It doesn’t happen very often these days, but I would say about once every couple o’ months, something catches my eye in an “ooo shiny!” fashion. Okay, okay, I do that a lot…but not AS often with tea. I have a list saved as a Gmail draft that I call my “Tea WANT!” list. On it are several orthodox (and some plain out-there) teas that I hope to try someday. At present, I’ve notched off half of it. Some of the more difficult things were more easily obtained than I thought.

What’s this got to do with Shang Tea? Well, I ran across their operation via a tea social network called Steepster. (Think Facebook for cuppers.) Someone was waxing poetic about this black tea blend they recently tried. What caught my “shiny!” gland was the mention of tangerine blossoms. In case it isn’t readily apparent, I’m a tangerine fiend – been addicted to ‘em ever since I was a wee tot. I never knew those damn fruit trees had blossoms to them. Had I known, I would’ve built a fort out of ‘em.

Shang Tea is an operation out of Kansas City, MO. Other than being another brick-n-mortar tea shop in a mall, they have another thing to their credit. They own their own high-altitude tea garden in Fujian province, China. Their specialty happens to be Silver Needle white tea, but they also play around with the same cultivar to make red (or black) tea. This fermented option was blended with tangerine blossoms.

I bought a sampler pack that included this, along with several other white teas and blends. Needless to say, I first tore open the Tangerine Blossom black. Almost like an addict, even. It smelled beyond superb. Along with the slightly smoky/earthy black tea base was a scent similar to jasmine flowers and citrus rind – sweet yet floral. The tea leaves themselves were thin and twisty; the blossoms looked like – well – blossoms. Very…uh…blossomy.

The brewing instructions they recommended were a tad confusing, especially the measurements for the tea leaves. I skipped theirs and went with my own prep – 1 heaping teaspoon of leaves in 8oz of 205F water for three minutes. A bit light, sure, but it seemed the wisest approach.

The liquor brewed to a color that I would call “oolong amber”. The liquid aroma echoed the semi-fermented tea comparison with a fruity/lightly-astringent nose. As for taste, this completely floored me. It began with a regular Dian Hong-ish forefront that was immediately followed up with a strong citrus lean in the middle. That tapered off into a honey-floral aftertaste that simply lingered. I could find no fault with this blend. At all. It was perfect. I’m only upset that I’m all out of it now.

You can purchase the Tangerine Blossom Red Tea directly from the Shang Tea website.

I’m easily confused.  Especially when two conflicting rules butt up against each other.  So blends of black and green tea *definitely* confuse me.  Do I brew at high temps or low?  Risk scalding the green to get the black to brew up fully?  Or should you brew at the low temperature and risk a weak cuppa?

This meant playing with the parameters and seeing what worked best.  The lower temperature brew resulted in a more fruity/floral brew while the higher temperature brought out the tea more.  Both were flavorful cups that had some lovely fruity overtones.   My favorite was the lower temperature brew.  It had more floral and fruit notes and was definitely NOT a weak cup.  Either way, it was a lovely, light brown cup that was enjoyable to drink.

Nice, flavorful, and fruity. Yum.

You can purchase the 1001 Nights directly from the TeaFrog website.

I like this one a lot better than I thought I would. Even tho it has 4 floral type ingredients it’s not overly flower-like.  It’s not that bitter/floral type taste that I sometimes get and am worried about.  The Black tea and the green tea along with the flavors all make sense and make it very enjoyable!  I think I would have this more than once in a blue moon.  The aroma of the dry blend was pleasant and floral but also fruity.  I didn’t really taste the fruity tones, but that may be why it wasn’t overly floral tasting.  Perhaps those fruity tones helps cancel the potential floral bitterness.  I’m not sure how TeaFrog made this happen but I am sure glad they did.  This one made it to my 85 percentile of good-solid teas!

You can purchase the 1001 Nights directly from the TeaFrog website.

It has been blistering, sweltering hot this July down south in Louisiana. So, I have been guzzling lots of iced tea this summer, especially white teas, instead of my beloved pu’erhs, and chais, which sit ignored at the back of my cupboard as they seem too heavy in this oppressive heat. White tea has a light, buttery, silky flavor without the grassy aftertaste of a green tea and when flavored, it makes a wonderful iced tea. And as an added benefit, white teas are healthier as they contain more anti-oxidants than any other type of tea.

This blend is quite pretty and even frilly as whole, dried rose buds are scattered throughout the blend; whereas usually, only flecks of rose petals are used. Oddly, even though the rose buds are sprinkled throughout, the rose flavor was not noticeable, so I would assume the rose is for decoration only. The dried white tea leaves have the expected white silver fuzz.

Upon brewing, this iced tea is one of my favorites. It has a light and creamy flavor from the white tea, which is remains noticeable in the blend. The combination of coconut and vanilla should be as classic as coconut and pineapple. The vanilla tempers the sharpness of the coconut but both flavors are equally present but not overly sweet. And for those who are hesitant to try coconut flavors, this one does not taste like suntan oil, so try to sample this.

Please give this tea a try and you will not be disappointed.

You can purchase the Jasmine Green Tea directly from the TeaFrog website.

Upon tasting Rishi’s organic fair trade jasmine green tea, I was not surprised that it was a 2009 World Tea Championship winner. It is a delightfully light, clean, and fragrant brew; the flavor of jasmine is noticeable but does not over-power the green tea flavor. And unlike other jasmine teas, the Rishi’s version is not an overly floral, perfume-y, or potpourri scented brew reminding me of an old-fashioned living room decorated with chintz fabrics, too-many knick knacks, and floral wallpaper. As, it is excellent served either hot or iced, this tea can be served year-round and any time of day.

You can purchase the Jasmine Green Tea directly from the Rishi Tea website.

Company Product Description: Artisans train for years to create blossoming tea flowers, and the Dancing Angels Flowering Tea represents the peak of that training. Each flowering tea is painstakingly hand sewn to ensure the each bud will open up and create a visual delight.

This flowering tea hails from the Anhui Province of China, where only the best leaves are chosen to wrap around a chain of Jasmine flowers, hanging like an arch over an Amaranth flower in the middle.

A succulent peach undertone characterizes this flowering tea, and it is as much of a joy to sip as it is to watch it unfold in the teapot. Each flower can be infused several times, and when you are finished brewing, you can replace the water in the pot or transfer the blossoming tea to a clear cup, add cold water and a touch of vinegar, and enjoy the blossom for days!

This Dancing Angels Flowering tea makes a great gift for friends, or can be enjoyed at a tea party where it will inevitably become the center of attention and conversation between you and your friends.!

REVIEW:

I was in a “Kids Choir” at our church when I was little and I always remember one of my first shows…we had to dress up like Angels and sing, dance, and act our way thru a Christmas Cantata.  I think I was 5 at the time.  I remember there being at least 2 Acts.  For some reason I had a sort-of Tea-Association with this Tea Experience.  When I tried this flowering tea for the first time I put it to the test for a total of 4 infusions…or should I say “Acts”?  Here are my findings…

ACT 1 – Infusion 1:
One this flower blooms it is HUGE!  It opened PERFECTLY and completely. The Red Floral Center’s color is so vibrant it looks like a strawberry from across the room. The liquid’s scent is sweet and wine-like. The color is pale but a pretty yellowish-white. My first sip was still very hot but I could instantly find the peachy tones – or should I say – they found me?

It’s sweet and peachy and floral-Jasmine towards the end of the sip. One of the better flowering teas I have EVER had! This is VERY flavorful especially for a flowering tea.

ACT 2 – Infusion 2:
The 2nd infusion was more flavorful than the first only infused about a minute longer. It was darker than the first infusion and, again, VERY tasty.  YUM.

ACT 3 – Infusion 3:
I could taste the Jasmine more than before.  TeaFrog says it’s good for 2 to 3 infusions but I am going to push the envelop!

ACT 4 – Infusion 4:
The 4th Infusion was lighter in color than the last 2 and sweeter but not much Jasmine than before but that’s okay with me.  One could probably try a 5th infusion if you were looking for a weaker or mellow tea. Regardless I am very pleased with this and would recommend it to anyone!

You can purchase the Dancing Angels directly from the TeaFrog website.

Ahhh, Moroccan Mint tea! You are either an otherworldly refreshing, soothing treat, or a musty, nasty muddle. The bad ones tend to be old stale pre pack tea sold in ethnic stores, over brewed, with boiling water. This results in a nasty, bitter, musty, medicinal cup. The best are fresh and light, invigorating and restoring. These teas are a blend of dried mint and green tea – usually peppermint or spearmint mixed with Imperial gunpowder or other chinese green. Usually served with sugar or honey, these teas are great hot or cold.

This tea, from those great folks at Rishi Tea, is a mix of peppermint, green tea, and jasmine flowers. The un-steeped tea has a strong peppermint aroma, with some sweetness contributed by the jasmine. Good green leaf tea and nice sized mint pieces with a good amount of jasmine flowers.

Brewing: 1.5tsp (3g) tea per 8oz water in my small glass teapot, 195F water for 4 minutes. Excellent mint nose, with a flowery note, golden in cup. Strong mint taste, with just a bit of dryness, and a sweet aftertaste. Light on the tongue, and not overpowering.

My next cup I added about a teaspoon of sugar, and this really brightened the flavors and aroma, and made the mouth feel a little more substantial. The peppermint flavor is just moderated a touch by the jasmine. This tea steeped twice, the second was a pleasant – I think do to the strong nature of the mint. 3 steep was bitter, I think the green got washed out.

This is what I expect from Rishi, and excellent example of a tea. Very good in the evenings, when you want to moderate the caffeine. Or on a hot afternoon – either hot or iced. (I think this cold also be an excellent tea for cold brewing.) If you are looking for something different, this is well worth the try.

You can purchase Rishi Teas Moroccan Mint, Organic Fair Trade Green Tea directly from their website.

On a recent trip to Banff, we passed this quaint little tea store. There was no resisting, you just never know what you are going to find, and I wasn’t disappointed. They offered a whole wall of teas from Maple to Almond and even an ice wine tea. I was as usual, drawn to the black tea’s and came across a flavor called – French Blend. It has such a comforting, warm aroma. The dry tealeaves have a beautiful rich earth color with hints of lilac, jasmine and cornflowers.

I brewed a tbsp for 3 minutes at 180 degrees and it made a perfect cup. I always add a little milk to my black teas and this one was no different. Be careful you don’t brew too long; it can get quite bitter, as a lot of black teas do.

After trying it and enjoying, I figured I would have to make the 100g bag last as long as possible (either that or convince my mother to give me back the bag I bought for her) but was very pleased to find that the Banff Tea Company has a web site where I can order it again. Nothing worse then finding something you love, and realizing there’s no way to get it again, once you are home from your trip. I would give this flavor a solid 9/10 and will be ordering again soon!

You can purchase Banff Tea Company French Blend directly from their website.

I love the look of this tea with it’s definite bits of floral, lilac and orange peel. The pale greens and yellows accented by hints of mauve and black. This is a tea I consider a standard in my tea cupboard and one I reach for often when a standard black just isn’t what I am looking for. Steeped for 3 minutes at 180, this has a mild, subtle fragrance, with definite citrus tone, orange and lemons. It’s a loose tea, so a tablespoon in your infuser is perfect. I often use the same leaves to brew 3 – 4 times with the same citrus undertones; they simply get lighter with each additional brewing.

The flavor is soft, comforting, with the whisper of citrus aftertaste and none of the chalkiness you can sometimes encounter. There are many reasons I drink tea, and since I’m Canadian, often it’s for warmth. This is a perfect warming up choice, which I think deserves a strong 8 / 10.

You can purchase Rishi Tea Citron Oolong directly from their website.