ZEALONG Loose Leaf Black Tea 'Zealong Black'

Tea Information:
Tea: Zealong Black
Type: Black Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: ZEALONG
Purchase: I got a pre-release pack

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water: 500ml at 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: floral, light, toasty
Steeped Tea Smell: Floral, fresh vegetal, slightly roasty, sweet
Flavor: Sweet, toasty, smooth, almost silky
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet, toast
Liquor: translucent honey yellow brown

Lovely, light, sweet! In addition it have this beautiful sweet floral fragrance that I could not stop sniffing. It is not a morning wake you up cup of tea but a slightly floral sipping tea. It is delicate on the tongue, but with enough presence to make sure you know it's delicious.

Resteep:
500ml at 195°F for 3min

Just as good, slightly less smooth mouthfeel

Third steep was too weak at 4 minutes

I thoroughly enjoy this black! I don't love it as much as the oolong

Rating: 4/4 leaves

Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing







I received this product for free in return for writing a review. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

Teas Etc Loose Leaf Black Tea 'Cranberry Cobbler'

Tea Information:
Tea: Cranberry Cobbler
Type: Black Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Teas Etc
Purchase: no longer available
Description: The tart-sweet scent of juicy cranberries is enticing. A medium golden brew with a lovely red tone and with crisp berry flavor that perfectly compliments the smooth black tea base.
Layers of complex flavor that end with the slight astringency of this tart berry makes this tea addictive.
Ingredients:Black tea, dried cranberry pieces, hibiscus flower and flavor

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml at 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: hibiscus berry, fruity
Steeped Tea Smell: berry, fruity
Flavor: cranberry, smooth sweet black tea, berry end
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: hibiscus
Liquor: translucent dark brown

It is a nice not overly sweet fruity black tea, where the tea is smooth and present. Not fabulous, and being they have lots of nice teas I can see how this might have got cut.

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing






I received this product for free as a sample. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

Teavana Loose Leaf Oolong Tea ‘Phoenix Mountain Dan Cong Oolong’

Tea Information:
Tea: Phoenix Mountain Dan Cong Oolong
Type: Oolong Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Teavana
Purchase: (affiliate link)

Description: Hailing from the fantastic Phoenix Mountain range, this rarefied top ten honeyed beauty was originally for Imperial consumption only. Coming from centuries-old tea trees that have been carefully selected and bred into a single trunked variety; each tree produces a unique one of a kind fragrant leaf. With a honey floral sweetness and a light nutty flavor that is brought out from the painstakingly precious hand plucking and gentle roasting of this gold-edged famous oolong tea leaf. IMPERIAL RESERVE

Roasted and nutty infusion with honey and floral undertones

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 12 ounces, boiling
Tool: kati loose tea system 12oz
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal, toasty
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal, slight toasty
Flavor: toasty, vegetal
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: slight astringency
Liquor: translucent dark brown-green

I know I should not use boiling water, but I am at work and busy / lazy / distracted

Resteep:
2 minutes+, boiling, 12 ounces

Usually a little better (less astringency)

This tea puts up with 2+ steeps, boiling water, irregular steeping times and is still consistent and a great drink at work.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing

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I purchased this product. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

ching ching CHA Loose Leaf Oolong Tea ‘Passion Fruit’

Tea Information:
Tea: Passion Fruit
Type: Oolong Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: ching ching CHA
Purchase: 1063 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20007
Description: a mellow tropical fruit character with sweet overtones

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: strong sweet passion fruit
Steeped Tea Smell: hints of sweet passion fruit, slight toasty tea
Flavor: toasty tea, with a slight sweet passion fruit at the end of the sip
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: slightly toasty
Liquor: barely translucent dark brown

Post-Steep Additives:
agave nectar, brings out the sweet fruit a bit more

Resteep:
500ml at 195°F for 2:30minutes
tastes like a light black tea

Unremarkable, tastes fine but not novel or extremely well done

Gift from a friend.

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing







I received this product as a gift. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

TotaliTea Loose Leaf Rooibos Tisane ‘ROOIBOS PROVENCE’

Tea Information:
Tea: ROOIBOS PROVENCE
Type: Rooibos a.k.a. Red Tisane (Tea is technically only from the camellia sinensis plant)
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: TotaliTea
Purchase: Here
Description: Rooibos with a floral and fruity bouquet, featuring lavender notes, currants, raisins, rosehips and rose petals.

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Water: 500ml at 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 7 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: berry, floral
Steeped Tea Smell: peppercorn, berry, fruity, floral, woody
Flavor: spicy, woody, sweet
Body: Full
Aftertaste: berry, lavender
Liquor: opaque dark red-brown

Good flavorful rooibos, a bit woody for those who don’t like that, nothing too remarkable.

Gift/Swap from chana karma

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing






I received this product as a gift. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

52Teas Loose Leaf Honeybush Tisane ‘Breakfast Smoothie’

Tea Information:
Tea: Breakfast Smoothie Honeybush
Type: Honeybush Tisane (Tea is technically only from the camellia sinensis plant)
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: 52Teas
Purchase: Here
Description: Our latest honeybush blend is a delicious medley of sweet honeybush, freeze-dried orange sections, freeze-dried pineapple, and dried banana slices blended with natural orange, pineapple and banana flavors. It’s a caffeine-free treat you won’t want to miss, perfect for breakfast or anytime.
Ingredients: Honeybush, freeze-dried pineapple, freeze-dried oranges, dried bananas, natural flavors

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Water: 500ml 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 7 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: pineapple, orange, banana, sweet
Steeped Tea Smell: pineapple, banana, orange
Flavor: honeybush, sweet, hints of banana
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: orange, pineapple
Liquor: opaque dark brown

fairly delicious

Post-Steep Additives:
1 spoon agave nectar
brings out all the fruit flavors and puts the honeybush as a secondary, aftertaste

I am really enjoying this!

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing






I purchased this product. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

52Teas Loose Leaf Black Tea 'Oatmeal Raisin Cookie'

Tea Information:
Tea: Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Black Tea
Type: Black Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: 52Teas
Purchase: Here
Description: This week’s tea is proof positive that being a pest sometimes pays off. There’s good reason why some of our customers have started referring to me as “the Willy Wonka of tea”. I enjoy creating bold new flavors, stuff that no one has ever done before. I couldn’t possibly accomplish this without the help of several people, most notably, our natural flavors suppliers. One of whom, I don’t mind admitting, I have a terrible man-crush on.

He is a genius in his field and provides probably 90% of our flavors. But what I love best about him is that occasionally I can come to him with a crazy idea for a new flavor and he will make it for me. Sometimes (like when I asked him to create a bacon flavor), he tells me I’m crazy and I have to track down an alternative, but many times he has helped me out. I know that larger companies that actually have money to spend will spend tens of thousands of dollars for his assistance in creating a new proprietary flavor profile, but he knows I don’t have the budget for that and he helps me out anyway. Maybe he sees in me, as I see in him, a fellow mad scientist. Whatever the reason, I am grateful.

For this week’s tea, he created a natural oatmeal flavoring, which I had been dreaming about for a while, so I could introduce you to this week’s tea of the week: Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Black Tea, with rolled oats, plump raisins and natural flavors including oatmeal and touches of brown sugar, raisin, and butter (and yes, it’s all vegan, for our vegan friends).

I don’t want to toot my own horn too much here, but I think this is going to knock your socks off. It is truly stunning. Get yours while they last.
Ingredients: Black tea, raisins, rolled oats, natural flavors.

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: grape, fake grape, hints of oatmeal
Steeped Tea Smell: grape, roasty tea
Flavor: roasty black tea
Body: Full
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: translucent dark brown

Post-Steep Additives:
agave nectar
sweet, raisin, toasty black tea

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing






I purchased this product. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

52Teas Loose Leaf Black Tea 'Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal'

Tea Information:
Tea: Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal Black Tea
Type: Black Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: 52Teas
Purchase: Here
Description: I’m a picky eater. My wife and mother can attest to this. It’s not that I’m trying to be difficult really, but somehow I just wound up that way. Oatmeal is one of those things that, as a kid, made my stomach turn. It SMELLED amazing, but the texture and the appearance of it just ruined me for it. As an adult now, knowing more specifically what the gloppy stuff is, I don’t think I would have such an issue with oatmeal. I’m thinking I might just have to give it another try one of these days.

In the meantime, I’ve been working on this week’s tea of the week–a maple and brown sugar oatmeal flavored TEA! I’m actually enjoying a hot cup of the fruit of my labor right now, and it’s delicious!

My wife, bless her heart, made me some oatmeal scotchies for my birthday tomorrow, and they are an awesome companion to this tea, believe me. With rolled oats and natural flavors including oatmeal, maple and brown sugar, this is a tea that will “stick to your ribs” as my mother used to say of oatmeal. (Probably another reason I didn’t want any–why would you tell a kid that? It sounds horrible and painful.)
Ingredients: Premium black teas, rolled oats, natural flavors.

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml at 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Sweet maple, smokey tea
Steeped Tea Smell: maple, toasty black tea
Flavor: sweet black tea, hints of maple, end of sip is a bit oaty, slightly gritty mouthfeel
Body: Full
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: translucent dark brown-orange

The maple seems to mask or overpower the brown sugar, perhaps if I add some sugar? Overall a nice sweet (without additives) black wake up tea.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing






I purchased this product. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.