Review: Teatulia’s New Ginger Herbal Infusion

The Subject: Ginger herbal from Teatulia.

Rating:
Water temperature: 180° F
Steeping time: 3 minutes

Tea type: Not tea, herbal infusion made of ginger root and vasaka leaves (an herb said to have medicinal properties)
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Ginger root
Aroma, dry: Fresh ginger root and some planty fragrance
Aroma in the cup, plain: Less ginger than expected, more planty
Taste, plain: Less ginger than expected, more planty
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: Didn’t do

Comments:

First, as fervent tea drinkers, we extend our thanks to Teatulia for properly calling this an “herbal infusion.” Call us picky, but using proper tea terms is important to us.

The pieces are very small (almost dust-like), but the infusion would still have been better if the ginger root and vasaka leaves had not been in a sachet. Sigh. We infused it that way to make the test “official,” but that’s definitely not our preference.

The infusion was a bit cloudy with the ginger root fading into the background while the vasaka leaves came through rather loudly. There was a slight bitter edge and general unpleasantness to the taste that we suspect is from the vasaka leaves. I have to give this one a pass, but hubby liked it. He tried some with a little sweetener and thought it made the unpleasantness go away. Plain or sweetened, the infusion leaves a ginger tang in the mouth. You might want to experiment with it.

This is the only tea or herbal infusion we’ve tried that we didn’t even want to finish after the initial tasting.

Putting this herbal into a nylon sachet is a bit of a waste, though. First, you don’t get the best infusion possible if you steep in the sachet. The large pieces swell up even larger and fill it, meaning that they don’t get to fully interact with the water. Second, to get that best possible infusion, I would have to cut open the sachet bag and put the pieces loose into the teapot.

The company makes a big fuss about such “PC” things as being organic and using post consumer materials (recycled stuff) for their full color brochures. Then, they use non-compostable nylon for their tea sachets. As a consumer watching every penny I spend, I’d rather know that a product I am buying is worth the money I worked so hard to earn and am paying the company. I hope companies will get back to that focus.

Disclaimer: The product reviewed here was provided by the company named. However, the rating and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Review: Teatulia’s New Lemongrass Herbal Infusion

The Subject: Lemongrass herbal from Teatulia.

Rating:
Water temperature: 180° F
Steeping time: 3 minutes

Tea type: Not tea, herbal infusion made from dried lemongrass
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Nothing added
Aroma, dry: Lemon
Aroma in the cup, plain: Lemon, slightly grassy
Taste, plain: Lemon, slightly grassy
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: Didn’t do

Comments:

First, as fervent tea drinkers, we extend our thanks to Teatulia for properly calling this an “herbal infusion.” Call us picky, but using proper tea terms is important to us.

We’ve seen other reviews of this herbal but have not based our own review on those. Taste testing is very personal for the most part. In fact, you may try this herbal and have a different take on it. (The photo also shows the Ginger herbal. I was going to post one review for both but rated them so differently, that I had to split them.)

The liquid from the infusion is pale yellow with a smooth texture and strong lemon aroma and taste. This isn’t just hot lemonade. It’s a step above that. The lemon isn’t bitter in the least, and the smoothness caresses the tongue. Small wonder that lemongrass is a favorite ingredient in Thai cooking.

Putting this herbal into a nylon sachet is a bit of a waste, though. First, you don’t get the best infusion possible if you steep in the sachet. The large pieces swell up even larger and fill it, meaning that they don’t get to fully interact with the water. Second, to get that best possible infusion, I would have to cut open the sachet bag and put the pieces loose into the teapot.

The company makes a big fuss about such “PC” things as being organic and using post consumer materials (recycled stuff) for their full color brochures. Then, they use non-compostable nylon for their tea sachets. As a consumer watching every penny I spend, I’d rather know that a product I am buying is worth the money I worked so hard to earn and am paying the company. I hope companies will get back to that focus.

Disclaimer: The product reviewed here was provided by the company named. However, the rating and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

More Samples from The English Tea Store

I’m a lucky little yellow teapot. The English Tea Store offered more free samples, and my humans said “Sure!” They’re game for trying just about any tea out there. These look like really interesting teas and a bit out of my human’s tea rut.

• Lapsang Souchong (cool name, hope it’s a cool tasting tea)
• Borengajuli Estate (dedication to growing tea)
• Scottish Breakfast (hey, where’s the shortbread?)
• Monk’s Blend (can hear the chants now)

This teapot’s guess is that there are some true tea adventures ahead.

One more thing. Doesn’t this photo look like I’ve formed my own band? Now to think of a name. How about “Little Yellow and the Tease”? “Brews Time”? “The LYT Project” (sort of like the Allan Parsons Project)? Hmm… will keep thinking. (I’m open to suggestions.)

Back to the shelf to await the next steeping.

Disclaimer: These teas were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are always strictly objective.

Review: Two Leaves and a Bud’s Gen Mai Cha Green Tea

The Subject: Gen Mai Cha Green from Two Leaves and a Bud.

Rating:
Water temperature: 180° F
Steeping time: 3 minutes

Tea type: Green
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Toasted rice kernels
Aroma, dry: Planty, grassy green tea aroma with toasty rice overtones
Aroma in the cup, plain: Planty, grassy green tea aroma with toasty rice overtones
Taste, plain: Planty, grassy green tea aroma with toasty rice overtones
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: Lighter color, slightly cloudy, more toasted taste comes through

Chilled: Didn’t try

Comments:
So far, this has to be the most unusual and unexpected tea we’ve tried. Mixed with the tea leaf pieces are “popped” rice kernels (they expand during the roasting process). We can see why this tea is so very popular in Japan. One disappointment, though, is how broken up the tea leaf pieces are. That might happen in the roasting process as well.

Both hubby and I found the aroma and taste to be enticing. The toasted rice hovers over the smell and flavor of the green tea like a solo oboe hanging over the strings in an orchestra. It creates an extra dimension that elevates this above any other green tea we have tried so far.

The tea “liquor” is free from bitterness, so no sweetener was necessary. You may want to try this unsweetened and then decide if you need to add anything (honey, stevia, aspartame, sugar, etc.). My guess is you will want this tea just as it is.

Be aware that when you buy a certain quantity, you will be getting about half “popped” rice kernels (by volume, not weight) in with the tea leaf pieces.

Another organic tea (deducted half a teapot). The “organic” labeling is questionable; I am concerned about people buying something just because of that. You need to know more about the tea than that. Buyer beware.

Disclaimer: The tea reviewed here was provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Review: Adagio’s Sesame Black Tea

The Subject: Sesame Black Tea from Adagio Teas.

This is the last of the 10 free tea samples my humans received awhile ago. It’s been quite a tea adventure trying them. This little yellow teapot has picked his favorites. How about you?


Rating:
Water temperature: 212° F
Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Black
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Sesame
Aroma, dry: Sesame
Aroma in the cup, plain: Sesame
Taste, plain: Sesame, toasty, no bitterness
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Sesame but mellower
Taste, enhanced: Mellowed sesame, no bitterness

2nd Infusion: Lighter color and sesame flavor

Chilled: Didn’t try

Comments:

Ever eaten at a Mongolian grill restaurant? You pile raw meats and chicken in a bowl along with raw veggies and then ladle on various cooking oils and/or sauces. Then, you hand the bowl to the grill man, who cooks it up on a huge griddle using only two very big chopsticks. Quite a sight to see and oh, so tasty! My favorite cooking oil to use for this is sesame, so when first popping the top of Adagio’s cute little tea tin and inhaling the sesame fragrance, my thoughts ran immediately to the Mongolian grill restaurant.

This is the 7th sample of flavored black tea from Adagio I have tried. One thing is for sure: the tea leaf piece size is consistent throughout. I followed the instructions for water temperature and steeping time on the tin’s label, as I have for the other samples. Adagio is known for their attention to details like this, and I, for one, thoroughly appreciate it.

The scent of the dry leaf was so enticing that Hubby couldn’t wait to taste the tea. He knew that the brew would be equally appealing. We were both quite satisfied with the results. This is a tea that can easily be drunk plain, with no bitter edge to take away your tea-tasting pleasure.

We did, out of curiosity, try the tea with milk and sweetener and found it also very satisfying, more mellow yet with the sesame flavor still evident.

Hubby recommends this tea for when you are having your own Mongolian grill at home. I think just about any Oriental food would be a good “go-with.”

We deducted a half teapot because of how persistent the sesame was even hours after finishing the last cupful. However, that doesn’t mean this is a bad tea. On the contrary, it is one of the best “flavored” teas we have tasted to date. Hubby and I did rock-paper-scissors to see who would get to finish off the last of it. I won.

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Review: Two Leaves and a Bud’s Darjeeling Tea

The Subject: Darjeeling from Two Leaves and a Bud.

Rating:
Water temperature: 212° F
Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Darjeeling
Scents, flavorings, etc.: N/A
Aroma, dry: Planty, slightly sweet, mild
Aroma in the cup, plain: Planty, slightly sweet, mild
Taste, plain: Planty, slightly sweet, mild, no bitterness at all
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: Slightly lighter color and milder flavor

Chilled: Very good

Comments:
Having a couple of other Darjeeling teas on hand, I wanted to do a little comparison. An important aspect of any tea is the piece size. As you can see in the photo, the Two Leaves Darjeeling tea leaf pieces are good sized, like the Ahmad version. Piece size can make a big difference in the resulting tea “liquor” — the smaller pieces in my experience have to be steeped shorter times to avoid producing a more bitter brew.

We steeped this one 5 minutes (actually, we tried it at 4 minutes and decided to risk another minute). There was no bitterness, due to the large leaf piece size. We were able to drink this tea plain, not even sweetener added, unlike The English Tea Store Darjeeling. The second infusion was only slightly lighter in color and milder in taste and aroma.

Since Darjeeling tea is often called the “champagne of teas,” I wanted a photo of it in a wine glass (don’t have any champagne flutes). As you can see, the tea was a beautiful amber. The taste was as good as it looks, maybe even better. A great “tea moment” tea. Keep it in mind when you want to take a break in your day.

Again and to be consistent, I deducted a half teapot since this is an “organic” tea. Let’s face it, anything that’s not a rock or flowing lava, etc., is organic. I doubt whether this tea tastes any better or is any healthier than other teas not on the “organic bandwagon.” It’s certainly not better than the Ahmad Darjeeling.

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Review: Adagio’s White Cucumber Tea

The Subject: White Cucumber Tea from Adagio Teas.

Okay, all you snowbirds who are longing for Spring, I think I have the tea for you. My humans just tried this tea and found it surprising and refreshing, a breath of Springtime (their very words).


Rating:
Water temperature: 180° F
Steeping time: 7 minutes (recommended by Adagio, see comments)

Tea type: White
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Cucumber
Aroma, dry: Very faint cucumber, something spicy like cinnamon but not quite
Aroma in the cup, plain: See comments
Taste, plain: See comments
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Not needed
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: Didn’t do

Chilled: Didn’t do

Comments:
The scent of this tea in the tin is like no other we have inhaled before. The definite and distinct planty aroma of tea is there, but so is something akin to cinnamon yet different. Hubby detected a faint cucumber aroma, but I did not.

We used two cups of water and about 3 to 4 “pinches” (trust me, teaspoons is not doable here) of dry tea. Be sure to use enough to get a sufficiently strong brew.

We were surprised to see that Adagio recommends steeping this tea for 7 minutes and thought it might be a misprint. This called for a bit of experimentation. We tried the tea after three steeping times and compared them, with these results:

2 Minutes:
Light gold color, delicate taste and aroma. Not very tea tasting, nor cucumber-ish.

5 Minutes:
Slightly darker gold, with stronger and spicier taste. Not very tea tasting. Hubby detected some cucumber flavor, but I did not.

7 Minutes:
Slightly more dark gold, with cucumber taste clearly evident. No bitterness. Very tasty.

Hubby thinks this would be a great accompaniment for tea time treats like cucumber finger sandwiches. I think maybe just some cream cheese on cracker (mild ones) would do.

The one thing we were a bit surprised at was that there were pieces of extraneous plant matter, including what looked like stem pieces, in with the tea leaves. Otherwise, we find this tea very drinkable and even soothing. A nice one to sip while watching the sunset or the snow melt away.

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Review: Two Leaves and a Bud’s Jasmine Petal Tea

The Subject: Jasmine Petal from Two Leaves and a Bud.

Rating:

Water temperature: 180° F
Steeping time: 3 mins. (a bit too long, 2 mins. might be better)

Tea type: Green
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Jasmine
Aroma, dry: Floral (jasmine) with some spicy, mostly cinnamon (see comments)
Aroma in the cup, plain: Floral (jasmine) with some spicy (mostly cinnamon)
Taste, plain: Strong jasmine floral notes with grassy green tea
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Strong jasmine floral notes with grassy green tea
Taste, enhanced: Strong jasmine floral notes with grassy green tea

2nd Infusion: Slightly lighter color, jasmine still noticeable, more grassy

Chilled: Recommended

Comments:
Having enjoyed jasmine green teas in the past, I was a bit surprised at the smell of this tea dry. Along with the floral notes of the jasmine, there was the scent of spices (cinnamon and others). I’m suspecting that this is due to the plastic bag it was shipped in, that the scent of one of the other teas shipped with it, especially the Mountain High Chai, leaked through the bag. This could have been avoided by using tea tins, like Adagio does or thicker plastic pouches like The English Tea Store does.

Fortunately, the cinnamon spicy scent disappears during infusing. The tea “liquor” has none of it, evidencing only the jasmine floral notes and grassy green tea-ness.

Both hubby and I were thrilled with this tea, finding it very drinkable without any enhancement. I did add a little sweetener to a cupful of the tea that had cooled and had to be reheated (it got a slight tangy edge, but I wouldn’t call it bitter). We may have steeped it too long. Usually, I steep green teas for 3 minutes. As strong as this one is, due to the smaller tea leaf pieces, the steeping time should be about 2 minutes. Try it at 2 minutes to see if it’s strong enough. Let steep a little longer if needed. I don’t recommend going longer than 3 minutes.

Compared to Rari-Teas Jasmine flowering tea and Adagio’s Jasmine Bloom flowering tea:
The 2 Leaves version is comparable in jasmine scent and grassy tea taste. It has the advantage of not being a blooming tea (a 2nd infusion is easier to make) and the disadvantage (you don’t get the visual appeal). The blooming teas are full-leaf, of course. The 2 Leaves version is pieces.

I was a bit disappointed that this was not full leaf tea and so deducted a half teapot. Otherwise, this is a splendid jasmine tea.

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Review: Adagio’s Candy Apple Black Tea

The Subject: Candy Apple Black Tea from Adagio Teas.

Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F

Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Black

Scents, flavorings, etc.: Supposedly Candy Apple

Aroma, dry: Very faint apple smell, pleasant

Aroma in the cup, plain: Pleasant aroma, typical black tea with sweet edge

Taste, plain: Sweet but not excessive, no apple-ness, good tea flavor, smooth

Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Sweet, not very apple-ish, similar to their other flavored teas like Pumpkin Spice Black Tea and Chestnut Black Tea

Taste, enhanced: Smooth, very similar to their Pumpkin Spice Black Tea and Chestnut Black Tea

2nd Infusion: Much lighter color, and aroma; hint of bitter edge; taste weaker while candy apple flavor slightly stronger.

Chilled: I don’t recommend, but hubby does

Comments:

Anyone who has been to a State Fair, carnival, circus, or other festival-like event is familiar with candy apples. So, it’s reasonable to think that this candy apple flavored black tea would naturally evoke such memories. Alas, no. That traditional aroma seems to be lacking here, at least according to my hypersensitive sniffer. However, that didn’t stop hubby and me from enjoying this tea.

The first infusion steeped up to a nice, rich, amber brown, with a taste that was free of bitterness. Maybe this has something to do with the candy apple chunks in with the tea leaves. In any event, hubby and I found this to be a tea we could easily drink plain. We still tried it enhanced with milk and sweetener and were quite happy with the results: smooth, with a sweetish flavor that blends well with the black tea. The second infusion is recommended, too. It’s lighter and milder tasting and so could be drunk plain.

Hubby thinks this would be a good tea to have with fresh fruits, especially (obviously) apples! Of course, I imagine that any cheese, such as brie, that goes well with the fruit you’re having would go well with this tea, too. He also thinks this would be a good Springtime tea, so keep it in mind for when our weather warms back up (it will, promise!).

This tea is good but for me practically indistinguishable from the Pumpkin Spice Black Tea and Chestnut Black Tea. I had to give it a 3 teapots rating. Hubby liked it enough for a 4 teapots rating. We compromised on a 3.5 teapots rating. (That’s true love!)

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Review: Adagio’s Artichoke Green Tea

The Subject: Artichoke Green Tea from Adagio Teas.


Rating:
Water temperature: 180° F
Steeping time: 3 minutes

Tea type: Green
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Supposed to be artichoke
Aroma, dry: Melon, green tea
Aroma in the cup, plain: Melon, green tea
Taste, plain: Melon, green tea
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: Slightly lighter than first, taste and aroma less melony

Chilled: Recommended (see comments)

Comments:
This is the 7th sample we’ve tried out of the 10 samples Adagio sent us (those cute little 2 oz tins). The Little Yellow Teapot has been poking my arm with his spout to get me to finally try it. Now that the holiday season is passed, hubby and I did just that. We were definitely not disappointed!

On first popping off the tin’s lid, we were greeted by a wonderful, fruity scent. Yes, the label says “Artichoke Green,” but hubby and I agree that this is more of a melon aroma (specifically, cantaloupe). We were also pleased to see the large tea leaf pieces, which stand up well to the recommended 3-minute steeping time on the tin.

The tea “liquor” is so light that it washed out a bit in my photo. The flavor is just as light and delicate without the slightest trace of bitterness. The melon is definitely present but not overwhelming. You still know you’re drinking tea, not fruit juice. The taste is so mild and pleasant, with a smoothness that seems almost buttery and a dainty aftertaste, that no enhancement (sweetener, honey, etc.) is needed.

As for drinking this tea chilled, we heartily recommend it. In fact, hubby has been a regular drinker of Lipton’s Citrus Iced Tea and thinks this tea would be better, since the fruit taste and aroma are subtler.

We had just tried one of the green teas from 2 Leaves and a Bud and, as you can see by the rating, we liked this one much better. No bitterness, smooth tea flavor with subtle fruity taste, larger leaf pieces, suitable for chilling, and all around a great tea. Hubby thinks this would be a great “go-with” for lamb dishes, which clinches it for me, since I love lamb!

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Quick Tasting Note: Earl Grey from Two Leaves and a Bud

Rating:

Boy, this company has a long name. Cute, though, when you think of it. Most of the best teas are made from the top two leaves and a bud plucked from a stem of the Camellia Sinensis plant. I wasn't involved in the tasting of this tea. My humans were out at the car maintenance place (is there a teapot maintenance place?) that only had coffee available for waiting customers. Gwen, the cashier, gave one of my humans a sachet of Earl Grey from Two Leaves and a Bud, which she steeped and enjoyed with some of that Coffeemate creamer liquid and a packet of the blue sweetener. As Earl Grey's go, it wasn't bad, certainly better than Twinings (will be reviewing this later). See their tasting note on Steepster posted yesterday.

Review: Two Leaves and a Bud’s Orange Sencha Green Tea

The Subject: Orange Sencha Green from Two Leaves and a Bud.

Rating:

Water temperature: 180° F
Steeping time: 3 minutes (should have been only 2 minutes – see comments)

Tea type: Green
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Supposed to be orange
Aroma, dry: Strong dill scent (the herb used to make dill pickles)
Aroma in the cup, plain: Dill and something sort of like orange zest (grated peel)
Taste, plain: Dill, slight orange tinge, some bitterness (see comments)
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Dill, slight orange tinge
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: Slightly cloudy, taste and aroma about the same

Chilled: Don’t recommend

Comments:
Little Yellow Teapot was so excited to try this tea. The name makes it sounds yummy, a real citrus fest. Unfortunately, he, hubby, and I were disappointed. The tea should have been named “Dill Pickle Sencha” because of the strong dill aroma and the tea leaf pieces were smaller than expected. (I’m partial to full leaf green teas.) Despite the initial let down, we soldiered on with the tasting and were relatively pleased.

Be sure to heat the water to around the temperature above The tea pieces are rather small, so steeping time is reduced. We steeped for 3 minutes and got a somewhat bitter “liquor.” Try steeping for no more than 2 minutes. The 2nd infusion was more cloudy and a bit stronger tasting.

To me this tea was like drinking warm dill pickle juice, but hubby thought it was very drinkable (and finished off both the remainder of the 1st infusion and the entire 2nd infusion). I would have gone with a rating of 2.5 teapots, but hubby wanted to stick with 3 teapots. He thinks the tea has possibilities and tastes at least as good as the bagged green teas he has tried. I sure hope those clear plastic bags they shipped the samples to me in aren’t what they use normally. The bags let in light and alter the taste of the tea, imparting a slight “plastic-ness.”

Another organic tea (deducted half a teapot). Even if you like organic, this tea is not necessarily a good choice. Organic is questionable; I am concerned about people buying something just because of that word on the label. You need to know more than that. Buyer beware.

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

More Teas to Try - Woohoo!

I'm a happy little yellow teapot. My humans just bought me some more tea to try:

Also, free samples from Teatulia of their new herbal infusions just arrived in nifty pouches:

Thanks, Teatulia, for calling these "herbal infusions" - saves a lot of confusion. Hee!

Review: The English Tea Store’s Snow Dragon Tea

The Subject: Snow Dragon Tea from The English Tea Store.

Little Yellow Teapot has handed this tea over to his buddy, Little Japanese Teapot, to steep and review.

Rating:

Water temperature: 180° F
Steeping time: 3 minutes

Tea type: White
Scents, flavorings, etc.: No added flavorings and/or scents
Aroma, dry: Planty, fresh
Aroma in the cup, plain: Smoky, planty
Taste, plain: Mild, smoky, no bitterness, slight aftertaste, smooth
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: No enhancement needed
Taste, enhanced: No enhancement needed

2nd Infusion: Slightly milder than first

Chilled: Recommended

Comments:
The Little Japanese Teapot takes over from the Little Yellow Teapot for this review. There’s something about a full leaf white tea like this that invokes a true Asian air, one suited to this little cast-iron teapot, so the baton is gladly passed.

One look at the dry tea and you know you have something special. Each leaf has been rolled into a spiral, unlike Gunpowder tea leaves that are rolled into tight balls. To allow these leaves to unfold gently in the water as intended, I place them loose in the pot, no infuser basket to come between me and the tea.

This is an exciting tea. As claims of health benefits for tea becoming increasingly known, people need a tea that is easy to prepare and a pleasure to drink. For you to have available such a tasty, easy-to-drink, full-leaf white tea is good news indeed.

Hubby and I agree that this tea is vastly superior to any white tea we have yet tried. It is certainly superior to the tea “dust” found in most bagged teas. We found the smell of the dry tea in the airtight pouch to be fresh with a true planty smell – like being on the tea plantation when the leaves were first plucked.

We agree on the taste of the steeped tea “liquor” as well – smoky, mild, no trace of bitterness, very pleasant and drinkable, plus calming and refreshing.

Where we disagree is that I think this tea is so mild that it should be drunk by itself whereas hubby thinks some mild-tasting food like plain crackers or a mild fruit would be good “go-withs.” Your choice. McVitie’s Digestives are a good option, either plain or in their dark chocolate version (my personal favorite shown here purchased from the local market). Either way, do yourself a favor and set aside a “tea moment” where you focus on preparing and enjoying this tea. Then, savor every drop.

Hubby and I will certainly be at odds over which of us gets to finish off the potful. I don’t recommend reheating this tea, as it tends to get a trace of bitterness that it doesn’t have after the original 3 minutes of steeping.

A second infusion proved to be as good as the first. To me it was slightly milder and still smooth and tasty. Hubby detected a slight bitterness, possibly because he had been nibbling one of those dark chocolate covered Digestives.

I can also recommend this tea chilled. Truly a special tea!

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.