Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Samovar Tea Lounge
Tea Description:
Hand-picked, sun dried for three days, baked, then cured. Woody hints of roasted hazelnuts, and sweet corn. Lingering notes of hot cocoa. A golden infusion to soothe monkey mind. Explore the darkest of the white teas.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I really enjoy white tea in the summer evenings. White tea seems to have a natural cooling effect, and even when I drink it hot, it seems to make me feel a little more comfortable on these hot summer nights. And this Organic Bai Mudan White Tea from Samovar Tea Lounge is really lovely.
It’s very interesting to me that I’ve tried many different Bai Mu Dan teas from many different tea companies, but, even as many as I’ve tasted, I still notice different flavors. The tea may be the same “type” of white tea, but, the flavors that the tea leaves produce from one company to another are different. This particular Bai Mudan has a lovely chocolate-y finish that I don’t think I’ve tasted in other Bai Mu Dan teas.
There is a richness to this tea – even though it is a delicate white tea – a pleasing earthiness that has a slight toasty taste to it. It is as though I can taste the sun in this tea … I can taste a sun roasted flavor like warm hay that has been lightly baked in the summer sun.
The description above suggests woody notes, hazelnuts, and corn … and while I don’t taste a “sweet corn” taste exactly, I do taste a sweet, nutty flavor and I can see how someone might suggest a “sweet corn” flavor from that. It’s sweet, but not in a fruity or a floral tone … more like a sweet nutty tone with notes of vegetation.
A very enjoyable cuppa.
Samovar OP-A Ceylon Black Tea Blend from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
We created this selection specifically for use in samovars but it also works exceptionally well in traditional teapots. The tea has a dark cup, well-balanced character, and can be infused for a long period without becoming bitter. The flavor is of a classic medium-grown Ceylon with a smooth profile and hints of ripe apple.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I was a little hesitant to try this Samovar OP-A Ceylon Black Tea Blend from Upton Tea Imports … why? Because of the name … well, the word “Samovar” specifically. I’ve come to associate the word Samovar with “Russian”, and when I think of Russian tea, I think SMOKY.
But … NO smoke. Not even a hint of it! This is a sweet, brisk Ceylon. Medium-bodied with lots of sweet fruit tones that (as mentioned in the above description) remind me a bit of a sweet, crisp apple. Very low astringency here, and no sign of bitterness whatsoever. Just a smooth, even-tempered, well-rounded cup of delicious tea. It’s one of the sweeter Ceylon teas that I’ve tried.
This tea makes an outstanding iced tea as well as a delightful hot tea. Try it with a cinnamon stick when its hot – just drop the cinnamon stick right in the brewed tea and sip it while it slowly steeps its flavor into the cup. Yum! It’s also quite pleasant iced with a little bit of mint.
Bai Mudan Organic White Tea from Samovar Tea Lounge
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Samovar Tea Lounge
Tea Description:
Hand-picked, sun dried for three days, baked, then cured. Woody hints of roasted hazelnuts, and sweet corn. Lingering notes of hot cocoa. A golden infusion to soothe monkey mind. Explore the darkest of the white teas.
Tea Type: White
Origin: Fujian Province, China.
Caffeine Level: Low
Processing Details: Hand-picked, dried under the sunlight for 1-3 days and then briefly oxidized from 30 minutes to 3 hours, varying by weather, before being baked to package.
Tasting and Aroma Specs: Smooth, sweet, woody flavor with hints of roasted walnuts, sweet corn, and hot cocoa.
Food Pairing: Any dessert, including chocolate walnut brownies and Samovar’s Honeycomb Platter.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The aroma of Bai Mudan Organic White Tea from Samovar Tea Lounge is so scrumptious that I almost don’t want to drink it, but I will. You don’t have to twist my arm either! I am not a big fan of white tea as a rule, but when I find one that I do like, I am overjoyed! I like this one a lot! Samovar spares no effort in finding the best teas to offer their consumers. I only wish there were a Samovar Tea Lounge local to me. I am happy that they offer their fine teas to us online, and if you keep reading you will find a special surprise for their online customers!
I agree that this tea would pair lovely with a dessert as mentioned in Samovar’s tea pairing suggestion, because it has such a sweet, yet earthy quality to it. I can see how it would compliment dessert beautifully. The notes of sweet corn are prominent, and the cup provides a full, but cleansing mouthfeel. I love the earthy flavor in this tea, and there is such a wonderful caramelized note within it but my taste buds keep going back to the more woodsy, nutty notes. There is also almost a mineral like quality to the tea that is deeply intriguing. A bit like a Wuyi rock mineral flavor without the oolong taste.
There is a velvety, buttery sensation on the palate as I allow it to sit in my mouth, and it causes a mouth watering effect in a slightly vegetal way. The tea finishes with a dash of sweetness that lingers on the palate but as you exhale you taste fresh hay, sunlit fields, a very slight flavor or sesame. I also think this tea would pair wonderfully with Asian food.
This tea is so mysterious, so much mystique, it romances your mouth and makes you want to just take sip after sip to uncover the next note, the next tease on your tongue. The sensation in the mouth long after the sip leaves it feeling slightly numbing, but not medicinal. It is sparkly and tingly, and kind of trippy.
And now, for a limited time, you can use coupon code sororiteasisters for 25% off any online order! The coupon is active now, and is good through May 11, 2013. This is an amazing discount offered by our friends at Samovar Tea Lounge. Thank you to Samovar for offering this special discount to our readers! The coupon is active now, and is good through May 11, 2013.
The head feel of this tea is something else! It leaves you feeling heady, dreamy, and a bit outside of yourself. This is a tea to drink before and after meditation, or when you just want to release and escape from the troubles of the world. Perhaps with a great book, or movie. This is like the champagne of tea, not to steal from the description of a darjeeling, but this is a tea you could toast to or serve at a romantic occasion, or as an aphrodisiac! It does release stress and gives you a freeing feeling.
Love it!
Samovar Op-A Blend from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
We created this selection specifically for use in samovars but it also works exceptionally well in traditional teapots. The tea has a dark cup, well-balanced character, and can be infused for a long period without becoming bitter. The flavor is of a classic medium-grown Ceylon with a smooth profile and hints of ripe apple.
Origin:
Sri Lanka
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Samovar Op-A Blend from Upton Tea Imports has a nicely sweet yet malty flavor that rests gently on the palate.
My immediate reaction is that the aroma was far more inciting them the flavor, at first I thought it rather bland, but as soon as that thought had left my mind I got those intensely sweet honeyed notes and a lovely blanket of malty goodness on my tongue!
As I spent more time with the tea shaking away that first impression I realized that the apple notes begin to sparkle and there is something of a sparkly sensation on the tongue.
I am not normally a big fan of Ceylon teas but this one has some elements that remind me of Darjeeling, and I like that a lot!
There is a very slight chocolate note to the tea, but very slight, it just has this backdrop which makes the taste more robust, thick even, and quite rich.
Then a raisin flavor comes forward as well.
I am glad I did not listen to that knee jerk reaction, as I would have been a jerk indeed had I dumped this cup!
This is one of the smoothes teas with absolutely not one bit of astringency or bitterness I have ever had!
I am glad now that I have enough for another steeping session for a later time, I expect to get many more steeps out of this leaf!
Happy Thanksgiving … and Don’t Forget Tea on Black Friday!
Photo from Wikipedia, click on the pic to go there.
Happy Thanksgiving to all our readers in the United States, and to those outside of the US, I wish you a happy, warm and healthy day!
Tomorrow is the biggest shopping day of the year here in the United States … it’s also known as Black Friday! And while many will be rushing out to their favorite department stores and electronics stores to get the some of the best bargains of the year … I want to remind you that there is also some really amazing deals on TEA available online on Black Friday!
Here are just a few … please keep in mind that this list is in no way complete, and is compiled based on the information that companies have sent me. If you are a tea company offering a Black Friday deal, please feel free to comment below and tell us about your deal! Tea shoppers want to know!!!
BLACK FRIDAY DEALS
- A tea company that is new to us here on SororiTea Sisters but did give us the opportunity to try out their amazing new system where we can design and create blends ourselves is Uniq Teas! It is so easy and FUN to design your own blend! There are many different flavors of teas to choose from, and you can choose the percent of which flavor goes in to the tea. I had a blast creating my blend – Click here to see my blend. You can also click here to see TeaEqualsBliss’ Blend, and click here to see Azzrian’s Blend. Uniq Teas will be having a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale: 50% off PLUS get a free tea ball infuser with your first order.
- One of my favorite tea companies, Kally Tea is also having a special Black Friday sale – one day only! All tea orders placed on Friday will be automatically DOUBLED! That means if you order 2 ounces of Tangerine Spice, you’ll get another 2 ounces of Tangerine Spice FREE! Order 4 ounces of Almond Fondant, get another 4 ounces of Almond Fondant FREE! This is a great sale to stock up your tea cupboard … and also a chance to share some of your favorites from Kally Tea with friends!
- Another favorite company: Della Terra Teas has a super special Black Friday sale going on. 40% off all teas from midnight until 10 pm on Black Friday, with a special Door Buster sale where select teas will be 60% off from 6-8 am, then again 3-4 pm, and finally from 9-10 pm (all times are EST), and other deals will be going on all weekend long, through Cyber Monday … be sure to check their website for more!
- Mighty Leaf is having a 30% off sale for Black Friday that has been going on all week! And don’t forget that you get FREE SHIPPING with all orders that are $50. or more!
- Another SororiTea Sisters favorite – Verdant Tea – is planning a very special Black Friday! On Black Friday, they will be unveiling “two new kinds of tea never before tasted in China or the West.” Wowza! I can’t wait to find out what these teas will be! They also state that they will be offering some special deals on Black Friday too … you definitely need to check them out!
- Tea Licious is also having a Black Friday special that begins tomorrow, November 23 and continues through November 30: Save 30% on all Black Teas … and save an additional 5% on Friday and Saturday (November 23 & 24) by entering the code BF2012 in the coupon field at final checkout! In addition, you will receive FREE samples of their three newest teas with EVERY order!
- Lots of SororiTea Sister favorites offering deals this Black Friday! Here’s another: Persimmon Tree Tea is offering 20% off on all their teas all weekend long, starting today and ending November 25th.
- The Tea Merchant is offering a Happy Saturday (instead of a Black Friday) sale, Save 25% off all tea and tea ware this Saturday only, just use the code 25Special in the coupon field at final checkout to enjoy your savings!
- Peony Tea S. is offering 30% off on all teas and 20% off on all tea ware! This sale will be going on through Sunday, November 25th.
- Harney & Sons is offering Free Ground Shipping on all US orders now through November 26 (Cyber Monday!) But savings with Harney is not available ONLY to US customers… International customers can receive a $5.50 credit toward their shipping charges by using the code: Black12.
- Teajo has a great bunch of offers for Black Friday through Cyber Monday: FREE shipping on all orders over $25, 30-45% off their entire selection of teas and tea makers, a NEW 12 Tea Sampler for just $25, plus Double Rewards for Members!
- Samovar is also having a Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale. Save up to 50% on select teas and tea ware through November 26.
- Den’s Tea is having a special Thanksgiving sale that will extend through noon on Black Friday. Save up to 30% on selected tea, tea gifts, tea ware, tea accessories and books!
- Adagio Teas is offering Free Shipping on all orders through November 26.
- Maeda-en has a special holiday sale going on now through 12/16, Save 20% on selected teas.
Also of interest (I hope) is this: SororiTea Sisters will be hosting another giveaway that will start tomorrow at 6 am EST. Just visit the blog, and read the announcement to win something very exciting. This is the Season of Giveaways here on SororiTea Sisters!!!
*****
I am sure that many other tea companies out there are offering specials on Black Friday … so if you know of any, please feel free to add them in the comments, or as I said above, if you’re a tea company and want your information included here, add a comment with a link!
So, after you’ve had time with the family and enjoyed the fantastic feast, be sure to get some tea shopping done! Happy Holidays, everyone!