The Art of Tea Loose Leaf Black Tea Q2 #1

Tea Information:
Tea: Q2 #1
Type: Black Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Art of Tea
Ingredients: Organic Black Tea, Tulsi, Natural Flavor
Caffeine Content: Medium Bold
Steeping Time: 3-5 Minutes
Water Temperature: 206 Degrees

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml 205°F filtered water
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: black currant and berries
Steeped Tea Smell: fruity, herbs, black tea
Flavor: black tea followed by a sour herb and light fruit
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sour herb
Liquor: translucent dark red-orange-brown

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water: 3 8 oz cups filtered water
Tool: glass teapot, in fridge, overnight
Steep Time: midnight-7 am
Served: Cold

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: black currant and berries
Steeped Tea Smell: fruity, black tea
Flavor: black tea followed by light fruit, sour herb
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sour herb
Liquor: translucent dark red-orange-brown

The cold brew was smoother, but the sour herb (almost basil) after taste was too much, and so I do not like this tea.

Rating: 1/4 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





HOT


COLD

The Art of Tea Loose Leaf Herbal Tisane 'Q2 #2'

Tea Information:
Tea: Q2 #2
Type: Herbal Tisane (Tea is technically only from the camellia sinensis plant)
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: The Art of Tea
Ingredients: Tulsi, Fennel, Neem, Lemon Myrtle, Apple, Green Rooibos, Ginger

Steep Information:
Amount: 6 tsp
Water: filtered, boiling ~22oz
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer in cup
Steep Time: a little over 6 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: fennel, lemon, spices
Steeped Tea Smell: lemon, fennel, hints of ginger, smoother
Flavor: ginger tang, lemon, sweet
Body: Full
Aftertaste: strong fennel flavor that coats the toungue
Liquor: translucent dark red-brown

I did not like the aftertaste, if it wasn't so strong and bitter I think I would have liked the tea more.

June 2010 tea judging panel

The result of our tea judging panel was a close one! After some thoughtful reviews and discussions, Art of Tea is proud to announce that we will be moving forward with the most well-received blend, tea #2 (the one consisting of tulsi, fennel, neem, lemon myrtle, apple, green rooibos, ginger). It will be called Vata, and the release date is set to be sometime in October as part of our new Ayurveda line introduction. To learn more about Ayurveda blends, please go here.

Rating: 1/4 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

The Art of Tea Loose Leaf Rooibos Tea 'Vanilla Berry Truffle'

Tea Information:
Tea: Vanilla Berry Truffle
Type: Rooibos Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: The Art of Tea
Purchase: Here
Description: Our Art of Tea Vanilla Berry Truffle is a caffeine free blend of succulent black currants, South African Fair Trade rooibos, organic hibiscus and creamy white chocolate blossoms hand blended in small batches to create a full, rich taste to compliment any meal.
Ingredients: Fair Trade Organic Rooibos, Organic Hibiscus, Organic Currants, White Chocolate, Natural Flavor

Steep Information:
Amount: 1.5 tsp
Additives: none
Water: filtered, boiling, 6 oz
Tool: Mesh basket strainer in cup
Steep Time: a little over 7 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vanilla, chocolate, sweet-woody (rooibos)
Steeped Tea Smell: berry, hint of vanilla
Flavor: smack me in the face berry! no vanilla, no chocolate, no rooibos (WTH?)
Body: Full
Aftertaste: berry
Liquor: cloudy dark reddish-brown

Swap thanks to Meghann M!

Well, luckily I didn't buy it, because although it is a nice berry rooibos, in fact I can barely taste the rooibos, I would be disappointed at the missing vanilla and chocolate flavors. Mind you I enjoy the flavor of rooibos so it might be slight but not noticeable to me.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: 10 min, sad and weak, dumped out

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

Art of Tea Loose Leaf Rooibos Tea 'Velvet Tea'

Tea Information:
Tea: Velvet Tea
Type: Rooibos Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Art of Tea
Purchase: Here
Description: Sweet enticing chocolate swimming in a deep velvety base of organic rooibos and refreshing mint leaves. The perfect answer to a dessert tea. The finish is smooth, complimented with a touch of vanilla.
Ingredients: Organic Fair Trade Rooibos, Organic Mint, Organic Apple, Organic Cacao Nibs, Chocolate, Natural Flavors

Steep Information:
Amount: 5 tsp
Additives: none
Water: filtered boiling 1 cast iron teapot full
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer
Steep Time: a little over 7 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
AmazonV: Wood and chocolate
MilitiaJim: Cake
Steeped Tea Smell: Rooibos, Mint
Flavor: mint
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet, woody
Liquor: Cloudy dark reddish-orange-brown

Swap from Meghann M

Hmm

Mint, rooibos, none of the chocolate

Luckily I wasn't expecting much from you tea, because your just managing minty. I mean if i wanted mint tea with a sweet undertone to keep it from being 100% mint, I'd want you. Just not in the mood. Not really impressive.

However very drinkable.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: 7 min, weak, still tingly mint

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

The Art of Tea Loose Leaf Rooibos Tea 'Chocolate Monkey'

Tea Information:
Tea: Chocolate Monkey
Type: Rooibos Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: The Art of Tea
Purchase: Here
Description: Chocolate, banana, rooibos and pink peppercorn blended together with apple bits to create an incredible dessert tea. Great hot or iced.
Ingredients: Organic Fair Trade Rooibos, Organic Cacao Nibs, Organic Apple Bits, Organic Banana Chips, Pink Peppercorn, Chocolate, Natural Flavors

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Additives: none
Water: filtered boiling 1 cast iron teapot full
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer
Steep Time: a little over 7 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Banana (MilitiaJim Fake banana) chocolate if you look for it
Steeped Tea Smell: woody
Flavor: woody, banana, sweet
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: banana
Liquor: deep cloudy reddish brown

This was a gift from Teaplz

I am sadly not getting any of the chocolate, very little of the banana (it might be a brief flirt at the beginning but then gone), the apple I think just sweetens it.

In summary, smells better than it tastes, it doesn't taste bad it just tastes like rooibos and after that smell you expect and want something more.

I have enough left for another pot, perhaps more, I think I'll try a shorter steep.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: I don't want to

Rating: 1/3