Organic Shui Xian from Teas, Etc

Scent in package: earthy, woody
Brewed in: glass teapot/glass infuser
Steeped: 4 min. @ just under boiling
Cup: Ceramic teacup

I got this as a sample in my Teas, etc. order. I normally like darker oolongs, so I was pleased to try this last night after my workout. The scent of the dry leaves is very earthy, almost musky like a puerh, which was somewhat surprising.

The tea brewed up typically of a dark oolong, with a light golden liquor reminiscent of a light black tea. The scent is light but still earthy, and reminded me of wet bark for some reason. It has that typical honey-like texture, though slightly thinner than one might expect, and I found it odd that the flavor had no hint of honey tones, as most oolongs seem to when they have that particular texture.

The flavor was somewhat enigmatic to me. Perhaps my taste buds were off, and it wasn’t bad, but it was very earthy and woody, like the forest after a rain storm. There was a hint of smoke in the brew as well, and a slight aftertaste of charcoal. It’s tempting to blame that on the amount of Lapsang I’ve been drinking, but I hadn’t had any smoky tea for many hours before, so I’d guess the smokiness was definitely there.

It wasn’t sweet, but not bitter either, it wasn’t astringent, and while it felt thick on the tongue at first, the texture seemed to dissipate on the tongue until the brew felt fairly thin in the mouth to finish. There were hints of pine, bark, and wet earth, but while it may sound unappetizing, it was strangely enjoyable at the same time.

I can’t say this tea was “good”, because that’s not really what came to mind while I was sipping it. It definitely wasn’t “bad” either…just very complex and “different”. If you like mysteries, and can imagine yourself in the woods after dark, experiencing a myriad of different smells and tastes, this is your tea. Would I buy it again? I can say with absolute certainty…maybe.

Lapsang Souchong from Teas, Etc

Scent in package: Mmmm…smoky and warm
Brewed in: Tea-for-one pot, metal infuser
Steeped: 5 min.@ 212 degrees
Cup: Café mug

The first time I tried lapsang tea, I about choked on the smokiness of it. It’s generally strong, and very much like drinking a bonefide campfire, so it’s not really for the faint of palate. It grew on me very quickly though, and now it’s one of my favorite teas for cold, snowy winter days (much like this one). There’s nothing like the scent of smoke in the air to warm me up when I get to work (or to make my boss ask, “What *is* that smell?”).

This is the second “version” of lapsang I’ve tried. The first was from Adagio, and it was pretty much like drinking liquid smoke (I did enjoy it). This one is a bit lighter, though still much stronger than the Bohea I drink from the same company. Of course one of my favorite things about lapsang Souchong is that even if you oversteep it, it tends to remain naturally sweet (and I tend to prefer the sweeter end of teas anyways).

This particular Lapsang is a bit more complex than Adagio’s. I can taste the wood and smoke (they make up the main taste profile, obviously), but the original “tea” taste isn’t completely overpowered. It’s obviously a good quality tea, with larger, twisted black leaves that unfurl into good sized leaf chunks of brown and green when steeped. It brews up lighter than one might expect, a deep golden brown that is as lovely to look at as it is to sip, and it leaves a pleasant “blackened” aftertaste on the tongue – like a good grilled steak. Continuing with the steak theme, the tea is almost “juicy”, if you can imagine, and almost literally makes my mouth water.

There is no astringency at all, and no bitterness, even when steeped for too long. It’s naturally sweet as I mentioned, and warming on the mouth, but without that charred burnt taste characteristic of too much smoke.

If you enjoy Lapsang, or if you’ve never tried it, this is a very good one – like most of the teas I’ve ordered from this company, it’s a very good quality tea for a reasonable price. If you live in a northern climate as I do, trust me – you need some smoky tea on these cold winter days!

Red Dragon Pearl from Teas, Etc

Scent in package: Malty, sweet, with a hint of alfalfa
Brewed in: glass teapot
Steeped: 4.5 min. @ boiling
Cup: Stoneware teacup

Teas, Etc has a knack for sending me samples of extraordinary teas with my orders. They're either really lucky, or they really pay good attention to the tastes of their customers - I prefer to think it's the later. Whatever the impetus, they've done it again. This tea knocked my socks off, if you'll forgive the cliché.

I knew it was going to be good the minute I opened the sample pack. Not only is the scent intoxicating with it's malty depth, but the little golden tippy pearls are intriguing in their appearance. After I set the tea to brew, I got the idea to use our new camera to capture some of the dance of the leaves in the pot. Unfortunately, the video was too large for my flash drive, and my connection at home is slower than molasses, so I can’t share it with you. But hopefully an upgrade in internet connectivity next month will fix that little problem. You’ll just have to take my word for it – the unfurling of those little pearls was beautiful and relaxing to watch. Since I was so busy playing with the video, I didn't manage to get a picture of the leaves steeping (permission to virtually slap me granted).
The brew isn't as highly fragranced, though that sweet malty/raisin smell still wafts gently off the dark, clear soup. The texture is lighter than I'd expected from the color...it's thin, but not unpleasantly so.

The taste is sweet, with a surprising hint of smokiness behind the alfalfa at first, then it gives way to the raisin malt flavor that I was looking forward to from the scent. The finish is a bit drying, but not at all bitter, and that raisin-like sweetness remains on the tongue.

This tea isn't as "deep" or as intricate as some, but it is truly a lovely cup, with a little of everything I love in a black tea. The tightly rolled pearls unfurl into long, skinny leaves, adding interest and wonder to the whole brewing process.

I'd highly recommend this tea, not just for yourself, but for sharing with company as well. And the perfect finishing touch would be a warm cinnamon roll, or oatmeal-raisin cookies. I can't imagine a better pairing for this particular cup. It’s not inexpensive, and 3oz. will set you back around $10, but in my opinion, it’s completely worth it. You’ll find it listed with the Black teas on the Teas,Etc. web site (linked to the left). I'll be ordering a bigger batch for myself right around payday!

Matcha Jobetsugi from Harney & Son's

Scent in package: sweet and grassy, like a fresh mown lawn
Brewed in: matcha bowl
Steeped: whisked w/steaming water
Cup: matcha bowl

I've been drinking matcha with my lunch daily since discovering the stimulating properties of this true powdered tea. If you know anything about matcha, you know it's not the least expensive daily drink. So when it came time to replenish my meager stock, I decided to try this matcha from Harney & Son's, which was less expensive than the tea I got from Rishi last time.

I'd like to say I don't notice a difference, but I do. I sifted the whole 30 gram container first, then measured out my normal "serving" of 1/3 teaspoon into the bowl. I normally make matcha with a good amount of steaming water to bring out more of the sweetness and less of the bitterness characteristic of matcha.

Sadly, it seems that this particular matcha is just plain more bitter than the Rishi brand. No matter how I brewed it, amounts I used, water I used, or temperature of that water, this jobetsugi just isn't as sweet or "tasty" as the more expensive tea.

That being said, it's still very drinkable, especially as it cools. Traditionally matcha is downed quickly in a few largish sips, but I'm a sipper, so it typically takes me at least 20 minutes to finish a bowl. As it cools, this particular matcha does lose some of it's bitterness, and gains more of that sweet, grassy flavor that I crave from it.
I may eventually return to this matcha, but I think I'll try a few more companies first, to make sure I'm getting the best possible flavor for the least amount of money I can. Since I am drinking it every day, I want a good deal, but at the same time, quality is everything when it comes to such a stimulating and potentially enjoyable tea. I'll keep you posted on the next brand of matcha I try in a few weeks.

Lemon Lavender Organic from Teas, Etc

Scent in package: very “clean” – a mixture of lemon and lavender
Brewed in: unbleached filter bag
Steeped: 4 min.@ boiling
Cup: café mug

I wish I’d remembered to take this tea home last night for a picture session. There’s nothing remarkable about the appearance of the brew, or the wet leaves, but the dry mix is a very interesting blend of medium size Indian black tea leaves, small lavender buds, and small bits of lemon myrtle leaves (I assume they’re lemon myrtle – because they don’t look like lemongrass, which is the only other thing in this blend). I wouldn’t say it’s “beautiful” exactly, just interesting with the different colors and textures. I ordered it to try while inspired by the Lemon Lavender Mint tisane from Monday's review.

The scent of this tea is…dare I say it? Very “clean”. Clean as in Lavender antiseptic and lemon pledge. If you like that sort of thing (which I generally do), you’ll love the fragrance that drifts out of the cup as this tea is steeping. If you don’t, it will remind you that there’s a dirty kitchen or bathroom somewhere that really needs a scrub-down!

The viscosity of the brew is nice – thick, but not unpleasantly so. The overall taste is of lemon, with the lavender adding a nice complimentary flavor in the background. The tea itself really doesn’t factor in much, as the lemon and lavender overwhelm it from the start. It’s naturally very sweet, and leaves just a hint of dryness at the top of the mouth. I hate to keep repeating myself, but the whole experience of this particular tea is just very “clean” and refreshing.

I wouldn’t drink it every day, and beware of over-steeping (I steeped it a minute too long yesterday, and it was very bitter and tart). But for an occasional drink, something new and refreshing, and potentially a lovely iced tea for summer, this one is worth trying. And if you get the urge to go mop the floor or write your grandma a letter while you’re drinking it, all the better.

Lemon Lavender Mint Herbal Tisane from Choice Organic Teas

Scent in package: very minty/lemony
Brewed in: Teabag
Steeped: 5 min. @ boiling
Cup: ceramic teacup

(New digital camera – excuse me while I play with sizing and lighting!)

Occasionally, I like a mint tisane. There’s something very soothing about it when I’m ill, or late at night when getting ready for bed. Choice Organic Teas was kind enough to send me two of these teabags, and I drank one while I was ill, finding it very soothing. The other I drank last night to refresh my memory and review with normal taste buds.

The scent of the dried herbs is very soothing and refreshing at the same time. The mint and lemon are energizing, while the very subtle hint of lavender in the background creates a calming baseline. The fragrance changes as the tea brews and then cools…the strongest point, just after the brewing is done, releases all three scents in a very nice aromatic chord for the nose. As it cools, the mint slowly overwhelms the other two scents, and the same can be said of the flavor.

At first sip, the flavors dance on the tongue, and each can be distinguished from the other even as they mingle. The lavender solidifies the other two, and the lemon adds a very nice, light citrus burst to the mint. As it cools a little, the scents come together for more of a licorice-taste. In the final stage, when the tea is just getting cold, the mint takes over and the other flavors simply disappear.
It’s a very complex blend, unexpected in an herbal tisane. I enjoyed it quite a lot, and while relaxing to a “well” body, it’s also very comforting and soothing to an ill head. I’d highly recommend this tisane…a very interesting and lovely blend.

Hot Cinnamon Sunset from Harney & Son’s

Scent in tin: Spicy! Very strong cinnamon scent
Brewed in: silk sachet bag
Steeped: 5 min. @ boiling
Cup: Café mug

I gave out small tins of this tea as gifts for Christmas, and ended up getting a big tin as a gift from my mom. Serendipity, karma, whatever – it was a most welcome present.

Cinnamon is the star of this particular tea, from the moment you open the tin. That scent just wafts up into your nose, reminding you of hot cinnamon rolls and making you almost want to sneeze at the same time. Brewed, the tea smells like red hots or cinnamon bears – hot and spicy. Normally I’m not big on too much heat, but I have to say, this is the only tea I could really taste when I was sick for the past few weeks.

The taste of this tea is…well…not “tea”. The viscosity is thick, and you can see the spice solids as they settle at the bottom of the cup (which is very clear, maple-brown). It’s all about the cinnamon, baby – but very sweet at the same time. The cinnamon is hot, but not “burn your tongue” hot – just pleasantly warm and stimulating. The sweetness comes from cloves that mingle with just a touch of orange not really noticeable until the finish. I really, honestly, can’t taste the tea at all…just the spices and that very slight hint of orange at the end.

In short, this is a tea for chai lovers – those who enjoy the spicier side of things. I can imagine it would be phenomenal with milk and honey (and I plan to try that soon), but unlike chai spiced, it’s not too strong to drink on it’s own, and it makes a great “pick-me-up”, especially on a cold day.

Try a smaller tin first – I have a feeling that it’s one of those love it or hate it type blends. I’m firmly in the “love it” camp, and it was one of the best gifts I got this year.

Himalaya Green Tea from Choice Organic Teas

Scent in package: slightly grassy, typically green
Brewed in: came as teabags
Steeped: 3-4 minutes @ steaming
Cup: porcelain teacup, café mug

I was contacted shortly before Christmas by this company asking if I’d be interested in sampling a couple of their teas. Being broke, I said sure, and a week later or so, I received an envelope with two samples of teabags in them – Himalaya Green and an herbal tisane.

I’m not big on China green teas…but I’d never tried a Nepalese green, and thought I should. I brewed this up last night for the first time (since I can finally mostly taste again), and I have to say, I thought I must have done something terribly wrong. I used tap water, and brewed it at “steaming” for about 4 minutes. The brew was dark gold, rather than yellowish as one might expect from a green tea, and I was apprehensive about tasting it.

It was awful – I had two sips of the bitter soup, so astringent that it actually felt like it left a film on the roof of my mouth. Needless to say, I tossed the rest of it.

This morning, I grabbed the second bag and used filtered spring water at a lower temperature…just steaming for only 3 minutes steeped. And I hate to report that while the color is much better (a light golden brew typical of green teas), it’s still very bitter, like green tea steeped too long or too hot (or both). While I’m not fond of green tea in general, I know they’re not generally so bitter when brewed correctly…and I have to wonder if the fact that this particular tea is macerated into little tiny bits in a teabag is the crux of the problem. I suppose I could have steeped it for only one minute, but it hardly seems worth the effort. Unfortunately, this tea doesn’t seem to be offered in loose form, so there’s no way to find out how the original form stacks up to this teabag.

While I’m sure we all want to help save the Himalayan Kingdom (10 cents per box sold is donated to the cause), do yourself a favor. Make a donation directly, and skip this particular tea.

Organic Qi Lan Oolong from Teas, Etc

Scent in package: Not much
Brewed in: tea for one pot, metal infuser
Steeped: 5 min. @ below boiling
Cup: Café mug

My nose still isn’t working all that well (and by extension my taste buds), so hopefully I can do justice to this tea today. I wasn’t able to discern much scent from the dried leaves, which are dark, long and twisted (very lovely, and everything you’d expect from a dark oolong). This was a free sample sent with one of my orders before Christmas.

The brewed tea is nicely fragrant, with a warm, roasted scent coming up from the liquor. It’s fairly light in color, golden and very clear. Quite beautiful to look at.

I’m sure the taste would be stronger if my own taste buds were working correctly. As it is, I’m quite enjoying it. It’s a sweet, roasted flavor, with just a hint of astringency at the finish. I almost want to call it smoky, though it’s really not – the roasted, almost nutty aspect of it combines to create the illusion of a light smoky undertone. As with most oolongs, it is very smooth in the mouth and pleasantly thick.

In the interest of being thorough, I brewed another cup this afternoon from the leaves. This one was lighter of course, and surprisingly, more astringent. There was less of the sweetness, and more of the strong, roasted flavor coming through. I have to say, I didn’t appreciate it as much as the first infusion. I really missed the sweet smoothness of the first cup.

It’s definitely worth a try though, if you’re an oolong drinker. Perhaps later infusions, or using a gong fu method would come out differently, but it’s worth drinking simply for the first cup in any case, in my opinion.

Margaret’s Hope Muscatel

Scent in package: very lightly fruity
Brewed in: tea-for-one ceramic pot/metal infuser
Steeped: 4 min.@ 212 degrees w/spring water
Cup: Café mug

The first thing that struck me about this tea was the mixed colorations in the dry leaves. Browns, greens, and tippy blacks all make for quite an interesting mixture in the package. The dry leaves don’t seem to have much of an aroma, just a hint of sweet fruitiness.

When brewed, the leaves gained even more interest as they expanded into a light blend of green and brown. The scent was somewhat off-putting though. The liquor itself has very little scent as well, which I find odd for a Darjeeling tea, and especially one that is purported to be very fragrant.

The soup is light in color, golden, and very clear. It’s a thin brew, and very astringent. I think boiling may be too hot for this tea…less heat would possibly dispel some of the astringency and bring out the sweetness.

The taste seems somewhat bland to me – there are notes of pepper and muscatel, but otherwise, it’s kind of boring. I think I’ll try this with tap water and a lower water temperature, and hopefully that will infuse life into this otherwise mediocre cup.

Morning Dew from T-Ching

Scent in package: Fruity, light
Brewed in: ceramic tea-for-one pot/metal infuser
Steeped: 4 min. @ 180 w/spring water
Cup: café mug
As you can see, the dry leaves of this tea are absolutely gorgeous. Large, vibrant green, and mostly intact, it made my mouth water just to look at them. The scent was very light, and sort of sweetly fruity.

After I poured the brew into my cup, I smelled the leaves again. This time there was a strong vegetal odor like a green tea would have, and something else I can’t quite put my finger on. The liquor had the same fragrance – steamed vegetables, perhaps? It reminded me of butter, cream, and “richness”.

I was hooked from the first sip. The brew is impossibly light, and really seems like there can’t be any flavor, but there is, and it is wonderful. The tea is very sweet and thick, with the taste of sweet cream butter that lingers on the tongue. There is a hint of astringency, but no dryness, and the soft fragrance, creamy mouth feel and buttery sweet taste all come together for a cup that is pure heaven. The finish is a very sweet sensation that remains at the back of the tongue.

The wet leaves are still beautiful, of course, and I shall look forward to using the remainder of my sample in a gong fu session to see what later infusions are like.

I love this tea – it’s absolutely wonderful. I need more. According to T-Ching, they'll be carrying it, if you'd like to taste for yourself!