Tea Type:
Black
Where to Buy:
Beautiful Taiwan Tea Company
Tea Description:
NEW ITEM THIS MONTH!
What a smooth tea this is! This tea comes from a farm just above the pristine alpine lake called Sun Moon Lake. It’s hand processed by Mr. Lee and his wife, a wonderful and hospitable couple. They grow without chemicals the old fashioned way. Do you like black teas from India? This tea is similar but has no astringency. It’s a pure stock Assam Black Tea that has been growing in Taiwan since 1926 when the Japanese imperial machine started to foster a tea industry in Taiwan for world-wide export.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is one of this company’s NEW teas and I must say it’s a GOODIE! Of course – I’m partial to a solid black tea especially in the morning – I usually start each day with a black based tea and then move on to other types of tea throughout the day. Have said that – I REALLY love this tea.
I’ve been hearing a lot of people use the word “Pristine” more and more these days. I’m not sure if it’s a new buzz word or fad or lingo but I try and reserve it for something REALLY special. After reading the product description of this tea and this tea being from a farm about the “pristine” Alpine Lake call Sun Moon Lake of course I had to research it to see if it lived up to the word. And you know what? It DOES! This lake truly IS a gem! It’s marvelously beautiful…and I’ll say it…PRISTINE. After seeing the photographs I can’t image anything ‘bad’ coming from this area. I absolutely believe this tea lives up to the product description.
I LOVE that this grown without the use of chemicals and the old fashioned way. It has no astringency. It’s bold but smooth. It’s sweet, too. For a black based tea I think this has a level of mouth watering and thirst quenching type of sip to it, too! The leaves are fairly large and precise. The aroma is pleasant but not over powering and not dark like most black teas. I can’t think of one thing I don’t like about this tea. It’s a real winner in my book!
2nd Flush Assam from Tea Horse
2nd Flush Assam from Tea Horse
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea Horse
Tea Description:
A malty, rich Assam, perfect for a morning cup. It has a rich caramel, almost burnt sugar flavour with a maltiness and hints of fruit. This is a versatile tea. As good with a hearty cooked breakfast, bacon butty or toast and pastries as with a slice of fruitcake, piece of gingerbread or rich dark chocolate in the afternoon. It pairs well with dishes using cinnamon or nutmeg, as well as Mexican food or red meats.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
2nd Flush Assam from Tea Horse may be the first tea I have ever had from this company. I cannot recall another before it. This 2nd Flush is a good morning cup. I find the flavors evolve more if you let it cool just slightly before sipping. Regardless, the flavors are strong with berry notes, and have lovely caramel and malty notes. I find the malty notes to be less intense than many assam however.
What I find most pleasing with this tea is that the berry notes turn to something like a wine flavor as the cup breathes a little – cooling slightly more.
The downside of this tea is that I find you have to get the exact right steep time or you could end up with a bitter brew, or one that lacks flavor.
I found the perfect steep time for me was right at the 2 minute mark while my SororiTea Sister LiberTeas preferred hers at a minute and a half. There may be a “sweet spot” for each person and their personal taste but by no means would I suggest steeping this as long as the directions which say 4 minutes.
Personally I think this would make a far better tea iced or cold steeped because the longer I sip on this cup, the more flavors evolve with the caramel and malt waking up even more.
It is relatively bright in the mouthfeel however, its not heavy, or creamy, or even all that robust. It may not be the morning tea for everyone depending on how strong you like your morning tea to be.
I am glad that I have got to sample a Tea Horse tea and I look forward to trying more in the future.
