This is not a tea that I would have ordinarily thought to purchase for myself because I’m not real crazy for grape flavored things.  I like the fruit ok, but when it comes to things like juices, candy, or Popsicles (just to name a few items right off the top of my head), grape is not usually a flavor I’d request or want.  I don’t even eat the purple Skittles.  (Which actually kind of makes me sad, because I love the color purple… but I digress!)

So, that I’m sitting here enjoying this grape flavored Darjeeling, it’s a somewhat surprising thing for me.

And, yes, indeed, as the description from Lupicia suggests (you can read it below), muscat grape flavor is perfect for Darjeeling.  It really enhances the muscatel notes from the Darjeeling.  The body of this tea is light-to-medium, and it seems to sparkle as it glides upon the palate – very crisp, clean and elegant.

Lupicia describes this tea as

An aroma of fresh muscat grapes goes well with Darjeeling tea.

By pairing the muscat grape to the Darjeeling, the result is a “pumped up” version of a Darjeeling – it’s kind of like Darjeeling times ten!  It has such a lovely, fruity flavor – perfectly sweet (no additional sweetener is needed here).  And while I don’t ordinarily consume my Darjeeling teas iced, this is absolutely delightful chilled.

A stellar tea from Lupicia!

Genmaicha (also sometimes spelled ‘Gen Mai Cha’) is a delicious green tea that contains roasted brown rice and carries a toasted, savory flavor that is slightly reminiscent of popcorn (not the heavily salted buttery popcorn they sell at the movies, but real popped and completely unseasoned popcorn).

Usually, or rather traditionally, I should say, the green tea used in Genmaicha is Bancha, a lower grade of green tea, which is actually how Genmaicha tea was created, to improve upon the flavor of plain Bancha. However, now that Genmaicha is becoming more mainstream, people and companies are using Sencha rather than Bancha to make it an even more delicious blend.  But you know what? I actually *prefer* the more mellow flavor of the traditional Bancha at times.  With this particular blend from Grand Tea, I do not know whether they used Bancha or Sencha because they blended the Genmaicha with Matcha.  I LOVE Matcha, and Grand Tea’s Matcha is of exceptional quality and flavor.

I adore the way that the Matcha in this blend makes the Genmaicha even smoother and more vegetal with an even more intensely “green” flavor that green tea lovers will adore as well.

Grand Tea describes this tea as:

Organic genmaicha matcha-iri is perfect combination of medium roasted brown rice, matcha (green tea powder) and high-grade green tea leaf. It has a toasty flavor and inviting aroma from the roasted rice. The matcha mixed in with the tea gives it a very distinct and smooth flavour.

Our organic teas are all grown without the use of agricultural chemicals and using non-chemical fertilizers only.

Organic Certification:ＪAS, ＥＣＯＣＥＲＴ, USDA/NOP

Packaging option:
50g – resealable foil bag
200g – original retail packaging from Japan
1kg – original bulk bag from manufacturer in Japan

Details
SKU	JP002M-50
Quantity in stock	3 item(s) available
Weight	50.00 Gram
Origin	Japan
Tea type	Green Tea
Other names	有機抹茶入り玄米茶, Matcha Infused Genmaicha
Steeping time	1-2 min
Steeping temp	80 celsius
Grade	AA – Superior
Strength	light
Price:	USD5.00 (EUR 3.74)

This exceptional blend is indeed superior, and great for when you want a smooth, mellow green teat with a distinct earthy quality.  Do not destroy these attributes by adding milk or sugar…Genmaicha and Matcha are not meant to be sweetened or diluted with milk as Western tea drinkers serve tea…that would mar the delicious flavor profile these green teas have.  The exception to that might be the occasional Matcha Latte, but this particular tea is certainly best served plain, and hot as well.  Although it also does make a quite delicious iced tea as well, I still feel you get the best flavor from it when served hot.  A fabulous example of two outstanding Japanese green teas!

These dry leaves are much more colorful than this photo might suggest.  They are deep chocolate-y brown in color, with lots of golden tips.

The aroma of the dry leaf is quite faint – to the point of being almost nondescript.  However, that all changes once the tea is brewed.  The liquor smells so good.  A warm fragrance with hints of spice and fruit.  YUM!  I just love a good Keemun.

And this is a very good Keemun.   It is a very robust, full-bodied tea.  It offers a spiced floral taste that is accompanied by a woodsy tone at the start, and leads into a delicious, fruity finish that is almost wine-like.  It has a very pleasant level of astringency – not strong or overwhelming – but just enough to keep the palate feeling clean and wanting more.

Dammann Frères describes this tea as

This high quality Keemun tea originates from Anhui province. Its large leaves and golden tips produce a full-bodied liquor with rich character spicy flavour giving way to fruity undertones. Organic tea.

I enjoyed this Keemun quite a bit; however, I must admit that it isn’t the best Keemun I’ve tried.   I think I was expecting it to deliver a deeper, richer flavor – similar to that of other Keemun teas that I’ve tried.  That is not to say that this is not a good tea, it is!  It’s quite delicious and certainly worthy of a try.  Especially if you enjoy Keemun teas like I do.  It is a tea that explores the lighter – and organic! – side of Keemun tea.

I love the earthy, deep flavor of Pu-erh tea.  However I consider it a tea to be enjoyed nice and hot so now that summer is waning, and the cooler Autumn months are beginning, it’s the perfect time of year to enjoy a good Pu-erh tea, such as this one from Grand Tea.

This particular Pu-erh comes in round cakes, pressed and carefully packaged to allow for the optimal storage of your Pu-erh tea.  This particular Pu-erh is from the year 2000.  Pu-erh is actually a very unique tea in that, as opposed to other types of tea, it actually improves with age – a lot like a good wine!

Normally speaking, other teas – black, green, white, and most especially any bagged teas – lose their flavor and fragrance with age.  Not so with Pu-erh, which is what makes it so very special!  In fact, the older a Pu-erh is (providing it has been stored correctly, in a dark, cool location with adequate airflow), the better it is, and also the more expensive it is!  This is a fantastic deal on a delicious 2000 Pu-erh tea cake, at only $86 for a full cake or $22 for $100 grams.

Grand Tea describes this tea as:

Weight: 100.00 Gram
Origin:   Menghai District, China
Packaging: Attractive Gift Box
Production period Year: 2000
Tea type: Green Pingcha, Bing, Cake

The leaves themselves are compressed as is standard with a Pu-erh, but these leaves are very long and twisted spears that have a visually apparent quality.  They brew up to an INCREDIBLY smooth Pu-erh tea. It has an almost honey-like undertone to the fragrance and flavor.  The flavor is polished and robust, with a brisk aftertaste which clears the palate leaving a “golden” flavor on your tongue.  Love it!

And also, again with most Pu-erh teas, you simply can’t over-brew this one…the longer the tea leaves brew, the stronger the tea becomes but it never turns bitter or harsh.  This is a fabulous tea for any time of day, and I love it plain….I feel that adding sugar or milk to a Pu-erh tea of any kind is an absolute crime.  Don’t ruin it’s aged and honeyed subtle nuances by masking with sugar or milk.  Just enjoy the wonder of a well-aged Pu-erh cake and it’s soothing, calming nature.

I’ve been dying to write this review for a long time.  The reason it’s taken me so long is because this is one of the more unique flavors I’ve tasted, and it’s really hard to convey it’s complete character without sampling it yourself.

As in Culinary Tea’s description below, the two words that describe this tea perfectly are sweet and juicy.  If you’ve  ever doubted that a tea could be “juicy”, then I challenge you to drink this tea, it is the epitome of “juicy”.  However, it is a very light, airy flavor with a very nectar-like overtone.

It’s an extremely versatile tea.  It has a natural sweetness to it, so it doesn’t need sugar, but sugar does enhance it, in my opinion (but then I love sugar so much my friend calls me the human hummingbird….), and it makes a soothing juicy hot tea, but also creates an exquisite iced tea!

Culinary Teas describes this tea as:

Sweet, juicy and just a down right delectable green tea, who knew pear paired so well with top quality Sencha.

The green Sencha tea is of good quality, and lends a brisk note at the end of the sip, leaving your palate cleansed and refreshed.  And it compliments the sweet honeyed pear flavor so that all the flavors – and the fragrance as well – is harmonious and well balanced.  Especially lovely to wake up to in the morning with it’s clear, clean feeling.

As I’ve stated before, 52Teas is one of my favorite companies. They offer a brand new original flavor each week.  I must admit that I find myself heading over to the 52Teas website on Monday just to find out what interesting concoction they’ve come up with… and I usually find myself BUYING whatever they’ve come up with too.

Fortunately, I’ve not come across anything from them that was a disappointment.

This particular tea is one that I put off buying for a long time… mostly because I was afraid it would be a disappointment.  I mean… take a look at the ingredients – tea, bananas, pineapple, cacao nibs, strawberries, cherries, vanilla beans and flavors.  That’s a lot of stuff to pack into a 2 ounce pouch!

I worried that with all these ingredients in one tea, the flavors would become muddied.  There was no way that I would be able to brew this and walk away with a cup of banana split.

But… just like with all of the teas that I’ve tried from 52 Teas… I’m pleasantly surprised.  This DOES taste like a banana split… or, more accurately, like a banana split that has been liquefied and then combined with a cup of strong black tea.

Let’s start with the black tea base – while it is not extraordinarily prominent in this blend because of all the other flavors that are in there, it IS there and I can taste it.  It has a pleasantly bold, full-bodied taste to it, not overwhelming, but, not too subtle either.  Smooth.  Rich.  Nice!

As for the flavors – first, I can taste the banana.  Sweet and delicious.  The pineapple is one of the more subtle tastes in here, and it has a slightly candied taste to it.  The vanilla offers a very smooth, creamy sweetness to the background of this tea.  I almost want to associate it with part of the tea base, because it seems to have assumed that same role – it’s in the background, it’s there, but, it’s not overpowering what else is going on in the cup.

The strawberry and chocolate add a very nice flavor to this cup.  As a chocoholic, I wouldn’t have minded the chocolate to be a bit stronger in this tea, but, I also realize that there was a fine line that needed to be observed … while more chocolate does in fact equal more chocolate and more chocolate is always better than less chocolate… in this cup, more chocolate just might have tipped the scales and made a muddy mess out of the whole thing.  So, even though the chocolate is not as heavy in this blend as I – personally – would want it to be (or how it would be if this were a ‘make your own banana split’ bar at the buffet) the amount of chocolate WORKS here.  (And… just a little note for all you other chocoholics out there, as you near the bottom of the cup, there is a bit more chocolate flavor!)

I can even taste the cherry on top of this tea!  All the flavors… they really are THERE!

52 Teas describes this blend as

HOLY SMOKES! Now THIS is a tea! We pulled out all of the stops on this one folks, and created something really amazing and unique. Good luck finding a tea like this anywhere else.

We blended our premium black teas with dried bananas, dried pineapple, organic cacao nibs, vanilla beans, freeze dried strawberries and freeze dried cherries. The result?

DELICIOUS! With the first sip you get the sweetness of the bananas, strawberries and pineapple, then the chocolate and vanilla and faint hint of cherry follow as a soothing aftertaste. We thought maybe there were too many flavors in it, that everything would become muted and muddied, or, we thought, it might turn out so that one flavor dominated the rest so that it was pointless to have so many flavors, but honestly, this blend could not have turned out more perfect. It is every bit of the banana split experience in a tea.

This limited edition blend is going to go FAST, so get yours today before it sells out. You will not be disappointed.

Alas, as this was a limited edition blend – it is no longer available.  But, they have been known to reblend teas on occasion… so keep an eye out, maybe they’ll blend this one again!

This tea is tasty hot, but I like it better iced, because I discovered that more of the chocolate notes seem to come out when the tea is chilled.  Nice!   Sugar should be added with caution, because it is sweet on its own and too much sugar will ruin it… but it is very lovely with a splash of milk and this brings out the ice-creamy taste to it.

52 Teas does it again!

Warm and spicy, this delicious black tea has strong overtones of orange and spices.  While these are bagged tea, I find that it’s a very high quality tea despite that fact.  In fact, it adds to the convenience and portability of this yummy flavored tea.

The fragrance itself is very comforting and full of spiced orange goodness.  It actually smells a lot like an orange and clove pomander! After smelling and tasting this tea, it made me eager to make some orange and clove pomanders of my own, in celebration of the upcoming cool autumn days.

But moving on to the flavor….what a delight!!  Just like it smells, this tea starts with a strong Indian and Chinese black tea blend as a base, so that neither the orange nor the spices overwhelm the flavor of a good, robust black tea.

Following the black tea base is a strong but sweet orange flavor, that is a realistic orange flavor, with a very bright tone to it.  Behind that is the flavor of spices.  Thankfully no one spice stands out among the rest, but provides a general “spice” flavor that you can’t define as an individual spice, however they are all sweeter spices.  I know clove and cinnamon is in there for sure, but anything past that I can’t pinpoint.

Boston Tea Party describes this tea as:

Pull out your fine bone China and pour a presidential cup of this signature flavor that was a favorite in the White House during the Kennedy years! It’s naturally sweet with dried bits of Orange and Exotic Spices mixed with our premium blend of Chinese and Indian Black Tea. Prepare your tea cup for this strong, richly fragrant Tea and take a special plate of pastries, it pairs nicely with breakfast treats and other Tea fancies.

PROFILE: Premium select high-grown tea flavored with tropical oranges and exotic spices.  This exotic tea blend, released in the 1960’s, became a favorite of the first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, who served it frequently to White House guests. It remained popular in the White House for another 12 years.

So this is a tea with history behind it! Jacqueline Kennedy was indeed an aficionado of high tea, and this is the sort of tea that one would certainly make a part of their high tea, not only for it’s robust flavor but also because it has a definite air of tradition about it.  For some reason, orange and spice tea calls to the comfort zone inside all of us, and provides warmth to the body and soul.

I must admit that my experience with Bigelow has been quite limited.  Because it is one that is readily available in supermarkets, I have (ignorantly) categorized them as “bad tea” simply because of association with some other teas that are available in the supermarket and are, in fact, bad teas.

And this was quite unfair of me!  I have tried a couple of Bigelow Teas now, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised with them!

Take this English Teatime blend, for example.  It’s rather tasty!  It has a very brisk, bright and malty character that I’m really enjoying, and certainly did not expect from that little teabag.

Pleasantly full-bodied, slightly astringent, no bitterness – just a strong, bold tea that takes to milk and honey well, if you’d like to add them, and tastes quite good without them too.  I personally think that the malty flavor works best as a hot tea, but that’s my own personal preference – feel free to try it as an iced tea if you like!

Bigelow Tea describes this tea as

Typically English, rich in flavor, and appropriate for any tea drinking occasion.

The English have an expression “moreish” – which I have come to understand is a term that is used to describe something that is enjoyable – something that one would want more of.  And… this tea is definitely MOREISH!

Am I an Earl Grey, or not? That is the question this particular tea posed to me as I drank it.  In fact it took me several cups to honestly evaluate this tea completely, and in the end, I came to the conclusion that although this tea blend contains bergamot, the main qualifying factor for a tea to be an “Earl Grey” tea, I feel that it is much more of a bergamot flavored lemongrass Oolong than it is a lemongrass flavored Earl Grey Oolong, although some people may say that there isn’t much of a difference between the two viewpoints.

So whether you look at this tea as being an Earl Grey tea or not, one thing remains, and that is that it is a delicious Oolong tea.

Octavia Tea describes this tea as:

This award-winning blend of lemongrass, bergamot and antioxidant-rich oolong tea fills your cup with the invigorating fragrance of citrus.  This natural, gourmet tea is the ideal way to rejuvenate both body and mind.

Oolong tea is prized for its anti-aging properties and body-slimming effects.  Although this tea’s toasty, oolong flavor is lighter in body than a traditional Earl Grey, they share a key ingredient:  pure essential of bergamot. Similar to a cross between an orange and a lemon, bergamot is a Mediterranean citrus fruit with a rich, flowery, sweet citrus aroma.  Earl Grey fans should give this tea a try as well. The fresh, citrus flavor of this tea makes it an ideal morning blend.

They begin with what I would consider a middle-of-the-road oxidized Oolong tea.  It appears to be right in the middle between black and green tea, with a slightly toasted golden character that is brightened by the lemongrass and bergamot citrus flavors.  A very unique combination of flavors for an Oolong tea, you’ll want to keep this one in stock.

I really like Teatulia – I love that they focus on pure, organic teas and tisanes, and their commitment to the environment is truly praiseworthy.  These seemingly small measures make a big difference to me as a consumer.

This Lemongrass Herbal Infusion from Teatulia tastes so fresh and light.  A very pure, crisp lemon-y flavor – bright and sunny!  It has a smooth, rich, buttery flavor to it too that lends sweetness and a creamy texture to the cup.

This reminds me of lemon curd – it is sweet and smooth and not real pucker-y or sour.  It’s delicious!

Teatulia describes this tisane as

Dry Leaves: Small, broken lemongrass stalks with a dull-green color.

Aroma: Zesty citrus.

Color: Delicate yellow.

Flavor: Refreshing. Light. The most pure lemon flavor. Thirst-quenching. Hints of earthy grass. Unblended and untainted.

This slightly earthy, lightly grassy, lemony tisane is a nice treat for later in the afternoon, when I want to start slowing down on my caffeine intake because it’s naturally caffeine free – it is refreshing and invigorating and a perfect pick-me-up when I’m getting that dragging sort of feeling that comes later in the day.

Tonight I ate 4 ice cream cones in a row.  As a single 30-mumble woman living on her own (if you don’t count my furry kids), I have these random moments where I act like a 12 year old kid again, only without any parental supervision!  (Wait you mean I’m supposed to act like an adult?! Huh?)

Anyway, tonight was one of those moments.  I got a craving for ice cream, so I went to the grocery store and purchased a quart of Peanut Butter Brownie Sensation from Blue Bunny, a quart of Frozen Yogurt Caramel Praline Crunch also from Blue Bunny, a package of waffle cones and some chocolate syrup.  I should have known it was a bad idea from the start.

I got started and drenched the inside of the waffle cone with chocolate syrup, then one scoop of the Peanut Butter Brownie Sensation and one scoop of the Caramel Praline Crunch.  But one wasn’t enough…neither was 2.  But by the time I ate the 3rd I figured I was commited at this point and stuffed myself with a 4th.  In all, I ate 4 waffles cones, an entire quart of ice cream and way too much chocolate syrup.

Afterwards, I’m sure you can imagine how my tummy felt.  So when I reached for something to rinse down the sticky confections with, I reached for this “Better Belly Blend” from Two Leaves and a Bud.  The ingredients in this herbal infusion are:  Fennel, Cassia (Cinnamon), Ginger, Apple Pieces,  Calendula (Marigold), Anise, Dandelion, Crisped Mint, Caraway, Peppermint, Cornflower (organic).  All of the ingredients are herbs which are known for their help with the digestive tract*, with the exception of perhaps the Calendula and Cornflower petals which are likely included to bring a bright confetti appearance to the blend.

Two Leaves and a Bud describes this tea as:

One Bite too Many? A rich-tasting herbal tea you’ll want after any meal!

If your stomach needs a soother, we’re here to help. Settle your tummy with this blend of fennel, ginger, anise, mint and caraway. The pleasant taste from crisped mint, calendula, apple pieces makes this an after-dinner drink you can finally feel good about.

Top note: Tangy

Middle Note: Complex and Layered

Finish: Tanic yet mellow

Well I had definitely had one bite too many.  I had 3 ice cream cones too many!! So I prepared this herbal tisane with no milk or sugar and drank it with the hopes that it would provide some relief to the feeling that I had just devoured a giant barrel full of monkies…monkies holding ice cream cones!

The flavor of the tea is somewhat bland, it’s what I would consider very stereotypical of an ‘herbal tea’.  It does have somewhat of a tangy note, but mostly the flavor is mellow herbs.  The flavor is perfect for settling your stomach, nothing too strong.  It’s a thousand times better tasting than a chalky liquid heartburn remedy or that well-known brand that has a bright pink color to match the thick pink nauseatingly minty flavor.  This tea not only tastes better, but I feel it is overall more effective using 100% natural ingredients.

This is a nice, soothing and calming herbal tea, with the power to ease a tummy that had way too much ice cream inside!

Yeah, I’m a chocoholic.  And while I have no problem admitting that I have a problem when it comes to chocolate, I am in no way, shape, or form ready to try to recover from this addiction (nor do I ever think I will be).

Instead, I’m holding out for the announcement that chocolate is THE miracle food that should be consumed on a daily basis for optimal health.  I mean, why take a chance, right?  It could be the miracle food, and if I stopped eating it, I could be jeopardizing my health.  Better safe than sorry.

Having said that, it should come as no surprise that chocolate is one of my favorite tea flavors.  (It’s right up there with jasmine and bergamot, and I don’t know which of these three would be the ultimate favorite)   Of course, like all teas, some chocolate teas are better than others.  Here is my general rule of thumb:  If I can taste the chocolate, it is probably a good chocolate tea.  And expounding on that rule – the more chocolate flavor, the better the chocolate tea.

Here, I can taste the chocolate!  The flavor is chocolate-y rich and smooth – YUM!

This is a mellow black tea base, rather unassuming and does not attempt to overwhelm the chocolate flavor in this cup.  This is a good thing!  I can taste the tea and it is a very pleasing union of black tea and chocolate.

But this cup isn’t JUST black tea and chocolate… there is another flavor – Hazelnut!  When I first smelled the dry leaf, the aroma of the hazelnut was very pronounced, and it remains quite strong with the brewed liquor.

Together, the taste of chocolate and hazelnut and black tea create a rather delicious combination.  The chocolate is creamy and smooth, the hazelnut is nutty and sweet, and the black tea tastes rich and satisfying.

Harney & Sons describes this tea as

Our delicious Chocolate Hazelnut Tea, better known as Florence. Since we can’t always be sipping hot cocoa while sitting in the Palazzo della Signoria, we can sip this decadent blend of chocolate and hazelnut and dream we are there.

This is a very decadent-tasting tea that reminds me quite a bit of my favorite toast topping:  Nutella!   For my favorite sandwich with Nutella, check out my latest blog post!  Come to think of it, that sandwich and this tea… would be a chocoholic’s paradise!

This tea is best served hot.  It is sweet on it’s own, but, if you really want to turn up the flavor of the chocolate and hazelnut, add a little sugar or agave nectar to your cup… but just a little!  If you tune in to the creamy goodness of this tea, add a little milk.  As it cools, the flavors become a little less defined but it is still really tasty, so it would make a deliciously different iced tea too.

However you choose to serve it… you should really try it, it’s awesomeness in a teacup!

This is certainly one of the more interesting tea reviews I’ve had the opportunity to write.  This time in particular, I’m reviewing not only a specific tea, but indeed, an entire geographical region and it’s tea, namely Assam.

The Purvi Discovery tourist initiative is a group based in Assam, India who promotes the dark robust tea which Assam is famous for from a 140+ year old Indian Bungalows, the Chang Bungalows at Dibrugarh, which as you can see below, absolutely exude luxury.

Purvi Discovery sent the Tea Review Blog and it’s reviewers some samples of BP grade Assam tea (grainy variety tea, popularly known as Broken Pekoe- CTC Tea) which Assam is famous for.  When I opened the package, my sense of smell was immediately assaulted by the strong fragrance of malty black tea.  This tea looks exactly like coffee grounds….it is that grainy!  But this is a great thing, because it makes the tea SO incredibly strong and robust.  It brews up almost looking like coffee as well, darkly brown and opaquely cloudy.  Many so-called breakfast tea blends (English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, and others) are mainly BP Assam tea or Assam tea blends.

I recommend serving this tea exactly how you prefer to “take your tea”.  Do you usually add sugar and milk to black tea? The by all means, go ahead!  Lover of a plain cuppa? This tea will still knock your socks off with it’s malty smoothness and strength.  The flavor of the tea is unforgettable…

The outside of the packaging is very plain and simply states “Best Assam Tea, Purvi Discovery, www.assamteatourism.com“, and I really must say that it IS the BEST Assam Tea, at least it’s one of the very best Assams I’ve ever tasted…I would even go so far as to group it with the best black teas I’ve ever tasted!

Purvi Discovery states on their “About Us” page:

Purvi Discovery is a tourism initiative with a difference. Based in Dibrugarh, Purvi Discovery has been working with single- minded dedication over a period of time to promote Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and the adjoining states with their unspoilt beauty, to important tourist destinations. Our parent company has been involved in the tea industry for five generations. This, and a staff that are drawn from the local tribal community gives us an unbeatable lead when introducing our guests to the enchanting Northeast. So, whatever type of experience you are seeking, there is a good chance that Purvi can help you to discover it.

So in essence, Purvi Discovery isn’t a tea company in the traditional sense…their spectrum is much broader than that.  They promote the very land the tea grows on, it’s history, it’s traditions and it’s culture.  I agree with them completely that Assam tea is incredibly remarkable, and versatile enough to be taken alone or with any meal, and that is a wonderful ’selling point’ of this delicious Indian tea.

So if you are planning an Indian holiday (and really, after looking at the Purvi Discovery Photo Gallery, who wouldn’t want to?), consider contacting Purvi Discovery for the authentic Assam experience along with the ‘Best Assam Tea’ you can get!

The aroma of this tea reminds me quite a bit of a tea that I used to blend (several years ago!) called “Mango Tango” which was a mango flavored black tea.  It – as well as this tea – smells very tropical and deliciously inviting!

The black tea here is bold!  It is brisk enough to serve as a breakfast tea or as a tasty afternoon pick-me-up. There is a fair amount of astringency that is a little drying to the tongue – an interesting contrast to the juicy profile of the fruit flavors.

I like that the base is strong and holds its own amidst flavors that could very easily overwhelm it.

The mango flavor is sweet and juicy, as is the apricot.  I have never actually (knowingly) tasted a jackfruit (except for in tea blends) so I can’t tell you that this also tastes of jackfruit.  But what I can tell you is that I taste flavor profiles that are similar to banana and pineapple (which is what a jackfruit supposedly tastes like).

The combination of jackfruit, mango, and apricot creates a simply divine and quite interesting tropical taste that is unlike any other I’ve encountered.

Simpson & Vail describes this blend as

Blue Mist is a blend of Jackfruit (a fruit from India with an aroma of banana and pineapple), Apricot and Mango black teas with cornflowers and marigold petals.

This blend is delicious hot or iced.  As it is still summer (and the hottest days of summer, as I write this), I recommend trying it iced, because it is very refreshing.  A small amount of sweetener (I prefer agave nectar) helps to bring out some of the more delicate features of the fruit flavors here.

I also recommend brewing this tea for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes – don’t go over the 3 minute mark.  I did this the first time I steeped it and the tea tasted a bit bitter – so keep it under 3 minutes to ensure a tasty tea.

Welcome to our new feature at The Tea Review Blog, Earl Grey of the Week! Almost every tea company offers their own version of an Earl Grey tea. To kick off our new Earl Grey of the Week feature where we highlight an Earl Grey tea each and every week on Saturday evenings at 11 pm CST, this week we feature an organic Earl Grey from Red Leaf Tea.

The reason I chose this particular tea for our first featured tea is because in the mail today, I received a box of samples from Red Leaf Tea (thank you so much!!), and I was astounded to see that they had sent thirteen (!!!) different and unique versions of Earl Grey tea.  Here was organic Earl Grey, Breakfast Earl Grey, Rooibos Earl Grey, Green Earl Grey, Honeybush Earl Grey…thirteen varieties, and I realized just how many Earl Grey teas there are in the world.  So with that in mind, we’d like to highlight a different one each week!

Earl Grey tea, simply put, is a tea blended with bergamot.  Traditionally this tea is black, however more often now it implies any tea flavored with bergamot.  Bergamot is a citrus fruit quite like a small orange, colored yellow like a lemon, that is native to Italy and a few parts of France.  Higher quality teas use essence of, or oil of Bergamot, whereas lower quality teas will use artificial bergamot flavoring.  Bergamot has a very perfumy, distinctive aroma and flavor, sharp and invigorating.

This week’s Earl Grey from Red Leaf tea features a bold black tea with a hint of smoke, that is 100% organic.  The bergamot is a strong citrus note that tangles with the black tea to produce a husky, malty Earl Grey that has no signs of weakness.

Red Leaf Tea describes this tea as:

Those who are looking for the taste and aroma of Earl Grey tea in an enticing organic blend will surely enjoy this tea, which combines the two main ingredients into a full flavored brew along with fragrant fruity touches resulting in a tea that is great for drinking at any time. With a rich black tea as its base, Earl Grey has an appealingly dark cup with a slight malt flavor. Bergamot orange gives the blend a subtle hint of citrus that makes its fragrance truly tempting.

When compared to Red Leaf Tea’s non-organic (regular) Earl Grey, this tea is slightly more costly, but is actually fairly close in character to their regular blend.  If anything, this organic tea is slightly crisper, with perhaps a slight brassy finish, but still stands faithful to their original Earl Grey tea.

Personally speaking, I prefer organic tea.  It feels good to know that no chemicals were sprayed on the tea leaves, and for all the other wonderful reasons people buy organic!  So I would definitely put forth a few extra bucks for the Red Leaf organic Earl Grey.  A very robust black Earl Grey!

This tea has such a rich history, I could write about it for hours.  In fact, FML Teas has a 30-paragraph page on the history of Phoenix Oolong tea alone at their website.   Phoenix Oolong Tea is grown on the Phoenix Mountains of Guangdong, China.  Specifically it is produced in the Phoenix Town, Chaozhou, Guangdong, Wu Dong camellia area.

Phoenix Oolong tea was traditionally used to be presented to the emperor each year in ancient China. It was said that during South-Song Dynasty (南宋 Nan-Song), the Emperor went to Chao-shan (潮汕) and passed-by the Phoenix Mountain. He felt thirsty, and his servant plucked the leaves from tea tree and prepared the drink to serve. It quenched his thirst at once and he was very happy.

Due to its shape of leaf which is similar to the beak of a bird, it was named “Beak Tea” (鸟嘴茶 Niao-zui Cha). Since then, it was widely planted. It was also named as Song Cultivar (宋种 Song-zhong) because it was planted since Song Dynasty. Up to date, the cultivar has lasted for more than 900 years.

Since Ming Dynasty (明代 Ming-dai), it became the tribute tea to emperors. Phoenix Oolong tea leaves are twisted and dark in color. This style of tea has been practiced and perfected over many years by tea farmers. The region in where the tea is grown has yielded an environment perfect for the tea shrubs to thrive and grow into tea trees, some of which have been around for centuries. The production of this tea is rare and is highly sought after.

Locally known as Fenhong Dancong in the region where it is grown, the woody characteristic has a hint of fruity notes. It produces a creamy, nutty smell, with like, yet citrusy and floral flavors.

This particular Phoenix Oolong Tea from Da Cha Tea has the most ambrosial, incredible fruity peach and apricot notes.  The appearance and fragrance of the dried leaves are stunning.  Long spear-like, twisted, darkly oxidized leaves are mixed with golden Calendula (Marigold) petals that match the dark golden fragrance of the leaves which is almost indescribable.  Highlights of juicy apricot blend with the most delectable Oolong flavor that you’ve tasted.

Da Cha Teas describes this tea as:

Phoenix Oolong is created as a tribute to the legendary Phoenix Mountain Oolong, featuring deep notes of apricot, and punctuated with a subtle hint of white peach. Phoenix Oolong is complex with character and yet very smooth, and aromatic. A truly special treat.

When brewed this presents an intoxicating tea liquor that tastes unlike any other Oolong tea you’ve tasted.  With a natural sweetness inherent in the more subtle notes of the tea, you can add sweetener brings out those notes even more, however it is absolutely exquisite without the addition of any sweetener at all, holding a resplendent honeyed peach nectar.

Makes the perfect afternoon or dessert tea.  This is not a tea you want to add milk to, milk would mask the multitude of enticing natural layers of  flavor this tea holds.  With this Chinese Phoenix Oolong, Da Cha Teas shows off the great quality I’ve noted in all of their teas, in a most impressive way.  The overall quality is superior to other Oolong teas I’ve tasted, and I would highly recommend this particular blend to all tea enthusiasts.  Fit for an Emperor!

I like this tea.  I know I can’t leave it there, it wouldn’t make for much of a review.  However “I like this tea” is quite the compliment from me when it’s an infusion based on rooibos (i.e. “red tea”).  I don’t usually enjoy the saccharine-sweet flavor that rooibos has to it, however in certain blends – notably this particular blend, Winter Mint – rooibos adds to the overall character instead of overwhelming the infusion and masking the other ingredients.

You can still taste the rooibos, but it isn’t the prominent flavor.  The most prominent flavor in this tisane is the chocolate-mint.  It makes this such a delicious tea, especially when served piping hot in the cooler months, although I’ve noticed it also makes one outstanding and unique iced mint tea!

Under the mint and chocolate flavor is a smoother vanilla bean flavor that really rounds out the entire blend and brings everything together perfectly.  And the rooibos flavor which is present in the background, with apple pieces to make it more tangy and sparkling.

Octavia Tea describes this tea as:

One of our best-selling teas, Winter Mint blends rooibos, sweet vanilla and a touch of chocolate-mint into a soothing treat and healthy alternative to dessert.  Also called red tea, rooibos is rich in antioxidants and anti-aging properties.

Ingredients: Rooibos, Dried apple pieces, Vanilla chips, 100% organic peppermint, Chocolate, Natural vanilla flavor

I think this is one of the more unique and exceptional “winter” teas which is marketed especially as a “cooler-month” tea, and this does do a lot to warm you up and cheer your spirit in the winter.  However don’t let that make you think this tea is only to be brought out in the winter…truly Winter Mint can be enjoyed year round!

It actually brews up quite cloudy, but the flavor holds an incredible juiciness that just makes your mouth water.  I think the apples really lend to the great flavor the rooibos holds in this tea.  It’s all quite smooth and all of the ingredients work together to present an exceptional tea from Octavia Tea.

Who would have thought that of the thousands of teas I’ve tried…and literally the hundreds of different Earl Grey teas I’ve sampled, many of which I’ve reviewed on this very blog…that my favorite all-time Earl Grey tea is not only from a fairly common brand-name company, but it is in fact a BAGGED tea.  Yes, that’s right, the Tea Guru’s favorite Earl Grey tea is a bagged tea.

A lot of people might question this, as bagged tea are not usually considered to be of any discernible quality by tea enthusiasts because historically “bagging” tea has been used to hide the crappy quality of the tea dust that was inside the small, mostly opaque white bag.   However major strides in tea have been made in the past decade alone, and now most bagged tea offer a very good quality, but above and beyond quality, they also offer *consistent* quality through different batches, and the major selling point…convenience!

Tazo Tea is one of these tea companies who has presented bagged tea with a never-before-seen quality and flavor.  Their Earl Grey is a fantastic example of this, because I would consider this the “perfect” Earl Grey tea.  Tazo does offer a “full leaf” version of their Earl Grey in sachets, but it’s not at all the same (or as good in my opinion!).  This tea is the only tea on earth I would actually testify that “it’s simply better bagged”.

Each bag is individually wrapped as shown in the photo above…the lovely purple packaging is bright and lively and very elegant as well.  Because of the quality individual wrapping, each teabag is very fresh when you open it.

When you tear open the purple package, the strong scent of black tea and bergamot jumps out at you!  And – one of this tea’s most endearing qualities – is that you can actually see the oil of bergamot soaked into the teabag itself, and the perfumed fragrance of the bag is heavenly!

Tazo describes this tea as:

A more aromatic version of the Earl’s celebrated black tea, scented with the citrusy (sic) essence of bergamot from Italy.  Harmoniously blended, the tea flavor and astringency of Tazo Earl Grey are perfectly balanced with the slightly spicy, lavender-and-lemon taste of bergamot.

Traditional black tea scented with the essence of bergamot, Tazo® Earl Grey is blended with some of the world’s most sought after teas from Sri Lanka and India. Scented with pure essence of bergamot from Southern Italy, Tazo® Earl Grey tastes like it’s from another place and time. And it is.

Ingredients: Black teas blended with the essence of bergamot orange

Tazo® was created for one purpose: to reinvent tea and the tea experience. By using high quality ingredients and a tremendous amount of experience and creativity, Tazo® has produced unique products that create an emotional connection with the consumer at many levels. Tazo® continues to expose consumers to the ancient traditions of tea, but presents this in a way that is bold, interesting and intriguing.

Unlike other tea companies, Tazo® purchases teas in their original container as packed at the garden to ensure the tea inside the chest or bag stays garden fresh and is not exposed to the heat and moisture in a blending facility at one of the tea shipping points.

The blending process is a very subtle art form that relies on subjective measurement of taste, color and aroma. Tazo® constantly tastes and determines which teas will go in which blend in what percentage, so flavor profiles remain consistent and of the highest quality possible.

The name Tazo® has roots in many civilizations. Tazo actually means “river of life” in the Romany Gypsy language and was used as a toast to life by ancient Greeks. Tazo also means “fresh” in several Hindi dialects. In ancient Babylonia, Tazo was a rejuvenating elixir thought to have magical properties.

The black tea base is very strong and pronounced, with a slightly astringent edge that’s most pleasant on the palate!  The bergamot is crisp and strong….MMMMMmmm…best bergamot oil in a tea EVER!! I don’t know how Tazo does it, but it’s the PERFECT bergamot flavor.  The aroma of the brewed tea is just as rejuvenating and invigorating as the taste is.   It’s just so bold and flavorful! An all around fantastic tea, for any time of day, with or without sweetener, and perfect to take with you to work or on-the-go.

From the Tea Guru’s lips to yours…the perfect Earl Grey.

Three simple herbs, chamomile, peppermint and raspberry leaf, come together to bring you calmness and peace.  Chamomile, an herb (well technically a flower) long known for it’s relaxing and calming properties starts this blend with a floral, slightly apple-like flavor that is uniquely chamomile.  The peppermint is cooling and soothing to both you and your tummy.

Finally, the red raspberry leaf is rich in vitamins and minerals and has an extremely high tannin content. The action of tannins as an astringent can be effective in soothing inflammation and constricting the tissues of the intestines to prevent water loss. As a result. the tannin content of red raspberry leaf provides an effective treatment to soothe diarrhea or intestinal inflammation, especially in children.  It is also known to help soothe mouth and throat irritations.

Tealightful Treasures describes this tea as:

Do you need to find inner peace? If so, this blend was made for you. It’s made of organic chamomile, peppermint & raspberry leaf!

Because this tea is soothing in so many ways it makes an ideal after-dinner tea, bedtime tea, or caffeine-free children’s tea!  At the time of this review, I’m drinking it as a bedtime tea, and I added just a touch of sugar to it, which makes it a bit smoother, but if you are drinking it to help you relax or sleep, it may be wise to avoid sugar or to substitute honey, which would go amazingly with this herbal infusion!

One thing I love about herbal blends such as this one is that no matter how long you steep the infusion, it never becomes bitter or sharp…just more flavorful!  The longer you steep this one, the more prominent the mint flavor becomes, and overall it becomes a stronger, more delicious blend.  And with the 3 soothing ingredients, it is a “peace potion” indeed!

Aloha!  This bright and beautiful white tea blend is brimming with juicy tropical fruits!  Da Cha Teas starts with a soft floral White Peony white tea (also known as Bai Mu Dan or Pai Mu Dan White Tea), which is the perfect base for this tea.  Soft and willowy, the white tea leaves give this blend the best accent to the tropical flavors.

Amongst the tea leaves are bright white coconut shavings and what appears to be safflower petals to enhance the gorgeous appearance of the tea.

The flavors that are so wonderfully accented by the Bai Mu Dan white tea are coconut, pineapple and papaya…delicious in every way, and a total tropical sensation.  The juicy flavor of the papaya slightly stands out above the rest, but the pineapple and coconut are so well-balanced that it all rounds out into the perfect “essence of the tropics”.   Some of the best Hawaiian fruits are represented in this tea that is very refreshing whether you served it hot or iced!

Da Cha Teas describes this tea as:

Our unique Hawaiian Blend is a tribute to Hawaii,  and to all those who love the tastes and aromas of the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. This light and fun blend of White Peony tea, combined with tropical fruits of shredded coconut, pineapple pieces, and papaya flavors awakens the smells, and tastes of Aloha.

The fragrance is indeed very alluring…totally tropical and intoxicating!  And as I mentioned above, this makes one GREAT iced tea in the summertime.  This tea also has a slight natural sweetness to it, so go easy on the sweetener…can even make a great un-sweetened tea!  The flavors are accented a bit by a touch of sweetener, but be wary of using too much.  Milk would overwhelm some of the more tasty-yet-subtle flavor nuances in this blend that you won’t want to miss by hiding it with milk.

Another sensational tea from Da Cha Teas!

This is one of my favorite types of green tea.  I find the pairing of Genmai-cha green tea and Matcha to be simply amazing.

I love Genmai-cha green tea – the flavor is so light, sweet, and toasty.  When paired with the bittersweet flavor of Matcha, it becomes a lovely union – the sweet, smooth taste of Matcha provides just enough bitterness to cut through some of the sweeter notes of the Genmai-cha to give it a very balanced taste.

This Genmai-cha tea is malty and possesses a sweet, nutty flavor.  The green tea leaves are Japanese Sen-cha.  The Sen-cha is creamy and rich, which enhances the nutty flavor and offers a buttery background note.

The Matcha adds a little more sweetness and a hint of fresh taste to the cup, as well as adding a little bit of thickness to the appearance and texture of the brewed liquor.  It pays in deliciousness to keep swirling the tea in your cup to keep the Matcha powder incorporated in the liquid!

Maeda-en describes this blend as

Genmai-cha was invented in Kyoto in the 1920’s and become popular once a Cha-sho (Tea Dealer) in Osaka modified the tea to its modern method of mixing roasted brown rice. Often referred to as popcorn tea, Genmai-cha exhibits a malty, nutty flavor profile.

Maeda-en’s Blender’s Genmai-cha is made of Sen-cha leaves and a mixture of roasted & popped brown rice, which is then tossed in Matcha. This extra savory, extra delicious tea is a treat in itself.

While I must admit that I prefer Genmai-cha hot, it does make for a uniquely savory iced tea that is an absolute delight to drink.  I love it with a thin slice of lemon.  Delicious!