Tea Reviews | It's All About The Leaf

Dawn, by Simple Leaf Co, is one of my favorite orthodox black teas for its distinct chocolate taste making it a perfect treat in the afternoon. Dawn has no added flavorings (no cocoa nibs or chocolate chips) and is sourced from a single plantation estate that expertly coaxes the tea’s inherent chocolate flavors via the farm’s cultivation methods, processing, and geographic location. So, I say “Bravo!” to the farmers of Dawn for growing such a fantastic tea. On the Simple Leaf website is an interview of the plantation owner and lots of photos of the farm, farmers, and its tea making.

Simple Leaf identifies each tea by strength: bold, mild, and delicate. Dawn is designated as a mild black tea as this is not a brisk morning tea to be smothered in milk. On the other hand, don’t be misled, the flavors of this tea are powerful. Opening the package, my nose is greeted by a powerful cocoa aroma. Each leaf is well-formed, long and beautifully hand-rolled. Immediately, I am impressed by the quality. As directed by the package, I steep this tea for 5 minutes and it brews to a tan liquor with a definitive chocolate fragrance. Upon tasting this tea, no astringency or bitterness is noted, but instead, I note smooth flavors of chocolate with subtle caramel undertones. In fact, this tea tastes very similar to one of my favorite chocolate blended teas. How is it possible that Dawn, a humble tea leaf, can mimic the flavors of chocolate?

The Simple Leaf Tea Co. sources its limited (with only 14 teas, including Dawn) but high-quality line directly from Indian and Nepalese tea farmers. When cultivating single estate teas, growing conditions, such as altitude, soil, and temperature, directly impact flavor. To experience this, I would recommend sampling a specific tea type (such as Indian darjeeling) from two different estates and noting the taste differences. To facilitate tastings, Simple Leaf sells 1 oz. packages in re-sealable ziploc bags at an affordable price of around $5.

You can purchase the Dawn directly from the The Simple Leaf website.

Written by Lori Its All About the Leaf Reviewer - Read more about this author on Lori's profile page - View recent posts by Lori