The Tao of Tea Loose Leaf Black Tea 'Rainforest Strong Black'

Tea Information:
Tea: Rainforest Strong Black
Type: Black Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: The Tao of Tea
Purchase: Here
Origin: Coonoor, Blue Mountains, India
Introduction: The Blue Mountains of Southern India are home to tea gardens ranging between 2000 to 6500 feet in elevation.
Flavor Profile: Uplifting brew with earthy aroma and hints of black cherries and warm cane sugar.
Ingredients: Rainforest Alliance Certified Black Tea Leaves.

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 heaping tsp
Water: 500ml 180°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal yet malty or maybe toasty
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, chocolate
Flavor: malty, thick mouthfeel
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet
Liquor: opaque light orange brown

A naturally sweet, mild (despite the name strong) black tea. It reminds me of an oolong with the hints of vegetal green-ness that sneak into the end of each sip.

Resteep:
Water: 500ml 180°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 4 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, chocolate
Flavor: Thin, malty
Body: Light
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: opaque light orange brown

I don't recommend re-steeping.

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.

Northwest Tea Festival 2010 Tao of Tea Vendor booth

Tao of Tea Website

(Blog about festival here)

Purchased two canisters of tea for 16$
-Rainforest Strong Black





-Mandarin Green





The Booth:

The Tao of Tea Loose Leaf Red Tea 'Red Bush Chai'

Tea Information:
Tea: Red Bush Chai
Type: Red Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: The Tao of Tea
Purchase: Here
Description: A caffeine free blend of South African Rooibos and uplifting spices.
Ingredients: 100% Organic Rooibos Leaves, 100% Organic Cinnamon, 100% Organic Spearmint, 100% Organic Cloves and 100% Organic Cardamon.

Steep Information:
Amount: ~1.5 teaspoons
Additives: none
Water: 6 ounces filtered boiling
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: woody, spicy, followed by mint
Steeped Tea Smell: woody, followed by mint
Flavor: spicy red tea, mostly cinnamon and cardamom
Body: Full
Aftertaste: mint
Liquor: dark reddish-brown

I was fortunate enough to grab the last two serving of this from the Steepster Traveling Teabox.

The smell is a bit different than the normal Chai I drink because of the mint.
The taste is a smooth, well balanced, spicy tea. The mint follows the sip.
The spices are a mellow and don't stand out individually, they also are not very strong (think medium versus mild salsa).

This was not a bad tea, it was a nice sold red spiced tea. I am glad I got to try it, and would drink it again, but it is not my preferred chai so it won't become a cupboard regular.

Post-Steep Additives: lactose free fat-free milk

It didn't really make much of a difference. Perhaps if I had steeped it in the milk it might have?

Post-Steep Additives: honey

Tempered the spicy, but the spicy wasn't a strong spicy so I don't think it's really needed.

Resteep: 6 minutes - tasted like a quality flavored black tea? odd since it's a red tea, still smooth but the spice is very very mild and so is the mint.

It does resteep well but tastes like a totally different tea.

Rating: 2/3