Month: August 2014

  • Cream of Earl Grey by Good Life Tea

    Dry leaf aroma: Bergamot with undertones of creamy sweetness. Preparation: Brewed western style in a glass infuser mug. First/only steeping: 5 minutes at 210 degrees.  This Cream of Earl Grey has a pleasant creamy bergamot aroma. Freshly brewed, the black base is smooth and well balanced with the bergamot and vanilla flavors. Sometimes you get an Earl Grey…

  • Scottish Breakfast by Beautiful Taiwan Tea

    Dry leaf aroma: Sweet hay and malt. Wet leaf aroma: Damp hay with a vegetal tang.  Preparation: Brewed western style in a ceramic infuser mug. First/only steeping: 5 minutes at 212 degrees.  The aroma is malt with undertones of honey and the slightest hint of sweet hay. The main flavors are malt and a pleasant bitterness, with a suggestion…

  • Red Jade Spring Black Tea Lot 306 by Taiwan Tea Crafts

    Dry leaf aroma: Sweet potato and malt.  Wet leaf aroma: Slightly vegetal.  Preparation: Initial quick rinse, then brewed western style in a ceramic infuser mug. First steeping: 2 minutes 30 seconds at 205 degrees.  Red Jade stays true to its dry leaf aroma – pure sweet potato with undertones of malt. While the cup is hot the predominate flavors…

  • Honey Black by Beautiful Taiwan Tea

    Dry leaf aroma: Sweet and crisp with undertones of honey.  Wet leaf aroma: Slightly vegetal with suggestions of hay.  Preparation: Brewed western style in an all-glass infuser mug. First/only steeping: 5 minutes at 210 degrees.  The aroma is predominately hay with subtle vegetal notes and the liquor is a medium golden brown. Honey Black tastes much like it smells,…

  • Golden Needle Premium by Mandala Tea

    Dry leaf aroma: Cocoa sweetness with a hint of malt.  Wet leaf aroma: Damp hay with vegetal notes.  Preparation: Initial 5 second rise, then brewed western style in an all-glass infuser mug. First steeping: 4 minutes 30 seconds at 205 degrees.  Freshly steeped the aroma is a fusion of hay, malt, sweet potatoes and cocoa. The liquor is a…

  • Jamais Vu by Nina’s Paris

    Dry leaf aroma: Strong and pleasant orange scent. Preparation: Brewed western style in a ceramic infuser mug. First/only steeping: 3 minutes at 210 degrees.  The aroma is fruity with hints of blackcurrant; as the cup cools I detect a bit of orange. While the tea is still quite hot the fruit flavors are muddled together with a…

  • Gold Thread Reserve by Red Blossom Tea Company

    This is the second tea I ordered from Red Blossom and I am excited to finally do a tasting and prepare my notes. Dry leaf aroma: Sweet potato with a malty background. Preparation: Brewed western style in an all-glass infuser cup. First steeping: 1 minutes 45 seconds at 200 degrees.  The aroma stays true to the dry leaf…

  • Organic Formosa Red, no. 18 by Red Blossom Tea Company

    This tea intrigued me with its description so I am pleased to finally be able to taste it for myself and post notes. Dry leaf aroma: Sweet and slightly malty with a mild trace of tobacco. Preparation: I prepped the leaves with an initial quick rinse and then proceeded with my session western style (my gaiwan is…

  • Milk Oolong by Tao Tea Leaf

    I admit that I am still exploring milk oolongs; this is my third one to date. For this session I brewed the leaves western style for a total of 5 steeps. I am not sure if this oolong is scented, flavored, or 100% pure, so I am going with the guess it has nothing added…

  • White Champagne by Tealux

    Have you ever had a tea that smelled so good you had considered using it as potpourri? This is one of those teas for me! The aroma is muscatel (grape) with a hint of currant. The description on Tealux notes the crispness of this tea, and I have to agree. DT’s Grape Expectations with a…