Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pu-erh
Where to Buy: ESGreen
Tea Description:
The raw material of this tea has been stored since 2008. Now it has been naturally fermented. The aroma is strong with the special raw tea note. But the tea soup is in amber color, mellow, smooth, a little bitter but has very sweet after-taste.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m always just a little bit leery when it comes to trying a new-to-me Pu-erh. I haven’t been disappointed by a Pu-erh lately, but my first few attempts with Pu-erh some years ago led to an automatic thought that I do not like it. I don’t know if my palate has changed or if it’s that I’ve gleaned information along the way, including better ways to brew teas like Pu-erh. Probably a combination of these two things.
This Pu-erh is a bit different from what I’m used to when it comes to raw Pu-erh… this almost tastes like ripe or Shu Pu-erh as opposed to raw or Sheng, because this is much more earthy than I am used to from a Sheng Pu-erh. It has a strong mushroom-like flavor to it, reminiscent of wild mushrooms. The flavor is mild, and there is a hint of bitterness to this which is also surprising me about this Pu-erh because very rarely do I notice a bitter taste in Pu-erh. It is almost a sour/bitter taste, somewhere in between these two flavors.
The earthiness is a little bit off-putting at first, I will admit. But once I got past that, I was able to discover this very intriguing sour/bitter taste that then morphs into a delicately sweet aftertaste. It’s very interesting and unique … as I said, it’s quite different from any Pu-erh that I’ve tried.
Because this is so unique in flavor, I would recommend this to experienced connoisseurs. It’s really quite lovely and interesting, and I think that those with some experience with Pu-erh would find much to enjoy with this Yunnan Broad Leaf. I don’t know that I would recommend this to those just starting out with Pu-erh because of the strong earthiness of this tea.
This is the first tea that I’ve tried from this company, and I would say that this is a promising start! And, after taking a look around on their website, I must say I’m intrigued, especially by this amazing tea set! OH my goodness – I WANT!
2010 Xing Hai Raw Beeng Cha from Canton Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pu-erh
Where to Buy: Canton Tea Co.
Tea Description:
Another classic puerh from Xing Hai, made from authentic leaves, grade 5 –7, harvested from the large, mature tea bushes of Meng Hai.
A good quality raw puerh, it will keep improving for 10 years or more. For best aging results, store in a well-aired location with a constant temperature. The Xing Hai Beeng Cha is a young puerh and shows the classic characteristics of mild flowery notes with a traditional bittersweet finish. It will develop more woody notes as it matures.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I know I’ve mentioned this before, but the more I am sampling different Pu-erh teas, the more I’m realizing that I really do like them. I still suffer a bit from a couple of bad experiences concerning Pu-erh, but, really, the number of good experiences I’ve had outweigh the number of bad at this point.
This is a really nice raw pu-erh, quite sweet with pleasing floral notes. I don’t think I’ve had a pu-erh where I really noticed such well-pronounced floral tones before. Usually, I taste earthiness, and yes, I taste that here too, but, I don’t think I’ve had a pu-erh where the focus is more on the notes of flower over the notes of earth.
The sweetness is very molasses-like … in fact, had I not prepared this cup myself, I would have thought that whomever did prepare it for me added a dollop of molasses to the cup.
Overall, the cup is very smooth – no bitterness, no astringency – and it has a very mellow character. A very enjoyable cup of tea, I find it to be an especially enjoyable tea to enjoy in the early evening while watching the sunset.
Orange Red Carrot Raw Green Bush Tea from The Republic of Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Republic of Tea
Product Description:
Spot of Sunshine Herb Tea Blended with orange peel, sweet carrot and beetroot bits, raw green rooibos takes on a fresh wake-up flavor. If you could taste sunshine, it just might taste like this. Low in tannins, it steeps a unique, gratifying cup – hot or iced.
Taster’s Review:
This tisane is part of The Republic of Tea’s “Raw Green Rooibos” collection, and it was one I was definitely excited to try. I love carrots, and I’m always intrigued by teas or tisanes that are carrot flavored.
And I’m very happy to say that I’m not the least bit disappointed by this blend! It’s really good. The green rooibos has a more fruity taste to it than the typically nutty-woody tasting red rooibos, and I appreciate that difference in this blend. The sparkling fruity tones to the rooibos accents the orange flavors nicely.
The beets give this a beautiful reddish color as well as a fair amount of sweetness (in fact, if you’re one who routinely sweetens their tea before tasting, I would recommend tasting this one first, because you may find that it is sweet enough on its own). The carrot flavor is sweet and earthy, while the orange flavor lends a hint of tartness and a juicy taste to this – it almost tastes like a breakfast smoothie (but without the thick, ice-y texture!) and is just as refreshing. It also has a very revitalizing quality to it. It is naturally caffeine-free so it’s a great way to get that energy boost without caffeine.
I’ve really enjoyed the three varieties of The Republic of Tea’s Raw Green Teas that I’ve tried – and I think this one might just be my new favorite. It’s awesome!
Mango Chili Raw Green Bush Tea from The Republic of Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green Rooibos
Where to Buy: The Republic of Tea
Product Description:
This exotic blend combines herbaceous Raw Green Rooibos and fragrant, luscious mango finished with a little kick of chili.
This sweet and spicy tea is low in tannins, will cool the body and wake up the senses – hot or iced.
Taster’s Review:
I really like this tisane, and I’m very happy to see that more tea companies are exploring “raw” or green rooibos. I personally prefer green rooibos to the oxidized red rooibos. The green tends to have a crisper, fruitier profile vs. the woody, somewhat nutty flavor of the red. And that crisp, bubbly flavor of the green rooibos melds deliciously with the flavors of mango and chili in this blend.
The mango flavor is beautifully represented here. It is sweet, but not too sweet – thanks to the addition of the chili. I think that a little more chili flavor would be nice here, but as it is, I do like the way the chili cuts through some of that sweet mango taste. The chili also comes through a little bit at the tail of the sip, giving mere hints of a tingly spice.
Despite the name of this tea, it is NOT a spicy tea. It is gently spiced, with just enough mild warmth to make it interesting without an overpowering sense of heat. For those who have a taste for the spicier things in life, you might find this blend a little disappointing. I happen to be one who has a flair for spicy foods and beverages… and while I would like a little more chili taste here, I still find this to be a very enjoyable cup. It is PERFECT for a late-night tisane, and also makes for a refreshingly different iced tea!
Cacao Nibs from Supple Skin Boutique
Tea Type: Herbal
Where To Buy: Supple Skin Boutique
Product Description:
Cacao Nibs organic and fair trade (1oz)
Large cut pieces are ideal for herbal tea. Steep 1 tsp in cup of hot water 2-5 minutes.
Add to your favorite tea or herb for a unique flavor. Couples well with teas, peppermint, lemongrass and spearmint. Preferred alternative to sugary children’s drinks. Add to spearmint and stevia for kids.
Cacao beans and nibs contain a number of components that have been proven beneficial in research. Many of these constituents are destroyed or lessened by processing (i.e. milk chocolate is not as healthy as dark chocolate which is not as healthy as unprocessed cacao). For this reason health practitioners recommend that anyone interested in eating cacao for its health benefits use raw, unprocessed cacao beans and nibs rather than processed chocolate.Warnings: Anyone with a sensitivity to chocolate should avoid eating cacao beans or nibs. The active polyphenols and other substances in cacao can trigger migraines and cause other allergic reactions in sensitive people.
This information is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Tasters Review:
When I got these Cacao Nibs from Supple Skin Boutique I was a little puzzled. I have never drank them straight-up or stand alone before. I have been eye balling them tho because the aroma is heavenly! They smell like pure dark(er) chocolate! Marvelous!
I decided to try them stand alone at first just to see what they did taste like by themselves!
I was amazed at how light these infused…it’s a paler-light yellow color with a bit of texture to it. I went with the 4-5 minute infusion method that it suggested. After infusing it still smelled like chocolate – not nearly as intense as prior to steeping but still noticeably-so. There was a cookie-like hint of a smell underneath, too, and I like that!
If one was going to experiment and do their own blends this would be perfect to add in the mix! It’s so pure! It’s Raw! And in simple, organic form!
As for the taste…it’s more subtle than I thought it would be based on the aroma when I first opened the bag! It was a little brothy…which was a surprise…but it did taste delicious! There was a hint of sweetness trying to hide but there is a wonderful darker-cocoa taste that also seems to have a slight woodsiness to it, too, as well as creamy!
I’m eager to try other ingredients with this such as different kinds of tea or herbs – I think it would just be fun to experiment with!
This is a high quality product that is available for a nice price! I can think of several things to do with this beauties!
