Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Williamson Tea
Tea Description:
Our take on the classic English Breakfast. Kenyan Earth is named after the coppery red soils that symbolize Kenya and this bright, brisk cup of tea. Grown on the high altitude slopes of Kapchorua and picked in the early morning sunshine our Kenyan Earth is an awakening, full bodied liquor that stimulates the body and mind.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Before you read my review. You have to take a look at the tea tin this tea comes in. That tin is gorgeous! Makes me want to place several orders for the tins alone. Not sure what I would do with them but who cares, they are stunning 🙂
Ok, the tea geek out is over and we can move on to the tea itself. Ha!
Williamson Tea is a tea I’ve never tried before. I’ve see and heard other reviews and pictures of their tea before but I just haven’t ever ordered from them. I have a feeling that is soon to change.
This particular Snowflake Kenyan Earth tea that I tried was tea bagged form and I have to say, you could see some pretty huge tea leaves hanging out in each tea pyramid. The tea itself has a nice sweetened aroma which I found a little difference since this is supposed to be a breakfast tea. Typically those tend to be a bit more malty and astringent.
Brewed this up with water freshly boiled and allowed the tea to sit a tad too long, totally my bad, multi-tasking failed me! But after what I’m guessing was about a 7 minute steep, I took my first sip.
For being a tea that I oversteeped, you really couldn’t tell at all! This tea was delicious at all fronts. Malty and rich with a slightly earth flavor here and there. This is the kind of tea that kicks your taste buds into gear! So rich and indulging. The tea was on the point of asking for a touch of cream or milk to really drink it proper. Towards the end while it cooled and became astringent (drink this one up hot if you don’t like astringent teas), there seemed to be a need for sweetening but wow. What a lovely tea to really give me a change of pace from the flavored teas I have been drinking. I’m not sure where that sweetness was coming from when I first checked the tea out but I have to say, this cuppa was just fantastic.
This is the kind of tea you want to greet you first thing in the morning!
Da Yu Ling High Mountain Oolong Tea from Eco-Cha
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong Tea
Where to Buy: Eco-Cha
Tea Description:
Flavor – Fruity, fragrant herbal tones. Full, balanced, fresh floral/green/fruity flavor. Lingering, aromatic finish. This Da Yu Ling Oolong ranks definitively within the category of Taiwan’s finest High Mountain Oolong.
Garden: This farm is in Taiwan’s prime tea growing region. In this region, the location of the farm is indicated by the kilometer marking on the cross-central highway. This farm is around the 100k marker, which indicates some of the most pristine tea real estate on the island.
The highest elevation tea growing regions are where the epitome of this type of tea is produced.The ideal climate conditions offered by this elevation range combined with the methods of tea cultivation that have been developed are considered to be the main factors that have gained this category of tea its fame.
The place names of Li Shan and Da Yu Ling are unsurpassed for prime Taiwan High Mountain Oolong, and we feel privileged to be able to share this tea, which has become recognised as some of the best in the world.
This most exclusive High Mountain Oolong produced in Taiwan is renowned for its fragrant aroma and lingering aftertaste. Its unique character is comprised of a freshness and complexity of fragrance and a substantial flavor have captivated tea lovers around the globe.
The subtleties of aroma are derived from newly grown leaves of the Green Heart Oolong (清心烏龍) cultivar grown at an elevation that provides optimal climate conditions for this plant. The slower growth at high elevation provides substance to the tender new growth which in turn gives premium Taiwan High Mountain tea its claim to fame. It is in a class of its own due its smooth, clean – yet complex flavor followed by a heady lingering aftertaste.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’m not surprised that Eco-Cha’s Da Ya Ling High Mountain Oolong is currently sold out – but that doesn’t mean that I’m NOT going to blog about it!
The aroma is wonderfully refreshing. The color is a pale yellow-brown once infused. Everything about this tea screams “hydration”. It’s juicy but NOT in a fruity way – in a hydrating way – as if you were in a desert and craving pure liquid in its true form. This tea seems to fit that bill. It’s smooth, clean, pure. It has a subtle lingering aftertaste that makes you want more! Evenotho it’s not really juicy in a fruity way – that doesn’t mean that this doesn’t have it’s fruitier notes and hints – it does! I can’t quite put my finger on WHAT TYPE of fruit tho. Maybe it’s something citrus – but not overly-so. It’s also a ‘greener’ oolong, too, which I am really enjoying! This is great for multiple infusions, as well. This tea is completely delicious – and – not to rub it in…it’s SOLD OUT…but perhaps Eco-Cha will be getting a similar crop and do one for the next season. Us tea lovers can only pray!
Kama Sutra Revitalising Tea from The East India Company
Tea Type: Black Tea
Where To Buy: The East India Company
Product Description:
Kama Sutra tea is combination of fine black tea, sensuous blossoms and tantalising spices. Its deep aroma and strong full body brings romance in every sip.
Tasters Review:
Everyone knows TEA has a history! With each tea company comes a story, too, but when it comes to East India Company it truly is THE Story and THE History of Tea!
It all began in 1600 for East India Company and they are wonderful at explaining EVERYTHING on their website! If you do one thing today – make sure you visit their website and spend some time there – you won’t regret it!
As for this specific tea from The East India Company called Kama Sutra Revitalising Tea – I must say I LOVE everything about it!
The aroma is AMAZING! I can smell the rich black tea but the comforting spices and juicy fruit flavors offer a sweet yet semi-tart component to the the overall smell that fills not only your nose but the room! It’s brilliant beauty in a cup!
The color – once infused – is dark brown with orange and red hues. A nice, vibrant color, indeed!
As for the taste…it’s VERY flavorful, bold and rich, hearty and memorable! The fruits all blend together nicely for a unique taste of it’s own. They are semi-sweet yet semi-tart but meet in the middle quite nicely. The spices aren’t like the chai spices you may be thinking of. Instead they are more on the assist but NOT hiding in the background – that is for sure! They also contribute to the overall uniqueness of this flavored tea! With out any one ingredient the aroma and taste would not be the same. It’s slightly reminiscent of Seasonal or Holiday Fruit and Spices but I would be confident that anyone could enjoy this year-round! I could see myself enjoying a cup or two after morning Yoga filled with Sun Salutations.
I agree with the name as it seems to bring me joy and peace but also seems to wake me up and get my going!
This is what I would call an amazingly crafted tea!
As for you history buffs below I am including some info I found on their website but please do visit their site and read much more about their company and offerings!
A little more about The East India Company Heritage and History:
Since its creation in 1600 by The Royal Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I, the influence of The East India Company has been well documented. Without The Company our world would not be as it is today.
It changed the world’s tastes, its thinking, and its people. It created new communities, trading places, cities and shaped countries and commercial routes.
Singapore and Hong Kong were established by The Company and India was shaped and influenced by it. At one point The Company had the largest merchant navy in the world and conducted and controlled 50% of world trade.
With statistics like that it’s easy to forget that at its heart, were real people.
Our heritage is in the spirit of those pioneers. The East India Company’s employees did not set out to change the world. They were people who set sail to establish trade routes, to discover and bring back new goods, and in doing so broke down the barriers of the world.
They were explorers, traders, innovators. They took risks, they broke new ground and they sometimes got it wrong.
They were pioneering; creating many of the means and rules of commerce we use today.
They were individuals, living by the rules of their times – determined, entrepreneurial and human – who were driven by their passion and enthusiasm; the same qualities that drive our team today.
Mao Feng Green Tea from TeaVert
Tea Type: Green Tea
Where To Buy: TeaVert
Product Description:
A lot of famous teas come from the region in China called The Golden Triangle, which was the source of many Imperial Tribute Teas or in modern days called “famous teas”.
Tribute Teas were chosen by the Emperor of the last four dynasties for remarkable taste and qualities. The teas were exclusively available only for royal tastes and sometimes even were used as tax payment. If any of the Tribute teas that did not satisfy the royal taste, they would be given to court officials, who could drink the tea or sell it illegally for profit.
In Chinese, “Mao” means fluffy, and “Feng” means mountain peaks. Our organic Mao Feng grows in the mountains of central Zhejiang province and is harvested only in early spring from leaves picked at the right moment and carefully processed. The highest grades use only one bud and the first leaf. Each day the leaves will be different, and they produce a slightly different batch of tea.
The leaf has a pleasantly sweet, mildly fragrant aroma, with a hint of apricot.
The brew in the cup usually infuses to a very pale yellow with a hint of green.
The taste is mellow and sweet with a nice hint of subtle grassiness.
Mao Feng Tea drinkers say that the first brewing is fragrant, the second brewing is sweet, and the third brewing is strong. The tea tastes clean and refreshing, and lasts a long time on the tongue.
Like a great wine, it also has to be a good year.
PreparationHeat water to 185-195 F, steep 3 minutes
Tasters Review:
First I want to say HAPPY ST PATRICK’S DAY from the SororiTEA Sisters! You know SororiTEA Sisters find ANY reason to drink…TEA, that is…so St. Patrick’s Day is yet ANOTHER reason to “drink up”!
My posts today will feature GREEN Teas. My first post for today is Mao Feng Green Tea from TeaVert!
I really enjoyed this tea! It’s a mellow-sweet, slightly buttery yet vegetable-esque and subtle grassiness type taste all wrapped-up into one with a grassy/dried apricot aftertaste.
In short, it’s a darn good Green! I’m VERY impressed with TeaVert’s Selection and am looking forward to sampling and reviewing more of their teas!
Bountiful Black Tea from Tea Addiction
Tea Type: Black Tea & Rooibos Blend
Where To Buy: Tea Addiction
Product Description:
Ingredients: Black tea, rooibos, cacao nibs, coconut, apple, and vanilla flavoring. A unique blend of coconut scented black tea, smooth rooibos, cacao nibs, vanilla, and apple make Bountiful Black most pleasing to the palate.
The flavor is rich and sumptuous. Trust us when we say you’ll enjoy every delightful sip.
Tea Fact: Because Bountiful Black contains black tea, it also has caffeine. However, if you like the flavor of both black and rooibos tea you’re going to love these two blended together.
Tasters Review:
First I want to say that the name of this company is pure genius! With the 2nd most popular (only to water) beverage world-wide being tea – we all know there are TEA ADDICTS out there…and two of them are right here at SororiTEA Sisters!
Bountiful Black Tea from Tea Addiction is nice and sweet and smooth and dessert like! The Chocolate isn’t overly noticeable but this is darned tasty!
The Coconut and Vanilla as well as the apple bits seems to play more of a part here – but I think this tea is just DANDY!