Tea Reviews | It's All About The Leaf

Posts Tagged ‘Hot Tea’

We are on Week Umpteen of a Midwest heat wave with daytime temperatures no less than sizzling. Nighttime lows are at a refreshing slow roast. Thus, I selected Pineapple Paradise as the optimum tea for this particular season–the name evokes visions of hammocks, gently swaying palms, a stack of really good books at my side, and somebody subservient to bring me copious amounts of this tea, iced.

I’m a big sun tea fan in the summer, so I deduced that, following the double-up instructions on the packet, I could put a batch in my trusty Mason jar on the front porch of our miner’s shack (temporary residence–long story) and brew up a batch of tropical goodness. The dry mix smells great–minus the rose petals, the scent is a lot like a Caribbean dried fruit mix.

Unfortunately, the fine-grade green tea in this particular blend needs a little more care than I gave it. (Whatever you use for sun tea has to be pretty forgiving.) The fruit and floral flavors were present in the first batch, but due to my neglect, the green tea was bitter and ruined the “ahhhhh” experience I was hoping for. The second try, I did it properly: just a teaspoon, not-quite-boiled the water, a steep on the shortish side, and the results were much better. My taste buds are still playing “spot the pineapple” a little–the lemon and floral elements are pretty pronounced. But if you’re aiming for tropical instead of a single fruit flavor, this’ll hit the spot.

If this is a flavor combo that intrigues you, my recommendation is to steep it as directed for hot tea, chill it in the fridge, then chill with it on a lazy day.

You can purchase the Pineapple Paradise directly from the Boston Tea Company website.

This is such a light, refreshing tea.  Very mild, very light – the brewed color is a light pale wheat color.  The brew has a light hint of a tang or tart to it as well.  Lovely.

I once read a Japanese food related comic, that mentioned drinking hot tea on a hot day.  I alway thought that was absolutely insane.  However, this tea makes me understand this.  I could drink this tea on a hot day and be refreshed and happy.

For an everyday drinking tea however, I’d like something with a little more oomph.

You can purchase the Snow Buds (Xue Ya) directly from the Canton Tea Co. website.

When you start reviewing a large number of teas, it may feel like you are reviewing many that are just mediocre and coming across a real gem may seem hard to come by. But of course it is really worth it when you do find that one tea that stands out above the rest. “Pure Zealong,” a New Zealand Oolong tea is just that special tea. And you know you’ve had a good tea when the review starts to write itself.

This tea came with a brochure that boasts its purity, and that is the perfect description for it; it is clean and pure and refreshing. Pure it certainly is. Unlike with Chinese and Taiwan Oolongs where the first infusion is usually poured away to rid of impurities and the second infusion is consumed, with the Pure Zealong the first and second infusion are just as drinkable. Moreover, it is difficult to be refreshing when you are a hot tea but the Pure Zealong has that bit of tang you get when you taste something refreshing. It is long in the mouth having a lingering aftertaste, a sign of a quality tea. Be careful with the time and temperature used in steeping as poor time and temperature can lead to a soapy taste. I recommend 90-93C for 2 to 4 minutes. It has a bit of an aftertaste that is sweet like a Baimudan. I’d say the taste is in between the taste of a Baimudan and a lightly oxidized oolong.

Before seeing this tea, I never knew New Zealand produced teas, and why not? As they say on their website, New Zealand has a pure, clean, fertile environment. That coupled with the hand pick of the finest tea leaves and plants from Taiwan, and processed with the best Chinese traditions and world leading food safety standards, you inevitably are left with the “world’s purest Oolong tea, with superb fragrance and flavour.” And I agree. This is certainly a special tea. The price at $58.00 for 100grams certainly attests to that. But it is worth it, with a delicate green infusion, soft perfumy aroma, and refreshingly sweet aftertaste. This is a superb tea. And superb teas are best to be taken on its own. I would not pair it with any food. Maybe try serving it gongfu-style to appreciate the nuances of each infusion. Imagine that, superb tea with good company and good conversation – one way this tea can be and enjoyed. Just the way I like it.

You can purchase the Zealong Pure directly from the Chicago Tea Garden website.

There’s a smell that you get from cold lemonade on a hot day. It’s the smell of sweet refreshement, a tang of sour and a scoop of sweet. It’s a smell of people outside at a country fair, sweating in unison, but happy to be there because of the gorgeous day, the riot of color and activity around them and the ice cold glass in their hand.

This tea – has that smell. The leaf for this herbal tea smells more lemony than lemons – it smells like the distilled essence of lemonade. And not just lemonade – but outdoor, perfect refreshement on a special occasion lemonade.

The flavor isn’t the same, it’s not lemonade, but it’s really good in its own right. It’s more lemon grass than lemonade, and has a warmer, mellower taste that the crisp, lemonade tang. It’s lemony, smooth and naturally sweet.

Hot, this tea is soothing and relaxing. Iced, this would be a summertime refresher. This is an amazing tea. Lemon-lovers, TRY THIS TEA.

You can purchase the Lemonade directly from the Shanti Tea website.

“A perfectly balanced blend of superb Assam teas steeps a great cup, morning, noon or evening. Enjoy with milk and a touch of sugar.” This description from Tea Forte sums up what I said when I first took a sniff of the dry pyramid and then my first sip “balanced and surprisingly mild for an EB.”

Two minute infusion time yielded a dark brown brew that tasted like it needed an additive. I reached for milk and viola…perfection in a cup. I did not add sugar, but if you like sweet in your tea then add away, this tea could handle whatever you throw in your cup!

This particular blend is made with different types of Assam leaves. This may be why I do not think it is very robust. My PG Tips are much more robust than this tea. The combination of the same type of tea results in a balanced brew, one that I am enjoying very much. Mild is the word I would use to describe this tea. The second and third infusions reveal a brownish red brew in my cup. As I sip this cup, coffee comes to mind: The richness of coffee. Memories come flooding back of “milk coffee” that is what my Grandma called the coffee/milk mix that she put in my bottle when I was a baby. I have always blamed “milk coffee” for my 5’1″ height!

I love it when teas invoke a fond memory. Holding a hot cup of tea reminds me of my Mother, thoughtful as she embraced her morning cup planning out the quilt she would work on that day. I am so glad the cooler weather is upon me, I missed holding my morning cup this summer. Thank you Tea Forte for all the nice memories this morning!

You can purchase the English Breakfast directly from the Tea Forte website.