Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: KTeas
Product Description:
Hand-plucked Single-Estate tea: Volcano Village – Home Grown Estate FarmGrowing elevation: 4000′, Volcano Village, Hawaii USAThese leaves are long, loose, downy. The flavor of this shade-grown tea remains delightfully floral throughout multiple steepings.
Taster’s Review:
LOVE!
I really love this tea. This is definitely my favorite (thus far) of the Hawaiian-Grown teas that KTeas offers (although I haven’t yet tried their Oolong, that one is next on my list!) This white tea might even be my favorite white tea I’ve ever tasted. Yes, it’s that good.
The leaves are long and slightly curled and covered with white fuzz. They brew to a light, clear amber color that smells fresh and somewhat earthy, with hints of flower in the background. The aroma does not reveal what is about to be experienced by the palate, though.
The flavor is amazing. At first sip, I noticed many similarities to a high quality Bai Mu Dan. But, after a couple of sips, the complexity of this white began to reveal itself: a lush sweetness and hints of a grassy flavor. A floral quality that begins ever-so-quietly and develops as I continue to sip – and develops even more as I steep these leaves for a second and third time.
The tea has a rather hearty flavor and is surprisingly rich for a white tea. This is not a delicate white tea! If you love tea – try this one! If you have tried white teas in the past and found them to be too softly flavored for your liking – try this one! Everyone should really try this tea!
Makai Black Tea from KTeas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: KTeas
Product Description:
Each sip of this black tea reveals new dimensions in the flavor profile. The terroir of Hawaii imbues these high-quality leaves with a clean, smooth, refined flavor profile in which you will likely find no astringency nor bitterness. Some of the growers’ descriptors serve best: Crystalline amber infusion. Thin, crisp body. Delicate notes of caramel, varley malt, and rice syrup. Slight taste of roasted sweet potato.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve tasted several Hawaiian-grown teas now, and I must say that I’ve been impressed with just about every one that I’ve tried. This Makai Black Tea from KTeas is no exception.
The color of the liquor is lighter than I expected it to be; it is a clear, medium-to-dark amber color much like the liquor of a dark Oolong. There is something else to this tea that reminds me of an Oolong – the texture. It has a softness to the mouthfeel that I often experience with Oolong tea.
This has such a nice complexity. Beautiful malty tones and a rich sweetness that I would describe as somewhere between honey and (as the description above suggests) rice syrup. I also get the hints of caramel here, as well as the faintest note of cocoa. There is some astringency in the finish, but rather than being dry or tangy, I am finding it to be somewhat starchy. This starchy dryness accentuates the cocoa taste. This starchiness also highlights some of the sweet potato taste that is also mentioned in the description.
I infused these leaves twice and they produced two delightful yet different cups. The second infusion was a bit thinner in texture than the first, and it possessed a more subdued flavor. I notice a little less of the cocoa note but there is a delightful spice-like tone in the distance with this infusion. It was delicious and certainly well worth the effort to infuse this one twice.
Ola’s Garden Hawaiian-Grown Green Tea from KTeas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: KTeas
Product Description:
Single-Estate tea: Mountain View – Farm CollectiveGrowing elevation: 2000′, Mountain View, Hawaii USAEast meets West in this refined, pan-fired green tea reminiscent of signature teas of China. Exotic in aroma, pure in flavor, steeped into a pale golden green infusion with a lingering fresh taste. Definitely encouraging in Hawaii’s quest of pioneering a tropical, pure Hawaii-grown tea.
Taster’s Review:
I love this tea. Before I even taste it, I love it. Why? Well, it may sound corny, but I love it because of the name “Ola’s Garden.” My darling gramma – who was mother figure to me and probably the most positive role model I had in my youth – her name was Ola. I miss her terribly. And so this tea is very dear to me because of the name … it reduced me tears when I first read the name.
The leaves are very long and curly, deep green in color with hints of silver streaks. They have a strong “leafy green” scent to them, and they infuse to a very pale yellow-green color. So pale, in fact, that it almost looks like water with a hint of yellow-green tint!
But it certainly doesn’t taste like water. It is incredible. I am in agreement with the above description, it is indeed reminiscent of a Chinese green tea. The flavor is rich and vegetative. It is sweet, but it doesn’t come across as “fruity sweet” or “buttery sweet” like so many green teas do. Instead, this is more like a vegetable sweetness, with a flavor that falls somewhere in between grassy and steamed spinach. It is a very pure, clean taste … a characteristic that follows through to the crisp aftertaste.
As the tea cools slightly, more sweet tones emerge, it still isn’t what I’d categorize as buttery. It is more like a fruit-and-nut kind of sweetness, with the nutty tones presenting themselves strongest.
This tea produces many infusions – I infused it three times with no real loss in flavor. I am sure I could have gotten even more out of those leaves if I tried, but, after three pots of tea, I was ready to move on to something different.
KTeas has recently introduced a full line of Hawaiian-grown teas, including this one. I have been very impressed with the Hawaiian teas I’ve tasted in the past, and this one certainly ranks up there with one of the best ones I’ve tried. It is an incredibly good green tea – one that is sure to please green tea enthusiasts! It is soft, supple and really refreshing. It is even quite nice as an iced tea, although I find that the complexity is more apparent when it’s served hot.
Noni Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Type: Matcha (Green Tea Base)
Where To Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Product Description:
We have done and continue to do our best in bringing you quality tea products that are natural and healthy. Well, we have done it again! We have taken our highest quality Green Tea, Matcha, and combined it none other than the super fruit known as Noni. Now, you may have heard of Noni before and even tried it from a few different companies only to be left disappointed and feeling ripped off. You do not have to feel that way anymore! You see, we searched and searched the world over to find only the best Noni product to add to our fabulous Matcha Tea.
If you have never heard of Noni, open your ears wide and try to take this all in! The Noni fruit is, like Acai, a super fruit. Noni is found in India, Barbados, Malaysia and Hawaii. Our 100% pure and raw Noni comes from Hawaii. This is not just any Noni, mind you. This is the highest quality Noni that has been freeze-dried to maintain all its integrity. It is 100% raw, pure and organic. After freeze-drying, our Noni is crushed into a fine powder just like our Matcha Green Tea. And just like our Matcha, our Noni powder has all the nutrients and health benefits as though it had never even been removed from its original source. We know it is really amazing and we will tell you why. Our organic Noni powder has so many health benefits it will blow your mind. Not only is Noni a valuable source of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, our 100% pure and raw Noni powder has:
Powerful antioxidants that help support and maintain a healthy immune system T-cell producing qualities that are essential for supporting proper health The ability to help support cellular tissue growth Tumor growth prevention properties Capability to strengthen the digestive system The ability to increase energy and vitality All 9 essential amino acids Capability to help fight infections and cancers The ability to aid in the treatment of lupus and diabetes Capability to fight athlete’s foot The ability to provide relief from flu symptomsWith more benefits to numerous to mention, it is no wonder that we have added such a powerful fruit to our equally powerful Matcha Green Tea. Of course, you cannot let all the healthful qualities of our Noni powder trump the health benefits of our Matcha Tea.
Our wonderful Matcha Tea has qualities like helping improve heart health, detoxifying blood and fighting cancer as well as helping with calorie burn. Together, our Noni and Matcha are lethal combination against bad health and fatigue! Our Noni Matcha is amazing, tastes great and helps keep you healthy throughout the year.
You will not find a healthier tea anywhere than right here and that healthy tea is our very own Noni Matcha.
Tasters Review:
As many of you know I have been a vegetarian for 17+ years. Over the past month or so I have been educating myself more on Raw Vegan Foods. When I saw that this Noni Matcha from Red Leaf Tea was RAW and Red Leaf Tea seems to be marketing it as such – I was VERY excited! If you know of anyone who is into RAW Foods – tell them about this Noni Matcha! YES! It is 100% raw, pure and organic.
Dry – right out of the package – the first thing that came to mind when I smelled this was Noni flavored Scones!
After mixing up it smells like fruit and veggies with matcha!
This is pretty good. It’s a tad tart but unique and super healthy! It’s a nice change-up from your plain-jane matcha! I haven’t come across a Noni Flavored Matcha yet and I am very excited that Red Leaf has made this flavored matcha come to be!
2010 First Flush Premium Oolong from Mauna Kea Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: This flush is sold out, however, keep an eye on Mauna Kea Tea’s website for updates on when this year’s harvest is available!
Product Description:
Our First Flush Premium Oolong Tea is the first harvest of the year. This is medium oxidation oolong which has slightly fruity flavor and bold floral aroma. Hand harvested and processed. Naturally oxidized under the sun.
partially oxidized leaves are then hand-processed to enhance floral aroma and bring out full flavor.
Organically Grown at our farm in Hawaii.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve never been to Hawaii. I hope to go sometime, but until then, I like to think that I’m experiencing a bit of Hawaii through Hawaiian-grown teas like this one from Mauna Kea.
The aroma is fantastic. It smells much the way I imagine the air in Hawaii to smell: floral, vegetal, and fresh. A very aromatic, vibrant fragrance!
The flavor is sublime! It is very delicate and floral, with a kiss of vegetation to the background. There is a beautiful fruity essence to the flavor as well, with flavors that remind me of sweet plums.
The sweetness to this cup is remarkable, no additional sweetener is required. In fact, I feel that adding sweetener to this cup would ruin this tea. I has such a lovely delicate quality to it.
I recommend brewing this tea in a gaiwan to get the most out of this tea. Drink it hot to enjoy all the subtle nuances to it. This is truly a rewarding tea!