This tea came from the February 2017 Tea Club box from Bruu Tea. Unfortunately I got a little backlogged due to a hellish couple of months. While this tea is not for sale on the website, it may be in the near future.
Thanks to the card I have a little more information on this blend:
A careful blend of Assam and Kenyan black teas are mixed with a sprinkle of calming Safflower petals to produce a wonderful, full bodied tasting tea with a slight mellow astringency. It’s a high-class breakfast tea that should be savoured and enjoyed. Origin: Assam, India (2016 2nd flush) and Kericho, Kenya (2016) grown 6500ft above sea level.
Opening the packet I see the leaves are small and loosely chopped with bright red safflower petals scattered throughout. It bares a strong, sour wood scent.
Brewing Instructions: 1tsp – 100C – 3 minutes
Once steeped the tea is burnt red/orange in colour and bares a sour wood scent, similar to it’s raw form.
The first few sips reveal a rich body with some sourness and a dry finish. Pleasant enough without milk nor sweetener.
The dry aftertaste increases to become moderate, which is perhaps the most negative aspect of the tea. The sour wood is nice though and has some natural sweetness.
It’s a nice, strong tea but I think a splash of milk is probably for the best. It’s too dry for me but the strength is desirable so it just needs a little help to be a great tea. This would be perfect for a breakfast tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Bruu Tea (Mayfair is not currently for sale)
Description:
A high-class breakfast tea that should be savoured. A luxury blend of Assam and Kenyan black tea that is produced at over 6500ft above sea level.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Orange Creamsicle Tea Anyway? #plumdeluxe
This tea (available again in May!) is an orange creamsicle confection! It has orange peel bits floating right in the mix, boasting of their bold flavor. The black tea isn’t hiding, though, it’s a nice, slightly tart black with plum* notes. * (Appropriate to Plum Deluxe!)
This blend is recommended as frozen into a popsicle form as a treat. I wish it weren’t 40 degrees out; I’m always into trying out oddball suggestions like that. I’d totally lap at it in a friend’s hammock.
Because, alas, this tea has reminded me of a thing I’ve always wanted, but never had: a hammock to call my own. It’s a first-world problem, I know. But it’s my burden to bear.
If you have a hammock (or convenient access to one), take a moment and think about how lucky you are. Revel in your blessings.
And then revel in this tea. Which is a very nice little blend. It’s not an aggressive blend, it’s just a tart-and-sweet buddy that would keep you company. ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL HAMMOCK. You glorious, bourgeoisie monsters.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Plum Deluxe
Description
When we set out to make the perfect loose leaf iced tea blend, we knew one of our favorite flavors was orange. With a hint of “creme” vanilla flavor, it makes the most delicious iced tea, the perfect thirst quencher on a sunny day. As the name implies, grab a cool glass of this tea and relax. Reminds you of an orangesicle without all the calories!
All Plum Deluxe teas are hand-blended and infused with love in Portland, Oregon. Each 1 oz tea packet makes 15-20 cups. All organic ingredients — no sulfites, no artificial chemicals, non-GMO.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Robust Offering from BRUU Tea Club. . . . .
There are some teas from specific tea companies that have been on my own personal WISH LIST for EVER it seems. Teas from Bruu Tea Club are among those teas. Recently I was FINALLY able to sip on China Keemun from BRUU Tea Club and I have to say that it was worth the wait!
The flavor was on the stronger side of medium with notes of smoke and roasted nuts, even. It was even a bit floral at times – fading in and out – gently but elegantly, too! The aftertaste was a bit more smoky that the sip was but it lingered nicely. I’m not saying that it was a smoky tea like an Lapsang Souchong but there were nods of smoke that made it pretty unique.
The aroma, the taste, the darkness in the cup post-infusion all have the glorious trio of traits I look for in a stright-up, stand-up, and stand-alone black tea. I can’t wait to try other teas from BRUU.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: BRUU Tea Club
Description
Whilst sitting dry in its container waiting to become your BRUU;
Smokey and very much a black Camelia Sinensis. Reminiscent of a roasted monkey nut.
As the drink is BRUUing;
The aroma is almost flowery.
The taste journey;
A light black tea with a hint of smokiness in the aftertaste.
Best enjoyed;
1tsp // 100°C // 2-4 mins
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Congou Mao Jia by Bruu Tea
Hello Tea Friends!
This tea comes from the February Tea Club box and though it’s not currently available on their website it may be available soon.
The tell-tale signs of silver tips in this tea signifies selective harvesting that has been plucked every day to ensure only new shoots are gathered. rown in the mountainous region of the WuYi mountains China, the tea is allowed to ferment briefly which results in a slightly dark hue on the leaves. A smooth tasting tea, though surprisingly pungent, it would be a good first green tea to try if you traditionally drink black tea. Origin: Zheijiang Province, China. Grown 5000ft above sea level.
Opening the packet I am met with a dry, sweet grass and wood scent. The leaves are long and thin for the most part, with some silver tips present and a few sticks/stems. For a green tea the leaves are surprisingly dark.
Steeping Instructions: 1tsp – 80C – 2-3 minutes
Once steeped the tea is yellow in colour and bares a sweet and floral, grassy scent. Very green and mineral.
The first few sips reveal a medium strength and fragrant melody of sweet grass, flowers and fresh broccoli. In fact the vegetal factor is part fresh, young cabbage and broccoli. There is some dryness in the after taste too. Some bitterness but in a nice way.
As it cools the flavour thickens and develops thick mouth feel and richness.
Super fragrant and flavourful, this is a delicious green tea. Perhaps too dry for my personal taste but this would make a delicious iced tea.
Happy Steeping!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Bruu Tea (This tea is not currently for sale)
Description:
A smooth tasting green from the WuYi mountains of China, hand picked and fermented to give the leaves a darker hue.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Nature’s Candy – Coconut Chamomile from Petali Teas
Fruit is nature’s candy– a phrase I heard said by many health-nut, earth-loving parents. But it might just be true in the case of Coconut Chamomile from Petali Teas. I got a taste of this blend from my Amoda Tea subscription. With rainbow colors and fun shapes, this tea almost feels like a handful of candies. It includes green kiwi pieces, pink hibiscus, red rose hips, yellow apple pieces, almost-purple cherry slices, and bright white coconut.
The fragrance of this tea blew me away as soon as I opened the bag, giving me a strong whiff of the fruity, sugary, pop of cherries and berries. There are huge slices of dried cherries, bright curls of coconut, and the little round blossoms of chamomile. This blend smells like sour cherry straw candy, or even a bit like traditional, pink bubblegum. The fruit flavors are very forward, but the chamomile base and some creamy coconut help smooth out the tartness into something super sweet and relaxing. The only downside is that this tea is best when brewed with lots of leaves, so I only got two cups out of my sample.
Part of me wants to make sure I always have this blend on hand, like the omnipresent dish of hard candies at grandma’s house. Something simple and sweet to offer the occasional passerby that gets stuck for a while in my living room.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Amoda Teas
Description:
A beautiful herbal tea with large pieces of fruit you almost want to eat! Floral flavours of chamomile, delightful fruit, hints of coconut and a perfectly sweet finish. Sip this in the evening and let the chamomile relax you.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
