Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Arbor Teas
Tea Description:
The combination of succulent Asian plums, tart schizandra berries, rosehips, hibiscus and select oolong tea leaves create a blend that is a delight for the senses! The pink-hued infusion of our organic Plum Oolong is pleasantly tart with a wonderful fruity aroma.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I saw the name of this tea, I wanted to try it. I love plums! But then, I read the ingredients … why hibiscus? Why? Now that I’ve brewed it, I understand why the hibiscus was included, it definitely adds a plum-like color and nectar-like texture to the cup. And it does – together with the schizandra berries – add a little bit of tartness to the cup which provides an interesting contrast to the sweetness of the plum flavor.
The combination of flavors to this cup create a very strong fruity essence that is, indeed, very plum like. I find it to be somewhat like a plum cider or warm plum nectar.
The Oolong tea is a little lost in this, though. Yes, I can taste it, but I find myself really needing to focus on the sip to get a strong Oolong taste. The plum flavor is more significant, as is the schizandra berry flavor, and these two fruits are pretty tasty together.
At the same time, I do find myself thinking that this tea could benefit from a little more Oolong leaf, and even a touch of cinnamon might be nice. This isn’t my favorite tea from Arbor Teas, but it is one that is certainly worth trying. It’s good, just not my favorite, you know? I like the dimension to this cup, it has a pleasing texture and a nice sweet-tart kind of taste to it, and these aspects make for a very enjoyable tea experience.
Organic Decaf Masala Chai from Arbor Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Decaffeinated)
Where to Buy: Arbor Teas
Tea Description:
Finally, our customers that only drink decaffeinated tea can indulge in a chai latte! This Fair Trade Certified Masala Chai Organic black tea blend has a medium-body with exceptionally spicy flavor and aroma. Surprisingly similar to our caffeinated version of Masala Chai (and offered at the same price!) our Organic Decaf Masala Chai Black Tea uses a broken leaf grade black tea (BOP) blended with cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and black pepper. In contrast to our caffeinated version, we amped up the pepper for a slightly hotter mouth feel. The clove and ginger really come through, with a wonderful cardamom finish. As with all our decaf teas, this tea is decaffeinated using a state-of-the-art carbon dioxide (CO2) decaffeination process that does not involve the use of harmful chemicals. We recommend steeping a triple-strength cup of this organic Indian tea and serving it with honey and steamed milk.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Another decaffeinated tea that surprises me!
Truly, I have had fewer decaffeinated teas that I have not enjoyed versus those that I found to be very good (or better than very good, like this one!) but yet, the memory of those few that I disliked remain to taint my initial reaction to decaffeinated tea. Those thin-tasting decaffeinated teas with chemical aftertastes still haunt me. Fortunately, this decaffeinated chai from Arbor Teas is neither thin in taste nor does it have that icky chemical aftertaste. This is actually so good, I find it hard to believe that it’s decaffeinated!
As mentioned in the above description from Arbor Teas, there is a bit more of a peppery bite to this one compared to the pepper level that I recall from Arbor Teas’ caffeinated version. In that review, I had mentioned that the pepper stood out, and here, it stands out a bit stronger, but without tasting over-peppered. Instead, the pepper seems to meld quite nicely with the flavors of the other spices. There isn’t too much ginger or cinnamon here, which is also a plus given the fact that with so many chai blends seem to rely too heavily on the cinnamon or ginger to deliver their spicy impact. Not that it’s bad to have a chai that’s been heavily laden with cinnamon or ginger, but it is nice to find one that allows the flavors of the cloves and cardamom to shine through.
This has such a unified flavor – everything is so well rounded! The black tea has a strong flavor – without a strong decaffeinated flavor – and it melds seamlessly with the flavors of the spices. It tastes spicy and exotic. It is a beautifully executed chai … and I find it so delicious that I don’t even miss the caffeine!
I enjoyed my sampling of this tea hot with a little bit of turbinado sugar to complement the spices. I did not add milk to it to make a latte, but, I think that the spicy composure of this chai would make for a very harmonious chai latte, so if you prefer your chai as a latte, I’d say go for it!
I’d recommend this whole-heartedly to those who are looking for delicious decaffeinated teas … this one is a keeper!
Organic Makaibari Estate Green Tea from Arbor Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Arbor Teas
Tea Description:
This Fair Trade Certified organic green tea is another example of the wonderful offerings coming out of the Makaibari Estate in India. Biodynamically farmed in India’s Darjeeling district, this organic loose leaf tea exhibits many of the same qualities of the black teas of this region, but with an unoxidized leaf. The varying leaf colors (ranging from green to brown to white) produce an easy-to-drink cup. This organic Indian tea also exhibits slightly lemony, vegetal and earthy qualities akin to other Darjeeling teas. Established in 1859, Makaibari is the oldest estate in Darjeeling, where a strong commitment to sustainable farming prevails.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This tea is indeed very easy to drink! It is quite smooth and flavorful, with pleasing citrus notes, and a light vegetative quality. Not what I would call “grassy,” it is more like steamed vegetables.
According to the above description (from Arbor Teas’ website), this tea was grown in the Darjeeling region, and I can taste some similarities to a Darjeeling tea. It has a lemony note that is quite similar to a Darjeeling tea as well as some of the woodsy tones of a Darjeeling.
However, I find that this green tea lacks that “crispness” of a Darjeeling, instead, this one has a smoother flavor to it. It also does not have the same astringency that I would normally expect from a Darjeeling, the astringency here is quite soft … so soft, in fact, that if one wasn’t paying attention, one might not notice it at all.
Overall, I find this tea to be very pleasant: sweet, smooth, and seems to promote a sense of tranquility as I sip it, while at the same time, restoring me. A very enjoyable cup!
Organic Matcha (Ceremonial Grade) from Arbor Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Arbor Teas
Tea Description:
Matcha is a variety of Japanese green tea that is stone ground at the end of the manufacturing process, resulting in an ultra-fine tea powder that is typically whisked in hot water until a frothy consistency is reached, as in the traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. The resulting brew has much more body and flavor than tea brewed in a conventional fashion, with a thick, rich green taste and slight bitterness.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is one of the very best Matcha teas I’ve yet to encounter. The color is vivid green – a very bright and beautiful green! It whisks into a frothy, creamy liquid that stays frothy long after I finished whisking! More often than not, a Matcha may froth up but after about 10 minutes, the froth begins to disappear. This Matcha stayed frothy until I finished the chawan! And the Matcha remained dispersed throughout – it didn’t begin settling at the bottom of the chawan. It was smooth and grit-free until I finished.
The flavor is sweet and vegetal, with a buttery flavor that adds to the creamy aspect. It is thick and satisfying. There is a hint of bitterness that arrives about mid-sip … not a off-putting bitterness, but a savory tone that seems to rescue the palate from the sweetness of the Matcha, providing balance and a well-rounded taste.
One of the very best things about Matcha – aside from the incredible health benefits that comes from the consumption of the entire leaf – is its energizing qualities. After a chawan of Matcha I get a huge energy boost, and it keeps me going for quite some time.
And this Matcha … is the best of the best! I highly recommend it!
Organic Ti Kuan Yin Oolong from Arbor Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Arbor Teas
Tea Description:
Ti Kuan Yin is the most famous of all organic Oolong Teas. This Fair Trade Certified organic Chinese tea is grown in the southern reaches of China’s Fujian Province. The tightly-rolled dark green organic loose leaf tea yields a pale golden, smooth-bodied infusion with a complex aroma having accents of sweet flowers, rich greens and forest floor.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
It’s been a while since I’ve last tried the delicious Ti Kuan Yin that Arbor Tea offers, and I’ve missed it! I brewed this Ti Kuan Yin in my gaiwan using short steeps. By brewing it using this method, I managed six very flavorful infusions, each new infusion seemed to taste even lovelier than the one prior!
The body is incredibly smooth and rich, with a thick mouthfeel that is soft and luxurious. The flavor is sweet with a floral overtone and a hint of vegetation in the distance.
There is an undertone of earthiness to this Ti Kuan Yin which evoke thoughts of the mossy earth that carpets the forests of the Pacific Northwest. The sweetness to this cup is reminiscent of honeysuckles.
I love that this tea is organic and Fair Trade Certified, which is true of all the teas sold by Arbor Teas. Overall, I find this to be an excellent Oolong; a lovely, contemplative brew! I highly recommend it!