Lychee is one of my favorite flavors. Jasmine is a long time favorite for tea flavoring as well as my first tea I tried. Needless to say this was one I had to try. It has a fairly sweet smell. Nothing overly artificial like some companies and no sugar so my hopes are high. The initial few sips through me for a loop.
The taste reminds me more of artificial flavors at first. Though as the sips progress I find myself enjoying it more. Fruity notes are the core with some hints of jasmine. There is a bit of astringency but nothing too major. This just depends highly on the steep time. This would make an awesome bubble tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Tealyra
Description:
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Inspired by enormous Shanghai; China’s most populous city- it is ever changing, ever growing. It is a booming, fast paced modern city, yet has remained true to rich culture and to tradition- our Lychee Jasmine Green is a celebration of tradition among change! One of the more popular teas in the neighborhood is this delightful blend of Lychee and jasmine. Fragrant, floral and fruity notes of lichee fruit complement the exotic tones of night blooming jasmine flowers; two very distinctly Chinese favorites. Our green tea base has a bright flavor with touches of honey, citrus, flowers, and green apple. This inspired blend stands the test of time; it could have been enjoyed in old tea houses 40 years ago as easily as it could today at a trendy milk tea shop!
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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!
Jasmine Spring Blossom from Qi Aerista
I have been all about floral teas lately and thought it was time for me to check out Qi Aerista’s take on a jasmine green tea. Qi Aerista recently released a tea brewer and also started offering teas as well. After having some pretty delicious floral teas, I was ready to give this blend a go.
Brewed with water prepped at 185 and allowed to brew for about 3 minutes- this tea instantly set the mood with a HUGE burst of floral aromas. And when I say huge, I mean the floral tones are almost overwhelming but I’m one that really digs a floral tea so I tallied forth.
Sat down and enjoyed this tea cuppa after cuppa this afternoon. I wouldn’t say that there was anything that really stood out as amazing on this jasmine spring blossom, but the tea is really good. A solid version of a jasmine green tea for sure. The floral notes are extremely strong and sometimes border on intense but I enjoy that in a tea and would love to brew this tea up as a cold brew for the summer. I bet that is where this tea would shine since you really only get pops of the green tea base here or there.
To give this tea a bit of jazz, I did end up throwing in a bit of butterfly pea flowers and I really enjoyed how the green tea, jasmine, and butterfly pea flower played against each other. Butterfly pea flower has a unique flavor and I really enjoyed how the flavor lent itself to give the jasmine tea a bit of pop.
Just goes to show that even if a tea isn’t something amazing, with just a little of this and a little of that, you can create a marvelous gem!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Qi Aerista
Description
Naturally floral and refreshingly soothing, this Jasmine green tea came from Fuding City of Fujian Province, China. Young leaves and buds were picked in April 2017 and immediately processed into the base green tea.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Ganesha Green from Nepal Tea LLC. . .
I know you aren’t supposed to judge a tea by its name – but that is exactly what I have done with this tea which is Ganesha Green from Nepal Tea LLC. I couldn’t tell you why I was drawn to this tea because of its name I just was.
The company says that this tea is “A step up from our Kanchanjangha Verde, Ganesha Green is a finer pluck, medium bodied with prominent marine flavors, such as kelp and seaweed.”
I can’t say as I have tried their Kanchanjangha Verde but I can tell you what I thought of this tea based on my personal experience.
I thought it was pretty bold for a green…more on the grassy and seaweedy side of things for sure.
As you may know – brewing green tea is considered rather complicated since steeping green tea for too long or in too hot water will result in a bitter and astringent brew regardless of the quality of the leaves.
I found this to be one of the more tricky greens, too! I was able to play around with it at least 2 to 3 times. My personal preference was to steep for about 1.5 minutes. I found anything longer than that the tea turned a bit bitter to quite bitter depending on how long you over infused it for.
1.5 minutes was my HAPPY ZONE. It was just the right amount of green and the right about of savory I look for in a greener-seaweedy type green tea. Some might call it a soupy type tea or even a greener miso flavor.
Regardless…once I found my HAPPY PLACE with this tea…I was a fan!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Nepal Tea LLC
Description
A step up from our Kanchanjangha Verde, Ganesha Green is a finer pluck, medium bodied with prominent marine flavors, such as kelp and seaweed.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Moroccan Mint from Swallowtail Teas. . . .
Today I was in the mood for more of a classic tea. And then I remembered. Moroccan Mint from Swallowtail Teas was one of the teas I was hoping to review this week.
Being a huge fan of green teas and mint blends, Moroccan Mint was one of the teas that I became obsessed with when I first started drinking teas. To the point that I completely burnt myself out of drinking the classic blend. But time has passed and I will admit- it is past time for me to go back to the classics.
I brewed up this delight with the recommended parameters and sat myself down to do some work. After I while, I realized that I was no longer working but both hands were hugging my mug and I had totally started to reflect on the weekend coming up. I started thinking about what fun activities I could do with my kiddos and hubby. I wasn’t thinking about the stressful requests coming into my inbox but wondering where we could go out to eat and when we could visit my parents.
That is the sign you have a fabulous tea on your hands. A tea that transports you, your mind, your soul, just your everything into a state of calm and happy without you even realizing it. The tea itself is everything you could ask for. Crisp, fresh, minty, slightly smoky, with a subtle vegetal hint here and there. The mint and the crisp factor of the tea are really the stars and keep me coming back for more. A classic done in a classic way. No frills, just delicious spot on flavor. Oh how I love my gunpowder green teas!
Beside the teas amazing flavor, the tea is presented in a really unique way. I’m used to teas being sent in pouches and tins, but never in an old fashion type tin. The lid reminds me of an lid from days past where you have to pry it off with a butter knife. The label is old school and just adds to the classic overall feel of the tea.
For being my first venture with Swallowtail Teas, I’m already hooked. The prices are right and so far this first tea is exactly what a tea should be. Can’t wait to explore more of their offerings.
And just for our readers, enter Soroiteasisters at check out for 20% off your order. Trust me. You are going to want to pick up some of these teas!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Swallowtail Teas
Description:
Swallowtail’s take on a classic tea blend, Certified organic spearmint and Pinhead Gunpowder. Vegetal, smokey, and balanced.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!