varieties of oolong - Iron Buddha and Ti Kuan Yin - both have the word 'Iron' in it. Uh-oh. Anyhow, since Ti Kuan Yin is a famous variety of oolong tea, I was more than eager to try it out. The first thing I noticed is that there really IS an iron taste to the tea. I have no idea if that's why it's called 'Ti Kuan Yin', but Iron Buddha Oolong had absolutely no iron taste to it, so maybe not. Believe me, I was surprised when at the first sip, there was a metallic aftertaste from Ti Kuan Yin Oolong. Actually, I rather liked the iron taste, which I thought gave Ti Kuan Yin Oolong some character. It's not every day that I taste iron in my tea. As I sipped to the end of the cup, though, I started to get this headache, just like I did with Iron Buddha Oolong. The tea started to taste cloying and unpleasant. By the way, despite what Teavana says, this is not a mild-flavored tea. I'll just say that I don't normally get headaches from drinking tea, and that I did not have a headache before I started drinking this tea. So, the verdict is, I liked the iron taste, but didn't like the headache. Now I have to go drink a huge cup of water to chase this headache away.

Posted by Kathy at 07:09 PM | Permalink

Peach Oolong

Name: Peach Oolong
Kathy's Rating: 7.5/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: Taiwan
Price: $5/2 oz.
Tea form: Rolled loose oolong leaves with peach pieces
What they say: High quality Taiwanese oolong with peach pieces
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over leaves and infuse for 3-5 minutes.
Review: Goodness, a Taiwanese fruity oolong. Taiwan has long been a producer of high quality oolong teas, and I was definitely a bit dismayed to see what I perceived to be a step down from the committment of producing high quality teas by 'fruiting' them. Apparently, the price also seems to reflect the lower quality of 'fruited' teas. If you don't believe me, just check out the price for Tung Ting Jade Oolong, another Teavana distributed Taiwanese oolong that I have already reviewed. Yes, the price for Tung Ting Jade Oolong is almost three times what it is for Peach Oolong. Anyhow, prices notwithstanding, Peach Oolong was surprisingly good! The peach flavor is fairly subtle, and not cloying, as some fruity infusions can be. If you don't like peach-flavored drinks - I know a couple of folks like that - do NOT come near this. You will hate it. If you like peaches, I think you will find this tea very fun to drink - just don't take this as a serious oolong tea. I will even go as far to say that this would be an excellent iced tea in the summertime.

Posted by Kathy at 06:50 PM | Permalink

December 06, 2004

Envy Organic Green Tea

Name: Envy Organic Green Tea
Kathy's Rating: 6.0/10.0
Company: Tazo
Origin of tea: China
Price: ~$5/20 filterbags
Tea form: Shredded organic green tea leaves in bags
What they say: A floral, somewhat nutty blend of organic green teas from the misty mountains of Southwestern China.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water over tea bag and infuse for 3 minutes.
Review: To me, green tea has always been about pureness and relaxation. Sometimes, though, there's too much pesticides and other chemicals in the tea leaves, which makes it an unpleasant tea drinking experience. I was happy to see that Tazo Envy green tea is certified organic. In my experience, the organic teas have always been some of the best tasting ones. This tea is no exception to that experience - compared to other green teas in the same price range. When I compare this tea to finer, more expensive green teas, though, the taste is somewhat bland. I suspect this is because the leaves here are not first grade (the season's first picking). But, what can you expect when you pay ~$5 for 20 bags? Although Tazo says there's a 'nutty' taste to the tea, I didn't think so. It's more of a delicate, clean taste to me. I'd say that at the bargain price, this green tea is the best bang for your buck. It is also the tea you can drink everyday without feeling the need to 'save' it for special occasions, so drink up!

Posted by Kathy at 07:38 PM | Permalink

November 28, 2004

Tung Ting Jade Oolong

Name: Tung Ting Jade Oolong
Kathy's Rating: 8.5/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: Taiwan
Price: $14/2 oz.
Tea form: Rolled loose oolong leaves
What they say: The best of Taiwanese semi-fermented teas, this jade colored oolong is grown on the slopes of the Tung Ting Mountains. Gentle and remarkably smooth in flavor, with a flowery undertone. Good for multiple infusions.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over leaves and infuse for 3-5 minutes.
Review: I'll admit that I'm a big fan of oolong teas. It's the only type of tea that I drink in gradations, meaning different steep levels. This is because oolong tea has the most wonderful way of starting out with a simple one-note taste, and gradually increasing in complexity and body. No other type of tea - white, green, and black - have been quite like oolong. This Tung Ting Jade Oolong tea is no exception to the simple to complex pattern of oolongs. What is different about this oolong though, is that it starts out on with a more full-bodied taste than the Monkey Picked Oolong I reviewed earlier. However, this oolong is less strong than TenRen's First Grade Oolong, which I also reviewed. Overall, this is a good oolong tea, and is just right for an intermediate oolong tea drinker.

Posted by Kathy at 05:44 PM | Permalink

Monkey Picked Oolong

Name: Monkey Picked Oolong
Kathy's Rating: 9.0/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: China
Price: $25/2 oz.
Tea form: Rolled loose oolong leaves
What they say: The ultimate oolong. When infused, the unbroken, evenly sized leaves gracefully unfurl to reveal the most complex oolong bouquet available. Its legendary name refers to Buddhist monks who trained monkeys to harvest the youngest leaves from the top of the wild tea trees. Presently the term “Monkey Picked” refers to the highest quality of oolong available. Made from the youngest tea leaves, this tea is perfect for multiple infusions. True tea connoisseurs dedicate a Yixing teapot exclusively for brewing this exceptional oolong.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over leaves and infuse for 3-5 minutes.
Review: Since this is advertised to be the 'ultimate oolong', I set my bar high for Monkey Picked Oolong. It would be good to note that the term 'Monkey Picked' is not exclusive to Teavana, and is used in the oolong tea world to refer to a specific method of tea making method. When drinking oolong, I like to make a large pot and drink the tea in various steep stages. There's a big difference between each of oolong tea's subsequent cups. Monkey Picked Oolong has a delicate taste, which never really becomes more bold, even as the tea steeps longer. This is interesting, because many oolongs are much more full-bodied. I did enjoy this oolong, and would recommend it for new oolong tea drinkers especially, because of the more mild taste. This is a great oolong for the times when simplicity is desired.

Posted by Kathy at 04:55 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 14, 2004

PanAsia Green Tea

Name: PanAsia Green Tea
Kathy's Rating: 6.5/10.0
Company: Harney & Sons Teas
Origin of tea: Japan and China
Price: ~$3.50/5 sachets (.27oz)
Tea form: Loose bancha green tea and chrysanthemum in silken sachets
What they say: A delightful blend of Japanese Bancha and big white chrysanthemum flowers from China create a light, clean tasting delight.
Preparation method: Use slightly below boiling water and pour over sachet. Steep for 3 minutes.
Review: This tea is an interesting blend of Japanese bancha - coarse tea - and chrysanthemum flowers. I have had just bancha tea or just chrysanthemum tea before, but not both in the same infusion. The taste of the green tea is much stronger than the chrysanthemum - I could barely taste the chrysanthemum notes. The overall taste is like drinking a light green tea, which is very good if you're in a contemplative mood or just want to relax. I think this tea would be even better if the chrysanthemum taste was stronger (by adding more chrysanthemum flowers, not by adding flavoring), which is why this tea was not rated higher than its current 6.5/10.0.

Posted by Kathy at 09:43 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