Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Grey’s Teas
Tea Description:
This extra quality Keemun has a neat pine-needle leaf producing a subtly rich liquor with a toasty character and delicate aroma. A truly delicate tea that can be enjoyed any afternoon or evening.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I read the name of this tea on the package, I was a little confused by it: Keemun Peony. Is it a black tea, or a white tea? Before I brewed it, I brought up the Grey’s Teas Website and found that this is a Black Tea from China. The aroma of the dry leaf is rich with notes of a warm, toasty, earthy type of scent. There is also a sort of leather-y type of fragrance. The brewed tea smells very similar to what I experienced with the dry leaf.
Nice! This is such a rich and satisfying Keemun. It has wisps of smokiness in the background. Not an overpowering taste of smoke, I would describe it more as a smoke you’d taste if you were to taste a fire-roasted plum. And I mention “plum” because I taste notes of fruit in this cup as well, and it’s not so easy to pinpoint the fruit flavor I taste, but, I’d say it’s closest to plum. As I continue to sip, I notice that the fruit notes seem to morph into the fruit notes you would taste in a well-aged wine. The astringency to this tea further develops the wine-like flavors. There is a honey-like sweetness to the cup as well.
Overall, I would describe this tea as a masculine tea. It has a rugged sort of flavor, like something you’d want to drink early in the day to give you that inspiration to get moving. Toasty and smoked. Rich and earthy, with notes of leather. It does have sweetness to it too, from the aforementioned fruit and honey notes, but even these have a sort of masculine quality to them, tasting sweet but with savory undertones to cut through some of the sweeter notes. Nothing too sweet here. Just a smooth, rich tea experience.
Secret Garden Tea Blend from Kaleisia Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black, Green & White Teas
Where to Buy: Kaleisia Tea
Tea Description:
The most popular blend of all times. This blend consist of white peony white tea, sencha green tea, darjeeling black tea, gunpowder green tea, dragonwell green tea, jasmine pearl green tea, mango, pineaple, papaya, orange peels, strawberry, red currants, sour cherry bits, and apricot bits. A very well rounded fruity tea that is sure to please anyone.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Secret Garden Tea Blend from Kaleisia Tea has a little bit of EVERYTHING in it! White tea, green tea, black tea … fruit bits … and a whole lot of flavor!
Since this blend seems to be primarily green tea, I went with a lower brew temperature (185°F) and steeped the tea for 2 1/2 minutes in my Breville One- Touch. And the results are tasty!
Fruit flavor hits the palate first, although … it is more like a “medley” of fruit flavors rather than one specific fruit note. Kind of like a bite of ambrosia salad where you taste several fruit notes all at once and it’s difficult to pin-point exactly which fruit you’re tasting. It’s a very refreshing fruit taste though!
As far as tea flavor goes, green tea is what I taste most. That sweet, sort of leafy/grassy note that is very fresh and crisp. It’s a nice contrast with the sweet and sour fruit notes that tantalize the palate at the start of the sip. There is a sweet, creaminess to the tea notes as well, is that the white tea or the buttery notes from the Sencha? I can’t be sure, but, I like the way it comes together with the fruit notes. I don’t taste a whole lot of white tea here, nor do I notice much from the Darjeeling black tea, although I can’t say that this blend would taste the same without those tea leaves being a part of this blend.
As I continue to sip, I realize that I’m tasting mostly a “tropical” sort of taste: notes of pineapple, mango, and papaya, with a strawberry background note. I taste the sweetness of the apricot too. The sour tones of the currant and the cherry come through near the finish, but these are not very strong flavors. The fruit notes, overall, are more “melded” together as a unified flavor … like some kind of “ultra-fruit” but, if I aerate the sip by slurping, I can pick out individual fruit notes.
I like that this blend is more sweet than it is sour, because I’m not a huge fan of the sour taste as I’ve said many times. While this does seem to be a rather “busy” blend … I find it enjoyable. I like it better iced than hot, so, I’ll be brewing more of this later for my iced tea pitcher and enjoy it all day long tomorrow!
White Peony Tea from thepuriTea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: thepuriTEA
Tea Description:
Also known as “Bai Mu Dan,” White Peony is an excellent everyday white tea with a full flavor that appeals to many black-tea drinkers. Each spring in Fujian, China, it is hand-plucked as sets of two leaves for each bud, and then minimally processed for a nuanced flavor and high level of antioxidants. White Peony’s pale golden brew has complexly woodsy, floral aromas with hints of cocoa, peaches and apricots. Its layered, full, woodsy, bittersweet flavor is almost reminiscent of our Golden Yunnan black tea. Its light, clean aftertaste makes it a perfect tea for pairing with honey-drizzled apricots or toasted English muffins with butter and honey.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This White Peony Tea from thepuriTea is amazing … it certainly qualifies as one of the best Bai Mu Dan teas I’ve ever had. I shouldn’t be surprised, of course, because thepuriTea seldom fails to impress me … in fact, I can’t think of a time when they have failed to impress me with their teas.
The flavor is so surprising. My first sip, I tasted creaminess: sweet, luscious, creaminess! After that first sip, my palate began to explore many of the flavors that are suggested in the description above. Yes, I taste the notes of cocoa – and they are profound! I taste sweet peaches. I taste a hint of flower in the distance, and a slight woody/oaky taste.
And while most Bai Mu Dan teas tend to be very delicate … this one is much fuller flavored. It does have that lighter quality … this is not a black tea, after all, but from the moment I take a sip, my palate is greeted with so much flavor … it doesn’t have to go searching for it.
What I’m not noticing much of here, are strong notes of vegetation or of hay … which are often found in Bai Mu Dan. That’s why I find this cup so surprising. I enjoy those vegetal and hay notes in other Bai Mu Dan – don’t get me wrong! – but, it was nice to try this cup and discover something a little different!
I’m sure you’re probably thinking, oh, sure, it’s just a Bai Mu Dan … and you’ve tried one, you’ve tried them all. Not true! And the same can be said with just about any type of tea … don’t think that just because you’ve tried one type of tea that you won’t like that tea from any company. It is important to taste around … and discover new teas! Otherwise, you may just be missing out on a new favorite!
Malawi White Peony from Butiki Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Butiki Teas
Tea Description:
Malawi White Peony originates from Thyolo, a southern town in the southeast African country of Malawi. This rare and truly unique white tea has gorgeous dried leaves that range in color from chocolate to mahogany to rainforest and has a delicate floral aroma. This smooth-bodied white tea starts with light vegetal notes and has mild sweet lime and rose notes that linger.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I know I’ve said this before, but it is something I don’t mind repeating: Butiki Teas is one of my favorite tea companies. This tea is an example of why … it is extraordinary! That is to say … this is not your ordinary White Peony tea!
It still has some of the qualities that I’d expect from a White Peony – it has a delicate nature, with hints of flower and vegetation. But the flavor is more intense than a typical White Peony, and there are lovely notes of citrus – bright, beautiful citrus! – which is something I don’t generally experience with a White Peony tea.
The overall cup is JUICY … it tastes sweet and mildly vegetative. After reading the description, I found myself searching for the rose note that is mentioned but I couldn’t find it … until I reached mid-cup! At that point, right as the sip comes to a finish, there it is: ROSE! It’s a very distinct rose note, too! Stunning!
I found this tea to be full of surprises: wonderful, delicious surprises! If you are a fan of white teas, this is one that you need to put on your MUST TRY list. And even if you aren’t a fan of white tea, I think you should try it … it is so different from other white teas!
Dong Ding Oolong from Peony Tea S
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Peony Tea S
Tea Description:
In spite of its curious sounding name in English, the Dong Ding Oolong is one of the most well-known and beloved teas from Taiwan. It’s strong rich flavor and lingering aftertaste has enchanted countless drinkers across the generations.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The more acquainted I become with Peony Tea S, the more impressed I become. This is a company that is dedicated to delivering the very best teas … and this Dong Ding is proof of it. While Dong Ding is one of the Oolong types that I have a little less experience with (I’m much more familiar with Tie Guan Yin and Ali Shan, for example), of the few Dong Ding Oolongs that I’ve tried, this is certainly right up there with the very best! It is so delicious, my mouth actually seems to water in between sips as my taste buds anticipate the flavor of it.
What I noticed first with this Dong Ding was it’s fruity character. It has a strong fruit-like presence, with tastes that are reminiscent of sun-dried fruit such as a dried plum or possibly a raisin. It has that sugary sweetness of the dried fruit … and then I notice a more caramelized kind of taste to it … like raisins that have been reconstituted and then cooked back down into a sweet, caramel-y sauce.
There is very little floral note here – oh… there’s some, certainly. I notice a certain amount of floral tones in just about every “green” Oolong I encounter, but, the floral tones seem to be washed over by the sweetness of the fruit. In the background, I notice a hint of nutty flavor that begins to develop.
Also in the background, I notice the faintest vegetative note – almost like it’s tempt the palate into a game of hide and seek (“try and find me!”) and along with it is a savory quality. Not quite sour … not quite. Not at all bitter. Very smooth, sweet and relaxing to sip, but all the while, it keeps my taste buds guessing with its complex character.
This Dong Ding is truly memorable – one of the best I’ve tried. Sweet and caramel-y; those are the flavors that stand out the most to me. Some astringency, a slight dry sensation toward the tail, leading into the aftertaste that is gently sweet.