Teaviews by Teaviews
1 hours ago
score: 0
 While green and white teas are increasing in popularity these days, there are still a great number of us that enjoy a traditional British-style cup of good old black tea with milk and sugar. Yunnan teas (from China’s Yunnan province), with their characteristic peppery flavor, are perfect to satisfy such a craving. From appearance alone, Mighty Leaf’s Yunnan tea impressed me with its large, golden-tipped leaves. On its own, I found this tea lacking the quintessential pepperiness that usually defines Yunnan tea. I found it hard to drink this tea in its pure, unadulterated form, and interestingly, I found it to be simultaneously bland and bitter (even though I only steeped the leaves for 3 minutes). Just a smidgen of sugar made this brew more enjoyable, but I questioned how much the the tea was able to be tasted over the added sugar. This tea seems to easily lend itself to being over-sweetened, resulting in a sugar-water liquid that barely even carries the flavor of tea. Compared to other Yunnan’s I have tried, such as Adagio’s “Yunnan jug”, . While I do intend to finish the rest of my sample (because while the tea isn’t superb, it is certainly not undrinkable), I can’t say that I will be recommending Mighy Leaf’s Yunnan as a “must-have” tea.
VanessaTeaviews.com Reviewer» Read about this reviewer on Vanessa's profile page. » Find more tea reviews by the Teaviews reviewing staff.
Today's Tea by Russell Hires
1 hours ago
score: 0
I'm drinking the Earl Grey Bravo from Adagio. I love the tea leaves, mostly smaller black leaves, with some odd looking blue ones that almost look like blue fuzz. The aroma of the bergamot orange is quite powerful in the tea tin. The flavor is even stronger! Wow! I still get the aroma, not as strong though. I may need some sugar for this cup...it hits you right in the back of the mouth! Yikes. Meanwhile, in thinking about the ingenuiTEA, I have some suggestions. First, the filter basket at the bottom doesn't stay at the bottom when I pour water into the pitcher. It comes loose and gently floats to the top. Then I have to stick my hand into the water to get the basket back in its spot. This is not optimal. I think the basket should have a rod that is as tall as the top of the pitcher, so it will be heavier, and I can stick it in the pitcher without getting my hands wet. In fact, I don't know how to do this, but it would be nice if I could lift the basket out without losing the tea leaves in the water. I do like that when the steeping is done that the leaves begin to fall to the bottom of the pitcher. That's nice.
Authoritea by Jessica
1 hours ago
score: 0
 Description (from SpecialTeas.com): Are you looking for a full-bodied malty Assam with lots of flavor? This is your tea. Its broken leaves infuse to a dark, hearty liquor with a pronounced malty flavor. Add just a touch of milk to bring out a slight honey note. A wonderful, satisfying Assam.Review: This tea tastes like warm beer. And not good warm beer. I am talking like...Miller High Life or something. It is wayyyy too malty, way too dark and syrupy with very high astringency and very little pleasant flavor at all. With a lot of Assams that are too malty or astringent, you can add milk and sugar for a better taste. It does not save this particular blend. The FBOP gives even small amounts an incredibly strong flavor, and there is no smoothness or subtlety in this tea at all. It either needs to be paired with something that adds a more pleasant flavor (coconut or some round nutty flavor) or...I don't even know. It's almost like drinking coffee, but more unpleasant. That's really all I have to say about this tea. I don't often receive teas that are downright bad (though I have received a few), but this one is. Maybe for Assam fans this may be something to try at least, but I have already mailed the rest of my sample to another reviewer; I am not a fan. The Good: sad to say, not very much. If you want tea that tastes like stale coffee, this is it. The Bad: see above. More Information/Buy: SpecialTeas Assam Malty FBOP
The Tea Pages by Katrina
13 hours ago
score: 0
This was my first experience with Hairy Crab Oolong (not the most appealing nomenclature I must admit.) Hairy Crab Oolong is also known as Mao Xie Oolong. This tea originates in the Anxi District in the southern part of China's Fujian region. The tea is named for an edible crab common in the region. These serrated tea leaves have a visible fine down.  The leaves of this tea were tightly twisted and a mix of olive colored leaves and nearly black leaves. There were a few stems mixed in. The scent of the dry leaf was of pine and citrus. I must confess that I did not get the brewing of this quite right today. I was more successful yesterday and am anxious to try it again soon. The difficulty I faced with this tea was that I saw recommendations of using anywhere from 1 tsp to 1 tbs of leaf per 6 to 8 ounces. Brewing time was anywhere from 1 - 3 minutes and some called for 180 degree temps while others called for boiling water. Others are adamant that you should only brew this using gaiwan and short steeping times...So, there will be a great deal of trial and error with this one. Today I did a first infusion using 1 tsp of leaf and a 3 minute steep with water just below boiling (around 190 degrees). The tea had a very light, gentle flavor. There was some floral quality reminiscent of jasmine. There was a slightly lemony finish. It didn't quite have the depth I'd hoped.  The second infusion was for 3 1/2 minutes. It was a bit stronger, but still relatively delicate. The floral notes became much stronger. There was a slight earthiness. The third infusion was for 4 minutes. The tea began to develop a bitterness. I blame this on overbrewing. In the future I will try this tea using 2 tsp of leaf and begin with a 2 minute steep, adding just 15 seconds to each steep in order to avoid the late bitterness. I will also try this using a gaiwan. Tea: Hairy Crab Oolong Source: Virtuous TeasType: Oolong tea Brewing details: 1 tsp per 8 ounces at 190 degrees for 3 minutes (3 1/2 for the 2nd infusion and 4 minutes for the 3rd) Comment: Take care with this oolong as it is a fairly lightly oxidized one. It will likely be a little temperamental regarding water temperature and brewing time. For more information on tea, please visit The Tea Pages website.For Tea Pages merchandise, visit our site at Cafe Press.
My Steeped IdentiTEA by Brittiny
17 hours ago
score: 0
Type: Black Origin: Ceylon Price: Sample (regular price - $6 for 4oz.) Vendor: AdagioBrewing Method: Per Instructed ' 2.0g of leaves, 1 cup of filtered water, boiled at 200°F-212°F, steeped for 5 minutes. Overall Score: 4.3 out of 5  Adagio's Apricot Tea is a blend of Ceylon black tea base with a few slices of dried apricot in each cup. I could smell the sweet apricots as soon as I opened the can. The yellowish-orange slices can easily be seen against the black tea base. Once a freshly brewed cup was under my nose, the smell was even sweeter than the aroma of the dry leaves. As you can see, the color of the liquor is a beautiful deep orange. When I finally had a sip I noticed that the apricot did not seem over  powering. Over all the tea is mild with the apricot aftertaste. There is no dryness or astringency in this tea. It is very refreshing, actually, and left my mouth feeling cool.
In my personal opinion, I think it would make an excellent iced tea. I have only had this tea hot so far. However, with regards to the cooling sensation that I felt with this tea, drinking it iced may create the feeling of actually biting into a cool juicy apricot on a summer day. I'll have to try it.
The Tea Pages by Katrina
18 hours ago
score: 0
 I recently mentioned that I stumbled upon a new tea bar in Nashua, New Hampshire. Herbata Tea Bar opened its doors in April 2008 under the direction of co-owners Kathleen and Marybeth. It is located at 650 Amherst Street (Route 101A) in a strip mall with Mother & Child Consignment, Wine Society, Lilac Blossom Restaurant, Sherwin Williams, and a few other shops. The location threw me at first, but as soon as I stepped in the door I knew that I would quickly forget about the outside environment. The inside of the tea bar has been beautifully decorated with rich red walls, natural wood high top tables, and comfy leather chairs. There is even a child sized table and chairs with a children's tea set. There is a large bar where you can order your tea and refreshments and chat with the owners. In the back there is a small table that is used for tea tastings.  There is a small, rotating lunch menu of soups and salads served mid-day. Pastry is available all day. On my first visit I tried a fantastic corn and bacon chowder and a very enjoyable chai coffee cake. The tea menu was very nice - a good range of blacks, greens, and oolongs. Coffee and other beverages are also available. I tried a Caramel Oolong and was very pleased with my choice. I generally prefer unflavored oolongs, but this was a really pleasant tea and well brewed. There were numerous displays throughout the store with teapots, cups, and accessories and a wide variety of loose leaf tea. There are teas of all types, tisanes, and specially blended "health teas." They will also create gift baskets for tea lovers.  I had the chance to go for a second visit last Friday. Herbata was hosting its first on-site tea tasting. Jeremy, a part-time staff member (a chef who also works at Wine Society), conducted the tasting. It was a great experience - appropriate for those new to tea and to hard-core tea lovers. He offered 4 black teas - 2 Ceylon and 2 Indian. It was a nice mix to compare and contrast. Jeremy was very amiable and easy to chat with. The Vithanakande Estate Ceylon was a 1st flush single-estate low-growing Ceylon from the Ratnapura Region of Sri Lanka. It was a mild tea with a gentle floral taste. Very subtle. The second tea was Lover's Leap Estate Ceylon. It was a broken leaf tea from Sri Lanka's highest region. This was a fruity, grape-y rich tea with a full mouth feel. It reminded me a great deal of Mark T. Wendell's Cheericup Ceylon. We then moved on to Indian black teas. The Orange Valley Single Estate Darjeeling wasn't my favorite. It was okay, but I just kept looking for more complexity. It just didn't offer me as much as I would have liked. The last tea was Superior Assam. It was an Assam blend - strong, bold and malty. A good wake-me-up tea. I ended up purchasing some Caramel Oolong and Lover's Leap to take home. Jeremy mentioned that they are planning on doing tastings every other week or so (likely Fridays 4:30 - 7:00. Call the store for more information - 603-598-1212.) The next tasting will be on May 30th and it is supposed to be oolong teas. Sounds like another great opportunity! I would definitely recommend a visit to this shop. Let me know if you get a chance to stop in!
Today's Tea by Russell Hires
21 hours ago
score: 0
It's cool today, and I'm outside watching my son play in the front yard, and I'm drinking Yunnan Jig from Adagio. I love the way this stuff smells! I think I made it a bit strong, because it lacks in some flavor that I'm expecting, but the aroma does wonders for me! It's smoky without being too much so, and it's got some other taste that I don't have words for. I've probably complained before about the overblown sounding vocabulary for describing tastes, that to me belong in a wine cellar, or other way too expensive kind of place. It's a good day!
Teaviews by Teaviews
21 hours ago
score: 0
Given my own dismal experience with Ceylon Teas White, and the lackluster reviews that other Teaviews members have given this one, I’m sorry to say I really wasn’t expecting much when I decided to sample this one today. Thankfully, I was surprised to find that this White with Pomegranate was much better than I anticipated. This tea has a very light fruited aroma. The pomegranate taste is light as well and doesn’t overpower the delicate white tea flavor. The pomegranate really didn’t seem noticeable to me at all except as a slightly tart and surprisingly good aftertaste.
I actually sampled two different pomegranate teas today, thinking it would be a nice chance for a comparison. Much to my surprise, Ceylon Teas White with Pomegranate won my taste test. This probably will not be a repurchase for me (partly because I was unable to locate it on the Ceylon Teas website), but it did make for a pleasant cup.
CindyTeaviews.com Reviewer» Read about this reviewer on Cindy's profile page. » Find more tea reviews by the Teaviews reviewing staff.
Authoritea by Jessica
26 hours ago
score: 0
 Description (from SevenCups.com): Zi Yun Shan is an excellent Anxi oolong made entirely from 100% organic Tie Guan Yin tea bushes. The green emerald leaves are lightly toasted and crafted into their characteristic spiral shape. Once brewed note the clear golden yellow color and sweet fruity aroma.
The flavor starts with a sharp heavy feeling then gently turns sweet for an overall smooth taste that pleasantly lingers in your whole mouth. This high elevation tea is rich in amino acids, which can be infused many times. Zi Yun Shan is a perfect example of the complexity of lightly toasted Tie Guan Yin tea. Review: I'm just going to say this before I say anything else: Seven Cups takes the cake for highest quality, best-tasting, freshest oolong I've ever tasted. This, Zi Yun Shan, and lower grown, more inexpensive oolong than their incredibly mind-blowing Alishan Gao Shan Cha, but this is still an absolutely perfect cup. This very green, lighty toasted oolong has very hardened, rolled leaves that unfurl to create a dry yet sweet brew. It's very light and delicate, with warm buttery notes, light acidity and underlying floral flavors. The brew is very light, but has a bit of a thick, syrupy consistency that you get generally with buttery oolongs. The taste doesn't linger as long as some others, which contributes to the subtle dryness of this oolong, but I actually am really loving the short-lived taste, which leaves a very light, sweet, grassy aftertaste. This oolong, and (to remind you again) Alishan Gao Shan Cha, are two brews to die for. This is lighter and complex with little high-grown taste. These two oolongs are two incredible examples of the high quality and selections from Seven Cups. I hope to see much more from this company. The Good: another perfect oolong...subtle, dry, buttery-yet-sweet
The Bad: none
More Information/Buy: Seven Cups Zi Yun Shan
Tea Escapade by Nikki Means
26 hours ago
score: 0
Good Morning!
I managed to post this on Monday as promised last week. Nevertheless, when thinking about all of the opportunities I had to try a new tea, I must admit that I spent the week drinking favorites… expect for the one new tea that found itself in my cup. You might think that is uneventful; however, [...]
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