Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
Classic rich Ceylon from a prestigious region in the highlands.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Yeah! This Uva BOP Ceylon Black Tea from Upton Tea Imports is just what I needed today. I was feeling just a wee bit sluggish, in need of some caffeine and mostly what I wanted was rich, delicious black tea … and this Ceylon satisfies!
But I do have one complaint: the photo above is supposed to be a close up of the leaves … but, the actual leaves that I put into my tea maker today didn’t really look like this. The cut is much smaller than what I’d expect from a BOP. And really, this is my only complaint about this tea. The leaves are much more like a fine chop CTC tea leaf, rather than a Broken Orange Pekoe.
That complaint aside, the tea that the leaves produce is very flavorful. RICH and bold … but also very even-toned as I have come to expect from Ceylon. I don’t taste bitterness, and I don’t get a lot of astringency from this cup, although as I continue to sip, the astringency builds somewhat, providing a tangy “pucker” in the finish by the time I’ve consumed about half a cup of the tea.
The sip starts with an earthy note. I notice some sweetness, sort of honey-esque. I get some lovely citrus-y notes that come forward toward the finish. Notes of malt – which is a little surprising because this is a Ceylon and I don’t usually associate Ceylon teas with a malty note like this.
I would classify this as a rich yet medium-bodied cup of tea. Very tasty.
Robert Fortune Blend 41 (Darjeeling-Yunnan) from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
Named after Robert Fortune who toured the tea producing regions in the 1840s under the auspices of the East India Company. Darjeeling adds a pleasing brightness; Yunnan lends a dark, honey colored liquor and delicately spicy overtones.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The aroma of dry leaf of this Robert Fortune Blend 41 from Upton Tea Imports – which is a blend of Darjeeling and Yunnan teas – is woody with earthy low notes. The fragrance of the brewed tea is very similar to the dry leaf – woody, earthy, with notes of sweetness (like honey!) and hints of fruit and flower in the distance. It’s a very inviting scent … very autumnal.
This tastes really quite nice. Darjeeling tends to be a lighter, brighter … sort of sparkling taste on the tongue and the Yunnan – which is a more full-bodied tea – seems to fill in the flavor and provide a very well-rounded taste. The deep flavor of the Yunnan is a very compelling complement to the light, crisp taste of the Darjeeling.
There is a distinct woodsy tone to this cup, giving it a definite “masculine” sort of taste. I taste notes of fermented grape, evoking thoughts of a well-aged wine: something that I don’t drink very often (read: never) but, if I were to indulge in such a luxury … these delightful fruit notes are something that I would expect to experience in a well-aged, fine wine.
There is a sweetness to this tea as well … a sweetness that reminds me of honey and caramel. Both honey and caramel are sweet notes that I associate with “heavy” or “thick” flavors, and here, the honey-esque, caramel-y notes are decidedly thinner than teas that I might usually note with a honey tone or a caramel note.
There are floral notes here too, but they are quite distant. Imagine a field of flowers in the distance … you can’t really see the individual flowers but just a field of color … this is what I note here. A taste that is reminiscent of a flowery sweetness but nothing that is too distinct.
What I am enjoying most with this tea is the complexity and the body of the tea. I like that this is not as robust and full as a Yunnan … but not as crisp and light as a Darjeeling … it is skillfully blended to find a happy medium between these two dynamic teas to create a flavor that really excites the palate.
Nuwara Eliya BOP Ceylon Black Tea From Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
Due to its high altitude and cooler climate, Nuwara Eliya produces an aromatic, bright-flavored tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Dry, this Nuwara Eliya BOP Ceylon Black Tea From Upton Tea Imports has an aroma that is somewhat earthy. There is a sweetness to the scent as well, and a note that is reminiscent of leather. It’s actually quite appealing to the nose. Once brewed, the tea keeps that slightly earthy scent, but smells more sweet than earthy now. I still smell those intriguing notes of leather.
It’s a very flavorful cuppa! It is sweet with notes of fruit that are evoking thoughts of plums and apples and grapes, although I can’t tell you that is exactly what I’m tasting … those are the thoughts that dance in my head as I sip. As the sip approaches the finish, I notice a more distinct citrus note.
It’s not as earthy tasting as the aroma might suggest, although I do taste faint notes of earth. Mostly, I taste sweet fruit. It has a moderate level of dry astringency and the aftertaste is citrus-y.
Overall, a very tasty Ceylon tea. I get a lot of what I expect from a Ceylon: a pleasing, medium-bodied tea, even tempered, not too aggressive … mellow and enjoyable. Something you’d want to drink in the afternoon for a pick-me-up … it would also make a refreshing iced tea.
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.
Season’s Pick Vietnam CTC Black Tea from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
A medium-bodied CTC selection which can accommodate milk if desired. This tea produces a flavorful cup with a deep amber liquor. Enjoy hot or iced.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Season’s Pick Vietnam CTC Black Tea from Upton Tea Imports is a very flavorful tea – there’s a lot going on in each sip! My first sip of this tea, I was really surprised at just how flavorful it was, but, for all it’s flavor it doesn’t really have a heavy body or texture to it, it’s actually quite smooth to sip.
There are notes of sweetness to this: a fruity sweetness that is reminiscent of a berry medley, with notes of citrus in the background. It’s not overly tangy, though, it’s more like the sweetness of these fruits without the tart or tangy notes. There is a low earthy note and I also notice a sort of “smoldering” wood note, vaguely smoky, certainly not overtly smoky … more like wisps of smoke that peek out from underneath this wood-like undertone that sit just beneath the earthy notes.
I like the robust quality of this tea – that it is a good, “rugged” type of tea without the heaviness of a typical robust or bold tasting tea. It’s like a gentle shake to alertness, rather than a strong, vigorous kick in the butt. Very little astringency (I’m talking, next to NO astringency here!) and no bitterness.
A really pleasant cup of tea. Not my favorite tea that I’ve tried from Upton, but, it’s a pretty decent black tea.