Review: Element Tea’s Dragonwell Green 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:	Dragonwell Green
Company:	Element Tea. [More info]

Straight Tea Rating:
About the rating designation.

Water temperature:	160° F
Steeping time:	3-4 mins.
Tea type:	Green
Dry leaves:	Flat, long pieces, bright green, mild aroma that is planty and slightly nutty

1st Infusion:
Steeping time —	3 mins.
Aroma, plain —	Planty, nutty, slightly fruity
Taste, plain —	Mild, nutty, roasty, artichoke
Color, plain —	Pale peachy
2nd Infusion:
Steeping time —	3 mins.
Aroma, plain —	A little more planty
Taste, plain —	A little more planty
Color, plain —	Same

 

Comments:
Dragonwell is an area of China where a special green tea grows. I read the other day, though, that the name “Dragonwell” on a green tea these days is more of an indication of how the tea leaves were processed. I’m not sure which is the case here, but it really doesn’t matter. This tea is very good and not at all like a lot of green teas out there. That is, it is not overly grassy tasting. There is more of a roasty quality, especially to the first steep. Hubby detected an artichoke character to it, also. It never became bitter, even as it cooled.

We opened the foil-lined pack and saw a lovely sight: tea leaf pieces of the typical size, shape, and color for this tea type. Not a bunch of tea dust! After the first steeping, the leaves weren’t fully enlarged:

Overall, this is another high-quality tea from the tea ladies in the Mile High City of Denver, and the Little Yellow Teapot hopes they continue on this course.

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’ Green Mulberry Tisane

© 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:	Green Mulberry Tisane
Company:	Tula Teas. [More info]

Water temperature:	205° F (91-96° C)
Steeping time:	1-3 mins. each infusion
Tea type:	Not tea, is an herbal infusion
Dry leaves:	Leaves and stems, dark green, nutty/planty aroma

 

Comments:
Little Yellow Teapot here. I know my humans and I said we wouldn’t be reviewing non-teas, but we’ve had this sample around awhile and wanted to try it. We also thought, based on the name, that this herbal would be fairly fruity and so included it in our Fruity Chilled Tea Extravaganza. First, though we wanted to see how it tasted hot. This is a fave of company owner Libby Gibson, so we were very hopeful.

When opening the wonderful foil sample pouch, my humans were rather surprised not to see little mulberries in it. There were just a bunch of leaves and stems. They smelled nice, at least to this little teapot, combining plantiness with nuttiness. They were very green.

The liquid in the cup was kinda greenish-brown and had a funny taste. It was nutty, planty, and had a bit of a fruity character to the aftertaste. Something about it, though, does not appeal to this little teapot and his humans. (My humans insisted I wear my award sash. Do you think it makes me look fat?) We chose not to rate this herbal, since they’re just not our thing. We leave it to you to decide if you wanna give it a try. Start with a sample size package.

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.

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: Tipu’s Chai’s New Recipe Instant 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:	New Recipe Instant with Soy
Company:	Tipu’s Chai. [More info]

Note: This was originally written on 8 April 2011, but at the vendor’s request I held off posting it until the new recipe could be announced. They were also supposed to send a sample of the final recipe. I have decided to go ahead and post this since at this point, it won’t give anything away.

Comments:
Little Yellow Teapot here, filling in for my humans. Recently, they served as taste testers for a new recipe of an instant chai. Being instant, the samples didn’t need to be steeped in a teapot. Hmph! Personally, I regard this proclivity for you humans to keep wanting to rush things as a sign of your inferiority to us crockery items. We take our time.

Here are the sample packets A and B. There were two different recipes for this instant for my humans to compare.

Here’s the powder in those packets. Quite a lot. My humans dumped each mix into its own cup and added 8 ounces of boiling water, then stirred vigorously.

Here’s what that instant chai looked like in the cups. Sample A on the left is a tad darker. My humans said it was spicier, too, and a bit bitter. Lots of cardamom and black pepper.

As with other instant stuff you humans use, this one tended to settle and leave a residue in the cups.

Tipu’s has their new instant chai now available on their store site.

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 Boston Tea Company’s Earl Grey Citrus Tea Chilled

© 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 Citrus
Company:	The Boston Tea Company [More info]

Tea type:	Black
Additions:	Oil of Bergamot, Citrus, Cornflowers
Aroma in glass —	Light citrus
Taste in glass —	Mild, oil of bergamot, citrus
Needs sweetener?	A touch
Color in glass —	Amber, slight cloudiness

Comments:

Earl Grey lovers take heart. You can still enjoy that distinct and unmistable flavor of oil of bergamot when this tea is served straight from the refrigerator. Don’t steep it too strong, though, unless you are planning to add ice (ugh!). I find the taste great without sweetener. You could add a touch of honey or some other sweetener if your tastebuds prefer, though.

The photo gives the impression that the tea is cloudy. Actually, it is only a little cloudy from particulates from the cornflowers and other ingredients. The rest is condensation on the glass that formed while I was setting up the picture. The trials and tribulations of food photography.

General Info About Chilled/Iced Tea:

Despite what Krystal Lane says in her article, Help! My Iced Tea Is Cloudy!, clarity in iced or chilled tea is not a trait to use when judging your tea quality. What matters is the taste and, to a lesser extent depending on the sensitivity of your “sniffer,” the aroma.

When chilling a tea for the first time, I always try it unsweetened. If you want sweetener in the tea, add it while the tea is hot after steeping.

I don’t add ice to tea, since that would require the tea to be steeped stronger than usual to balance out the dilution when the ice melts. I let the hot tea sit on the counter and come to about room temperature, then put it in the refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight.

The review of this tea served hot.

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: thepuritea.com’s Mango Black Tea Chilled

© 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:	Mango Black
Company:	thepuriTea.com. [More info]

Tea type:	Black
Additions:	Mango
Aroma in glass —	Mango
Taste in glass —	Mild, mango evident
Needs sweetener?	Maybe
Color in glass —	Amber

 

Comments:

Another fruity tea that was quite good hot and did not disappoint when served chilled. You might think, because of that tangy mango scent that hits your nostrils, that the taste will be overly tangy. It is definitely NOT. Hubby thinks a bit of sweetener is good, but I loved it as is. Gonna absolutely have to make another pitcher-full.

The color in the glass is similar to the Mighty Leaf Orange Dulce, but the taste is quite different.

General Info About Chilled/Iced Tea:
Despite what Krystal Lane says in her article, Help! My Iced Tea Is Cloudy!, clarity in iced or chilled tea is not a trait to use when judging your tea quality. What matters is the taste and, to a lesser extent depending on the sensitivity of your “sniffer,” the aroma.

When chilling a tea for the first time, I always try it unsweetened. If you want sweetener in the tea, add it while the tea is hot after steeping.

I don’t add ice to tea, since that would require the tea to be steeped stronger than usual to balance out the dilution when the ice melts. I let the hot tea sit on the counter and come to about room temperature, then put it in the refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight.

The review of this tea served hot.

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: Mighty Leaf’s Orange Dulce Black Tea Chilled

© 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:	Mighty Leaf’s Orange Dulce
Company:	Mighty Leaf

Tea type:	Black
Additions:	Orange, vanilla, jasmine
Aroma in glass —	Orange, vanilla, jasmine
Taste in glass —	Mild, vanilla/jasmine evident
Needs sweetener?	Maybe
Color in glass —	Amber

 

Comments:
As flavored teas go, this tea is fairly tasty when hot. I had theorized that it would taste good chilled, too, but hadn’t tried it. This Fruity Chilled Tea Extravaganza is a very good excuse to do so. Hubby and I were not disappointed, quite the opposite! I can drink this unsweetened, and find it totally refreshing. Hubby, strangely enough, said the taste made him think of lounging on the deck with a tall, iced glass of this. Ice!?! That’s okay. I know he’d never dare around me. Hee!

General Info About Chilled/Iced Tea:
Despite what Krystal Lane says in her article, Help! My Iced Tea Is Cloudy!, clarity in iced or chilled tea is not a trait to use when judging your tea quality. What matters is the taste and, to a lesser extent depending on the sensitivity of your “sniffer,” the aroma.

When chilling a tea for the first time, I always try it unsweetened. If you want sweetener in the tea, add it while the tea is hot after steeping.

I don’t add ice to tea, since that would require the tea to be steeped stronger than usual to balance out the dilution when the ice melts. I let the hot tea sit on the counter and come to about room temperature, then put it in the refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight.

The review of this tea served hot.

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 Monk’s Blend Black Tea Chilled

© 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:	Monk’s Blend Black Tea Chilled
Company:	The English Tea Store

 

Tea type:	Black
Additions:	Pomegranate, vanilla
Aroma in glass —	Fruity (pomegranate)
Taste in glass —	Strong pomegranate
Needs sweetener?	Either way, I like as is
Color in glass —	Reddish-brown, fairly clear

 

Comments:

A wonderful fruity flavor permeates this tea. You may want a bit of sweetener, but I like it as is. This is a tea that gets natural sweetness from…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

The review of this tea served hot.

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 Tea and Jazz House’s “The Krall” Tea Chilled

© 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:	The Krall
Company:	The Tea and Jazz House [More info]

Tea type:	Green
Additions:	Apple, pear, safflowers
Aroma in glass —	Apply-pearish
Taste in glass —	Mildly sweet, light, refreshing
Needs sweetener?	No
Color in glass —	Light yellow green

Comments:

As lovely as this tea looks in the glass, that’s how it tastes on your tongue. Don’t expect a big mouthful of overly sweetness. It’s more like a very subtle fruity sweetness. The Tea and Jazz House names their tea blends after jazz greats and to have a flavor and character suited to each musician chosen for this honorific. In this case, it’s Diana Krall, a woman of great talent that has been featured in several movies and who has quite a few albums out, not to mention Grammys and Juno Awards.

This tea, hot or cold, will certainly put you in a smooth jazzy mood. Try listening to some of the music on the vendor’s site while you sip. I find them to be a good combo, too.

General Info About Chilled/Iced Tea:
Despite what Krystal Lane says in her article, Help! My Iced Tea Is Cloudy!, clarity in iced or chilled tea is not a trait to use when judging your tea quality. What matters is the taste and, to a lesser extent depending on the sensitivity of your “sniffer,” the aroma.

When chilling a tea for the first time, I always try it unsweetened. If you want sweetener in the tea, add it while the tea is hot after steeping.

I don’t add ice to tea, since that would require the tea to be steeped stronger than usual to balance out the dilution when the ice melts. I let the hot tea sit on the counter and come to about room temperature, then put it in the refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight.

The review of this tea served hot.

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 Tea and Jazz House’s “The Krall” 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:	The Krall
Company:	The Tea and Jazz House [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:	160° F
Steeping time:	2-3 mins.
Tea type:	Green
Additions:	Apple, pear, safflowers
Dry leaves:	Dragonwell-style green tea with bits of apple and pear and generous sprinkling of safflowers

1st Infusion:
Steeping time —	2 mins.
Aroma, plain —	Fruity
Taste, plain —	Mild, fruity, smooth
Color, plain —	Yellow
2nd Infusion:
Steeping time —	2½ mins.
Aroma, plain —	Fruity
Taste, plain —	Overall lighter, but still fruity and smooth
Color, plain —	Yellow

Comments:
This is another flavored tea that starts out with a Dragonwell-style green tea. True Dragonwell (Longjing) is from a specific area in China where the Dragon Well is. I have recently learned that this tea now grown in other parts of China and that being labeled “Dragonwell” is more an indication of a style of tea leaf processing. Whatever the case, it seems a shame to flavor such a nice tea. However, this version, unlike the other one tried, lets the tea taste come through by being more subtle in the use of flavorings.

Bits of fruits and lots of safflower petals go well with but do not overwhelm the tea. You can see them here:

The result is a mild, smooth, fruity tea, perfect for sipping and naturally sweet enough to be your dessert instead of that fruit pie or ice cream — great for anyone who is diabetic or just watching his or her intake of sweets.

The Tea and Jazz House names their tea blends after jazz greats and to have a flavor and character suited to each musician chosen for this honorific. In this case, it’s Diana Krall, a woman of great talent that has been featured in several movies and who has quite a few albums out, not to mention Grammys and Juno Awards.

This tea, hot or cold, will certainly put you in a smooth jazzy mood. Try listening to some of the music on the vendor’s site while you sip. I find them to be a good combo, too.

Mary Cali, the owner, is just launching her tea store online and has a limited selection at this time. If this tea is any indication, she will be worth a try. If you’re worried about dealing with someone new, I can say that Mary is committed to assuring your satisfaction. This tea is certainly one that will help her succeed.

We also tried this tea chilled overnight in the refrigerator and have a separate write-up on that.

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 Mercedes Apple Spice Herbal Chilled

© 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:	Mercedes Apple Spice Herbal
Company:	The English Tea Store

 

Tea type:	Herbal
Additions:	Apple, rose petals, cinnamon, cloves, more
Aroma in glass —	Fruity (apples) and strong cinnamon
Taste in glass —	Strong cinnamon, bitter
Needs sweetener?	Yes – lots!
Color in glass —	Rosey – fairly clear

 

Comments:

Hubby and I are pretty dedicated to true teas but we throw in the occasional herbal. There is no tea in this, that is, no Camellia Sinensis leaves. That’s okay, since a lot of fruity herbals can be good served cold. The problem with this one, though, is the cinnamon. Generally, cinnamon in a chilled tea tends to be bitter. It was certainly true here. The first sip was okay, but the next was bitter, and the one after that was a total puckerer – ewww!

A couple of possibilities to try here: steep it up lighter and/or add a lot of sugar or other sweetener while it’s still hot and before you chill or ice it.

General Info About Chilled/Iced Tea:

Despite what Krystal Lane says in her article, Help! My Iced Tea Is Cloudy! clarity in iced or chilled tea is not a trait to use when judging your tea quality. What matters is the taste and, to a lesser extent depending on the sensitivity of your “sniffer,” the aroma.

When chilling a tea for the first time, I always try it unsweetened. If you want sweetener in the tea, add it while the tea is hot after steeping.

I don’t add ice to tea, since that would require the tea to be steeped stronger than usual to balance out the dilution when the ice melts. I let the hot tea sit on the counter and come to about room temperature, then put it in the refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight.

The review of this tea served hot.

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 Tropical Iced Tea Blend Chilled

© 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:	Tropical Iced Tea Blend
Company:	Home Discount Store. [More info]

Tea type:	Black
Additions:	Cornflowers, tropical fruits
Aroma in glass —	Mango
Taste in glass —	Wonderful
Needs sweetener?	No
Color in glass —	Light amber

 

Comments:
As the name says, this is a tea specifically blended to taste good cold. They succeeded. If you are looking for a nice, fruity flavored tea to serve this Summer, here it is. The good news is that it is also good served hot. Because of the special blending, you don’t have to worry about bitterness. Don’t make it too strong either. A nice, mild brew will chill up nicely overnight in your frig without getting cloudy.

General Info About Chilled/Iced Tea:
Despite what Krystal Lane says in her article, Help! My Iced Tea Is Cloudy! clarity in iced or chilled tea is not a trait to use when judging your tea quality. What matters is the taste and, to a lesser extent depending on the sensitivity of your “sniffer,” the aroma.

When chilling a tea for the first time, I always try it unsweetened. If you want sweetener in the tea, add it while the tea is hot after steeping.

I don’t add ice to tea, since that would require the tea to be steeped stronger than usual to balance out the dilution when the ice melts. I let the hot tea sit on the counter and come to about room temperature, then put it in the refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight.

The review of this tea served hot.

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 Tropical Iced Tea Blend

© 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:	Tropical Iced Tea Blend
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:	Cornflowers and unspecified tropical fruits
Dry leaves:	Big pieces with fruit chunks and visible cornflower petals

1st Infusion:
Aroma, plain —	Mango with a touch of nuttiness
Taste, plain —	Not bitter, slight mango tang, tea flavor evident, bit of an edge as it cools
Color, plain —	Dark amber
2nd Infusion:
Aroma, plain —	Mainly mango
Taste, plain —	Lighter, with emphasis on mango
Color, plain —	Lighter amber

 

Comments:
This is a very noteworthy company. Every tea sample hubby and I try makes us admire them even more. Great prices, great teas — what more could you ask for? We’re not too big on flavored teas, but fruit flavored teas are preferable to floral ones for us. The blender has certainly managed to add fruity flavors to the tea without smothering the tea taste into oblivion. Wonderful! This tea is also intended to be good both hot and cold, so a review of it chilled will be posted separately.

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. You will note that the vendor states these steeping instructions are suggestions and that you should alter them to suit your taste. We suggest that you steep the first infusion only 4 minutes instead of 5, and the second infusion 5 minutes. This will give you a more even taste to each.

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

We were tempted to try the tea with a bit of milk and sweetener in it, but decided not to, finding the wonderful tea/mango combo so enticing. It even made that Little Yellow Teapot smile!

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: 2 More Teas Chilled

© 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.

Tea #1:	Summer Sunrise (see review of this tea hot)
Company:	Joy’s Teaspoon. [More info]
Tea #2:	Ginger, Peach & Apricot Black Tea (see review of this tea hot)
Company:	The Boston Tea Company [More info]

 

Comments:
We decided to put these two into a combo review (a first for Little Yellow Teapot and hubby and me). The theory of this whole fruity chilled tea extravaganza is that teas flavored with fruits are better in chilled versions than straight teas and that they are naturally sweet. I’m not too sure at this point in the truth of that theory.

The Summer Sunrise was not at all suitable as a tea to serve cold, despite it pleasant taste when served hot. It needs a lot of sweetener and even then there is a strong lemon/basil aftertaste.

The Ginger, Peach and Apricot Black Tea is a better option but still needs sweetener, possibly because of the ginger. Maybe if it were just peach and apricot blended with the black tea, the flavor would be more naturally sweet. We definitely like this one better when served hot. You’ll notice that the tea is rather cloudy, but that does not affect the taste, only your visual appreciation of it.

General Info About Chilled/Iced Tea:
Despite what Krystal Lane says in her article, Help! My Iced Tea Is Cloudy!, clarity in iced or chilled tea is not a trait to use when judging your tea quality. What matters is the taste and, to a lesser extent depending on the sensitivity of your “sniffer,” the aroma.

When chilling a tea for the first time, I always try it unsweetened. If you want sweetener in the tea, add it while the tea is hot after steeping.

I don’t add ice to tea, since that would require the tea to be steeped stronger than usual to balance out the dilution when the ice melts. I let the hot tea sit on the counter and come to about room temperature, then put it in the refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight.

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: Revolution’s Tropical Green Tea Chilled

© 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:	Tropical Green Tea Chilled
Company:	Revolution Tea

Tea type:	Green
Additions:	Orange peel, jasmine and other flowers, pineapple extract, peppermint leaves
Aroma in glass —	Minty
Taste in glass —	Minty, a sort of bubble gum sweetness
Needs sweetener?	Depends on your taste for sweets
Color in glass —	Amber, slightly cloudy

Comments:
Mint is always popular in teas served chilled or iced. Something about the mint is super refreshing. Sadly, I am allergic to mint. Happily, hubby is not. So hubby got to be the taster here while I watched at a safe distance. From the first sip, his face told the tale: this was a very nice tasting chilled tea, even unsweetened. If you are not allergic to mint, this will be a tea to enjoy this Summer.

General Info About Chilled/Iced Tea:
Despite what Krystal Lane says in her article, Help! My Iced Tea Is Cloudy!, clarity in iced or chilled tea is not a trait to use when judging your tea quality. What matters is the taste and, to a lesser extent depending on the sensitivity of your “sniffer,” the aroma.

When chilling a tea for the first time, I always try it unsweetened. If you want sweetener in the tea, add it while the tea is hot after steeping.

I don’t add ice to tea, since that would require the tea to be steeped stronger than usual to balance out the dilution when the ice melts. I let the hot tea sit on the counter and come to about room temperature, then put it in the refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight.

The review of this tea served hot.

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 Blackcurrant Black Tea Chilled

© 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:	Blackcurrant Black Tea Chilled
Company:	The English Tea Store

  

Tea type:	Black
Additions:	Blackcurrants, cornflowers, other
Aroma in glass —	Bitter, weedy smell (cornflowers?)
Taste in glass —	Strong blackcurrant/cornflower taste
Needs sweetener?	Yes – lots
Color in glass —	Brown, cloudy

 

Comments:

The first thing you will notice is that this tea, chilled in the glass, is cloudy. What matters, though, is the taste and, to a lesser extent depending on the sensitivity of your “sniffer,” the aroma. Here both the taste and aroma call out for sweetener. I recommend some raw sugar, some tupelo honey, or an artificial sweetener of your choice. The tea has the potential to be quite refreshing on a hot day.

General Info About Chilled/Iced Tea:
Despite what Krystal Lane says in her article, Help! My Iced Tea Is Cloudy!, clarity in iced or chilled tea is not a trait to use when judging your tea quality. What matters is the taste and, to a lesser extent depending on the sensitivity of your “sniffer,” the aroma.

When chilling a tea for the first time, I always try it unsweetened. If you want sweetener in the tea, add it while the tea is hot after steeping.

I don’t add ice to tea, since that would require the tea to be steeped stronger than usual to balance out the dilution when the ice melts. I let the hot tea sit on the counter and come to about room temperature, then put it in the refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight.

The review of this tea served hot.

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 #12 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 Singbulli Silver Wonder
Company:	Thunderbolt Tea. [More info]

Straight Tea Rating:
About the rating designation.

Water temperature:	180° 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, sweet nutty aroma

 

1st Infusion:
Steeping time —	3 mins.
Aroma, plain —	Nutty
Taste, plain —	Mild, nutty, fruity
Color, plain —	Pale Amber
2nd Infusion:
Steeping time —	3 mins.
Aroma, plain —	Nutty, fruity
Taste, plain —	Mild, nutty, fruity
Color, plain —	Amber
3rd Infusion:
Steeping time —	3 mins.
Aroma, plain —	Lighter
Taste, plain —	Mild, more fruity
Color, plain —	Lighter Amber

 

Comments:
Another 2010 Autumn Flush sample, this one from the Singbulli tea garden in the foothills of the Himalayas in the Darjeeling area of India. Benoy of Thunderbolt Tea seeks and finds the best teas.

The taste is light and refreshing, a real palate cleanser, with a nutty flavor in a way that gives an impression of smokiness without being smoky. The fruity quality so prized in Darjeeling teas is evident here. Whether hot from the steep or cooled in the cup, there was no bitterness or unpleasant aftertaste. The third infusion was a bit light but still drinkable, making this tea a great value.

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 cooler steeping temperature and time than we had for other Autumn flush teas and did 3 infusions. Each had a wonderful aroma in the cup, a lovely amber color, and a distinctive nutty/fruity character to the taste.

A tea that needs no additives. In fact, it stays mild and mellow in the cup, even as it cools. Definitely a special tea and one that shows that Thunderbolt Tea really knows how to select good teas.

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 Begin Soon...

UPDATED 1 June 2011

Teas and herbal infusions blended with fruits seem to make some of the best tasting cold drinks. They are often already sweet enough from the fruit that no additional sweetener is needed.

Hubby and I are going to be trying some of these teas and herbals over the next month or so in a cold version (and some in a hot version, too) and posting the results here, especially since that little teapot will be helping out with the steeping part.

Some of the teas and herbals we’ll be including in the extravaganza (ones we’ve reviewed on this blog already and a few we haven’t):

• Boston Tea Co. Ginger, Peach, and Apricot
• Boston Tea Co. Earl Grey Citrus
• English Tea Store Monk's Blend
• English Tea Store Mercedes Apple Spice
• English Tea Store Blackcurrant Naturally Flavored Black
• Home Discount Store Tropical Iced Tea Blend
• Joy's Teaspoon Summer Sunrise
• Mighty Leaf Orange Dulce
• Revolution Tropical Green Tea
• Tea and Jazz The Krall (Apple, Pear, Green Tea)
• The Puritea Mango Black
• Tula's Teas Green Mulberry Tisane

More samples are expected, and any that can be included in this extravaganza will be.

Three items were removed from the list above since they were already reviewed chilled along with the regular review hot:

English Tea Store Bohemian Raspberry
English Tea Store Sencha Kyoto Cherry
English Tea Store Bingo Blueberry Herbal