I was introduced to Teavivre by a Tea Friend on Facebook. She told me that it was some of the best teas she had ever tried.
With that glowing recommendation I went to check out their site. They had a fantastic promotion going where you could get 5 FREE samples if you paid the $4.90 shipping.
What an awesome deal!
When I opened the sample bag I had a hard time smelling the pu-erh so I poured it into my Gaiwan. Once it was in there I was able to smell a sweet, fruity, honey-like aroma. It was such a nice smell I was excited for my first sip! Teavivre recommends the brew temperature of 212ºF for 3-5 minutes.
However, if you look on their website that is if you are making a full cup. Since I am making my Pu-erh in a Gaiwan they had different instructions!
For the Chinese Gongfu Method they recommend to still use 212ºF water for 12 separate steepings: rinse twice, 15 seconds, 15s, 15s, 15s, 15s, 15s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 60s, 100s, 160s. It goes on to say that each rinse time is 5 seconds.
As the first and second rinse steeped I could tell why they recommended a rinse, these first steepings had an almost smoky aroma which I wasn’t expecting. I am not a huge fan of smoky teas so I was a little nervous.
By the first 15 second steeping the smoky smell had completely disappeared and I was left with a mild, sweet smell with just the right amount of earthiness. There was a light nuttiness to the flavor which was incredibly pleasant. As I went through each steeping the tea became sweeter and more floral in aroma and kept the sweet but nutty flavor.
I absolutely loved this tea and would highly recommend it to anyone that likes a darker tea or is generally curious about Pu-erh tea. This is a great starter pu-erh, the sweet flavor will pull you in! Also, since it is so low in caffeine (less than 10% of a cup of coffee) it is one that you can drink at any time of day. Also, since you can get so many steepings out of the tea leaves it is absolutely worth the money you spend.
I look forward to adding more of this tea to my cabinet!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Puerh
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Description
Soft and smooth, rich and thick texture
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Thorns and Roses/Grimoire Tea
When you purchase tea from Grimoire Tea, they arrive in the cutest little bottles with the most unique labels giving the name and description of the tea purchased. You can tell that she takes the time to really think about what she is representing when coming up with her labels. The top is reinforced by a solid layer of colored wax. This company could not have been more unique with their packaging! I just love her presentation!
I was immediately able to smell the green tea but it was also incredibly floral due to the jasmine and rose petals. There was also a mild fruity sweetness that I attributed to the elderberry. It was a very pretty tea to look at.
Thorns and Roses steeped to a pretty rose gold color. I really enjoyed the steeping process of this tea. In the beginning, it was a pale yellow, as most green teas are when they steep. As the tea continued to steep, it slowly began to change color as the elderberry warmed up.
The flavor was very floral with a soft, sweet aftertaste. The elderberry was able to soften the rose and jasmine which, for me, made it even more enjoyable. I did not add any sweetener to this tea but you absolutely could, if you wanted to bring out a little more of the elderberry sweetness.
This would make a really nice evening tea to help you relax at the end of the day. Jasmine is known to help relax the senses. While this may not be a tea I would keep on hand, I did enjoy the sample. If you enjoy floral green teas you will love Thorns and Roses by Grimoire Tea.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Grimoire Tea
Description
This tea does not appear to currently be available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Golden Jin Xuan Oolong/Totealy
I am one of those people that never wins anything. I do weekly giveaways on my Instagram and I LOVE to give tea samples away! But I never WIN anything. Well, I can’t say that anymore. I entered a giveaway on Totealy’s Instagram page and actually WON! WHAT?! They sent me 4 “mystery teas” and I was so excited to open them!
When I opened this mystery bag I was greeted by an incredible sweet, milky aroma. I could have sat there and smelled it all day. In all honesty, I probably sat there for about 5 minutes. I immediately knew that it was a milk oolong and I was SO excited! I have never had the opportunity to try a milk oolong and I have always wanted to! Just my luck that my first tea from Totealy would be on my wish list! The curled tea leaves were absolutely beautiful. This was going to make an amazing cup of tea.
The instructions on the card are very clear. Steep Golden Jin Xuan at 205ºF for 1.5 minutes. It then goes on to explain that brewing for a shorter time will bring out the floral aromas and longer to bring out the creaminess. It also explains that you can brew their teas multiple times.
Since I could already smell the amazing sweetness of the florals I decided to start with their recommended 1.5 minutes. I could absolutely get the sweet floral aroma when steeped for this time. It didn’t have the creaminess that I wanted so I decided to steep again. I added 30 seconds to the same tea leaves. The flavor completely transformed. It was incredible how smooth the tea was with a perfect amount of sweetness and grassy “tea” flavor. I was able to get 4 solid steeps out of Totealy’s Golden Jin Xuan. I probably could have gotten a 5th but it had lost its creaminess.
Overall, I was thrilled with my first experience with a Milk Oolong. It was exactly as I hoped and expected. Totealy has an amazing quality Golden Jin Xuan that is wonderful from the moment I opened the bag and was engulfed in that sweet floral creaminess to each individual steep.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Totealy
Description
Our sweetest tea, Golden Jin Xuan hails from Taiwan’s Pear Mountain, where it is cultivated at 3,300 ft. After harvest, the Jin Xuan leaves are bathed in natural milk flavors, resulting in a nourishing brew for both tea newcomers and seasoned sippers alike.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Worry Free/Biron Herbal Teas. . .
The life of an elementary school teacher comes with A LOT of stress. I’m always in the market for a tea to help me erase the stress of the day and help me relax once I get home.
Unfortunately, a good herbal blend with just the right mix of jasmine and chamomile is hard to find. Biron Herbal Teas knocked it out of the park with their WorryFree Blend. Just opening the sample pack I received was enough to melt the worry away.
The most prominent aroma was the jasmine with the perfect mix of chamomile. It reminded me of college when I used to grow and dry my own lavender in my dorm room. Looking in the sachet you can see the full dry jasmine and chamomile flowers. You can tell that Biron spent a lot of time looking for the perfect ingredients for this tea. By the time the cup was finished I was fully relaxed and ready for a peaceful nights sleep.
If you, like me, need help relaxing after a crazy day and you LOVE Lavender this is a great blend to try! I’ll be stocking up on this one myself! Time to take a trip to Macon!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Biron Herbal Teas
Description
This fragrant Jasmine, Lavender blend contains a hint of honey and Western, Ayurvedic, and Chinese traditional herbs such as Ashwagandha and Kava Kava.
Each herb in WORRYFREE was carefully selected, creating the perfect blend for harmony and relaxation. Recommended for type-A’s that need a holiday from stress and anxiety.
Pour a cup of WORRYFREE, breathe in the delightful aroma and let go of the worry and angst.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Sencha/Buckhead Tea Company. . . .
I am not usually a big Sencha fan. Typically, I find that no matter what I do it comes out bitter and incredibly astringent. I was pleasantly surprised by this one! I was able to get 3 solid steeps out of this tea.
The first steep brought a sweet umami aroma and a grassy flavor that reminded me of a spring day just after a rain storm. There was a heaviness to it that left a creamy feeling on the tongue. There was absolutely no bitterness. The second steeping had the same heavy, creamy flavor but had a bitterness that wasn’t present in the first steeping. The third steeping brought the sweet umami flavor back. It was very smooth and made a great sipping tea.
I think it is time for me to re-think my feelings on Sencha. Perhaps my taste has changed, perhaps I’ve just gotten better at making it? This is a fabulous morning tea for those who aren’t looking for the strong flavor of a black tea but still like a little heavy creaminess in the morning. It would also be great as a mid-day pick-me-up!
As I reconsider my feelings towards Sencha, this is absolutely a tea that I could keep on hand to remind me that, made well, this is a wonderful green tea that is worth being enjoyed often.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Buckhead Tea Company
Description
Green tea lovers enjoy Sencha, a steamed green tea from Japan, for its low caffeine levels, robust flavor and refreshing nutty and fruity aftertaste.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!