Arbor Teas Company Loose Leaf Oolong Tea 'Organic Ti Kuan Yin'

Tea Information:
Tea: Organic Ti Kuan Yin
Type: Oolong Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Arbor Teas
Purchase: Here

Description: Ti Kuan Yin is the most famous of all organic oolong teas. This Fair Trade Certified organic Chinese tea is grown in the southern reaches of China's Fujian Province. The tightly-rolled dark green organic loose leaf tea leaves yield a pale golden, smooth-bodied infusion with a complex aroma having accents of sweet flowers, rich greens and forest floor. The taste of the thick, nectar-like liquor is lightly vegetal, with slight floral qualities and a rich butteriness. The characteristic "oolong glow" is quite prominent. As with our other Chinese oolongs, our Ti Kuan Yin may be infused multiple times, with each infusion revealing a new nuance of this tea's complex flavor.
Ingredients: organic Chinese oolong tea

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml at 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: lightly vegetal, sweet
Flavor: vegetal
Body: Light
Aftertaste: sweet
Liquor: translucent green-yellow
smooth but not silky. Good, but not exceptional.

Resteep:
500ml at 195°F for 3 minutes

still smooth and delicious

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 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.

Premium Steap Loose Leaf White Tea 'Organic Mango/Pear'

Tea Information:
Tea: Organic Mango/Pear
Type: White Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Premium Steap
Purchase: Here
Description: Our newest addition to our flavored whites. Fantastic tea with robust aroma of mango & pear. Delightful combination that is well balanced. Great hot or wonderful iced!

Steep Information:
Amount: 2-3 tsp
Water: 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Mango, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: Vegetal, hint of pear
Flavor: vegetal, a little bitter
Body: Light
Aftertaste: sweet
Liquor: translucent brown-green

I made this while visiting my mom, she has a lovely tea collection and an area just for tea!

I think it needs less time or lower temp...not bad, not great

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

Teavivre Loose Leaf Oolong Tea 'Tie Guan Yin' 'Iron Goddess'

Tea Information:
Tea: Organic Tie Guan Yin “Iron Goddess”
Type: Oolong Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Teavivre
Purchase: Here
Description: The absolute highest quality Organic Oolong tea (Wu Long tea)

Grown and produced near Zhangzhou in Fujian province
Hand made into small, rolled up, jade colored leaves
Pale yellow-green colored tea when brewed
Delightfully fresh floral taste and aroma

Tie Guan Yin tea is a type of Oolong tea, and is – deservedly – one of the most revered and sought after type tea in China. Sometimes also written as Ti Kuan Yin or Iron Goddess Oolong Tea. With a delightfully fresh floral taste, TeaVivre's organic Tie Guan Yin tea is a completely organic product, grown high in the mountains of Fujian. Apart from its amazing taste, this tea also has great health benefits, being high in amino acids, vitamins and antioxidants.

Steep Information:
Amount: 5g
Water: 750ml 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: fresh, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: vegtal, light, floral
Flavor: smooth (but not silky) vegetal, sweet
Body: Light
Aftertaste: nutty?
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

Resteep: 195°F 2 min
same quality, slightly darker, odd stronger on steep two, i guess the leaves being open made a difference

Resteep: 195°F 2 min
same quality as the second

Resteep: 195°F 2 min
same quality, touch weaker
refrigerated - BLEH not good cold

At this point I gave up
The leaves could have probably done another cup

Not the best I've had but a good iron goddess, slight nuttiness, smooth vegetal, just keep it hot.

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 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 White Tea 'Bai Hao Silver Needle'

Tea Information:
Tea: Bai Hao Silver Needle Organic
Type: White Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Teas Etc
Purchase: Here
Description: This exceptional 100% organic spring silver needle tea is fresh from the garden in Fujian Provence.

Regarded by many as the highest quality white tea this year's harvest is sure to please.
Ingredients: organic silver needle (yin zhen) white tea

Steep Information:
Amount: 5.8g
Water: 750ml 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes 30 seconds
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal
Flavor: vegetal
Body: Light
Aftertaste: floral
Liquor: translucent green-brown

Too light to taste at 3:30, so I tossed the leaves back in for another 1:00.

Too vegetal without anything else for me, but a smooth cup of tea. Have it with some cookies or snacks.

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 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 White Tea 'Bai Mu Dan'

Tea Information:
Tea: Bai Mu Dan Organic
Type: White Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Teas Etc Company
Purchase: Here
Description: Bai Mu Dan, USDA Certified Organic, white tea is truly a treat for the palate with subtle notes of sweet cream butter and light, pleasing vegetal notes.

Grown on the misty mountains of Fujian province in China, the downy silver buds and fresh young leaves are soft and intoxicatingly fragrant. The resulting liquor is a beautiful golden yellow with a more robust texture than your average white tea. The taste is deliciously rich, sweet cream butter with light, pleasing vegetal notes. Slightly astringent, it leaves behind just enough of the smooth sweetness to make you anxious for more. Over ice, this bold white tea plays coy, leaving behind the vegetal notes for an exquisitely refreshing taste experience.
Ingredients: Organic white tea (Bai Mu Dan)
Origin: Fujian, China

Steep Information:
Amount: 2.9g / ~3 tsp
Water: 500ml 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: floral, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, floral
Flavor: vegetal, floral
Body: Light
Aftertaste: vegetal
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

I think perhaps it needed 4 minutes.

Resteep: 500ml 185°F 4 minutes

Nope 4 was a bit bitter, maybe 3:30

A nice light cup of tea, but more perfume-y than I like.

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 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.

The Meaning of Tea Loose Leaf Herbal Tisane 'Vermont Certified Organic Rejuvenation'

Tea Information:
Tea: Vermont Certified Organic Rejuvenation
Type: Herbal Tisane (Tea is technically only from the camellia sinensis plant)
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: The Meaning of Tea
Purchase: Here
Description: Origin: Handcrafted herbs harvested on a Northern Vermont Certified Organic farm are carefully packaged to preserve the ingredients at their peak freshness and flavor.

Tea Story: An extraordinary artisanal herbal blend harvested on a Northern Vermont Certified Organic farm will rejuvenate mind, body & spirit with every sip.
Ingredients: A Vermont certified organic blend of nettles, peppermint, raspberry leaf, milky oats, lemon balm, and calendula blossoms.

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 2 cups
Tool: my grandmother's Bee House Ceramic Round Teapot (like this one)
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: MINT
Steeped Tea Smell: mellow mint, a little floral, really mellow and lovely
Flavor: Sweet, minty, refreshing
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: fresh minty sweet
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

Refreshing yet mellow night time tea, the smell is a lot more minty than the taste (I don't like very strong exclusively mint teas).

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

Arbor Teas Loose Leaf Black Tea 'Earl Grey'

Tea Information:
Tea: Organic Earl Grey Black Tea
Type: Black Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Arbor Teas
Purchase: Here
Description: This organic, Fair Trade Certified version of the classic Earl Grey does not disappoint. It has a correct balance of flavoring which results in a piquant and refreshing true Earl Grey taste. Made fashionable by the Prime Minister of England Earl Grey (1830-1834), Earl Grey is traditionally a blend of Chinese and Indian teas flavored with the oil from the citrus bergamot fruit.

The legends of Earl Grey are numerous. One such tale tells how a British diplomat on a mission to China saved the life of a Chinese citizen, and as a gift of gratitude was given the recipe for this flavored tea. Upon his return to Britain, this diplomat presented the tea to the Prime Minister of the day, Earl Grey. Another story claims that it was the Prime Minister himself who was awarded the recipe.
Ingredients: organic black tea and natural bergamot flavor

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 12 oz boiling
Tool: kati loose tea system (my Review here.)
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes (http://steep.it/)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: strong bergamot
Steeped Tea Smell: strong bergamot
Flavor: black tea, smooth
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: slight astringency, bergamot
Liquor: translucent dark brown

OK, not anything amazingly unique. On the stronger side of bergamot flavoring for an earl grey, in my opinion.

Nice solid morning 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 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.