I am currently drinking attempt two of Ceylon Gem by Teabento. Attempt one was brewed and then immediately after the tea finished steeping, I tossed the leaf, washed the infuser, and took the garbage out. I then managed to knock over my 16 ounce mug of freshly brewed Ceylon Gem, sending tea racing towards all the appliances and the power bar situated on the butcher’s block where my kettle now resides. In my panic to save the electronics, I knocked over the mug again. Needless to say, after all of that, my mug was empty and I had Ceylon Gem all over my floor.
So here I am with attempt two. No spillage so far. Fingers crossed it stays that way.
Anyways, I brewed the tea per the recommended steeping parameters of 3 minutes in 190F water. I then let the tea cool a bit to a more easily drinkable temperature.
Teabentos website claims this ceylon flower black tea has a “delicate taste with hints of honey, berries, citrus and caramel” so I was surprised when the tea was quite brisk/tannic. I suppose that is fairly common in Ceylon teas though so I shouldn’t have been too surprised. Looking past the briskness, I am getting honey and some caramel. I am not getting much in the way of berries and other than that briskness being akin to a citrus pithiness, I am not getting much citrus either.
I don’t think I am the intended audience for this tea. The description lured me in with so many of my favorite flavors but at the end of the day, Ceylons tend to be too strong for my tastes and this is no exception. I want smooth. I want dessert-like. This is sweet but it’s definitely more of a pick-me-up/morning tea.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Teabentos
Description
Ceylon Gem is another brilliant black tea from Amba estate, the twin-sister of our lovely elephant CEYLA. Hand-crafted and carefully blended with flowers from the camellia sinensis tea plant, which give the tea a natural mild sweetness. The beautiful look and the delicate taste with hints of honey, berries, citrus and caramel make the tea a true gem. Its delicious nature deserves to be appreciated on its own.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
English Breakfast/Steeped Tea
This tea was my first exposure to Steeped Tea, and from what I can discern looking at their website and online catalog, you can “join” and become a Sipologist, selling their products through hosted parties, catalogs, etc. They have a variety of products from tea (including white, green, matcha, black, herbal tisanes, etc.) to teaware, scone mixes, cookie mixes, kombucha supplies, and even hot chocolate. A lot of the teaware is very modern with bold, fun colors, but there are also elegant, classic tea sets.
The English Breakfast tea is simply listed as containing organic black tea without any information as to origin of the tea, and they do not provide this information as it is protected as a proprietary blend. The herbal blends and flavored teas do specify all additional ingredients other than tea, though. I am pleased to see that the herbal selection does NOT contain stevia, as I really don’t enjoy stevia and it has become almost omnipresent in herbals.
If I had to guess, I would say this is Indian tea, and may have a touch of Darjeeling in it. There is a prominent lemony note, which is sometimes indicative of high grown tea, usually a Ceylon like Uva Highlands. It is quite brisk and bright and it tingles the tongue. If you like milk and sugar in your tea, this may be right up your alley. I am a Keemun kind of gal, and I take my tea straight, but I found it drinkable even without additions if you like lots of high citrus notes in your black tea. Don’t expect the deep base notes of Chinese black tea in this one.
The liquor is very clear and has nice color, and didn’t cloud even after cooling down to room temperature.
Many companies now have a chosen charity that receives a portion of the profits, usually from specific products that change periodically. Steeped Tea supports the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and they will also help you set up a findraiser with their products.
Check out their catalog online and see if you find something special that is just right for you!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Steeped Tea
Description
Ingredients: Black tea.
Contains Naturally Occurring Caffeine
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Keemun Mao Feng Black Tea Grade One/AprTea Mall
Keemun is my absolute favorite tea for breakfast. Once upon a time long ago, if you asked for breakfast tea, Keemun was what you were given. These days, even specifically ordering English Breakfast can result in many different types of tea being delivered to you, with Assam or Kenyan tea being the most likely to show up at your table. There are many, many kinds!
But Keemun is gentler on my stomach and still has that “start the day” vibe. Although I rarely add anything to my tea, Keemun can take additions of milk and/or sugar and still shine. The taste is so great as is that I don’t want to dampen it.
This particular Keemun is the middle grade offered by AprTea Mall. I reserve the highest grades for afternoon tea or for drinking by themselves, and I don’t enjoy lower grade Keemun teas nearly as much, but I find a mid-grade to be just what I am looking for in a breakfast tea or to pair with a meal.
The leaves are very dark, long, and lightly twisted. These are whole leaves and not broken bits. The dry leaf aroma is fruity, and the wet leaf aroma is fruity and bright.
It has just enough heft and just enough cocoa or malt flavor to be paired with waffles and syrup and clear the palate without the pucker factor of most breakfast teas. This particular Keemun also has that hint of fruit that earns some of these the designation of a “winey” Keemun, although it is just a hint here and not terribly pronounced.
Overall, I deem this to be a good, serviceable Keemun that I can enjoy as a daily drinker.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: AprTea Mall
Description
Keemun Mao Feng (祁门毛峰): Keemun Mao Feng is a kind of Keemun Black Tea,has a more refined production process.using one bud and one leaf for full fermentation. the shape is cord tight knot small as eyebrow, the luster is Ukraine; tea aroma lasting fragrance, like fruit orchid fragrance, the aroma has this special name “Qimen fragrant” in the international tea market; tea soup color and leaf color is red and bright, the taste is fresh and thick, and even drink with milk and the sweet sugar, the aroma is not only reduced, but more fragrant.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Twisted Black Tea / Cloudwater Tea
Thought it was silly that they wanted this tea to be steeped for 7 minutes. Most teas can hardly make it to five minutes before they are tannic. Which isn’t a bad thing as there are those, like my father, who like a good strong cuppa. Not me though.
So I only went about 3 minutes. It seems like many of the teas I’ve tasted that are grown in volcanic soil tend to be lightly in taste and need a longer steep time. So here we are on my second steeping. I’ve stopped at five minutes out of curiosity.
The astringency is already kicking in but I’ll go the extra two and pray it doesn’t become a bitter bash. They weren’t kidding when they called this twisted. The dry leaves are not just twisting but also curving and rolling. During the two extra minutes the liquid cooled slightly allowing more flavor to come through. Perhaps it’s just me but I really feel that when the water is hot you can’t truly experience any of the flavor.
The mouth feel like clean with a slight caulky feel, but maybe that is the astringency kicking in. Which has strangely mellowed as the water has cooled. Mineral flavors of volcanic soil co-mingle with earthy flavors of cedar and musty, forest floor. If you are ever in Hawai’i grab yourself a bag or better yet go check out their estate in Kilauea.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Cloud Water Tea
Description:
Maintaining a bold and consistent character, our Twisted Black tea is full-bodied, very smooth, and possibly woody with an underlying sweetness and aftertaste of sweet potatoes.
Brewing Suggestions
3 grams per 6oz water. Steep for 7 minutes at 195 – 212 ° F. Re-infuse with increased time.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Gong Fu Black/Zhi Tea
Really wanting to use my new gaiwan tonight, I pawed through my tea samples and my eye fell on this. Perfect! I don’t have to wonder if it is a good candidate for the gaiwan. The name tells me so!
The leaves are thin and twisted, and very dark. They have that heady chocolate aroma you find in black and oolong tea sometimes. After warming the gaiwan and allowing the leaves to rest in it for a moment, the scent is now much nuttier.
I experimented a bit and found that I like this one to have a little more time than I would give some teas. It didn’t become bitter – the main incentive for keeping a steep short would be to prevent bitterness – so I let those warm, rich flavors develop over a few extra seconds. The darkest steep was my favorite.
The tea is creamy, nutty, with a little hint of cocoa. It is so smooth that even a black tea phobe drinking with me liked it plain. Although there is virtually no astringency, there is the slightest briskness that develops over time in a very pleasant way. Walnut is the flavor that I most notice lingering.
I lost count but my guess is that we had about seven or eight steeps from this session. Overall, a very pleasant tea. I definitely want to have a look at this company’s other offerings, as well!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Zhi Tea
Description
Zhi exclusive. #1 Rated Black Tea in the World!
This exquisite black tea from Fujian Province in China has become the favorite at Zhi. If you like the rich complexity of a classic Chinese black tea with all the hallmark smoothness and depth, be prepared to be enchanted. This is a top-grade exclusive tea with a major wow factor.
Thin, twisted leaves present a deep rich red cup with distinct caramelized sugar and chocolate notes and a long creamy finish. Mouthfeel, mouthfeel, mouthfeel.
If you like a great Keemun or a Gold Yunnan then you will love this tea.