Tea For Me Please

Handmade Tea Gavati

2012-01-27T12:00:00.020-05:00

Country of Origin: China (for the two teas, not sure about the lemongrass)
Leaf Appearance:
Ingredients: oolong, black tea, lemongrass
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 185 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: deep gold/amber

This is my second monthly shipment from Handmade Tea. I have to say that I continued to be impressed by the packaging, the quality of the ingredients and the personal touches. What other tea company includes the owner's phone number in case you have any questions? I was actually a little hesitant about this blend because based on past experience, I'm not a huge fan of lemongrass. Happily, the flavor palate of this tea blew me away. The base oolong was very green and lightly floral. This was balanced by the earthy, smokey and peppery taste of the black tea. The lemongrass echoed that spiciness and added a touch of citrus sweetness. I never would have put these three ingredients together on my own but they complimented each other perfectly. I would definitely recommend this tea.

DCI Tea Duckie Floating Tea Infuser

2012-01-25T12:00:00.024-05:00

I received this adorable tea infuser as a Christmas present. It features a mesh infuser basket that attaches to the bottom of a floating yellow duck. How cute is that? The basket is small but I think it is deep enough to handle a larger leafed tea. I tend to use a lot of leaf so I'll just have to be careful not to over fill it. I love that it comes with a holder. I'm often at a loss as to where to put my infuser when the tea is done steeping. This little guy is definitely going to be keeping me company at work in the near future. My only qualm would be that the duck piece is made out of plastic but there are no assurances of it being BPA free. It's a not a big enough concern for me to stop using this infuser but it might be for someone else.

Smith Teamaker Méthode Pinot

2012-01-21T12:00:00.043-05:00

Country of Origin: Sri Lanka
Leaf Appearance: very dark with some golden tips
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: reddish brown

The leaves of this black tea were aged in a Pinot Noir barrel. I'm usually a white wine kind of a girl but given that I work for a wine retailer my interest was definitely piqued. The flavor of this tea was incredible. It was fruity, floral and somewhat malty with an underlying earthiness. I was amazed at just how "grapey" it was. This tea was all of the things I enjoy about red wine with none of the tannic mouth puckering that I do not like. Special blends like this are usually only available in limited quantities at their Portland shop. I definitely recommend picking up some if you have the chance.

The Wall Street Journal recently did an article on the founder of Smith Teamaker. You can check it out here.

Celestial Seasonings Kombucha Energy Shot Pomegranate Extreme

2012-01-19T12:00:00.024-05:00

Country of Origin: not given
Ingredients:Organic Kombucha, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Guarana Extract, Citric Acid, Natural Pomegranate Flavor With Other Natural Flavors, Niacin (Niacinamide), Asian Ginseng, Rebiana (Sweetener from Stevia), B-Vitamin Blend (Vitamins B6 [Pyridoxine Hydrochloride], B5 [Calcium Pantothenate] and B12 [Cyanocobalamine]) and Inositol.
Preparation Method: bottled
Liquor: light brown

Since I don't like the taste of coffee I often wind up reaching for an energy drink when I need to get moving. I was really excited when Celestial Seasonings offered me a chance to give these a try. Despite all of my adventurous tea drinking, I have never taste kombucha before so I was also a little nervous. Kombucha is live, raw fermented black tea. I couldn't help but compare it to 5 Hour Energy. The bottles even look a little similar. The "tea" was a light brown color and slightly effervescent. The taste was sweet and a little fruity but had a pleasant bite to it. It's was a bit of an acquired taste but I actually prefer these to the taste of 5 Hour Energy. They didn't give a major jolt in energy but I definitely felt more alert when I drank it after a very long day at work. I love the fact that they are vegan and that the ingredients are generally considered natural. I'm definitely stocking up on these on my next trip to Whole Foods.

Teavivre Yunnan Dian Hong Golden Tip Black Tea

2012-01-17T12:00:00.050-05:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: golden (almost orange) in color, slightly twisted and curled
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 1 minute
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: ceramic gaiwan
Liquor: bright red

The first thing that struck me about this tea was how beautiful the leaves were. I've had Yunnan golden tips before but the color of this particular tea was really something else. They were also incredibly soft to the touch. The taste was peppery with a mild maltiness. Lingering notes of honey added a touch of sweetness and there was a slightly smoky in the finish. Although a brisk and refreshing sip, there was hardly any astringency. After three fully flavored infusions, this tea still had more to give. I've been really impressed with the selections that I've tried from Teavivre so far. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Our Home Tea Chun Mee

2012-01-15T12:00:00.037-05:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: small, dark green and slightly curled
Ingredients: green tea
Steep time: 30 seconds
Water Temperature: 190 degrees
Preparation Method: ceramic gaiwan
Liquor: greenish gold

Chun Mee, also known as "precious eyebrow", is a hand rolled green tea. The taste was smooth and buttery with mild fruity notes. The aftertaste was somewhat smokey and there was very little astringency. I prepared it in a gaiwan and was able to get several infusions out of a very small sample of leaves. That being said, this wasn't the best quality Chun Mee I've had. There were a lot of broken leaves and it wasn't quite as robust as I would have expected. That being said, for this price it was decent. I would recommend it for someone looking for a daily drinker or something to make iced tea with.

Jenier Teas Kenyan White Tea Matcha

2012-01-13T12:00:00.037-05:00

Country of Origin: Kenya
Leaf Appearance: hard to describe, almost khaki in color?
Ingredients: white tea
Water Temperature: 185 degrees
Preparation Method: traditional (using a chawan and chasen)
Liquor: olive

When I had the opportunity to try this white tea matcha I jumped at the chance. The dry tea powder smelled amazingly fresh and sweet. I had such a hard time describing the color. Chartreuse and khaki both came to mind but neither were quite right.It behaved very similarly to green tea matcha. It foamed up well and stayed suspended in the water easily. The taste was crisp, grassy and surprisingly astringent. Adding ice and a touch if honey helped immensely. If you are a fan of matcha then this is definitely worth giving try, if only just for the novelty of it. Given my penchant for cooking with tea, I'm sure that I will be adding this to cookies or some other baking project.

IFTA Global Tea Tasters Club - Ruby Black Tea

2012-01-11T12:00:00.029-05:00

Country of Origin: Taiwan
Leaf Appearance: very dark with a twisted and curled shape
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 1 minute
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain gaiwan
Liquor: dark amber

This tea was part of the October Global Tea Tasters Club that is distributed by the International Tea Farms Alliance. The literature that was included with the shipment explained that it was grown at the Yuan Shiang tea farm in Nantou County, Taiwan. I really enjoyed having background information on the farmer and where the tea came from. This tea was crisp and nutty with hints of cinnamon. There was also a toastiness that almost reminded me of fresh baked bread. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Joy's Teaspoon Magic Moon

2012-01-09T12:00:00.051-05:00

Country of Origin: not given
Leaf Appearance: dark with some green mixed in and colorful fruit pieces mixed in
Ingredients: black tea, green tea, papaya cubes, rose hip peel, flavoring, sunflower blossoms
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: amber

This tea was incredibly fruity with an almost candy like sweetness. Papaya was by far the dominant flavor while the base black and green teas stayed mostly in the background. There were also notes of apple and mango as well. I didn't feel that the sunflower blossoms added much to the flavor palate but they certainly provided a nice punch of color. A slight astringency provided balance against the strong flavors that might otherwise have been overwhelming. I'm not always a fan of fruit based teas but I've been continually impressed by the blends that I have tried from Joy's Teaspoon. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Numi Tea Shooting Star Flowering Green Tea

2012-01-07T12:00:00.029-05:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: dark leaves with bright red flowers
Ingredients: green tea, amaranth and osmanthus
Steep time: 4 minutes
Water Temperature: 175 degrees
Preparation Method: glass teapot
Liquor: deep gold

This tea bloomed rather slowly and did not quite fully open on the first infusion. The osmanthus flowers were loose but thankfully they soon settled to the bottom of the teapot. Call me picky but I just don't like petals in my cup. The taste was delicately floral and sweet with a light, fruity aftertaste. Apricots and jasmine both came to mind but in an understated way. There was very little astringency, even after letting the bloom sit in the pot while I drank my first few cups. Comparing flowering teas to loose leaf is like making the same comparison to tea bags. You have judge them for what they and as flowerings teas go, this selection was very enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Tiesta Tea Fruity Pebbles

2012-01-05T12:00:00.020-05:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: mostly very green, somewhat flat leaves with visible fruit pieces
Ingredients: sencha green tea, Lung Ching, Pai Mu Tan white tea, papaya bits, pineapple bits, rose petals, strawberry bits
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 175 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: bright gold

After drinking all of those spicy Christmas blends last month I thought I would take a break and go with something fruity and this tea was exactly that. It was incredibly sweet, fruity and somewhat floral without being overdone. I'm not one for sweetening my tea so I love when a blend is naturally on its own. Papaya was probably the dominant flavor but I could taste all of the individual ingredients as well. There was a slight astringency that can be attributed to the inherent tartness of the fruit. Although I really enjoyed it, this would be a perfect summer tea. I'll definitely have to stock up on some once the weather finally warms up.

Celestial Seasonings Perfectly Pear White Tea

2012-01-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: mixed green and browns, very fine leaf particles
Ingredients: White tea and natural pear and vanilla flavors (contains soy lecithin)
Steep time: 2 minutes
Water Temperature: 185 degrees
Preparation Method: ceramic mug
Liquor: bright, brassy yellow

Gasp! A tea bag, how could I? Every type of tea has its place and the convenience factor leads me to stray from my beloved loose leaf from time to time. This tea was packaged in a thin, papery tea bag. It was delicate, light and sweet. Somewhat floral and vaguely vegetal, it was a very mellow cup overall. The flavoring was faint but was just enough to add some interest to what otherwise by a flat flavor profile. The pear complimented the dryness of the white tea nicely and the vanilla came through as a lingering aftertaste. I would definitely recommend this tea. In fact, the rest of this box is making its way to my desk at work tomorrow.

My Tea Year In Review

2012-01-01T12:00:00.046-05:00

2011 was a great year in tea for me so I thought I would take a look back. Here are some of my favorite posts and moments.

Went to a screening of The Meaning of Tea at Harney & Son's Soho
Attended one of my favorite events of the year, the New York Coffee and Tea Festival
Quoted in a TeaMuse article on the history of tea blogging
Interviewed by Lu Ann from The Cup of Life
Interviewed Anna from Runa Tea
My first how-to series, a sort of Tea 101
Attended World Tea East and had a chance to meet some wonderfuly tea-ish folks

I'm looking forward to a lot more tea and meeting more wonderful tea people in the year to come. Thank you to all of my readers, new and old, for coming along for the ride. You are my favorite part of running this blog!

Last but not least, I want to thank all of the wonderful tea companies who were generous enough to share samples with me. Without them, I'd have a lot less tea in my life and I wouldn't be able to post nearly as often as I do. To keep things fair, this list is in alphabetical order but I adore you all equally :)

Adagio
Aiya Tea
Arbor Teas
Authentic Teas
Boston Tea Company
Chicago Tea Company
Cost Plus World Market
Hampstead Tea
International Tea Farms Alliance
Joy's Teaspoon
Min River Tea Farm
Obubu Tea
Rishi Tea
Runa Tea
Shanti Tea
Stash Tea
Teatulia
Teavivre
The East India Company
The Foreign Office
The Meaning of Tea
The Puritea
Tiesta Tea
Village Tea Company
Zhi Tea

I think that's everyone I've published reviews for this year. Please let me know if I missed you!

Tea Regions: China - Fujian Province

2011-12-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

Fujian Province is located on the southeast coast of China. This region has a subtropical climate with warm winters and the threat of typhoons in the summer. It's probably best known for its oolong teas, especially those grown on the famed Wuyi Mountains. Green and black teas are also produced here. Some of my favorites teas from Fujian include Lapsang Souchong, Golden Monkey and Ti Kuan Yin. Buyer beware as "Wuyi" teas or often sold as weight loss remedies by disreputable companies.

Adagio Cranberry Tea (Pyramid Bag)

2011-12-28T12:00:00.014-05:00

Country of Origin: Sri Lanka
Leaf Appearance: dark black
Ingredients: black tea, cranberries, raspberry leaves, cranberry flavor
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: ceramic mug
Liquor: reddish brown

This tea was packaged in a silky pyramid tea bag and is part of the Holiday Cheer Gourmet Tea Collection. I was skeptical about trying it because I'm not a big fan of cranberries. I hate their mouth puckering sourness. I was happy to find that it was more on the sweet side than bitter. There was just enough astringency to lend a crisp tartness. The base black tea added complimentary notes of chocolate and nuts. While a relatively mild cup, it was still very enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Handmade Tea Hark!

2011-12-26T12:00:00.069-05:00

Leaf Appearance: small, very green with large chunks of cinnamon bark
Ingredients: whiskey barrel smoked yerba mate, full leaf peppermint and Saigon cinnamon
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: deep gold

I had been hemming and hawing over signing up for the monthly tea club Handmade Tea for some time and finally decided to bite the bullet. Each month a different hand blended tea is sent out, along with a tasting video. Hark! was my first shipment and I was beyond excited to give it a try. The first thing that struck me was the packaging. The hand stamped wax seals were such a nice touch. I also really loved that in addition to a tin of the blended tea, there were mini tins containing a sample of each of the individual ingredients. Since this was my first shipment, I also received a tiny glass tea cup and a metal strainer.

The yerba mate really blew me away because the whiskey barrel oak imparted such a unique flavor. It was woody (of course) and slightly smokey with notes of vanilla. The peppermint was some of the best I've ever had. It was extremely pungent and gave the blend a sweet, cooling aftertaste. This tea really brought out my inner cinnamon junkie. The cinnamon pieces added a subtle spiciness and notes of citrus. I really cannot wait to see what next month will bring. I would definitely recommend signing up.

Stash Tea Christmas Eve Herbal Tea and Giveaway!

2011-12-24T12:00:00.045-05:00

Country of Origin: not given
Leaf Appearance: lots of orange peels and cinnamon pieces with bits of green from the spearmint
Ingredients: cassia, orange peel, spearmint, vanilla extract, orange oil, natural cinnamon flavor, clove oil
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One- Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: deep, brassy gold

This herbal blend was extremely aromatic and the smell of cinnamon quickly filled my house while I was steeping. It was sweet, minty and deliciously spicy all at the same time. The spearmint added a really nice, cooling crispness to the finish of each sip. I was worried that the orange flavor might be too strong but it was just right. I could see where this would do well with adding just a smidgen of honey. This would be a great tea for those who typically don't like holiday blends. It isn't overly sweet or spicy, just a nice festive cup. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Comment on this post on this blog or on Facebook for a chance to win a 50g bag of Stash Christmas Morning! Heck, I'm feeling extra generous so I'll throw in what I have left of this tea too :)

Adagio Gingerbead Tea (Pyramid Bag)

2011-12-22T12:00:00.038-05:00

Country of Origin: Sri Lanka
Leaf Appearance: small, dark in color
Ingredients: black tea, natural gingerbread flavor, ginger root, cinnamon bark, orange peels
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: ceramic mug
Liquor: dark brown

Gingerbread is one of my favorite cookies and flavors so I was excited to try this selection. Although it was very aromatic, the taste of this blend was surprisingly mellow. There was a mild astringency along with a slightly sweet and cake-like aftertaste. As I was sipping, I couldn't help but feel like there was something missing. Typical of many dessert teas, it delivers on aroma but not so much on taste. That doesn't necessarily make this a bad tea. The black tea base was more than decent, I just expected more out of it. I found myself wanting a lot more spicy cinnamon and craving the tang of ginger. This blend wasn't for me but it may be just right for someone else.

Adagio Chestnut Tea (Pyramid Bag)

2011-12-20T12:00:00.024-05:00

Country of Origin: Sri Lanka
Leaf Appearance: small, dark in appearance
Ingredients: black tea, natural chestnut flavor
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: ceramic mug
Liquor: dark brown

I've never had an actual chestnut but according to Bing Crosby they are supposed to be roasting on an open fire at this time of year. This tea was toasty and smooth. It was surprisingly sweet, so much so that I might even use it as a dessert tea. The nutty aspect of the flavor profile reminded me very much of Nutella so I would say that the chestnut was pretty spot on. I enjoyed that the flavoring was not artificial tasting or overpowering. There was a light dryness at the end of each sip but it was only just enough to add some briskness. Overall this was a comforting cup and I would definitely recommend this tea.

Adagio Candy Apple Tea (Pyramid Bag)

2011-12-18T12:00:00.022-05:00

Country of Origin: Sri Lanka
Leaf Appearance: very small, dark in color
Ingredients: black tea, apple pieces, natural caramel apple flavor, cinnamon bark
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: ceramic mug
Liquor: dark brown

This tea was packaged in a silky pyramid tea bag and is part of the Holiday Cheer Gourmet Tea Collection. I'm going to apologize ahead of time for the horrible picture. I couldn't find a photo of this tea so I had to scan the wrapper from my sample. This tea was absolutely delicious. It tasted exactly like a caramel apple, super sweet but balanced by a pleasant tartness. I'm a total cinnamon addict so this was right up my alley. The black tea base was mellow and smooth, providing a perfect platform for the other flavors to shine. My mom was sitting nearby and found the aroma really overpowering but I enjoyed that aspect of it. This is the third tea bag collection Adagio that I've sampled and I have to say that I have been very impressed by them.

Boston Tea Company Irish Breakfast

2011-12-16T12:00:00.038-05:00

Country of Origin: India and Sri Lanka
Leaf Appearance: small, very dark
Ingredients: Assam and Ceylon Tea
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: bright reddish brown

Being a blend of Assam and Ceylon, this tea offered the best of both worlds. It was malty and robust with notes of citrus and a sweet, nutty finish. There was quite a bit of astringency but not so much so as to make it unpleasant. I always take my tea straight but this tea would definitely stand up well to milk and sugar. It would also be nice with a little squeeze of lemon (or maybe even orange). I've tasted the English Breakfast from Boston Tea Company and the Irish version is a slightly brisker cup. I brewed up some iced tea with this blend and it was spot on. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Teavivre Premium Grade Dragon Well Green Tea

2011-12-14T12:00:00.053-05:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: bright green, large and flat
Ingredients: green tea
Steep time: 2 minutes
Water Temperature: 175 degrees
Preparation Method: small clay teapot
Liquor: pale greenish yellow

This tea was strangely delicate and rich at the same time. The flavor profile was sweet and floral with an almost oceanic quality that I couldn't quite put my finger on. There a pleasant buttery aftertaste that lingered on my palate. While fresh tasting, it wasn't grassy or astringent. My second infusion was just as enjoyable. The leaves were a good deal larger than most dragon wells and consisted mostly of young buds. I made this in a lovely little clay teapot but I wish that I had used my glass one because this tea was really beautiful to look at. I would definitely recommend this tea. It would be a perfect introduction to green tea for the "I hate green tea" set (gasp, such creatures do exist!).

Adagio Golden Yunnan (Pyramid Bag)

2011-12-12T12:00:00.031-05:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: mottled brown, curly and twisted
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: ceramic mug
Liquor: dark amber

This tea was packaged in a silky pyramid tea bag and is part of the Artisan Comfort Gourmet Tea Collection. This tea was earthy and peppery with a pleasant aftertaste that was reminiscent of milk chocolate. There was very little astringency. The flavors really come alive as the tea cools so you might want to let it sit for a bit before taking your first sip. Golden Yunnan is one of my absolute favorite types of black tea and I love having it in the convenience of a tea bag. I always keep a few in my tea wallet, just in case I'm in need of some emergency caffeination. This is a great breakfast tea that isn't too harsh on sensitive palates. I would definitely recommend this tea.

But I want the top two leaves!

2011-12-10T12:00:00.015-05:00

I just had to share this video because it gave me a good giggle. The commercial is set in China but the narration is apparently in Thai. I haven't seen a cute tea commercial here in the states since the heyday of the Tetley Tea Folk. What's your favorite tea video?

Joy's Teaspoon Cinnamon Roll

2011-12-08T12:00:00.040-05:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: twisted dark brown, lots of visable cinnamon stick pieces
Ingredients: China Ceylon black tea, cinnamon, flavoring
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: dark brown

This blend was super simple but for a cinnamon junkie like me, it was heaven in a teacup. There was tons of spicy, mouth tingling flavor but it wasn't overdone. The base tea provided a sweet yet earthy richness that stayed in the background. There was a really nice, warming "baked" quality that had me craving cinnamon rolls in the worst way. This tea would be a great chai alternative for those with an aversion to the harsher spices. I've been really impressed with all of the teas that I've tried from Joy's Teaspoon so far and this one was no exception. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Tea Regions: China - Anhui Province

2011-12-06T12:00:00.041-05:00

I've always wanted to learn more about the tea growing regions of the world so I've decided to do a series spotlighting each one of them. This could take a while :)

Anhui Province is located in eastern China and is home to the Huang Shan Mountains. It has a monsoonal climate characterized by mild temperatures and plenty of rainfall. There are many different types of tea are grown here, including Keemun, Chunmee,Young Hyson, Hou Kui and Mao Feng. This region almost exclusively produced green tea until the development of Keemun in 1875. In addition to growing tea, potatoes and grains, Anhui serves as a base for coal and steel production.

The Foreign Office Vienna Tea

2011-12-04T12:00:00.005-05:00

Country of Origin: not given
Leaf Appearance: small, greenish brown
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method:
Liquor: bright reddish brown

Although this tea was packaged in a round paper tea bag, it was obvious as soon as I added the water that the leaf pieces were a good deal larger than I would have expected. This tea was smooth and a malty with a lingering but mild spiciness. There was very little astringency. I couldn't quite peg what type of tea it was, perhaps an Assam? Being a compulsive tea nerd, I wish that I knew what kind of black tea this was and from what region. I received a few samples from this new brand at World Tea East. Each of their blends is designed to represent a different international destination. It's a cute, boutiquey concept and overall I think it is well executed. I could definitely see keeping a tin at my not so international office.

Tea for Me Please on foursquare

2011-12-02T12:00:00.023-05:00

Being the social media addict that I am, I use and abuse the social check in site foursquare. They've recently added a list feature so I had to take the opportunity to catalog all of my favorite local tea themed haunts. Most of them are in New York City or in New Jersey. Now whenever I'm jonesing for a good cup of tea I can just pull up the app on my phone and see what is nearby.You can check out my list here. Where are your favorite tea places? Do you have your own foursquare list? Post it in the comments so I can follow! I'm reminded of how many great places I still need to get to.

IFTA Global Tea Tasters Club - Winter Jin Syuan

2011-11-30T12:00:00.040-05:00

Country of Origin: Taiwan
Leaf Appearance: tightly rolled, deep green
Ingredients: oolong tea
Steep time: 30 seconds
Water Temperature: 195 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain gaiwan
Liquor: pale greenish gold

The International Tea Farms Alliance was very generous and sent me a sample pack from their Global Tea Tasters Club. I loved that they included information about each tea and the farms where they are produced. The first tea that I tried was this high altitude Alishan oolong from the Dignitea Farm. I was blown away by the quality of this tea. I haven't had an oolong that was quite this good in a long time. It was incredibly delicate but savory at the same time. It was buttery, floral and sweet with a slight vegetal note that reminded me of cucumber. I really enjoyed how slowly the leaves and the flavors unfurled. Each of my three infusions were subtly different and it definitely could have kept going for a quite a few more. I cannot wait to try the other two teas they sent.

Boston Tea Company Autumn Harvest

2011-11-28T12:00:00.007-05:00

Country of Origin: South Africa
Leaf Appearance: cornucopia of fall colors
Ingredients: Red Rooibos, Lemongrass, Apple Pieces, Cinnamon, Rosehips, Natural Apple and Cinnamon Flavor
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: reddish amber

If there was ever a tea that tasted like fall in a cup, this would be it. While I was drinking this herbal blend I felt like I should be hiking through an apple orchard. It was tart and spicy, bringing to mind apple pie or cider at Thanksgiving dinner. The woodsy taste of rooibos is perfect for fall teas. I was happy to find that the cinnamon was strong but not overwhelming. It was very sweet but the lemongrass provided a nice bit of contrast. I love iced teas with apple in them so I am anxious to pop some of this in my trusty iced tea maker. I've been very impressed by all of the teas that I've tried from Boston Tea Company so far.

Magic Carpet Tea

2011-11-26T12:00:00.027-05:00

Country of Origin: not given
Leaf Appearance: small, fine leaf particles
Ingredients: oolong tea, dates
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 180 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: bright amber

I have never had a tea with dates in it so I was excited to try this selection. This blend had a strong, raisin-like sweetness that was a little overwhelming for me. I have a major sweet tooth with everything except for tea so I think we can chalk that up to a matter of personal taste. The base oolong had a pleasant toasty and woodsy flavor. There was very little astringency. This tea was not for me but I can see where other people might really like it. I appreciate the fact that their dates are locally sourced in Palm Springs, California. You can't be too careful about what is in your tea these days.

Joy’s Teaspoon Ruby Red

2011-11-24T12:00:00.042-05:00

Country of Origin: not given
Leaf Appearance: small, short needles with lots of visible fruit pieces
Ingredients: rooibos tea, pineapple cubes, papaya cubes, mango cubes, flavoring, lemon granules, black carrot pearls, red and pink rose petals
Steep time: 10 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: deep reddish brown

One of the things I love about Joy's Teaspoon is that their teas never have an artificial taste to them, as so many flavored teas do. This herbal teasan was no exception to that rule. It was incredibly sweet and refreshing. The flavor was citrusy and reminded me very much of a grapefruit covered in sugar but without the usual acidity. I almost found myself wishing that it did have a bit of pucker to it. The pineapple, papaya mango added a great tropical touch. I was worried that the recommended steep time was a little long but it came out just right. I could tell that this would make an awesome iced tea in the summer. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Teavivre Tie Guan Yin “Iron Goddess” Oolong Tea

2011-11-22T12:00:00.070-05:00

Country of Origin: China (Anxi, Fujian)
Leaf Appearance: dark green, very tightly rolled
Ingredients: oolong tea
Steep time: 30 seconds
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain gaiwain
Liquor: pale greenish gold

The leaves of this tea were relatively small and mostly broken. Although they did not appear perfect, I've found that is not really indicative of the quality of the tea. The mouth-feel was very thick. It was not quite like a milk oolong but there was an impression of creaminess. The taste was surprisingly light in comparison. It wasn't perfumy but the orchid aroma lingered on my palate for a long time. There was also a slightly sweet, vegetal note that almost reminded me of baby spinach or snow peas. This tea was very complex and I found it difficult to describe. I did three consecutive steepings in a gaiwan and it still had plenty of steam left. I love an oolong with staying power and this one certainly fit the bill.

Aiya Tea Premium Grade Matcha

2011-11-20T12:00:00.034-05:00

Country of Origin: Japan
Leaf Appearance: very fine, bright green powder
Ingredients: green tea
Water Temperature: 180 degrees
Preparation Method: traditional (using a chawan and chasen)
Liquor: very dark green with lighter green foam

I have previously reviewed Aiya’s Ceremonial Grade Matcha so this was a great opportunity to compare the two. For starters, the premium grade seemed to be a brighter shade of green. The flavors were fairly similar although the premium grade was smoother and slightly less vegetal than the ceremonial. Another difference that I found really interesting was the the premium grade did not foam up quite as much. Given the higher price tag of this version, it's not something that I would drink on a regular basis but for a special occasion tea this matcha is spot on. If you've never made matcha before and need some guidance, their site has some helpful hints. Aiya also makes a cooking grade matcha that I definitely think will be necessary for my culinary adventures.

Adagio Golden Monkey (Pyramid Bag)

2011-11-18T12:00:00.041-05:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: mottled brown, twisted
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: ceramic mug
Liquor: very dark

This tea was packaged in a silky pyramid tea bag and is part of the Artisan Comfort Gourmet Tea Collection. The first thing that impressed me was the amount of large, unbroken leaves in the sachet. Many companies use lower quality leaves in the their tea bags but this one looked exactly like the picture of the loose leaf version on Adagio's site. The flavor of this tea was spicy and surprisingly sweet. The primary flavor was toasted chestnut but there were also hints of cocoa. The malty, peppery aftertaste added a bit of contrast at the end of each sip. There was some astringency but not so much so as to make it unpleasant. I've just recently run out but this has become my morning wake up tea at work. I think that I'm going to have to restock soon.

Baking With Tea

2011-11-16T12:00:00.015-05:00

Aside from tea, baking is another one of my many obsessions and I love combining the two. Green tea is normally my tea of choice for that since it is so easy to add matcha to just about anything. Last year, a recipe was posted on T Ching for Butternut Chai Chocolate Chip Muffins. I've been meaning to make them ever since and finally got around to it the other day. It uses chai tea concentrate to add a really nice spicy flavor. I didn't have Rishi's concentrate on hand so I used Tazo's from Starbucks and it worked just as well. I probably used too little squash but I wanted to have some leftover to make soup later in the week. I thought that these were delicious and now the gears are turning trying to come up with other ways I can use chai concentrate in my baking. Do you bake with tea? I'd love to hear about it!

Rishi Tea Green Tea Chai

2011-11-14T12:00:00.000-05:00

Country of Origin: not given
Leaf Appearance: very green, more lemon grass visable
Ingredients: Organic cardamom, organic Fair Trade Certified™ green tea, organic lemongrass, organic ginger, organic licorice root, organic black pepper and organic peppermint.
Preparation Method: boiled 1.5 cups of water and 1 cup of milk, added tea, simmered for 5 minutes and strained
Liquor: greenish off-white

I think that I might have liked this tea if I had not followed Rishi's preparation recommendations. I just couldn't get over the stomach churning combo of green and herbal teas with milk. The color of the tea post-steeping was also a really unappetizing greenish off-white color. The dominant flavor here was lemon grass, with licorice coming in as a close second. The peppermint added a bit of sweetness that was tempered by the pepper and ginger. On the plus side, the spices did clear up my sinuses a bit. If I come across this tea again, I will definitely have to try it sans dairy because that was the main issue for me. I love chai but this blend was just not for me.

Yumi Yumi Octopus Creature Cup

2011-11-12T12:00:00.000-05:00

I have a major teaware addiction but I’ve been trying to cut back due to lack of space and funds. I just couldn’t resist when this unique and wacky cup was offered on the flash sale site Fab.com. What could be better than eight arms coming at you from inside of your teacup? The artist also makes a really cute version with a sea otter. These handmade cups are microwave and dishwasher safe. I cannot wait for it to get here so that I can do a little deep sea tea drinking. In case you want one for yourself, the title of this post is a link to the Etsy shop where they are available.

Cost Plus World Market Mountain Wulong

2011-11-10T12:00:00.027-05:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: small and curled, dark but mottled appearance
Ingredients: oolong tea
Steep time: 4 minutes
Water Temperature: 185 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: amber

This tea was floral and malty with notes of apricots and a subtle sweetness. There was a bit of dryness at the end of each sip but it wasn't overly astringent. Overall it was a very enjoyable cup and I'm looking forward to trying it iced as well. While this was not the best oolong I've ever had, this tea is really inexpensive so it would make a great daily drinker. You would be hard pressed to beat $9.99 for just over 2oz of decent loose leaf tea. I really appreciated that this tea is organic and fair trade certified. I think it behooves every tea drinker to practice a little bit of social responsibility when we can.

Village Tea Company Spicy Route Chai

2011-11-08T12:00:00.002-05:00

Country of Origin: not given
Leaf Appearance: small, very fine
Ingredients: Black tea, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger root, pepper, clove
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: brought 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of milk to boil and poured over pouch
Liquor: very dark brown

This tea was packaged in a biodegradable pyramid bag. I don’t normally add anything to my tea but I followed Village Tea Company’s preparation instructions for the first round. Chai is the only tea that I can stomach with milk and it worked well here. I added a touch of a orange blossom honey to this as well. I also tried this tea straight but I liked it better the "traditional" way. The spice was definitely on the forefront of the flavor palate with this blend. It wasn't overwhelming but it was just enough to make a warm and cozy cup. The addition of the pepper gave it a nice little kick. I prefer my chai to be a little more “teaish” but this version was well done. I'm not enjoying the arrival of cold weather at all but at least it lends itself well to sipping some chai.

Tea for Me Please on goodreads

2011-11-06T12:00:00.000-05:00

Being a major bookworm I have found myself addicted to goodreads. It’s basically social networking for the literary minded. You can keep track of what books you read, rate them and see what your friends are reading. I try to read everything on the subject of tea that I can get my hands on and my collection is slowly growing. In honor of my love for tea I've created a list on goodreads called Tea for Me Please. I've included on it all of the tea books that I have read so far. Lists on this site involve community voting so I would love to see some other books added.

Feel free to add me on goodreads too if you would like by clicking the button below!

Joy’s Teaspoon Enchanted Forest

2011-11-04T12:00:00.020-04:00

Country of Origin: not given
Leaf Appearance: small, dark green with lots of color from the flower petals
Ingredients: green tea, green mate, coconut shreds, flavoring, rose petals and cornflower blossoms
Steep time: 4 minutes
Water Temperature: 175 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: bright greenish yellow

This blend was quite decadent and aromatic. I thought that the fruity and floral flavors played off of each other really well. The coconut shreds added an almost candy-like element but it wasn’t artificial tasting. Overall this was a very balanced cup with very little astringency. The almond flavoring brought a subtle, almost creamy smoothness. I resteeped this tea a second time and it was just as delicious, if not more so. I have been really impressed with all of the teas that I have tried from Joy’s Teaspoon so far. I also have to add that I LOVE their sample tins. I'm saving all of my empties so that I can re-purpose them to make lip balm with a group of preteen Girl Scouts.

Boston Tea Company Pumpkin Spice

2011-11-02T12:00:00.001-04:00

Country of Origin: Sri Lanka and China
Leaf Appearance: small and dark tea leaves. spices and petals added a punch of fall color
Ingredients: Ceylon Black Tea, Exotic Spices, Sunflower Petals, Natural Pumpkin Flavors
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: deep reddish brown

Halloween has just passed and Thanksgiving will be here before we know it. What better way to get in the mood than with pumpkin pie in a cup? That’s exactly what this tea tasted like. It had just the right amount of spice and a pleasant earthiness. I found it a little too astringent so I will probably steep for closer to three minutes next time. This is a perfect chilly weather tea and a great alternative to chai. I really enjoyed it after battling our first snow storm of the season here in New Jersey. I do wish that I knew what "exotic spices" were used. Cinnamon and clove are the fairly obvious choices but I always like to know what I'm drinking. That minor complaint aside, I would definitely recommend this tea.

Tiesta Tea Nutty Almond Cream

2011-10-29T12:00:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: not given
Leaf Appearance: large, chunky pieces
Ingredients: apple pieces, crushed almonds, cinnamon pieces, beetroot pieces
Steep time: 7 minutes
Water Temperature: 205 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: a strange translucent pinkish orange

The first thing that struck me about this blend was the strange color of the brew. It was a very odd, pinkish orange and so cloudy that it was almost translucent. The taste could only be described as being like a less astringent version of apple cider. It was naturally very sweet. So much so that I wouldn’t dream of adding sugar, agave or any other sweeteners. The almond came through in the finish of each sip and while not super noticeable, there was a vague creaminess. I'm big cinnamon fan so this was blend was right up my alley in that department. This was a perfect fall cuppa (though it feels like winter here already!) that made we want to go apple picking and bake a pie. I would definitely recommend this blend.

HELPS Teas Organic R&R

2011-10-27T12:00:00.000-04:00

Ingredients: organic lemon balm and organic passion flower
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: ceramic mug
Liquor: deep gold

I was hesitant to write this review because I usually try to be as positive as possible. I really can’t sugar coat it though, this tea was simply awful. It was very bland but had an odd sour aftertaste that rendered it barely drinkable. Just because a tea has a potential medicinal use does not mean that it can’t taste good too. A lot of companies forget that when making a "health" blend. If I need to relax, I'd just as soon brew up some catnip or chamomile. I would not recommend this tea.

Adagio Silver Needle

2011-10-25T12:00:00.002-04:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: pale green, covered in down
Ingredients: white tea
Steep time: 7 minutes
Water Temperature: 180 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: very pale gold

Although pale in color, this tea was surprisingly flavorful. There were a lot of subtle nuances in each sip if I really took my time to focus on them. I could taste notes of honeysuckle, pear and cucumber. I even picked up a slight hint of bread dough (nicer than it sounds). There was also a slight grassiness but hardly any astringency. The aftertaste was crisp and clean. I also made a pitcher of iced tea with this and added just a touch of orange blossom honey, perfection! I would definitely recommend this tea.

Aiya Tea Ceremonial Grade Matcha

2011-10-23T12:00:00.002-04:00

Country of Origin: Japan
Leaf Appearance: very fine, bright green powder
Ingredients: green tea
Water Temperature: 180 degrees
Preparation Method: traditional (using a chawan and chasen)
Liquor: very dark green with lighter green foam

I was really happy to give this tea a try since I can’t remember the last time I had a bowl of matcha. My chawan and chasen were probably pretty happy to stop collecting dust for a bit as well. I always sift my matcha into my chawan first. This helps it mix smoothly and keeps in from getting clumpy. After some vigorous whisking, I had a nice amount of froth built up on top of dark forest green tea. My chawan is made out of clear glass so that I can really enjoy and appreciate the color. This tea was thick and creamy with a smooth, vegetal flavor. One thing I really loved was that I didn’t have to keep whisking as I drank, which I’ve often had to do with matcha from other companies. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Joy’s Teaspoon Sun Kissed Jasmine

2011-10-21T12:00:00.026-04:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: thin, very green
Ingredients: Sencha, Lung Ching, green Yunnan, Pai Mu Tan, flavoring, rosebuds, rose petals, mallow blossoms
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 195 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: Deep gold

If there was ever a romantic looking tea this would be it. I loved the visual impact of the tiny rosebuds and flower petals. The aroma of this tea was floral and surprisingly fruity. Overall the flavor profile of this tea was fairly complex and well balanced. The taste was sweetly delicate but the jasmine was much more subtle than I was expecting. There was a hint of papaya and citrus flavor that added a pleasant dryness to the finish of each sip. As it cooled the flavors actually became more pronounced so this would probably make an excellent iced tea. I can see why this blend is called "sun kissed", all of those flavors reminded me of spending a warm summer day in a garden. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Min River Tea Farm Iron Buddha

2011-10-19T12:00:00.003-04:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: large but tightly rolled, bright green in color
Ingredients: oolong tea
Steep time: 1 minute
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain gaiwan
Liquor: pale gold

This tea was fragrant and floral without being perfumy. It had the classic orchid aroma that one would expect from Tie Guan Yin oolong but it also had a slight vegetal aspect that kept the sweetness in check. While very green, it had a noticeably crisp and clean aftertaste. I did three steepings but I think it definitely would have lasted for quite a few more infusions. Once they unfurled the leaves were very large with tattered, brown tinged edges. They’re the kind of leaves that I can’t help but play with. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Village Tea Company English Breakfast

2011-10-17T12:00:00.001-04:00

Country of Origin: Sri Lanka
Leaf Appearance: very dark, short leaf pieces
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 4 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: deep reddish brown

The first thing that struck me about this tea was the 100% recycled packaging. Inside of the cardboard tube were two cotton muslin bags filled with tea and ten paper filters. How perfect it would be to use this for my tea stash at work? I’ve definitely got to brainstorm ideas on how to reuse the tube and bags. This tea was exactly how I like my English Breakfast. It was mildly smoky with notes of earthy chestnut and a subtle sweetness. A touch of astringency added briskness without making it bitter. I only did one steeping with this tea but one or two more decent cups could have easily been had.

Aiya Tea Matcha Zen Café Blend

2011-10-15T12:00:00.001-04:00

Country of Origin: Japan
Leaf Appearance: very fine green powder
Ingredients: green tea pre-blended with sugar
Preparation Method: mixed in a blender with ice and cold whole cows milk
Liquor: pale green

I got a chance to try some of this at World Tea East and it was delicious. Aiya was kind enough to give me a sample to take home. I prepared it as a smoothie but t can also be used to make lattes or mixed with water as is. I was afraid of messing up but it really couldn’t be easier. I use whole milk because I’m not a fan of soy or skim milk but you could just as easily have used one those. The finished smoothie was refreshingly vegetal and sweet, definitely way better than anything you would get from Starbucks. There is sugar pre-blended with this matcha but it had just the right amount. The single serve packet made it super convenient. If only I had a blend at work! I would definitely recommend this tea.

Twitter for the Tea Set

2011-10-13T12:00:00.015-04:00

I’ve been tweeting about tea almost as long as I’ve been blogging (which was 3 years to the date last Thursday!). It's been a great way to connect with the companies I love, fellow bloggers and drinkers of tea. I've made so many friends and connections over the years. Twitter is definitely the place to be if you are into tea so I thought that I might put together some pointers. If you aren’t familiar with twitter at all, you might want to check out Twitter 101 first.

You’ll have a much easier time writing tweets if it’s something you are passionate about (like tea). It will also make it easier to find people with similar interests. The flip side of that is to try to avoid oversharing. Your followers don’t need to hear about every step you take during your day.
Don't be afraid to be yourself. Twitter is an excellent place to let your quirky side loose.
Create content, not clutter! If all you do is self-promote or retweet, no one has any reason to follow you.
Keep it postive! Spreading negativity is a quick way to loose followers.
Contrary to popular belief, the key to Twitter is not the number of people following you. There’s not much point to tweeting if you have thousands of followers but no one is listening. Your goal should be meaningful interactions.
A really good way to find fellow tea drinkers is to the join the Tea Twibe. Clicking on "Who to Follow" on Twitter is also helpful.
Don’t forget to be social! A lot of people are hesitant to reply to tweets because they think it will clutter up your follower's timeline. As long as your tweet begins with an @username then it will not show unless that person follows both of you, in which case they would probably be interested in joining the conversation.

If you have any other tips to add, I'd love to hear them. Be sure to include your Twitter handle in your comment!

Tiesta Tea Creme au Chocolat

2011-10-11T12:00:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: not given
Leaf Appearance: small, very dark
Ingredients: black tea, chocolate chips, cocoa kernels
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 195 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: reddish brown

This tea wasn’t exactly what I was expecting but in a good way. It was subtly bitter sweet and reminded me of a very dark chocolate. I abhor chemically and artificially flavored tea so I was pleased to see that this tea didn't have anything extra added in that department. The base tea was brisk and somewhat malty so my guess is that it was an Assam. I’m not one to sweeten my tea (gasp!) but I think that adding a little sugar would round out the flavor profile nicely. It tasted better as it cooled so it would probably make a very nice iced tea. Whether or not someone would enjoy this tea would depend on how they like their chocolate.

Joy’s Teaspoon Creamsicle

2011-10-09T12:00:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: not stated but rooibos is normally from South Africa
Leaf Appearance: reddish brown with small bits of orange peel easily visible
Ingredients: rooibos tea, orange peel, flavoring, freeze-dried yogurt granules
Steep time: 8 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: chocolaty dark brown

This tea had the slightly woodsy, sweet flavor expected of rooibos with just a bit of citrusy tang. I was skeptical of the yogurt granules but they added this amazing creaminess that perfectly complimented the orange peel. Neither flavor was over-the-top or artificial tasting. I love it when a tea tastes exactly the way its name implies. This selection was a perfect example of that. This was truly delicious, summery dessert tea. I could see this being excellent iced as well. I would definitely recommend this tea. I'm not a huge fan of rooibos but lately I've had a streak of good luck with some really wonderful flavored blends.

Village Tea Company Sassy Green Tea with Acai

2011-10-07T12:00:00.003-04:00

Country of Origin: Chinese green tea
Leaf Appearance: dark green, almost sencha-like in appearance
Ingredients: green tea, ginger, flavor, orange peel, peach pieces, chilies, cloves, safflower, acai
Steep time: 4 minutes
Water Temperature: 175 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: deep yellowish green

I wasn't sure what to expect from this tea because of the eclectic mix of ingredients. It was somewhat vegetal and sweet but had a surprising kick in the finish. I really enjoyed that aspect because it helped to cut the sweetness of the peach and acai. The spice in this blend is super subtle, letting the tea itself take center stage. There was just enough to add a refreshing crispness. Leaves aside, I appreciate the fact that this tea comes packaged in a 100% recycled and recyclable container. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Smart Planet Eco Cold Drink Cup

2011-10-05T12:00:00.010-04:00

I've been on the search for a cold drink cup to use for making chai and green tea lattes at home for a while. Luckily my local Shop Rite supermarket had these on sale. It's double walled design keeps drinks cold while minimizing condensation. The lid fits super tight which is important for the accident prone such as myself. The whole thing is made from BPA free plastic (definitely a big plus), even the straw. The one that I picked out was a super cute argyle print. My version is 16oz but they are also available in a 20oz size. I love being able to be eco-friendly and drink tea at the same time. If I lived close enough to a Starbucks I would be tempted to see if they would let me use this instead of their disposable cups. It's technically the same size as a grande.

Adagio Dragonwell (Pyramid Bag)

2011-09-29T12:00:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: Chinese
Leaf Appearance: flat, dark green
Ingredients: green tea
Steep time: 180 degrees
Water Temperature: 3 minutes
Preparation Method: ceramic mug
Liquor: pale gold

This tea was packaged in a silky pyramid tea bag and is part of the Artisan Comfort Gourmet Tea Collection. The flavor was sweet and buttery with a subtle toastiness that reminded me of freshly popped popcorn. This tea was very smooth but a touch of vegetal astringency gave a dry finish to each sip. As far as tea bags go, this is one of the best dragonwells I’ve had. A lot of companies will use substandard tea that is properly pan fired but it was obvious that this tea is the real deal. I hardly ever get around to drinking it anymore but dragonwell is still of my absolutely favorite green teas. I’m so happy that I have a stock of these at work to get me through the chilly fall days to come.

Joy’s Teaspoon Eternal Sunshine

2011-09-27T12:00:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: not given
Leaf Appearance: small, dark and curled with blue petals mixed throughout
Ingredients: pu-erh tea, orange peel, freeze-dried raspberries, flavoring, cornflower blossoms
Steep time: 2 minutes
Water Temperature: 195 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: very dark, nearly black

This tea was very lightly flavored with just a hint of berries and citrus. I love a naturally sweet tea and this one did not taste artificial at all. The puerh base was earthy and chocolaty with a rich maple syrup-like quality to it. Overall I thought that this tea was really well balanced. While I was sipping, I found myself thinking that I wish that this was how Earl Grey tasted. Subtle orange flavor trumps the burn of bergamot for me any day. The cooler this tea got the more I liked it. Now I wish that I had enough to make it iced as well as I’m sure that would be delicious. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Boston Tea Company Bombay Chai

2011-09-25T12:00:00.001-04:00

Country of Origin: China and India
Leaf Appearance: small, dark with non-descript colored pieces mixed throughout
Ingredients: Black tea, organic ginger, organic cloves, organic cinnamon, cardamom, orange spice flavor
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain mug
Liquor: bright, reddish brown

This tea was packaged in a silk pyramid tea bag. It was wonderfully toasty with just a hint of sweet spice. There wasn’t a single ingredient that stood out or overpowered the others, instead they seemed perfectly blended. I don’t like chai that is throat-burningly over the top so it was just my speed. Although on the mild side, it was definitely still strong enough to take sugar or milk if you wanted to. I still have a few bags left and I’m looking forward to having them at work. Fall is the perfect time of year for chai and the weather here has finally started to cool off a bit.

Village Tea Company Cherry Me Bloom

2011-09-23T12:00:00.001-04:00

Country of Origin: South Africa
Leaf Appearance: small, brown woody stalks with petals and lemongrass blades mixed in throughout
Ingredients: Rooibos, sour cherry, lemon grass, flavor, acai, sunflower petals
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: deep reddish brown

There were no brewing directions on the package or Village Tea Company’s website so I pretty much winged it with this one. This tea was an easy drinker but possibly too easy. I was expecting a very tart, punchy tea but the dominating flavor was the woodsy and sweet rooibos. The cherry came through almost as an aftertaste. With flavored teas there is a fine line between blandness, being good and overdoing it. I tried resteeping for seven minutes but it still didn’t do much. This wasn’t a bad tea, it was just a little too quiet for my taste.

Thistledown Cozies Tea Wallet

2011-09-21T12:00:00.014-04:00

There is nothing worse than wanting a good cup of tea and not being able to get one but it’s not always easy to carry tea with me. When I saw these for sale at World Tea East, I knew that I just had to have one. These six pocket tea wallets have a snap closure and are handmade in the U.S.A. They come in a rainbow of colors but the one that I picked up is a tan Asian inspired print.

I’ve currently got six loose leaf sachets from Adagio which makes it a little bulky. I always lug around a gigantic purse so that really isn’t a big deal. I’m excited to try putting some T-Sacs in it as well. Unfortunately I don't think there's a way to make these manly so they are probably only usable for the ladies but I love it all the same.

Joy’s Teaspoon Italian Dream

2011-09-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: N/A (most likely South Africa)
Leaf Appearance: small and dark reddish brown. I was able to easily spot most of the other ingredients
Ingredients: rooibos tea, chocolate chips, brittle pieces, caramel pieces, flavoring, freeze-dried yoghurt granules, roasted coffee beans, roman camomile
Steep time: 8 minutes
Water Temperature: 205 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: deep brown

This herbal tea blend was decadently sweet and creamy without being over the top or artificial tasting. It reminded me very much of tiramisu and it would make a perfect dessert tea. The ingredients sounded like an odd combination but somehow it works. I was a bit hesitant to try this at first because I saw that it contained the dreaded “C” word…COFFEE! I love how coffee smells but I’ve never been able to stomach the stuff. I was pleasantly surprised to find that rather than a blast of java, the roasted coffee beans added more of a mild hint of mocha. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Adagio Teas Sweet Medley Collection

2011-09-17T12:00:00.001-04:00

Now that I've finally reviewed all of the flavors in this gift set, I thought that I should also review it as a whole. Always the skeptic, especially when it comes to tea bags, I have to say that I was really impressed. Not all of the flavors were exactly my cup of tea but that was more of a matter of personal preference than the actual quality of the blends. As bagged teas go, these are about as good as it gets. They’re not spectacular but they are all pretty darned tasty and not too far off from their loose leaf equivalents. The packaging is cardboard but it was simple, sturdy and well designed. I would definitely recommend this collection, especially as a gift or even just to keep at the office. I’ve been keeping this on my desk at work and those little bags fueled me through several it’s-way-too-early-for-this mornings.

The Sweet Medley Collection consists of 30 tea bags, 5 each of the following flavors:
Peach Oolong
Citrus Green
Peppermint
Earl Grey
White Blueberry
Vanilla Rooibos

Cost Plus World Market Talisman Tea Infuser Mug

2011-09-15T12:00:00.001-04:00

I’m always looking for easy ways to make tea on the go so I was really excited to give this one a try. The mug that I received was a different print (a pretty Asian inspired one) than the ones shown on their site but it had the same basic design. The set featured a tall mug with an ceramic infuser that fit inside and a lid. It retained heat well but didn’t get so hot that I was unable to touch it.

While aesthetically pleasing, I thought that the holes on the infuser were too large. I had trouble keeping anything but very large leafed teas (like my favorite dan cong) from slipping through. For this reason, I definitely prefer steel mesh infuser baskets over ceramic ones like this. If you don’t mind leaves in your cup then it’s really not that big of a deal. This mug would make a great gift for someone just getting started with tea or for someone who likes to make tea at the office.

World Tea East 2011

2011-09-13T12:00:00.013-04:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending World Tea East in Philadelphia. Since Philly is so close to home I opted to travel by bus and to just go for the day on Saturday. I have to admit that when I first arrived I was a little disappointed to see how small the expo was. In hindsight, that was part of what made it so great. Instead of running from booth to booth in a harried crowd, there was time to have meaningful conversations with some wonderful people.

Just outside of the exhibit hall, Artist Michele Brody set up her Reflections In Tea art project. It features a tea house made out of copper pipe with walls made out of paper t-sacs. Show attendees were asked to write hopes or prayers for those affected by the recent tsunami in Japan and donations were also collected for that same purpose. It was lovely to take a time out to sit in the tea house and enjoy a cup of tea.

I wandered the aisles a bit and then my next stop was the oolong tasting at Teas Etc.’s booth. I sampled some really great teas, including a nice aged dong ding. They were also kind enough to let me sample a sixty year old puerh that was AMAZING. I love meeting tea people that are enthusiastic about what they do and the crew there definitely fit the bill.

The rest of the expo was a blur of sampling teas and talking shop. Many of the companies were very generous with samples and there will definitely be lots of reviews coming soon. I promised myself that I wouldn’t buy any tea since I already have way too much (if that is at all possible). I did buy a cute tea wallet from Thistledown Cozies and the latest issue of Art of Tea.

As I heard a lot of people say during the expo, tea people are some the nicest most laid back people you will every meet. After the expo was over, I got together with several friends from twitter at Tbar. I had a rather yummy honeybee latte. It was a great pick me up after all of the walking that I did. After that it was time for the long bus trip home. Even though I was exhausted and a bit over-caffeinated, I’m really glad that I made the trek.

Rishi Tea Matcha 100% Premium Tea Powder

2011-09-11T12:00:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: Japan
Leaf Appearance: very fine, bright green powder
Ingredients: green tea
Water Temperature: cold
Preparation Method: empty packet into bottle of water and shake
Liquor: Cloudy, almost opaque pale green

This tea was clean and refreshing with a somewhat creamy mouth feel. It was sweet and vegetal with hardly any astringency. The taste was exactly as a bowl of matcha would taste, minus the foam. Out of all of Rishi’s tea powders that I have tried this one is my absolute favorite. I also felt that the powder stayed dissolved longer than the other varieties. I love throwing these in my bag for work or the gym. I don’t always get time to make a fresh hot tea and this is a great substitute. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Floating Tea House

2011-09-09T12:00:00.000-04:00

Architect David Jameson designed and built this amazing “floating” tea house in Bethesda, MD. It is one of the most beautiful and surreal looking structures that I have ever seen. It’s no wonder that this project has received several awards and accolades. How incredible would it be to have a retreat like this right in your own backyard? I don’t have any sort of dedicate tea space but I would love to be able to do this someday.

Primula Liberty Tea Kettle

2011-09-07T12:00:00.000-04:00

I’ve been begging my family to buy a new tea kettle for months. We’ve had a string of really cheap ones that either stopped whistling or scalded your hand when pouring. My local Shoprite had this bad boy on sale so we decided to give a whirl. The first thing that attracted me to it was the stainless steel body. These types of kettles are always much easier to keep clean than their more colorful counterparts.

It boils water, it pours, what more could you ask for? It’s no Breville but it does everything that it should. It works just as well for my mom’s green tea bags as it does for my gaiwan of puerh. The whistle is loud but not obnoxious or ear piercing. It has fairly large capacity, weighing in at 2.5 quarts. That’s important since constant tea drinking is genetic. I would definitely recommend this kettle.

Joy’s Teaspoon Riesling

2011-09-05T12:00:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: mix of whole and broken leaves. The cornflowers added a punch of color
Ingredients: Pai Mu Tan, Cui Min, rose hip peel, freeze-dried black currants, flavoring, mallow blossoms, cornflower blossoms
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 180 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: bright gold

Having just started working at a wine shop I was really excited to try this blend. The aroma truly smelled like Riesling. I am happy to say that it tasted exactly as it smelled as well. It was flowery and sweet with notes of pineapple and grapefruit. I was amazed at how grapey it was as well. From the description on their website, it seems that the “flavoring” may be actual grape juice. I love authenticity in a tea blend! I tried a second infusion which was much more subtle but that is to be expected of a white tea like this.

Adagio Peach Oolong (Pyramid Bag)

2011-09-03T12:00:00.001-04:00

Country of Origin: Taiwan
Leaf Appearance: dark brown in color and twisted in shape
Ingredients: oolong tea, natural peach flavor, apple pieces, marigold flowers, apricots
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain mug
Liquor: dark amber

This tea was packaged in a silky pyramid tea bag and is part of the Sweet Medley Gourmet Tea Collection. It tea was extremely aromatic, with the apricot and peach standing out in the nose. The flavor wasn’t quite as potent but I considered that a good thing. This tea was floral and sweet with notes of honey and a bit of smokiness that lingered in the finish of each sip. The flavoring was well balanced and complex. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Rishi Tea Sencha 100% Premium Tea Powder

2011-09-01T12:00:00.001-04:00

Country of Origin: Japan
Leaf Appearance: very fine, dark green powder
Ingredients: green tea
Water Temperature: Cold
Preparation Method: empty packet into bottle of water and shake
Liquor: Cloudy, almost opaque pale green

When I’m on the go I constantly find myself looking for healthy alternatives to the sugary sweetened iced teas that fill most store’s shelves. One of the things that impressed me the most was that the only ingredient is tea. The look of this tea was rather…interesting? My boyfriend likened it to raw sewage. The taste of the tea was a bit different than I was expecting but it was still very good. It was naturally sweet but with a surprising bit of nuttiness that I wouldn’t expect from sencha. Presumably they would have to roast it quite a bit to get the moisture content down enough to make it into a powder. I definitely recommend these handy little packets.

The Battle of Earl Grey

2011-08-30T12:00:00.010-04:00

Twinings Tea recently changed the blend of their earl grey tea in the U.K. Needless to say that nation of tea drinkers is more than a little upset. I haven’t it tried it myself but the new tea has been compared to lemon floor cleaner. As I’ve mentioned in my reviews before, I’m not a huge fan of bergamot flavoring for exactly this reason. There is nothing worse than a poorly done earl grey. Their original blend was beloved for many years and people tend to hate change. There is an old saying that always seems to ring true: if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Judging by the amount of public outcry, a change back to the old formula should probably be made in short order.

The Real 'Tea Party' Brings Its Platform to Philly, Sept. 9-10, for World Tea East

2011-08-28T12:00:00.000-04:00

In September the first World Tea Expo East will be held in Philadelphia. I am super excited to be attending. I’ll be live tweeting and blogging about everything I see there so be sure to stay tuned. Check out this press release for more information.

World Tea Expo Organizers Serve Up More of Their Specialty Tea Agenda with the Launch of World Tea East, Featuring Best New Products, Tea Tastings and Educational and Networking Opportunities

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Aug. 22, 2011) --- The producers of the renowned World Tea Expo, the real "tea party," are bringing their platform --- the best the specialty tea industry has to offer --- to Philadelphia for World Tea East, Sept. 9 - 10 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. This new event features 100 innovative manufacturers and suppliers, best new tea products, expert-led educational sessions, focused tea tastings, pairing workshops and other special events for tea professionals, food and beverage manufacturers and decision makers in related industries.
The expo also presents the unique "Reflections in Tea" interactive art exhibit, which will benefit victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, a major tea-growing and tea-consuming region. In addition, World Tea East debuts the Cha Jing Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be presented to distinguished tea leader John Harney, founder of Harney & Sons Fine Teas, for his significant contributions to the industry.

Kim Jage, executive vice president of World Tea Media, organizer of the event, said, "World Tea East is not only about specialty tea and the latest trends, it's about providing professionals the tools needed to drive business and increase sales in tea and related products. There are untapped opportunities for retailers, tea and coffeehouse owners, hoteliers, restaurants, spas, grocers and innkeepers, to profit from this growing category. Attending East and the educational conference arms professionals with the business development knowledge they need to succeed with tea."
According to Jage, the objective of the exposition is to support and fuel the expanding demand for specialty tea and related products in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and Southeast United States, and to provide solid tea education for the category's ever-growing popularity.

Reflections in Tea
One noteworthy happening at World Tea East is an interactive art exhibit, called "Reflections in Tea." Groundbreaking artist Michele Brody, in partnership with World Tea East, offer this one-of-a-kind, hands-on art exhibit, which will provide both hope and financial support to the tea-growing country of Japan. The art exhibit includes the temporary installation of a tea house constructed out of copper pipes with walls of tea-stained tea sacs. Delegates of World Tea East have the opportunity to write a message of hope or prayer on the tea sacs, as a way to offer encouragement to the families and individuals who suffered during the disasters in Japan. Attendees can make a voluntary contribution for each stained tea bag that they transcribe, and proceeds will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross. At the conclusion of the show, the tea bags will be transformed into a "Wishing Quilt," which will be sent as a gift to the residents of the Fukushima Prefecture.

World Tea East Highlights
World Tea East also provides professionals with numerous opportunities to discover new tea products, optimize merchandise, gain product knowledge and network with peers in an intimate setting. The conference is expected to bring in a high-level audience of buyers and decision makers.

Additional highlights include:
---New and leading-edge exhibitors of tea and related products - The exposition is set to deliver tea favorites like International Tea Importers, Teas Etc., Sungarden Teas and Rishi Tea, along with newcomers, including Best International Tea, British Delights, Custom Co-Pack, Revolution Tea, SerendipiTea, Teazzers, Tiesta Tea, Tracy Stern SalonTea and Woodford Wicks.
---Best new products - World Tea East also features the latest tea products, such as: the finum Traveler ZITA, Riensch & Held's newest and most impressive tea ware for on-the-go; and AIYA America's Matcha Zen Café Blend in single-serving packets for delicious Matcha smoothies and lattes at home, among many other exciting teas and wares.
---Expert-led educational sessions - Presentations include: Top Tea Retail Trends; How to Conduct a Successful Tea Tasting; Tea 201: Finding Profitability; Food Service Market Trends; Building Tea Community the Easy Way; Fair Trade Certification Alternatives for Tea & Herbs; Unusual Herbal Teas; Using Protocol and Etiquette to Increase Sales & Traffic; and the History of Tea in America, among other topics.
---Focused tea tastings - World Tea East tea-tasting sessions include type-specific teas, including the newest in Black, Unusual Herbal Teas, Blended/Flavored Teas, Oolongs, Puers and African Teas.
---Workshops - Unique workshops include "There's a Flower in My Soup: All About Edible Flowers" and "Tea and Cocktails - Flavor Fusion."
---World Origin Tasting Tour - This event stops at six different countries of origin, where attendees explore the country's tea culture, look at unique manufacturing processes and taste six to eight teas that are authentic to each origin, providing delegates a solid understanding of the flavors and profiles of each.
---North American Tea Championship Winners' Tasting Circle - This experience offers attendees the opportunity to sample winning teas, meet the suppliers and judge for themselves which teas are the best in each category.

John Harney
Cha Jing Lifetime Achievement Award
World Tea Media is also planning to introduce its Cha Jing Lifetime Achievement Award at World Tea East. The Award recognizes and celebrates individuals who have made considerable contributions to the growth, innovation and education of the specialty tea industry throughout their lifetime. This year, John Harney, founder, Harney & Sons Fine Teas, is the recipient of the award. Widely respected by his peers and a role model for many, Harney has made a significant impact on the specialty tea industry through innovation, mentoring and service. Attendees may congratulate Harney, who will be honored during World Tea East's Networking Reception, Friday, Sept. 9, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Philadelphia Marriott Ballroom.
For more information on attending, exhibiting or sponsoring, visitwww.WorldTeaEast.com or call the expo's customer service line at 702-253-1893.

About World Tea Media
World Tea Media is an integrated media company, dedicated to providing business solutions to the global tea industry. Events include the annual World Tea Expo (www.WorldTeaExpo.com) in Las Vegas, Nev., and World Tea East (www.WorldTeaEast.com), Sept. 9 -10, 2011, in Philadelphia, Penn. World Tea Media also produces the North American Tea Championship (www.TeaChampionship.com), which evaluates the top teas in North America, andWorld Tea News (www.WorldTeaNews.com), the premier news portal for the tea industry. Visit www.WorldTeaMedia.com.

Note to Editors: A press pass may be requested. Contact Aaron Kiel,akiel@akprgroup.com.

New Tastes in Green Tea by Mutsuko Tokunaga

2011-08-26T12:00:00.000-04:00

The first thing that I noticed about this book was the incredible photographs. The second was the recipes, which all sound absolutely delicious. I have a habit of throwing matcha into just about everything so it was good to get some inspiration. This book was a fairly quick read but covered a lot of ground. The author touches on the history of tea in general, how it is grown and processed as well as how to prepare a perfect cup. She also gives in depth information on the many different types of green tea (mostly the Japanese varieties).

Reading this book made me want to immediately preheat the oven and whip out the blender. I will definitely be trying several of the recipes featured soon. It is rare to find a book focused on a single type of tea but it works very well here. It would be interesting if someone did a similar series on each type of tea. This book is great for the green tea obsessed but would also be a great read for the general tea lover. I ordered my copy from Den's Tea but you can also find it on Amazon and other book sellers.

Runa Tea Guayusa Spice

2011-08-24T12:00:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: Equador
Leaf Appearance: small, sage green leaves mixed with pale stalks of lemongrass and brown pieces of cinnamon bark
Ingredients: organic guayusa, organic lemongrass, organic cinnamon
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain mug
Liquor: deep gold

The aroma of this herbal teasan was incredibly spicy, almost reminding me of a strong chai. I’m not big on spicy teas so thankfully the taste was not nearly as powerful as I thought it would be. Cinnamon is so rich and earthy that it almost completely dominated the other ingredients. The guayusa was detectable only as a bit of sweetness at the end of each sip. I couldn’t taste the lemongrass at all. Guayusa can be very neutral when mixed with other ingredients which makes it a great base tea. If you love cinnamon you will absolutely love this tea.

Adagio Citrus Green (Pyramid Bag)

2011-08-22T12:00:00.008-04:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: dark green and small in size, some bags had orange peels.
Ingredients: green tea, orange peels, natural lemon flavor, natural orange flavor
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 180 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain mug
Liquor: pale gold

This tea was packaged in a silky pyramid tea bag and is part of the Sweet Medley Gourmet Tea Collection. The citrus flavor was very well done, strong but not overpowering. The green tea base was sweet and vegetal. There was very little astringency but it was still crisp and refreshing. Not all of the tea bags had slices of orange but the flavor was not affected. It was delicious hot but it would make an excellent iced tea as well. I would definitely recommend this tea.

How to Get Started with Tea – Buying Your Tea

2011-08-20T12:00:00.001-04:00

Purchasing tea can be truly daunting once you realize that there is more out there than what you find next to the coffee in the grocery store. When you first starting out, you live and you learn. For every amazing tea you find there will be lots of mediocre and probably a few really bad ones thrown in for good measure. Here are some things I’ve learned that make it a little easier.

Tea bags are not necessarily a no-no. We all need tea on the go sometimes. Look for bags that are the whole leaf silky pyramid style. These allow the leaves to fully expand while still giving you the convenience that you are looking for. I really like Adagio’s and Mighty Leaf’s offering in this department.

Every type of tea has a different appearance. It’s best to do your homework ahead of time on what the leaves should look and smell like. When buying in a store, I tend to prefer prepackaged tea over the random leaves in a jar variety. My local health food store has tons of jars of tea but I’ve never tried it because frankly I’m a bit scared. If the store has the option, a great indicator of taste in a tea is its aroma. With a few exceptions, if you think a tea smells delicious then it probably is.

Sourcing good quality tea can be tough, depending on where you live. I’m lucky enough to love close to New York City so I can find a shop that sells good quality tea pretty easily. SoHo alone is a goldmine these days. For those of you without that blessing, Wegman’s supermarket actually has an unbelievable tea selection. They have almost any kind you could think of and often have loose bulk tea for sale. Whole Foods tends to mostly stock Rishi, which is pretty decent stuff and not terribly expensive. Then there are your tourist trap tea shops (ala Teavana). Don’t get me wrong, they have some very good teas. They’ll also try to coerce you into buying everything else in the store. Buyer beware is always a good rule of thumb.

Buying online can be just as hazardous. There are more websites out there selling tea than you can shake a stick at. In general I tend to avoid websites that focus more on health claims than on the tea. I also flat out refuse to buy any tea that does not have the ingredients listed. I’ve had a lot of luck with tea from Seven Cups and Chicago Tea Garden. If you are looking specifically for green tea, especially Japanese, then Den’s is definitely the place to go.

There is an incredibly community of tea drinkers online. Use them to your advantage! Send a tweet asking for advice and recommendations. Check out ratings on sites like Steepster and Teaviews. If you google almost any tea being made today, you are likely to find a blog post about it.

I hope that this little series will help someone to start on their journey with tea. It really is an amazing beverage.

How to Get Started with Tea – Tools of the Trade

2011-08-18T12:00:00.001-04:00

Once you are drinking loose leaf tea on a regular basis you will probably want to set yourself up with the proper tools. It is super easy to go overboard (and broke) with the variety of teaware that is readily available on the internet. It took a while for me to learn this but less really is more. When I first started I went through phases of mass accumulation but eventually I realized that I always wound up using the same tried and true pieces.

There are a few simple essentials that everyone needs:

tea kettle
porcelain or ceramic teapot
mesh infuser basket
thermometer
a favorite teacup (even if it is your trusty coffee mug!)

As you get more serious about tea, you might want to add a few things that are tailored to your favorite types. If you enjoy oolong, you’ll eventually want to get an yixing pot. For green or white tea you’ll want an gaiwan. Once you're really serious I definitely think it is worth investing in a tea maker, especially if you are as busy as I am. In the past I had a Zarafina Tea Maker. It worked very well and certainly served the purpose. I've since given it away because I was lucky enough to win a Breville One-Touch Tea Maker. I have to say that it is absolutely amazing. Whichever way you choose, just make sure that it works for you.

How to Get Started with Tea – Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

2011-08-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

No matter what your obsession may be, there will always be a pretentious snob that tells you that you are doing it wrong. With tea it’s very easy to get bogged down in measuring leaves and perfectly calibrating your water ratios. It’s not that these things aren’t important but they can get in the way. Sometimes you have to just wing it, for better or for worse, especially when you are just starting out.

The point is to enjoy your tea, to savor the tranquility that comes from sipping a delicious cuppa. I was lucky enough to have someone teach me that right at the beginning of my journey with tea. Don’t be afraid to use too much leaf or steep it in water that isn’t exactly the right temperature. I think that kind of experimentation is the most valuable tool you’ll have in learning about tea.

How to Get Started with Tea – Drink Lots of It

2011-08-14T12:00:00.009-04:00

I know quite a bit about tea but I am not at all what I would call an expert on the subject. However, I have learned a lot over the years. I’m intending this series of posts to be more of a primer for someone who is just getting the feet wet when it comes to tea.

It is easy for a newcomer to feel overwhelmed with the explosion of the tea industry in recent years. I know that I did when I started tea blogging way back in 2008. The easiest way to get started is to taste as many different kinds as you can. Do it whether the tea is good, bad or ugly. Either way you will learn from it and grow. Your palate will evolve over time, making you better able to taste the nuances of a really delicate tea. You’ll notice your own tastes and preferences changing too. When I first started drinking tea, I was all about the earl grey and flavored teas. Now I still indulge in the odd flavored selection but there is a definite lean towards the more traditional, unflavored teas. It's hard not to be biased because most people have a firm idea of what they do or don't like but try to keep your mind open. Don't be afraid to try new things!

Tea Beyond Royal Red

2011-08-12T12:00:00.006-04:00

Country of Origin:China
Leaf Appearance: green leaves buddled around an orange-red flower, there was also a burst of loose yellow petals while blooming.
Ingredients: no clearly stated
Steep time: until bloom opens, about 1:30
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: glass teapot
Liquor: bright gold

This tea was sweet, floral and almost apple-like with a lingering aftertaste. There was very little astringency. As flowering teas go it’s pretty decent as far as the amount of flavor. This tea had two detractors though. The first being that the ingredients were not clearly stated on Tea Beyond’s website. As best as I can tell there is white tea and osmanthus (which they refer to as sweet olive). Beyond that I am at a loss as to what it was I was drinking. The second being that I really don't like lots of teeny tiny petals floating in my tea. That being said, you really can't expect too much from a flowering tea. They are great for when you have guests over but they're just never going to be as good as a high quality loose leaf tea.

Adagio Peppermint (Pyramid Bag)

2011-08-10T12:00:00.009-04:00

Country of Origin: Not given
Leaf Appearance: small, sage green
Ingredients: peppermint
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain mug
Liquor: deep gold

This tea was packaged in a silky pyramid tea bag and is part of the Sweet Medley Gourmet Tea Collection. It was sweet with a very cooling aftertaste. It wasn't bitter or medicinal at all. Talk about a breath of fresh air! You would be hard pressed to find a stick of gum that would be more refreshing. Peppermint isn’t for everyone but I LOVE it. I always keep a stash of it around to help soothe tummy troubles or sore throats. It also keeps me awake at work without caffeine. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Boston Tea Company Berry Medley

2011-08-08T12:00:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: small and very dark, large cranberries and bright safflower petals
Ingredients: Black Tea, raspberries, cranberries, rosehips, safflowers, natural pomegranate and raspberry flavor
Steep time: 4 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Liquor: reddish brown

This tea was very aromatic but the taste was surprisingly mellow. With all those berry ingredients I was expecting a very tart cup. Instead there was just enough astringency. It was earthy with a hint of fruitiness that reminded me very much of jam. The flavor lingered in my palate quite long after each sip. Overall it was very juicy and refreshing with a pleasant mouthfeel. I have some left over leaf and I can’t wait to try it iced. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Tea and Wine

2011-08-06T12:00:00.003-04:00

After working in the pet industry for more than five years I’ve made a drastic career change and jumped ship to the wine industry. Life works in mysterious ways. You may find yourself asking, what does this have to do with tea? More than you might think! Over the last month and a half I’ve realized more and more just how many similarities the two beverages share. I don’t know nearly enough about wine just yet to go into full technical detail but I’ve got the basics down.

For starters wine and tea contain tannins. The same component that gives black teas their astringency also gives red wines their mouth puckering tartness. Both wine and tea can be oxidized and fermented (depending on the type). Terroir has an affect on taste with wine just as it does with tea. The descriptions of flavor profiles are also very similar. The other day I was unpleasantly surprised to try a red wine that tasted like bad puerh (you know, the kind that tastes like a barnyard smells). Having a background in tasting tea has been a big help in tasting wine because a lot of terminology is the same. On the flip side, I have a hard time getting past the alcohol to truly taste the wine. Thankfully that isn’t an issue with tea.

For a viewpoint on this topic from someone who actually knows what he’s talking about, check out Wojchiech at Polish Wine Guide. He’s written two articles so far and has a third one coming soon.

Runa Tea Ginger Citrus Guayusa

2011-08-04T12:00:00.003-04:00

Country of Origin: Ecuador
Leaf Appearance: small, irregular and dark green with a sprinkling of orange peel and ginger pieces
Ingredients: Organic RUNA guayusa, organic orange peel, organic ginger
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain mug
Liquor: brassy gold

I’m not big on ginger “teas” so I was bit hesitant to try this one. I usually find them overdone and artificial tasting. The ginger and citrus in this herbal blend were natural tasting and played off of each other perfectly. The guayusa provided an earthy and nutty base that stayed in the background. From what I’ve seen so far guayusa lends itself very well to flavored teas for exactly that reason. Overall it was a well balanced cup that wasn’t over the top and had just enough citrusy ginger zing to keep me interested. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Adagio Earl Grey (Pyramid Bag)

2011-08-02T12:00:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: small and dark with the odd piece of orange rind
Ingredients: black tea, bergamot oil
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method:
Liquor: dark reddish brown

This tea was packaged in a silky pyramid tea bag and is part of the Sweet Medley Gourmet Tea Collection. This was a plain and simple, straight forward earl grey. The bergamot flavor was there but no overbearing or oily tasting. The black tea was a mellow base with just enough astringency to give my taste buds a wake up call. Of the five tea bags that I had, some of them had orange rind pieces in them and some of them did not. This really didn't seem to have much affect on the taste though. I've taken to drinking this tea first thing in the morning when I get to work. I would definitely recommend this tea.

American Tea Room Arya Pearl First Flush Organic White Darjeeling Tea

2011-07-31T12:00:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: India
Leaf Appearance: sage green with lots of buds, smaller than a Chinese silver needle would be but still has some downy hairs Ingredients: white tea
Steep time: 4 minutes
Water Temperature: 185 degrees
Preparation Method: glass teapot
Liquor: pale gold

This is one of the most complex white teas I have ever had. It was creamy, spicy and fruity with just a hint of grassiness. I was expecting a completely different experience, it tasted nothing like darjeeling and nothing like white tea. My second infusion was slightly more floral but just as delicious and nuanced. American Tea Room’s food pairing suggestions have me completely craving bread and olive oil right now. This tea is very pricy but it is a rare case where I think it is worth it. The sample size is an affordable way to give it a try. This is only the second white tea I've tried from India, the other being a silver needle from the Satrupa estate, but both have been stellar.

Chicago Tea Garden Ceramic Pot Pu-erh

2011-07-29T12:00:00.003-04:00

Country of Origin: China, Yunnan Province, Kunming
Leaf Appearance: very small and dark with some golden tips
Ingredients: pu-erh tea
Steep time: 30 seconds
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain gaiwan
Liquor: amber

According to Chicago Tea Garden, this tea is aged in ceramic pots for ten years in a man-made cave. The earthy element of this tea was softer and more refined than most pu-erhs but there was a definite mossy quality to it. This was especially true of the leaves post-steeping. It was sweet with very little astringency. I did four sequential steepings but quite a few more could definitely have been squeezed out. This tea would be great for a beginner just starting to feel their way around the world of pu-erh because of its mellow taste and unintimidating appearance. It would also make a unique gift for that tea-fiend who has everything.

Ice Brewed Tea

2011-07-27T12:00:00.050-04:00

I'm sure most of you are experiencing the unbelievable heat that I've been having in New Jersey this week. I was craving a cup of tea but did not want to touch anything hot so I decided to try a cold brewing method that I had heard about, shinobi-cha. Using this method, a houjin is filled with ice cubes and gyokuro tea leaves. The tea is drank slowly as the ice melts. I wanted a bit more than my tiny houjin could hold so I decided to use my kyusu with sencha instead.

I'm incredibly impatient so I poured the tea in dribs and drabs as the ice melted rather drinking one larger cup. The first few pours were a little too strong and vegetal, even bordering on bitter. They reminded me very much of uncooked broccoli. Thankfully the tea mellowed out with each subsequent pour. The flavor was similar to that of hot brewed sencha but it was a bit stronger and more concentrated. I really enjoyed how brewing this way forced me to savor each sip, not something we often do with iced tea. I would definitely recommend giving it a try.

What is really in your herbal tea?

2011-07-25T12:00:00.001-04:00

A group of New York City high school students did a study of the DNA composition of tea. What they found was actually pretty disturbing. More than a third of the herbal teas they tested contained material other than what was listed on the label. For anyone with allergies to certain plants this could be a real problem. If a tea (whether it is an herbal teasan or a true tea) is mechanically cut I think some impurity is inevitable. But I also think behooves the tea company to test their products before sending it to market. Hopefully studies like this will lead to more stringent guidelines. Click on the title of this post for a link to the Scientific American article about this story and check out the video below.

You can read the results of their study here.

Argo Tea Genmaicha

2011-07-23T12:00:00.017-04:00

Country of Origin: Japan
Leaf Appearance: dark green and flat tea leaves mixed with brown grains of rice and white kernels popped rice
Ingredients: sencha green tea, rosted rice and popped rice.
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 180 degrees
Liquor: bright green and somewhat cloudy

This tea was aromatic, sweet and toasty. Whenever I made it at work my co-works would start asking who made popcorn. However, I think that is heavy on the rice for my tastes. Granted super high grade sencha would not be used by any company to make genmaicha but I would like to have more leaf. I found myself missing the vegetal element that sencha normally adds. The tea was packaged in a lovely little glass jar. My only concern about that is that there was nothing on the label indication the packaging would protect the tea from being damaged by UV light. All in all it wasn't a bad tea, I've just had better genmaichas. If you ever find yourself in the tragic situation of being stuck without tea in Chicago or New York be sure to check them out.

Boston Tea Company English Breakfast

2011-07-21T12:00:00.001-04:00

Country of Origin: China and India
Leaf Appearance: small and dark with a strong, nutty aroma
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Liquor: dark reddish brown

This tea was packaged in a silk pyramid style tea bag. This was a “by the book” English breakfast. It was full bodied but mellow at the same time. There were notes of chestnut and a bit a smokiness with just enough astringency to add some briskness. There wasn’t anything particularly special about it but that is kind of the point, isn’t it? A blended tea like this is designed to give you predictable results so it lacks the nuances that you would find in a high end Keemum or Assam. I would definitely recommend this tea.

American Tea Room American Beauty Organic

2011-07-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: none given
Leaf Appearance: colorful potpourri of flower petals mixed with pale green tea leaves and mint
Ingredients: white tea, roses, peppermint, lavender and jasmine
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 185 degrees
Liquor: deep gold

For a blend that is primarily floral in appearance, this tea was surprisingly crisp and complex. It wasn’t perfumey but definitely had a strong floral element. The flavor most closely reminded me of fresh sage, a little sweet and vegetal. The white tea gets clobbered a bit and isn't really detectable but then it seems like it is only there as a base in the first place. The aftertaste was cooling with an almost tingly mouthfeel. This was a perfect mellow out for the night tea. Lavender always has that affect on me. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Runa Tea Peppermint Guayusa

2011-07-17T11:28:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: Ecuador
Leaf Appearance: small, dark green with a strong mint aroma
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Liquor: dark gold
Ingredients: organic Runa guayusa, organic peppermint

This herbal tea was just what the doctor ordered on a super hot summer day. Peppermint never fails to cool and refresh, even when served hot. It was strong but not medicinal. The guayusa was barely detectable as a light nuttiness in the background. That being said, it is rare to find a base tea that can manage to shine through a flavor powerhouse like peppermint. I’m finding that I really enjoy drinking guayusa after work, when I need a pick me up but not a jolt of caffeine that will just make me crash later. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Adagio White Blueberry (Pyramid Bag)

2011-07-15T16:52:00.003-04:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: white peony leaves with the occasional dried blueberry
Ingredients: white tea
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 180 degrees
Liquor: brassy gold

This tea was packaged in a silky pyramid tea bag. It was very aromatic but the taste was clean, subtle and refreshing. The blueberry was really more of a vague hint rather full blown flavoring. As it cools it becomes even more enjoyable and would make a perfect iced tea, especially for summer. If you’re looking for a blueberry tea that will wow you this one probably isn’t it. But if you’re looking for something light with just enough flavor to keep things interesting this tea is a great one.

"Me" Tea

2011-07-13T10:17:00.030-04:00

I love doing tea reviews but sometimes it can become like a job. I've been posting every other day religiously for a quite a while now. Unfortunately that often doesn't leave a lot of time for me to just enjoy tea. Every once in a while I have to take a step back and make time for what I call "me" tea. No reviews and no tasting, just my favorite tea brewed in favorite yixing pot. In this case it was the Huang Zhi Xiang Dan Cong Oolong from Seven Cups. I can't exactly explain why but this has been my absolute favorite out of all of the teas that I have had over the years. I think part of that bias is that it was the tea I used to season my first yixing. After a long day at work this tea session was exactly what the doctor ordered and something that I should indulge in more often. What's your "me" tea?

Authentic Teas Orient Blend

2011-07-11T20:07:00.012-04:00

Leaf Appearance: mostly small, sage green leaf pieces. The roasted wheat looked a lot like Smacks breakfast cereal.
Ingredients:Roasted wheat, organic wild oregano, organic wild thyme, organic wild mint, organic wild elderflowers, organic wild St. John’s Wort flower, cinnamon, cloves
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Liquor: amber

This herbal teasan had a really interesting flavor profile. It was spicy and sweet with a cooling aftertaste. The roasted wheat added a nuttiness that stayed in the background and let the spice shine. The sweetness of the flowers kept the spice from becoming overpowering. Mixing this many different tastes can be tricky but this blend was very well balanced. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Check out this video to learn more about how Authentic Teas herbal ingredients are harvested:

The Tea Deck by Sara Perry (Kindle Edition)

2011-07-09T11:56:00.000-04:00

I recently purchased this book because it was on the sale in the Kindle store. It was informative and interesting but also a quick and light read. Each type of tea was discussed in depth, with easy to follow brewing recommendations and notes on flavor profiles. While it doesn’t cover every tea there is (and really what book could?), all of the important ones are touched upon.

The thing that I loved the most was that it is very factually correct. I’ve picked up many a book on tea only to spend my time giggling over the inaccuracies. I think the paper version would probably make a perfect gift for the budding tea fancier. The recipes at the end sound absolutely delicious and I can’t wait to try them. Aside from not having color pictures, I thought that it would make a really decent intro to tea. I would definitely recommend this book.

American Tea Room Organic Ancient Moonlight White Tea

2011-07-07T10:32:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: a mix of downy silver needles and broader white peony leaves, woodsy aroma
Ingredients: white tea
Steep time: 6 minutes
Water Temperature: 190 degrees
Liquor: brassy gold

Moonlight whites are probably my favorite kind of white tea. They are strong yet subtle and pack quite a bit of flavor. This one was no exception. It was fruity, floral and woodsy all at the same time with notes of melon and honeysuckle. There was just a bit of astringency and a sweet finish to each sip. It also made a very refreshing iced tea. I would definitely recommend this tea.

Boston Tea Company Organic Cranberry Lemon Black Tea

2011-07-05T20:01:00.000-04:00

Country of Origin: China and India
Leaf Appearance: small and dark with green lemon grass stalks and pink rose petals
Ingredients: Premium Blend of Organic Chinese and Indian Black Tea, Organic Hibiscus, Lemongrass, Rose Petals, Cranberry and Lemon Flavor
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 212 degrees
Liquor: pale reddish brown

This tea was packaged in a silk pyramid style tea bag. I was prepared to not like this tea since cranberry and lemon are probably my two least favorite flavors. I was really surprised with how much I liked it. The black tea was very mellow as was the cranberry-like flavor of the hibiscus. The lemon grass and lemon flavor provided a nice bit of citrus zing. The flavoring was very natural tasting and wasn’t over the top. There was just a bit of astringency, enough to give that mouth puckering feeling you would expect from cranberry. I would definitely recommend this tea.