Trying The English Tea Store’s Scottish Breakfast Tea Chilled

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© 2010 A.C. Cargill photos and text – All rights reserved.
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The Subject: Scottish Breakfast Black Tea from The English Tea Store.


Rating:

Tea type: Black

Comments:

This tea proves that cloudiness in chilled teas has virtually nothing to do with the taste of the tea. Years ago, how clear the tea was became touted as the quality of a good tasting tea.

The liquid looks similar to some apple juices (not the clear, cider-like kind), but the taste is very different. It’s similar tasting to the hot version, but with no bitterness, only a slight tang. We found no sweetener was needed. However, if you prefer your chilled tea sweet, we recommend using real sugar and adding it to the hot tea before chilling it. Either way, this is not your granny’s iced tea.

See the review of the hot version.

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

Review: Temple of Heaven Gunpowder Tea

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© 2010 A.C. Cargill photos and text – All rights reserved.
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The Subject: Temple of Heaven Gunpowder Tea from a local Asian market.


Rating:

Water temperature: 160˚ F

Steeping time: 2 minutes (see comments)

Tea type: Green
Scents, flavorings, etc.: N/A
Aroma, dry: Fresh, planty, slightly sweet
Aroma in the cup, plain: Hint of smokiness, planty
Taste, plain: No bitterness at first, slightly smoky
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: About equal to 1st
3rd Infusion: Didn’t do (see comments)

Chilled: Smoky, not bitter, slightly cloudy

Comments:

There were no steeping instructions on the tea container. As was the case with the Tung Ting Oolong, I think the tea company assumes that their customers usually already know how to properly prepare the tea or are smart enough to figure it out for themselves. We went by the general steeping directions we have seen for Green teas.

We recommend steeping for 2 minutes, instead of 3, for each infusion. This will mean a lighter colored and tasting tea liquid but more infusions. We steeped for 2½ minutes per infusion and stopped at two infusions. The first infusion was smooth and not bitter when hot. It developed a slight bitterness as it cooled, though. The taste and liquid color of the 2nd infusion were lighter, but still good. With shorter steeping times, I’m sure we’d get a 3rd and possibly a 4th and 5th infusion.

Some tea leaves dry and some after 2 infusions:

It’s always amazing how those small pieces swell up so big. Keep this in mind when deciding how much dry tea to put in the teapot.

We regard this as an everyday green tea, just as Genmaicha is in Japan. Enjoy it whenever you need a nice cuppa and want a change from black tea. You can also drink it for health benefits. The flavor will make it simple to “take your medicine.”

The chilled version was more smoky tasting than the hot version. It’s not bitter, though, and tastes good straight, but you might want a touch of sweetener. The taste is not typical for a chilled tea, but it’s worth a try.

Disclaimer: We bought this tea from a local store. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are always strictly objective.

Trying The English Tea Store’s English Breakfast Blend No. 1 Chilled

Part of the© 2010 A.C. Cargill photos and text – All rights reserved.
No copying, posting on other sites, or other uses allowed without written permission of the copyright holder.
The Subject: English Breakfast Blend No. 1 Black Tea from The English Tea Store.


Rating:

Tea type: Black

Comments:

The chilled version was similar tasting to the hot version: mild, hint of an edge, smoky, hint of sweet. For the chilled version, though, you might want it to be weaker than the hot version. As with the hot version, some sweetener helped. The flavor is most distinctive and definitely worth a try.

See the review of the hot version.

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

Bought Masala Chai Mix

© 2010 A.C. Cargill photos and text – All rights reserved.
No copying, posting on other sites, or other uses allowed without written permission of the copyright holder.
My humans consider themselves fortunate to live in an area where there are lots of Asian and Indian people. That means there are Asian and Indian markets carrying products they like and that are not usually available in regular grocery stores.

That means they get to buy stuff like this:

The two boxes are loose black teas. The left is CTC Assam. The right doesn’t specify, just black tea. In the middle is a package of Masala (spice mix) for Chai (tea). The guy at the local Indian restaurant recommended that we use the spice mix sparingly. You take a pinch and add it directly to the dry tea, then pour in the boiling water and let steep. If you really want to be authentic, steep in half water/half milk. My humans haven’t tried this yet, so if you do, let us know how it goes.

Disclaimer: We bought this tea from a local store. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are always strictly objective.

Review: Tung Ting Oolong Tea

Part of the© 2010 A.C. Cargill photos and text – All rights reserved.
No copying, posting on other sites, or other uses allowed without written permission of the copyright holder.

The Subject: Tung Ting Oolong from a local Asian market.


Rating:

Oolong Ranking:

What this ranking bar means.

Water temperature: 190˚ F

Steeping time: 3 minutes (see comments)

Tea type: Oolong
Scents, flavorings, etc.: N/A
Aroma, dry: Fresh, planty, richer aroma due to some oxidation
Aroma in the cup, plain: Fresh, planty, honey hint
Taste, plain: Mild, smooth, planty, no aftertaste
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: About equal to 1st
3rd Infusion: Didn’t do (see comments)

Chilled: Strong smokiness, needs sweetener, very interesting, recommend

Comments:
There were no steeping instructions on the tea container. I think the tea company assumes that their customers usually already know how to properly prepare the tea or are smart enough to figure it out for themselves. We went by the general steeping directions we have seen for Oolongs.

We found that steeping for 3 minutes meant we didn’t get a 3rd infusion. We recommend, therefore, to steep for 2 minutes, instead of 3, for each infusion. This will mean a lighter colored and tasting tea liquid than we got.

This is for us a typical tasting Oolong, the kind we are used to. Its blend of plantiness and very mild smokiness is a perfect companion with Asian foods. We buy pork potstickers from Wal-Mart (in the freezer section) and consider this tea the best to have with them. A total feast! Considering the low cost of this tea and the ability to do multiple steepings, it’s a win-win situation. The one drawback: You have to live near an Asian market that carries it. I don’t know of an online vendor that has it.

Some tea leaves dry and some after 2 infusions:

It’s always amazing how those small pieces swell up so big. Keep this in mind when deciding how much dry tea to put in the teapot.

The chilled version was smokier tasting than the hot version. Some sweetener helped. It’s worth a try.

Disclaimer: We bought this tea from a local store. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are always strictly objective.

Review: California Tea House’s Buddha Hand Oolong Tea

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© 2010 A.C. Cargill photos and text – All rights reserved.
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The Subject: Buddha Hand Oolong Tea from California Tea House.


Rating:

Oolong Ranking:What this ranking bar means. 

Water temperature: 190˚ F

Steeping time: 2 minutes

Tea type: Oolong
Scents, flavorings, etc.: N/A
Aroma, dry: Fresh, slightly sweet, floral hint
Aroma in the cup, plain: Fresh, slightly sweet, floral hint
Taste, plain: Fresh, slightly sweet, floral hint
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: About the same, not buttery
3rd Infusion: Lighter color, taste

Chilled: Light taste, slight edge, needs sweetener, definitely recommend

Comments:
This is definitely another “sipper tea” — you need to take your time enjoying it to make sure you don’t miss any of the flavor.

The dry leaves have a sweetness and slightly floral aroma. This carries through to the steeped liquid, which is a beautiful green-yellow color. The 1st infusion was smooth and felt full in the mouth, even slightly buttery. It was fairly green but not full planty in taste. The 2nd infusion lost that full feeling but was still mild and smooth, and hubby detected a slight floral flavor. The 3rd infusion was slightly lighter in color and taste, smooth, and no bitterness.

Some tea leaves dry and some after 3 infusions:

As you can see, the dry tea leaves, all bunched into rolled clumps, open wide and fill the teapot when steeped. They are also very green. Keep in mind how large they get when you’re deciding how much of the dry leaves to put in the teapot.

The chilled version was a bit weak tasting and had developed a slight edge. Adding some sweetener helps. The floral-like element typical of some Oolongs is more pronounced in the chilled version vs. the hot version. We could definitely recommend this for an unusual chilled tea experience.

I have to reiterate a couple of things stated on the Silver Needle review:

We would like to see this and other tea companies put their steeping recommendations on the package like TeaGeschwendner, or on a card like Chicago Tea Garden that comes with the teas. It’s a bit tricky to rush to the PC, go to a Website, find the tea, and read through the information there before being able to prepare the tea. Sometimes I really really really need a cuppa tea, like, RIGHT AWAY.

While hubby and I don’t fall for the organic mumbo-jumbo nor assume that something labeled “organic” is going to be better quality (often, it’s just more expensive), we aren’t going to deduct a half teapot. The tea is THAT good!

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

Review: TeaGschwendner’s Sumatra Oolong Barisan Tea

© 2010 A.C. Cargill photos and text – All rights reserved.
No copying, posting on other sites, or other uses allowed without written permission of the copyright holder. 
The Subject: Sumatra Oolong Barisan from TeaGschwendner.


Part of the
Rating:
Oolong Ranking:What this ranking bar means. 

Water temperature: see comments

Steeping time: 2 minutes

Tea type: Oolong
Scents, flavorings, etc.: N/A
Aroma, dry: Fresh, planty, grassy
Aroma in the cup, plain: Fresh, planty, grassy
Taste, plain: Mild, smooth, planty, no aftertaste
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: About equal to 1st
3rd Infusion: Slightly lighter than 2nd

Chilled: Weak, hay-like edginess, not recommended

Comments:
This is one of the teas we purchased during our visit to the TeaGschwendner store in Raleigh, NC. It was a bit of a drive for us, so we wanted to make the most of the trip by bringing home some high-quality teas. The quality of this tea is an indication that we did well.

Ever true to the tea principles of the Little Yellow Teapot, we followed the label directions when preparing the hot version of this tea:

3g tea (2 heaping teaspoons) per 8oz. cup of filtered water, boiled and cooled to 90˚C/194˚F. Allow to brew 2 min.

Note: If you don’t own a thermometer that you can use to test the water temperature, just let the water sit for about a minute.

Since this is a full leaf tea, multiple infusions were possible, so we did 3. (You could probably do more with little degradation in flavor and aroma). The flavor of the 1st infusion was very much more like a green tea than oolongs we’ve had in the past. The pale yellow-green liquid was very mild, smooth, planty, and virtually no aftertaste until it had cooled a bit, when a slight edginess became apparent. The 2nd and 3rd infusions were each more green in color and slightly lighter in flavor. All were excellent.

Some tea leaves dry and some after 3 infusions:

As you can see, the dry tea leaves, all bunched into rolled clumps, open wide and fill the teapot when steeped. They are also very green. Keep in mind how large they get when you’re deciding how much of the dry leaves to put in the teapot.

We need to note something here: this oolong has been oxidized so little that it looks, smells and tastes very much like a green tea. As lovers of the more oxidized oolongs, this was new to us. However, we selected it at the store because the aroma of the dried tea leaves was so enticing. This experience has prompted us to add a ranking bar to this and any future reviews of oolongs. See my posting about what this ranking means.

The chilled version was very weak tasting and had a definite hay-like edge that even a touch of sweetener couldn’t help. While the hot version is splendid, we don’t find this a fitting tea to serve chilled.

Nevertheless, our congratulations to Ryan Hinson, Store Manager, and his staff, Richard and Griffin, on another excellent hot tea.

A tea liquid as beautiful as this one certainly deserves to be sipped from a dainty glass teacup and saucer, like the one shown here that we purchased during our visit to their store.

It’s so delicate, though, that we keep it boxed up for special tea occasions like this. I tend to be a bit of a butterfingers.

Disclaimer: We bought this tea during our visit to the store. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are always strictly objective.

Review: The Boston Tea Company’s Vanilla Almond Oolong Tea

© 2010 A.C. Cargill photos and text – All rights reserved.
No copying, posting on other sites, or other uses allowed without written permission of the copyright holder.
My humans continue their brief time out from the Chilled Tea Extravaganza to review another tea from The Boston Tea Company. Don’t worry. This little teapot will be back on track next time with a review of 3 chilled Oolongs that don’t have flavorings added. Meanwhile, check out this one.

The Subject: Vanilla Almond Oolong Tea from The Boston Tea Company.



Rating:

Water temperature: 190˚˚ F

Steeping time: 3 minutes (they recommend 1-8 minutes) — see comments

Tea type: Oolong
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Vanilla, almond
Aroma, dry: Vanilla, almond
Aroma in the cup, plain: Vanilla, almond
Taste, plain: Very mild, not bitter, vanilla, almond
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: About as good as the first (3rd infusion was probably possible)

Chilled: Didn’t do

Comments:
Unlike Bentley’s Oriental Treasure White Tea, this is a beautiful full-leaf (mostly) tea with real almond slivers, natural vanilla and almond flavors, and Calendula flower petals. You can see them in my close-up shots. Wow!

First, do yourself a favor and take a deep whiff of the dry tea in the pouch. Aaahhh!! The vanilla hits your nose first, with a chaser of the almond and the petals, plus the earthy fragrance of oolong that tickles your nostrils.

Okay, now heat some water (but don’t boil it) and put some of this dry tea loose into your teapot or cup. The guidelines that came with the tea (very nice!) say that Oolongs can be steeped for 1 to 8 minutes. We tried the tea at 2 minutes and found it too weak, so we went for 3 minutes. Just right! You will need to try the steeping for different lengths of time to see what works best for you.

The liquid was a pale orange color, clear and beautiful in the light. As for the flavor, one word says it best: BALANCE. This tea is an expertly balanced blend of flavors. In the cup, the strong vanilla that hit your nose in the dry tea is mellowed and plays nice with the almond and petals, as well as the Oolong. There is absolutely no bitterness. Hubby detected a hint of smoky/earthy flavor, no doubt the Oolong coming through. We detected a slight chalkiness that might be a result of some of the tea leaves getting crushed in shipping. This in no way detracted from the taste.

The 2nd infusion was about the same as the first. Unlike other vanilla teas, this one is capable of multiple infusions without losing the vanilla.

The only issue we have with this tea is minor. I usually like milk in my vanilla-flavored teas. Something about the milk really enhances the vanilla and makes the taste dessert-like. This tea brews up so lightly that milk would have overwhelmed it, at least for us. Yeah, I know, we’re picky. Like I said, it’s a minor issue. Of course, maybe if I let it steep longer…

NOTE: This pouch is what the Boston Tea Company uses for samples. Their normal pouches are opaque, not clear, and block out light, very important for preserving your fine teas. Pouches are, overall, my favorite packaging, since, as the tea is used, excess air can be squeezed out before resealing, unlike tea tins and boxes. One drawback is that the wonderful full tea leaves get a bit crushed in the whole packing and shipping process. We were still very pleased with this tea.

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

Review: California Tea House’s White Monkey Paw Green Tea

© 2010 A.C. Cargill photos and text – All rights reserved.
No copying, posting on other sites, or other uses allowed without written permission of the copyright holder.
My humans continue their brief time out from the Chilled Tea Extravaganza to review another tea from California Tea House.

The Subject: White Monkey Paw Green Tea from California Tea House.


Rating:

Water temperature: Just under boiling, per their Website

Steeping time: 2 minutes or less, per their Website

Tea type: Green
Scents, flavorings, etc.: N/A
Aroma, dry: Fresh, planty, grassy
Aroma in the cup, plain: Planty, fresh
Taste, plain: Mild, not bitter, slightly grassy
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: About the same (could easily have done a 3rd infusion)

Chilled: N/A

Comments:
This tea has a confusing name. It’s “White Monkey Paw” on their site, labeled “Monkey Paw” on the bag, and is a green tea. The name “White Monkey Paw” makes it sound like this is a white tea. However, one look at the tea leaves and one sip of the tea liquid told me it was a green tea.

We prepared the sampling a little differently than their Website recommends. We heated the water to just below boiling but used only approximately 2 spoonfuls of dry tea in 2 cupfuls of water (about half the amount of tea they recommend). So, our infusion was a bit lighter than you would get using their method. We suggest you try different combinations to get the infusion strength that’s right for you. In fact, do 3 or more infusions from the same batch of tea leaves. That will really give you a lot of bang for your tea buck and make the $11 price a bit more palatable (well worth it in my estimation).

This is definitely another “sipper tea” — you need to take your time enjoying it to make sure you don’t miss any of the flavor.

I have to reiterate a couple of things stated on the Silver Needle review:

We would like to see this and other tea companies put their steeping recommendations on the package like TeaGeschwendner, or on a card like Chicago Tea Garden that comes with the teas. It’s a bit tricky to rush to the PC, go to a Website, find the tea, and read through the information there before being able to prepare the tea. Sometimes I really really really need a cuppa tea, like, RIGHT AWAY.

While hubby and I don’t fall for the organic mumbo-jumbo nor assume that something labeled “organic” is going to be better quality (often, it’s just more expensive), we aren’t going to deduct a half teapot. The tea is THAT good!

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

Review: TeaGschwendner’s Bossa Nova Oolong Tea

© 2010 A.C. Cargill photos and text – All rights reserved.
No copying, posting on other sites, or other uses allowed without written permission of the copyright holder.
The Subject: Bossa Nova Oolong from TeaGschwendner.


Rating:

Water temperature: 212˚ F

Steeping time: 2 minutes

Tea type: Oolong
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Hazelnut, vanilla
Aroma, dry: Strong hazelnut & vanilla
Aroma in the cup, plain: Hazelnut, vanilla, slight smokiness
Taste, plain: Mild, no bitterness, hazelnut, vanilla
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Hazelnut, vanilla
Taste, enhanced: Hazelnut, vanilla

2nd Infusion: Weak

Chilled: Didn’t do

Comments:
This is another tea we got during our visit to the TeaGschwendner store in Raleigh, NC. This tea is another reason that the drive was well worth it.

As with the first of their teas we reviewed, we stayed true to the tea principles of the Little Yellow Teapot and followed the vendor’s label directions when preparing the hot version of this tea:

3g tea (1 heaping teaspoon) per 8oz. cup of filtered, boiling water. Allow to brew 2 min.

The 1st infusion was sheer delight. The hazelnut was milder in the cup than in the dry tea, and the vanilla was very evident, stronger than when dry. There is no bitterness, just a mild, mellow, vanilla-y flavor. One surprise was a hint of smokiness (not like the Lapsang Souchong we tried, but adding a wonderful kick to the flavor).

While the tea pieces are large and include some pieces of hazelnut brittle and mullein blossoms, this is not a multiple infusion tea. Like most flavored teas, the 2nd infusion was just a shadow of the first. The hazelnut and vanilla faded entirely, while the smokiness lingered a bit, but the liquid was overall almost like drinking water. We’d like to try by itself the oolong this tea is made from.

We also tried this tea enhanced with milk and sweetener. For those of you that like your tea that way, this tea is a good option. The vanilla flavor is stronger, almost dominating, sort of like a vanilla bean ice cream. In fact, enhanced, this tea is almost like a drinkable dessert.

Our congratulations to Ryan Hinson, Store Manager, and his staff, Richard and Griffin, on an excellent tea.

Disclaimer: This tea was supplied by the company named during our visit to the store. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are always strictly objective.

Review: California Tea House’s Silver Needle White Tea

© 2010 A.C. Cargill photos and text – All rights reserved.
No copying, posting on other sites, or other uses allowed without written permission of the copyright holder.
My humans took a brief time out from the Chilled Tea Extravaganza to review this tea from California Tea House.

The Subject: Silver Needle White Tea from California Tea House.


Rating:

Water temperature: Below boiling, per their Website

Steeping time: Up to 5 minutes, per their Website

Tea type: White
Scents, flavorings, etc.: N/A
Aroma, dry: Fresh, planty. Gorgeous full-leaf tea.
Aroma in the cup, plain: Planty, light
Taste, plain: Mild, no aftertaste, slightly buttery
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: About the same (could easily have done a 3rd infusion)

Chilled: N/A

Comments:
This tea lives up to its reputation of being the “Piñot Noir” of teas. We prepared the sampling a little differently than their Website recommends. We heated the water to boiling and then let it sit for a minute. We used approximately 2 spoonfuls of dry tea in 2 cupfuls of water (about half the amount of tea they recommend). So, our infusion was a bit lighter than you would get using their method. We suggest you try different combinations to get the infusion strength that’s right for you. In fact, do 3 or more infusions from the same batch of tea leaves. That will really give you a lot of bang for your tea buck and make the $18 price a bit more palatable (well worth it in my estimation).

This is definitely a “sipper tea” — you need to take your time enjoying it to make sure you don’t miss any of the flavor.

We would like to see this and other tea companies put their steeping recommendations on the package like TeaGeschwendner, or on a card like Chicago Tea Garden that comes with the teas. It’s a bit tricky to rush to the PC, go to a Website, find the tea, and read through the information there before being able to prepare the tea. Sometimes I really really really need a cuppa tea, like, RIGHT NOW.

While hubby and I don’t fall for the organic mumbo-jumbo nor assume that something labeled “organic” is going to be better quality (often, it’s just more expensive), we aren’t going to deduct a half teapot. The tea is THAT good!

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