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Zhi Tea Loose Leaf Oolong Tea ‘Royal Courtesan’

Nicole Schwartz — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:48:49 +0000

Tea Information:
Tea: Royal Courtesan (oolong tea)
Type: Oolong Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Zhi Tea
Purchase: Here
Description: This tea is extremely limited. It has a long round clover honey sweetness, surrounded by wildflower notes and a nice tilled soil kind of depth. What makes this honey oolong stand out from the others we cupped when selecting this type of tea is the intense aromatics, overall body of the liquor, and complexity of flavor. It has a fullness and depth of character that continues even at room temperature or even cold. Multiple steepings reveal rich nutty earthiness and a more refined sweetness.

One of our Artisan Reserve organic oolong teas, a line of small batch handmade teas from a craft handed down over generations. Hand selected for having all the hallmark qualities of the highest grades with noteable personality accents.

Gui Fei Oolong was created by a group of young tea farmers from Luku township in 2000. After the big earthquake 9/21, the tea farmers in Luku township were engaged in rebuilding their hometown and neglected to manage their tea gardens which led to the tea leaves being chomped by the “tea leafhopper”. After these tea leaves were picked and produced according to traditional Dong Ding Oolong tea method with a long fermentation, it turned out the tea liquor was crystal clear orange color and full of honey or litchi aroma. The green leaves were surrounded by red edges and looked very elegant and poised just like an ancient Gui Fei (The highest-ranking imperial concubine). Its flavor and aroma are different from traditional Dong Ding Oolong tea, which is why it is named Dong Ding Gui Fei tea or Gui Fei Oolong tea. We call it Royal Courtesan to honor its exemplary characteristics.

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water: 750ml at 175°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Strong toasty scent
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet (floral), toasty
Flavor: sweet, silky, toasty
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: toasted, gritty
Liquor: translucent medium orange brown

Not the best oolong I’ve had, but a very nice one.

Resteep:
750ml at 175°F for 3 minutes and 30 seconds

Resteep:
750ml at 175°F for 4 minutes

It could have steeped more but I was headed home.

I purchased this product. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

52Teas Loose Leaf Green Tea ‘Lime Jello Salad’

Nicole Schwartz — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:57:25 +0000

Tea Information:
Tea: Lime Jello Salad
Type: Green Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: 52Teas
Purchase: Here
Description: This is for the under-appreciated hero of the Thanksgiving dinner: Every year, it sits there quivering, unassuming, bright and cheerful and fruity…
and mostly neglected for the likes of turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes.
It’s not your fault, Lime Jello Salad, that your deliciousness is overlooked on such an occasion.
Don’t look at me with those pouty marshmallows, condemning me for my turkey lust. Here: I will make a tea inspired by you, and maybe then I will get to enjoy some of your delicious flavors–
AFTER I have some turkey!
My wife makes a lime jello salad with lime jello, pineapple, and marshmallow every Thanksgiving. I’m pretty sure I still haven’t tasted it, but it sounded like a great group of flavors to combine with our awesome Chinese sencha green tea. Enjoy! And happy Thanksgiving!
Our Tea of the Week for the week of November 21st, 2011 Ingredients: Green tea, dried pineapple, marshmallow root, natural flavors

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water: 500ml at 175°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: chemical horror
Steeped Tea Smell: just like hot lime jello (from when you are making it and dissolving the powder)
Flavor: lime, vegetal
Body: Light
Aftertaste: sweet
Liquor: translucent yellow green

not lime jello (need sugar?) but a nice lime green

Post-Steep Additives:
sugar
LIME jello salad (fruity)
sweet

Like it
Rating: 3/4 leaves

Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing
I purchased this product. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

52Teas Loose Leaf White Tea ‘Apple – Vanilla White Tea Chai’

Nicole Schwartz — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:49:47 +0000

Tea Information:
Tea: Apple – Vanilla White Tea Chai
Type: White Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: 52Teas
Purchase: Here
Description: This one is for Cofftea. Though we haven’t always seen eye-to-eye on everything; she likes our tea, so she can’t be all bad.
She also suggested we create a chai from white teas, and add apple and vanilla notes. So, we blended some of our finest shou mei and bai mu dan white teas, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, pink peppercorns, freeze-dried apple pieces and natural apple and vanilla flavors. Sounded like quite a lot going on to me, but having just sampled the results, I have to say it’s delicious. (Don’t go letting that go to your head, Cofftea!) I would personally recommend it as a naked tea, since milk and sugar are usually added to bring out the spice flavors in a chai, and with this white tea base, they are pretty front and center anyway.
Ingredients: White teas, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, freeze-dried apple pieces, pink peppercorns, natural flavors.

Steep Information:
Amount: 10 tsp
Water: 1200ml at 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: spice (cardamom, pepper), vanilla
Steeped Tea Smell:apple, peppery, vanilla
Flavor: sweet, cinnamon, peppery
Body: Light
Aftertaste: spice (pepper, cinnamon)
Liquor: Translucent golden yellow

Too bad I don’t have a stovetop at work, I bet this would be nice made that way.
Nice this way as well though.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing
I purchased this product. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

52Teas Loose Leaf Black Tea ‘Strawberry Orange Scone’

Nicole Schwartz — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:41:26 +0000

Tea Information:
Tea: Strawberry Orange Scone
Type: Black Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: 52Teas
Purchase: Here
Description: Our newest tea of the week was suggested by one of our long-time customers. Here’s our premium black teas blended with freeze-dried strawberries and orange peel. In addition to the sweet strawberry and tangy orange, we’ve infused this blend with the flavor of warm, freshly baked scones. I have a feeling this one is not going to last long.
Our Tea of the Week for the Week of November 28, 2011
Ingredients: Premium black teas, orange peel, freeze-dried strawberries, natural flavors

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 12oz at boiling
Tool: kati loose tea system 12oz
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: chemical, orange, strawberry
Steeped Tea Smell: orange, strawberry, slightly toasty
Flavor: orange, tangy, toasty
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: orange, tangy
Liquor: translucent light orange brown
I don’t like that tang whatever it is.
Not getting the scone, the tea is more toast than bake.

Post-Steep Additives:
agave
sweet, less tangy, now the berry comes out

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing
I purchased this product. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

Arbor Teas Company Loose Leaf Oolong Tea ‘Organic Ti Kuan Yin’

Nicole Schwartz — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 17:47:22 +0000

Tea Information:
Tea: Organic Ti Kuan Yin
Type: Oolong Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Arbor Teas
Purchase: Here

Description: Ti Kuan Yin is the most famous of all organic oolong teas. This Fair Trade Certified organic Chinese tea is grown in the southern reaches of China’s Fujian Province. The tightly-rolled dark green organic loose leaf tea leaves yield a pale golden, smooth-bodied infusion with a complex aroma having accents of sweet flowers, rich greens and forest floor. The taste of the thick, nectar-like liquor is lightly vegetal, with slight floral qualities and a rich butteriness. The characteristic “oolong glow” is quite prominent. As with our other Chinese oolongs, our Ti Kuan Yin may be infused multiple times, with each infusion revealing a new nuance of this tea’s complex flavor.
Ingredients: organic Chinese oolong tea

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml at 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: lightly vegetal, sweet
Flavor: vegetal
Body: Light
Aftertaste: sweet
Liquor: translucent green-yellow
smooth but not silky. Good, but not exceptional.

Resteep:
500ml at 195°F for 3 minutes

still smooth and delicious

I received this product for free in return for writing a review. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

Arbor Teas Loose Leaf Pu-Erh Tea ‘Organic Special Grade Pu Erh Tea’

Nicole Schwartz — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 17:35:07 +0000

Tea Information:
Tea: Organic Special Grade Pu Erh Tea
Type: Pu-Erh Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Arbor Teas
Purchase: Here
Description: Our organic and Fair Trade Certified Special Grade Pu-Erh Tea offers an excellent representation of superior-quality loose grade pu-erh teas manufactured using the Shu Cha or “cooked” method of production. It hails from the Jing Mai Mangjing region of China’s southwestern Yunnan province, made from the 1300-year-old tea trees found there – some of the world’s oldest living tea trees. The medium-sized, tightly-rolled leaves render a rich, dark brown infusion, with mellow earthiness and good body.
Sustainability is a cornerstone of Arbor Teas’ business philosophy. In addition to offering an exclusively organic selection of teas, they recently became the first tea company to offer their whole catalog in 100% backyard compostable packaging. They’ve also carbon-offset the entire supply chain of their products, from origin to the customer, making Arbor Teas the greenest option for Earth-conscious tea drinkers, and one of few tea companies recognized by Green America.
Ingredients: organic Chinese pu-erh tea

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml at 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 1 minute
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: earthy
Steeped Tea Smell: fall leaves, dirt
Flavor: earthy yet smooth
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet
Liquor: translucent dark red-brown
Resteep:
500ml at 212°F for 1 minute 30 seconds
Exactly the same as the first steep

Resteep:
500ml at 212°F for 2 minutes
Exactly the same as the first steep

This tea could have kept going, but the work day was over

52Teas Loose Leaf White Tea ‘Apricot Cheesecake’

Nicole Schwartz — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 04:48:52 +0000

Tea Information:
Tea: Apricot Cheesecake
Type: White Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: 52Teas
Purchase: Here
Description: We’ve had a few cheesecake blends over the years, and I’ve heard from a number of customers that the cheesecake is a bit on the subtle side. So I’ve decided to try a cheesecake blend with a lighter tea that might not normally be a good match for cheesecake flavors. (I tend to want to pair our white teas with sweet, fruity notes.) So here is our delicious shou mei white tea, blended with real freeze-dried apricot bits and natural apricot and cheesecake flavors. And it is truly delicious!
Our Tea of the Week for the Week of August 6, 2012
Ingredients: Premium white teas, freeze-dried apricot, natural flavors.

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Water: 750ml at 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Apricot danishy
Steeped Tea Smell: floral, fruity, vegetal
Flavor: apricot, floral, sweet, vegetal, smooth
Body: Light
Aftertaste: tangy, floral
Liquor: translucent light orange brown

getting hints of apricot, no real cheesecake-ness, but a very beautiful white.

I purchased this product. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

Samovar Loose Leaf Oolong Tea ‘Four Seasons’

Nicole Schwartz — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 04:43:47 +0000

Tea Information:
Tea: Four Seasons
Type: Oolong Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Samovar Company
Purchase: Here
Description: From the oolong-gurus in Taiwan, bless your mouth with notes of gardenias, fresh-baked bread, warm milk and savory dew-drenched clover. Meditate on the clarity and rarity of this smooth, golden-green infusion.
Origin: Nantou, Taiwan

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 750ml at 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, toasty
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal
Flavor: toasty, silky
Body: Light
Aftertaste: nutty
Liquor: Translucent yellow brown

Not as nice as when made in the store.

Resteep:
750ml at 195°F for 2 min 30 seconds
floral, vegetal, sweet, tangy aftertaste

Resteep:
750ml at 195°F for 3 min

I believe the leaves could have gone a few more times, but time to leave work

I purchased this product. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

Kusmi Tea Loose Leaf Black Tea ‘Anastasia’

Nicole Schwartz — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 04:36:59 +0000

Tea Information:
Tea: Anastasia
Type: Black Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Kusmi Tea
Purchase: Here
Description: A blend of black teas from China and Sri Lanka flavored with bergamot, lemon, and orange blossom.Delicious as iced tea on hot summer days!
We suggest to enjoy this tea during the whole day.Main flavor: Citrus fruit and orange blossom
Ingredients: Russian blend of China and Ceylon teas with scents of bergamot, lemon, lime and orange blossom.

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water: 750ml at 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: citrus, perfume
Steeped Tea Smell: bake-y
Flavor: lime, bakey
Body: Full
Aftertaste: citrus, bakey
Liquor: Translucent dark red-brown

Not digging the lemon lime earl grey mash up.

I purchased this product. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

52Teas Loose Leaf White Tea ‘Earl Black’

Nicole Schwartz — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 04:26:24 +0000

Tea Information:
Tea: Earl Black
Type: White Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: 52Teas
Purchase: Here
Description: It’s another hot day in Doo-Dah (I have no idea why Wichitans refer to the city as “Doo-Dah” but it feels right; feel free to enlighten me if you know where this comes from). I’m pretty sure that the global warming people were right. I’m just hoping we can fix it before we all turn into puddles of goo.
In the meantime, I’m relaxing with a big glass tumbler full of our new tea of the week. It’s a blend of shou mei white teas, dried black currants, organic bergamot flavor and natural black currant flavor. And it is seriously hitting the spot. I got some really nice shou mei for this blend: it’s light and sweet, but very much a presence in a cup that is otherwise a perfect balance of tart and sweet. I have always loved our black currant bai mu dan, and if you like that and like earl grey, I don’t think you can possibly go wrong with this blend. It is delicious!
While you’re picking this up (because I know everyone is going to want this one), don’t forget about our awesome new iced teas (in teabags!). Also, as of this writing I have TWO pouches of Butterbeer left in stock, and I won’t be able to reblend it for a few weeks (waiting on some supplies), so if you want some, don’t miss your chance.
Our Tea of the Week for the week of July 2, 2012
Ingredients: White tea, dried black currants, natural and/or organic flavors

Steep Information:
Amount: 4-5 tsp
Water: 750ml at 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: currant, lemon, floral, sweet
Steeped Tea Smell: floral, vegetal, sweet currant, hint lemon
Flavor: vegetal, floral
Body: Light
Aftertaste: lemon
Liquor: translucent light yellow-green

Smells delightful, pretty standard white.

Post-Steep Additives:
White sugar
more current flavor comes out

Resteep:
750ml at 185°F for 3 minutes
Light, floral, delicious

I purchased this product. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.