Review: Canton Tea Company’s Snow Buds Tea

© 2011 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:	Snow Buds
Company:	Canton Tea Company. [More info]

Straight Tea Rating:
About the rating designation.

Water temperature:	149° F (65° C)
Steeping time:	2-3 mins. (we recommend 2, 2½, & 3 mins.)
Tea type:	Green
Dry leaves:	Medium green, asparagus aroma

Round A — 3 Infusions:
Steeping times —	2, 2½, & 3 mins.
Tea/Water Qty —	2 tsp tea leaves, 2 c water ea. infusion
Aroma, plain —	Light, planty
Taste, plain —	Light
Color, plain —	Pale yellow-green, almost clear
Round B — 2 Infusions:
Steeping time —	2½ mins.
Tea/Water Qty —	2 tsp tea leaves, 1 c water ea. infusion
Aroma, plain —	Planty
Taste, plain —	Vegetal
Color, plain —	Pale green

 

Comments:

The pouch used for this tea was made of foil and was heat sealed. Gotta love it! Those tea leaves journeyed all the way from Twickenham, UK, to my P.O. box here in the Southeast U.S., so using a package that blocks light, air, and moisture shows true care on the part of the vendor. And the label is clearly marked with steeping recommendation for time and water temperature.

Look at those wonderful tender whole leaf pieces, both before (medium green) and after steeping (bright green):

According to the vendor, this is a first tea of the spring. As such, it has a light flavor. We discovered that a bit of experimentation was needed. Our first round of infusions came out so light tasting that it was a bit unexciting. So, we tried a second round using the same amount of tea leaves but half as much water. The result was a fairly satisfying liquid.

For us, this is a tea to sip during a quiet contemplative moment. The fact that it’s also flexible, where you can adjust the strength to suit the depth of your contemplatory mood, is a point in its favor.

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: Tula Teas’ Four Seasons Tea

© 2011 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:	Four Seasons
Company:	Tula Teas. [More info]

Straight Tea Rating:

Oolong Ranking Bar:
About the rating designation.

Water temperature:	205° F (91-96° C)
Steeping time:	45 secs. each infusion
Tea type:	Oolong
Dry leaves:	Nuggety shape, dark blue green, sweet planty pleasant aroma

1st Infusion:
Aroma, plain —	Smooth, planty, spinachy
Taste, plain —	Mild, smooth mouth feel, slightly sweet, almost like a fruit juice
Color, plain —	Pale yellow
2nd Infusion:
Aroma, plain —	Same as 1
Taste, plain —	Slightly stronger flavor, more spinachy with hint of peachy/apricotty
Color, plain —	Slightly darker yellow
3rd Infusion:
Aroma, plain —	Same as 1
Taste, plain —	Same as 2 but not as fruity
Color, plain —	Same as 2
4th Infusion:
Aroma, plain —	Lighter aroma
Taste, plain —	Lighter, thin mouth feel
Color, plain —	Same as 1

 

Comments:

Another great Oolong tea from Tula Teas, a tea company that, though relatively young, is certainly one whose teas are well above average.

They include an excellent guide to help you make the perfect cuppa. It states that Oolongs are good for 4 to 6 infusions. You have to determine for yourself what is the right stopping point. We stopped at 4, but if you want the most from your tea dollars, you can stretch to 5 or 6.

Those dry leaves open up large in your pot or cup. A lovely sight! Tula recommends a gaiwan for teas like this, and I agree but don’t have one. Besides Little Yellow would have his feelings terribly hurt.

A lovely tea like this deserves an equally lovely teacup, such as this Royal Patrician fine bone china cup and saucer from Staffordshire, England.

The sample package is the best we’ve seen so far and should keep the teas great tasting for awhile. They block out both light, moisture, and air. We always store our teas away from heat sources, too.

Zealong is fairly new to tea drinkers in the U.S. To my knowledge, it is carried by only one or two online vendors (Chicago Tea Garden is said to be the first to offer it to his customers here).

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: Home Discount Store’s Gunpowder Tea

© 2011 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:	Gunpowder
Company:	Home Discount Store. [More info]

Straight Tea Rating:
About the rating designation.

Water temperature:	175° F
Steeping time:	1-2 mins.
Tea type:	Green
Dry leaves:	Dark green tightly rolled “pellets” with a fresh, planty aroma

1st Infusion:
Steep time —	1.5 mins.
Aroma, plain —	Lightly smoky
Taste, plain —	Mild, hint of smokiness, smooth feel, almost buttery
Color, plain —	Light yellow
2nd Infusion:
Steep time —	1.5 mins.
Aroma, plain —	Stronger smokiness
Taste, plain —	Stronger, not as buttery but still smooth
Color, plain —	Darker yellow
3rd Infusion:
Steep time —	1.5 mins.
Aroma, plain —	Smoky
Taste, plain —	Not as smooth, but still flavorful
Color, plain —	Same as #2

 

Comments:
After trying the grossly overpriced version of this classic tea from another vendor, hubby and I rushed to try this very reasonably priced version. Gunpowder is pretty much a basic green tea with a smoky flavor. We’re not talking Dragonwell (Long Jing) or Gyokuro here. So, finding a vendor who carries a tasty version with a great price is real news. This is the 4th tea we’ve tried from Home Discount Store and think they should change their name to Home Discount and Quality Tea Store or something like that.

We’re happy that Home Discount Store includes steeping directions that are both for a more U.S./English-style way of infusing and also a more Asian-style infusing. We stuck with the former but did a quick rinse of the leaves before the first steeping. These “pellets” are pretty tightly rolled (typical for this type of tea), so the rinse helps them start to open so that they will infuse better.

You can see by the appearance both before and after steeping that this is definitely NOT teadust in a bag. Bravo!

That lightly smoky flavor was quite delightful and goes well with one of our favorite foods: pork dumplings. We’ve also found it a good companion with yellow cheeses like a sharp cheddar. Of course, it’s not bad with ham sandwiches either!

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

To "Wayne" re: Golden Moon Tea

Little Yellow Teapot here. I was discussing this whole issue the other day with one of my human buddies, Alex Zorach of Ratetea.net. Have given the matter more thought, too. Have to stand by what I wrote here, but I'm open to your input.

Recently, a human named "Wayne" left a nasty comment on this blog about my humans' review of a Golden Moon Tea. He was upset that we had deducted a half teapot from the rating of the tea because it was organic. First, we don't do that anymore since most tea growers out there have jumped on the organics bandwagon and because, unlike the organic lettuce from California that caused an outbreak of e-coli awhile back, we have not experienced any ill effects from the organic teas. But then, we have also not seen any benefit either - just higher prices and reduced production at those tea gardens who have switched to organic methods. There are lots of articles about the dangers of organics, but this little teapot doesn't have time to look them all up for you. Here's one to get you started:

The Hidden Dangers in Organic Food

The above article has been put down because of some funding that the Hudson Institute receives. However, a lot of the pro-organic funding is also coming from questionable sources, too.

If Jon and Marcus Stout of Golden Moon Tea want to continue pushing organics with the thought that somehow they are giving you a better product or, as "Wayne" claims, saving the planet, that's fine. If they also renege on sending my humans and me samples to review because of our position that organics are not rational, that is their choice.

Meanwhile, this little teapot and his humans will continue bringing you the best tea reviews out there of any sample or purchased tea that comes our way. As always, I and my humans wish you a TEA-licious day!

Review: Kusmi Tea’s Gunpowder Tea

© 2011 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:	Gunpowder
Company:	Kusmi Tea. [More info]

Straight Tea Rating:
About the new rating designation.

Water temperature:	175°F (we even used our special thermometer to be sure we got the temperature right)
Steeping time:	2 mins.
Tea type:	Green
Dry leaves:	Mild aroma, tightly rolled “pellets” dark green in color, recommend that you briefly rinse “pellets” with hot water before steeping to open them up a little

1st Infusion:
Aroma, plain —	Smoky, planty
Taste, plain —	Smoky, planty
Color, plain —	Pale yellow
2nd Infusion:
Aroma, plain —	Stronger smoky, planty
Taste, plain —	Stronger smoky, planty, more satisfying
Color, plain —	Darker yellow
3rd Infusion:
Aroma, plain —	Stronger smoky
Taste, plain —	Stronger smoky
Color, plain —	Darker yellow

Comments:
What can we say other than “It’s gunpowder”? With a reputation as being a bit off the mainstream, Kusmi’s version of Gunpowder was expected to be likewise. Nope. It’s your basic smoky green tea. I don’t have a problem with that. But I do have a big problem with the price.

Now, I realize that hubby and I are fortunate in that we live in an area where there are Asian and Indian markets, carrying a variety of items, including teas like this one, for very reasonable prices. Still, the Kusmi price is out of line, especially considering the ordinary nature of this gunpowder version.

For example, a price comparison of the Kusmi tea with some virtually identical versions sold under other labels:

Temple of Heaven	10.58 oz.	$3.99
Home Discount Store	4 oz.	$4.98
Kusmi Tea	4.4 oz.	$15.95

See what I mean?

As you can see by the leaves, pretty typical.

We really wanted to like this tea, considering the reputation of the company. Maybe that was ultimately the source of our disappointment. The tea did not live up to that reputation. No brand bashing here, just a big dose of reality. If you like to be able to tell people that you get your gunpowder tea from a company that has been around for 140 years and that boasts about what celebrity drinks which of their teas, by all means this is the tea for you. If you are serious about tea or just want some gunpowder tea at a reasonable price, there are plenty of other, more reasonably priced sources out there.

Of course, this is just one of many, many, many teas offered by Kusmi. My suggestion is that you go for one of their more exotic flavored teas and get the more everyday straight stuff like this one elsewhere.

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: Tula Teas’ Zealong Dark Tea

© 2011 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:	Zealong Dark
Company:	Tula Teas. [More info]

Straight Tea Rating:

Oolong Ranking Bar:

About the new rating designation.

Water temperature:	205° F
Steeping time:	1 min. each infusion
Tea type:	Oolong
Dry leaves:	Nuggety shape, dark green, planty/earthy/roasty aroma, very pleasant

1st Infusion:
Aroma, plain —	Floral tones, light vegetal aroma
Taste, plain —	Roasty, vegetal, grassy as cools
Color, plain —	Pale lime
2nd Infusion:
Aroma, plain —	Same as 1
Taste, plain —	Planty flavor with roasty character
Color, plain —	Same as 1
3rd Infusion:
Aroma, plain —	Same as 1
Taste, plain —	Roasty gone, planty up
Color, plain —	Same as 1

 

Comments:
This is one of the two Zealong samples hubby and I received from Tula Teas, a tea company that, though relatively young, is certainly one whose teas are well above average.

The aroma of the dry leaves was a he said/she said situation. Hubby detected floral tones, I got more of a light vegetal aroma (faint). We both found the roasty character was also there. When it came to taste, we were of a like mind: planty, roasty, turning grassy as it cooled.

Those dry leaves open up large in your pot or cup. A lovely sight!

Don’t forget that teas like this can undergo several steepings of the same batch of tea leaves, giving you a lot of tea for your money! We stopped at three since, unlike the Zealong Pure we tried recently, we steeped 16 ounces at a time and ended up with quite a bit of tea after just three steepings. In fact, Little Yellow Teapot did the honors himself on this tea. We thought the tea liquid was so lovely that it deserved to be showcased in our delicate glass teacup.

The sample package is the best we’ve seen so far and should keep the teas great tasting for awhile. They block out both light, moisture, and air. We always store our teas away from heat sources, too.

Zealong is fairly new to tea drinkers in the U.S. To my knowledge, it is carried by only one or two online vendors (Chicago Tea Garden is said to be the first to offer it to his customers here).

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: The English Tea Store’s Dragon Pearls Tea

© 2011 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:	Dragon Pearls
Company:	The English Tea Store

Straight Tea Rating:
About the rating designation.

Water temperature:	160° F
Steeping time:	1 min.
Tea type:	Green
Dry leaves:	Pearl shapes about 1/8th to 1/4 inch in diameter, sweet fruity/apricot aroma, recommended to use 5 to 10 pearls per cup of water

1st Infusion:
Aroma, plain —	Gentle, delicate
Taste, plain —	Light – almost too light
Color, plain —	Very pale yellow
2nd Infusion:
Aroma, plain —	Slightly stronger, planty
Taste, plain —	Still very light, hint of apricotty tang in aftertaste
Color, plain —	Slightly darker yellow
3rd Infusion:
Aroma, plain —	Same as #2
Taste, plain —	Same as #2
Color, plain —	Same as #2

Comments:
Little Yellow Teapot was not the perfect steeping vessel for this tea. We suggest you invest in a gaiwan or two. It’s one of those teas that is visually interesting and that should be treated carefully. We did our best, though, and that little teapot soldiered on.

The sample package and the vendor’s website do not have any steeping instructions for this tea, so we looked around online for a similar tea and settled on the water temperature and steeping time above. Based on those temp/time settings, we found the tea to be a bit too light tasting, but then we used 8 pearls per cup of water. A few more pearls per cupful would probably have rendered a slightly stronger flavor. Bear this in mind if you choose to give this tea a try and want a more flavorful infusion.

The leaf pieces are that treasured two-leaves-and-a-bud-combo, not seen in the tightly hand-rolled “pearls” but clearly evident after steeping:

Since the package has a clear window, we’ll be sure to store this tea carefully away from light. This type of tea tends to be quite affected by exposure to light. The pouch is very good, though at keeping out air and odors. Stored properly, this tea will keep for about a year and give you a nice gentle tea for those special moments.

If you like jasmine, try Dragon Phoenix, which is similar but with a wonderful floral aroma and flavor. The vendor carries one that you could give a try.

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: Thunderbolt Tea’s 2010 Sample #11 Tea

© 2011 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:	Autumn Flush 2010 Arya Ruby
Company:	Thunderbolt Tea. [More info]

Straight Tea Rating:
About the rating designation.

Water temperature:	200° F (our guess)
Steeping time:	3 mins. (our guess)
Tea type:	Black based on leaf and liquid appearance
Dry leaves:	Broken leaf, dark brown to coppery, fruity/cocoa-ish aroma

1st Infusion:
Steeping time —	3 mins.
Aroma, plain —	Fruity
Taste, plain —	Mild, not bitter, fruity, hint of cocoa in aftertaste
Color, plain —	Dark Amber
2nd Infusion:
Steeping time —	3 mins.
Aroma, plain —	Lighter
Taste, plain —	Milder flavor, more fruity
Color, plain —	Dark Amber
3rd Infusion:
Steeping time —	3 mins.
Aroma, plain —	Lighter
Taste, plain —	Initially light taste on tongue, then fruity aftertaste, mellows as cools
Color, plain —	Lighter Amber

 

Comments:
Another 2010 Autumn Flush sample, this one from the Arya tea garden in the foothills of the Himalayas in the Darjeeling area of India. Benoy of Thunderbolt Tea thunders through those foothills on his motorcycle and seeks out the best teas. Awhile back, someone raised the question of whether this tea garden was in the area designated as Darjeeling and therefore whether their teas are true Darjeelings. One taste of this tea, and all doubt that such questions might raise are blown away.

Each infusion had that distinctive fruitiness that only true Darjeelings can produce in the cup. The first infusion also had the hint of cocoa-like aftertaste.

Look at these lovely leaves, not ground up dust, but broken leaf pieces that are the range of dark green to coppery after steeping:

Another great package label, showing how we would like other teas labeled (with the tea estate, the flush, and the year):

We used the same steeping temperature and time that we had for other Autumn flush teas and did 3 infusions. Each had a wonderful aroma in the cup, a lovely amber color, and that distinctive fruity character to the taste. “Ruby” is certainly a great name for this gem of a tea.

Not a tea that needs any additives. In fact, it remained mild and mellowed a bit even as it cooled a little in the cup. Try this tea and you may never settle for one of those teas generically labeled “Darjeeling” again!

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: Home Discount Store’s Earl Grey Tea

© 2011 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:	Earl Grey
Company:	Home Discount Store. [More info]

Flavored Tea Rating:
About the rating designation.

Flavorings work with tea?	Yes
Tea can be tasted?	Yes
Flavor blend balanced?	Yes

Water temperature:	195° F
Steeping time:	5 mins.
Tea type:	Black
Additions:	Oil of bergamot
Dry leaves:	Large black pieces, strong bergamot aroma

1st Infusion:
Steep time —	5 mins.
Aroma, plain —	Fragrant with plenty of oil of bergamot aroma
Taste, plain —	Mild, not bitter or astringent, good even as cools
Color, plain —	Dark reddish-brown
2nd Infusion:	We used on 8 oz. water for this one
Steep time —	5 mins.
Aroma, plain —	Lighter
Taste, plain —	Lighter
Color, plain —	Lighter

 

Comments:
The package label doesn’t specify which black tea this is, but the vendor’s site says “Orange Pekoe,” which is a rating system that doesn’t mean too much other than large leaves as specified by standards set by the Dutch House of Orange. My guess is the tea is from the Assam area of India. It is flavored with oil from the bergamot, a type of citrus from Southeast Asia and grown in Italy. (The vendor includes the basic story of this tea on the back label of the package.)

We’re happy that Home Discount Store includes steeping directions that are both for a more U.S./English-style way of infusing and also a more Asian-style infusing. We stuck with the former and started out with a 5-minute infusion.

You can see by the appearance both before and after steeping that this is definitely NOT teadust in a bag. Bravo!

This is a fine version of the classic Earl Grey and doesn’t overdo the oil of bergamot flavor. The tea is wonderful and does not become bitter or even tangy as it cools. The flavor is good enough to drink straight even when steeped for 5 minutes. As the vendor states on the steeping instructions, you can adjust the steeping time to suit your taste. You might try a shorter steep such as 4 minutes, which will give you a stronger second steep than we got. However, the vendor’s prices are so reasonable that even just a single steep is good value for your money.

My honey stick was feeling a little lonely, since this tea didn’t need any such addition, so we let him be in the photo along with a new “Honey” design teabag holder we purchased at Barnes & Noble recently. (Little Yellow Teapot always enjoys the new additions to our teawares family.)

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