Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black, Indian
Where to Buy: Butiki Teas
Tea Description:
Our Organic Kundaly is sourced from the Kanan Devan Hills Plantation in Kerela, India. This extra special Pekoe grade tea has floral and roasted walnut notes. Organic Kundaly is an assertive lightly astringent black tea.
Ingredients: Organic Kundaly Black Tea
Recommended Brew Time: 4 minutes
Recommended Amount: 1 level teaspoon of tea for 8oz of water
Recommended Temperature: 210 F.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I really respect Stacy from Butiki Teas and her dedication to organic and natural flavored teas! See more info on her here.
This is not as assertive as some morning blacks so you could also have this as an afternoon tea, heck you can have any tea you want at any time but for the sake of reviewing I would say this is a brunch tea!
It has malty notes but they are not “in your face” and it is a bit lighter and less bold than some Indian black teas. There is an earthy note to it which reminds me a bit of peat and tree bark. Next to no astringency.
The mouthfeel is rather bright, and crisp.
There is a light tanginess – more of a twang in this tea. If tea notes could be explained by musical notes this would make the sound of a person picking on a banjo. That may have made no sense at all but it just has this “pluck” to it which is delightful!
I pick up a very gentle spice note in the background of this tea slightly like black peppercorn but its so slight it could easily be missed!
This is a fairly straight forward tea, its not layered with complexities but it is in fact a very good example of a high quality Indian black with enough of a difference from most that it is quite unique and one that you should try!
Wild-Picked Yunnan Jin Jun Mei Tea from Verdant Tea
Tea Type:
Black Tea
Where To Buy:
Verdant Tea
Product Description:
A malty, savory black tea with the crisp sweetness of Jin Jun Mei and the buttery thickness of Dian Hong…
This wild-picked budset tea provides a uniquely rich and savory cup. In early steepings, the malty profiles of barley and wheat are in the foreground, with the sweet creaminess of butter. These savory flavors feel somewhat like fresh-baked whole-grain toast with a touch of sweet cream butter melted on top. Yet the aftertaste betrays the fine budset quality of the tea through a smooth sweetness, as though a touch of honey was spread on the buttered toast.
In later steepings, the savory grain flavors are more subdued, replaced by an unexpected crisp flavor, and slight sparkling peppery texture. It may be a bit too metaphorical, but this tea almost tastes sunny in later steepings. There is a bright warmth, coupled with the brilliant red-orange of the tea in the cup that suggests morning sunlight.
Tasters Review:
Sure! I LOVE any and all types of Teas but there is a soft spot in my heart for Black Teas, first and foremost. I start each day with at least one (many times – many more – than just one) type of Black Tea. On top of that – I do LOVE a Good Yunnan Black Tea! So when I saw this one from Verdant – I knew it was going to be something special!
I have to admit – when I tried this at first – I then sampled it each day until it was gone! It didn’t last in my stash for long!
This has a hint of pepper but is a bit smooth and creamy – especially at the end of the sip. The toast-like flavors are great! It’s savory. It has hints of wheat and/or barley, sweet corn, and woodsy notes and I think they are great! The 2nd and 3rd infusions are sweeter.
This makes a great cup…or in my case…CUPS!
Tong Cheng Small Orchid Semi-Wild 800m from Life In Teacup
Tea Type: Green Tea
Where To Buy: Life In Teacup
Product Description:
Life in Teacup is a small tea company that is committed to support small business and small tea-growing operations. Life in Teacup specializes in Chinese teas, particularly those from Anhui, Fujian, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Zhejiang provinces, and from Taiwan. The company focuses on direct sourcing from areas of production, and their website and the Life in Teacup blog are a rich source of detailed information about tea, especially those sold by Life in Teacup.
Tasters Review:
I’ve been a LIFE IN TEACUP Fan for a while now and one thing I can say is that they are always consistent! They offer high quality teas that are delicate and flavorful but always crisp and clean!
As for Tong Cheng Small Orchid Semi-Wild 800m I have to say it made it to my 90 percentile because it’s really wonderful!
It’s Light, Clean, Crisp! It has a Juicier finish and aftertaste. And as it cools it tastes a little like veggies – maybe like celery, perhaps! It’s very refreshing and tasty both hot and cold! I great way to unwind at the end of a busy day and/or just take some time for yourself – to relax and enjoy tea…and life!
Peach Apple Crisp from Persimmon Tree
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Persimmon Tree
Product Description:
A clean, flavorful blend of black loose-leaf teas, combining fruity notes of white peach, gala apple and cinnamon with a crisp floral finish.
Ingredients: Biodynamic Black Loose-Leaf Tea, Organic Nilgiri Loose-Leaf Tea, Organic Assam Loose-Leaf Tea, Organic Orange Peel, Fair Trade Organic Rooibos, Roses, Organic Hibiscus, Safflower, Natural Flavors
Taster’s Review:
This is a surprising black tea blend. Most flavored black teas are comprised of just Ceylon tea, and it is refreshing when I find a blend that utilizes other black tea leaves in the blend.
Using Assam and Nilgiri in this blend gives the base a much more substance. This is a TEA first, and the flavors come second, and that is the way it should be! The black tea offers a strong flavor with a delicious malty character. Hints of wine-like flavor come up at the finish just before the astringency arrives. The finish is slightly dry with a sweet, fruity aftertaste.
The peach and apple flavors are distinct although they do not attempt to compete with this bold black base. The cinnamon gives a lovely hint of spice – just a hint – and I like the way it accentuates the fruit and gives the cup an overall sense of being a dessert-ish type of tea. The hibiscus here is barely noticeable. I can taste it – a little, and although the flavor of it develops slowly as I continue to sip, it never becomes a strong or protruding flavor.
I really like this full-bodied tea a lot, it has a very satisfying tea flavor that is sure to please the tea enthusiast while also maintaining a delicious, dessert-like taste. I like this served straight, but if you really want to highlight the “crisp” part of this tea, try adding a little brown sugar. It would also be nice with a splash of milk (Peach Apple Crisp a la mode!) Very nice hot or iced!
Snow Jewel from Lahloo Tea
Tea Type: White Tea
Where To Buy: Lahloo Tea
Product Description:
WHITE TEA » SNOW JEWEL
XI HU, ZHEJIANG, CHINA
The Story:
Snow Jewel white tea is the true queen of teas! Pure elegance! This rare wild Dai Bai silver needle tea grows high in the Fujian mountains.
♥ Downy buds plucked in the spring just before they open
♥ Exquisitely refreshing and delicate
♥ Ripe fruits- peaches, lychees, pear“Oh my! It’s an absolute revelation! I’m greeted with this amazing peachy flavour. It’s light and sweet and delicious, making me gulp down the lot.” teatunes
PS Perfect chilled over ice
Tasters Review:
Pure…as the driven snow!
Clean…as the whistle!
Crisp…as crisp can be!
Mouthwatering Masterpiece!
This White Tea – Snow Jewel – from Lahloo is a pure delight! I mean…this is REALLY nice! It’s sweet and I can taste a hint of fruitiness!
If you are a fan of white tea or looking for something different to dive into…try Snow Jewel from Lahloo!