Friday, June 28, 2013

Townshend's Tea Company, #76 Superberry

Townshend's Description:
Wild herbal infusion containing copious amounts of vitamin C. Blend of elderberries, currants, rose hips and hibiscus. A flavor-bonanza. Also highly recommended as an iced tea.

My Review:
I had not heard of this company previously. I looked them up on Steepster. Many of their teas have received pretty good ratings. So I feel pretty good trying this herbal blend. The scent of the dry mix is highly aromatic. Flowery, fruity, but dark. I find it appealing. It reminds me of black raspberries or black cherries.

I used a full scoop, about 5g, in my Finum basket. Normally I reserve the Finum for fine herbal blends. This is made of large pieces so it isn't necessary. I just felt like a quick to mug brew this evening. The water was heated to highly steaming but not boiling. The steep time was about 4 minutes. The instructions call for 6+ but I am being cautious.

The brew is very dark and purple tinted around the rim. It smells really good. The taste is... tart. I am glad I did not go 6 minutes. Very tart black raspberry. OK, its really currant and hibiscus. The quality of the ingredients seems high and the blend is nicely balanced. It is just as a hot beverage, it is not grabbing me. As it reaches room temperature I am starting to warm up to it. I think I need to try this cold. It might be refreshing that way.

My wife decided she wanted to try this as it is caffeine free. As she downed her second cup, I lost possession of the bag. While this wasn't my thing, she really likes it. I would not hesitate to try other teas by Townshend's Tea Company.

Visit the Townshend's Tea Company site.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Celestial Seasonings, Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride

Celestial Seasonings Description:
"This cheerful holiday blend will warm your heart with the inviting aroma and delightfully simple taste of freshly baked sugar cookies straight from the oven. Like all of our teas, Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride has no refined sweeteners or added sugars — giving you a guilt-free way to partake freely in the pleasures of the season."

Ingredients:
Milk thistle, roasted barley, orange peel, natural sugar cookie flavor with other natural flavors and vanilla bean.

My Review:
After being blown away by Candy Cane Lane I commented that I would have to find this one, so my tea friend gmathis sent some Sleigh Ride bags my way. Her preference with this one is to use two bags in each cup. Instead I am going to try it in my tiny 6oz cup with one bag. If I mess it up, I get a few more tries at getting it right.

I can’t imagine anyone (at least in the western sugar addicted world) not smiling when they smell this stuff in the bag or brewing. Almost makes you want to check to see if the oven is on. They absolutely nail the aroma of sugar cookies.

The taste of my first attempt didn't make me think sugar cookie as much as butterscotch. I looked up recipes for both and they seem to use the same basic ingredients in differing amounts. Well, I recall sugar cookies used white sugar and butterscotch uses brown. Anyway, I think this has too much buttery flavor for sugar cookies. It is really good, just different than the aroma suggests. My granddad always had butterscotch disc candy around when we would visit. So bonus points for memories.

On my second attempt I used one bag and a 12 oz mug. Of course it turned out much weaker (a little too weak) but I thought overall it had a truer sugar cookie taste. I did add a packet of Splenda. I am glad I have multiple bags of this. I am still looking for that sweet spot of water to bag.

Next, I tried this in an 8 oz cup. I heated the water to heavily steaming, but not boiling. The steep time was about 3 minutes. I must say this tastes magically like sugar cookies. I have definitely found the method that works for me and I will definitely own a box of this the moment I find it on the local shelves.

I admit having avoided Celestial Seasonings for years. I thought the boxes were too cutesy to be taken seriously. I believe I am going to have to reconsider. Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride makes for a fun cup and I can definitely see why it is a holiday favorite. Me, I just happen to like cookies any time of year.

According to Bonnie, also from Steepster (and an awesome story teller), you can buy this year round directly from Celestial Seasonings. I also found it on Amazon available in a six pack. Christmas year round. Woot!

Monday, June 24, 2013

Starbucks, Tazo Shaken Iced Green Tea Lemonade

Starbucks Description:
Remember that lemonade stand the kids down the block used to run? No? Well, had they offered this exotic blend of full-bodied green tea, luxurious lemon and mellow mint, we’re pretty sure you’d remember. In fact, you’d probably still be there. But no worries. We have plenty in here.

My Review:
I think my wife is addicted to Starbucks. I often joke that I think they put crack in their drinks. When my wife says, "I need coffee" what she really means is, "I NEED Starbucks!" When she drags me in with her, I normally order a green tea frappuccino. This day I thought I would try something new.

This was cold. It was wet. It was 90 degrees outside. So, it wasn't bad. It just didn't really grab me. The lemonade is the main flavor. I could not single out the green tea. The lemonade tastes kind of like lemongrass to me. Actually, it reminds me more of pink lemonade. There is a kind of fruity berry or spicy taste late in the sip.

As I said, it isn't bad. I just prefer the green tea frap.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Bigelow, Green Tea Decaffeinated

Bigelow Description:
Decaffeinated Green Tea offers the same delicious flavor of regular Green Tea in a naturally decaffeinated form. Our natural decaffeination process removes 99.6% of the caffeine without sacrificing flavor or the benefits of green tea.

My Review:
I have enjoyed Bigelow teas for decades. Bigelow was the very first brand of tea that I bought on my own as a teenager. In all those years I have never tried their Green tea. In fact, I don't even recall seeing it until recently.

This is a bagged tea and is decaffeinated. I took a deep whiff of the bag as I removed it from the mylar envelope. I was surprised that it had a nice leafy green aroma. Most unflavored bagged teas have very little scent. Nice start.

I placed the bag in my mug and added steaming but far below boiling water. The steep time was a little over three minutes. The brew was a dark green with golden tint.

The flavor reminded me of Tazo Green Tips but this is more subdued. The decaffeination process takes some of the depth out of this tea. That is going to be true of any decaf tea, so it is not surprising here. Other reviews I have seen claimed some astringency. I did not notice any. I am wondering if they used too hot of a water temperature, or possibly over-steeped. My cup is very smooth.

This is certainly not a bad cup. If you are looking for an inexpensive decaf green tea, this could be it. The closest to a negative I can find is the decaf process, though it has its benefits for late night sipping, does make this a fairly forgettable cup - solid, basic, but kind of beige.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Making A Good Cup Using A Tea Bag

Tea bags often get a bad reputation for making a poor quality cup. Yet, most of us began our tea obsession with a grocery store bought box of bags and all but the most persnickety of loose leaf users still use them, at least occasionally. It is my view that too often the problem is with the preparation more than with the bag. With beginners the problem is inexperience. With the experienced, it is often a lack of attention to detail they would give to their loose leaf.

So what can you do to improve your brewing success? These tips are based on a western mug brewing technique of one bag for one cup.

1.) Size your cup appropriately.
A lot of people grab a 12-ounce mug or worse a 16-ounce tumbler and then blame the tea for being weak and flavorless. If that is your experience, your cup is too big. Most tea bags will work with an 8-ounce cup but some need a 5 or 6-ounce cup. If the company does not list the cup size in the instructions, you will have to figure it out yourself. Determining what size cup should be used depends mostly on how much tea the vendor put in the bag.

Sorry but math is required until you get a feel for this.

Look on the box for a Net Wt in grams. Divide the number by the number of bags in the box. The result will tell you how much tea is in each bag. As an example, if the Net Wt is 40g and there are 20 bags in the box, then there is 2g of tea in each bag. (40g/20 = 2g) This is a common amount of tea in many US tea bags. It will generally work fine with an 8-ounce cup.

If the box is 30g and contains 18 bags, then there is only 1.67g of leaf in the bag and you should try a 6-ounce cup. Some bags have as little as 1.33g. Try using a 5-ounce cup here.

2.) Use good tasting water.
This may seem overly obvious but if the water doesn’t taste good it won’t make good tea. If you don’t like the taste of your tap water, use bottled spring water. Do not use distilled water, as it will produce a flat cup.

3.) Heat your water to the proper temperature.
Read the brewing instructions on the box. A novel idea I know, but I am amazed how many people never bother looking. As a starting point most black and herbal teas will steep well using at or just below boiling water. Do not over boil or it will lower the oxygen level in the water. Do not use boiling water for green or white tea. Bring the water to heavy steaming and turn it off. Some people bring the water to a boil and then let it sit for one minute. I am too impatient to wait.

I personally do not like heating the water in the microwave. I think it makes for flat tea. I prefer a stove top or electric kettle. Feel free to disagree on this point.

Do Not heat the water with the bag in it. I repeat, Do Not heat the water with the bag in it.

4.) Steep for the appropriate time – remove the bag.
Once again check the box for the recommended brewing time. Just because the water quickly changes color does not mean the flavor has reached its full potential. That takes time. Usually the time will be listed as a range, like 3-5 minutes or 2-4 minutes. If you have no instructions, 3 minutes is a good average time. If you like a weaker cup, check it earlier. When the time is up remove the bag. Leaving it in can result in bitterness. It can also cause a burning sensation in your stomach if you are sensitive to it like me. The exception is herbal tea, which may require a much longer steep time – read the box.

5.) Experiment
I hope these tips help improve your cup. Remember they are just a starting point. If you aren’t completely satisfied with the results, change one of the steps at a time and try again. Use a different cup, or different temperature. Change the steep time. Note the difference. Next time change something else. Soon you will find your sweet spot.

A final comment: Proper technique will bring out the very best possible cup from your tea but technique has its limits. If you start with bad tea the best you can hope for is a bad cup. Using better quality leaf to start with offers more room for error and will deliver a more complex cup.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Give Me A Reason?

Today's post is not about tea. It is about you the reader of The Everyday Tea Blog. It is also about me as a reader of other tea blogs, and about freedom of choice.

I regularly read several different blogs that interest me. Working on my own blog, I know how much work it is to organize and (hopefully) proof what appears on each post. One of the rewards for that hard work comes from occasionally hearing from readers. As a reader myself, I am sometimes inspired, moved, and even angered, enough to want to comment on a post. Lately I am finding this more and more difficult to accomplish.

Why? Because of that little 'g+' button that appears on many blogs. When a blog becomes assimilated into the Google+ collective, it is required of those wishing to comment on a post to also set up an account. I refuse. Despite popular opinion resistance is NOT futile! I am not going to sign up just so I can comment. Instead I will just move on.

No one has yet given me a real world reason to join the Google+ realm. The best reason I found researching the matter was, "Google wants us to." There is a lot about that reason that leaves me feeling uneasy. Just plain old Google already knows too much about each of us for my comfort. Type your address into Google someday and see if the ability to zoom in on a satellite image of your house doesn't make you feel uncomfortable. I did this with a friend's address and was horrified to find a street view of his front door available to the world.

Beyond the Big Brother aspect, I do have one very good reason for avoiding Google+ like the plague. I refuse to exclude readers without a Google+ account the freedom to comment on the posts they read on The Everyday Tea Blog. Why would I want to trade the world wide web for a tiny circle?

Maybe I am missing something. Can anyone offer a worthwhile reason to change my mind?  

Monday, June 17, 2013

Bigelow, Lemon Lift Decaf Tea

Bigelow Description:
Sipped throughout the day, tea quenches, soothes, satifies... and delivers healthful antioxidants. We have blended this tea with just the right amount of lemon and a dash of spice. It is deliciously refreshing hot or iced.

Ingredients:
Decaffeinated black tea, natural lemon flavor (soy lecithin), spice

My Review:
Actually, the picture I selected for this one isn't what I bought. I got this in a variety pack containing 3 bags each of 6 decaffeinated teas - a total of 18 bags. According to the label for Lemon Lift each bag contains 1.9 g of tea. The variety pack, however, contains only 1.67 g per bag. At 1.9 g, most people can use a 10-12 ounce cup and get a decently strong cup. At 1.67 g, I highly recommend using a smaller 6-8 ounce cup.

I did not realize there was a difference in the bag sizes. Always check the net weight and divide by the number of bags to see what you are getting, then size your cup accordingly. I did not do this when I grabbed the box. Upon opening the lid, I knew something was up, as it was only 2/3 full. So I grabbed my 6 ounce Corelle cup for this session.

This smells lemony and spicy. Not as spicy as Constant Comment, but spicy. I never add fresh lemon to hot tea, but this does not really smell like a slice of lemon to me. Its aroma, to me, is more lemon grass. It is a pleasant scent.

In the taste, I catch light cinnamon and something else. I cannot single out the taste of the black tea. It is just part of the mix. As in the scent, this does not taste like a fresh slice of lemon in the tea. It is more like a gooey lemon snack crumb cake or something similar. I liked it for that reason. It is more of a dessert treat without the guilt.

When I first began to buy tea, this is one of the four (all Bigelow) that I would grab. It is still an enjoyable cup.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Celestial Seasonings, Candy Cane Lane

Celestial Seasonings Description:
"This delectable holiday blend starts with naturally decaffeinated green tea and adds unmistakable seasonal flavors like cool peppermint, creamy vanilla and a dash of cinnamon. Candy canes have been cherished symbols of holiday spirit for centuries, and Candy Cane Lane® is sure to become a festive and healthy tradition at your celebrations!"

Ingredients:
Peppermint, decaffeinated green tea, orange peel, natural vanilla and mint flavors with other natural flavors, cinnamon, milk thistle, blackberry leaves, roasted carob, roasted chicory and vanilla bean.

My Review:
OK, what gives? It's not Christmas. Heck, I can't even claim Christmas in July. Oh well, I have read rave reviews of this one for ages. I stumbled on a box, left over from the holidays, and I knew I had to have it.

Removing the outer wrap and opening the box reveals an inner waxed coated looking bag. Opening the bag, my senses are filled with a blast of peppermint. It reminds me of little peppermint candies that come in a roll. I can nearly smell the peppermint dust in the bottom of the roll. I sure hope this isn't too overwhelming.

The bags are tagless and stringless. They are joined two bags to a sheet. Removing one, I placed it in the cup and pour on nearly boiling water. The brew is golden and turns darker as the cup cools. I left the bag in the cup just because I could. It never got bitter. I added a packet of Splenda. Come on, its candy tea. It's supposed to be sweet.

This stuff is seriously awesome. The peppermint strong but somehow just right. The icy blast is followed by just a touch of vanilla. Enough to add a creamy texture late in the sip. I can only barely make out the cinnamon, but I think it works as support to the cup. I only detect the green tea in the aftertaste. I am not sure what the other ingredients add as I can't separate them out but they are surely there for a reason.

If you are looking for a flavorful green tea with some background flavoring, this isn't it. If you are looking for a candy adventure in a cup without the calories, this is the cup for you. This seriously lives up to the hype. You can probably find it at your local grocery store - during the holidays or maybe you can stumble upon a box out of season like I did. Now if I could only find a box of Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride....

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

A Good Day On The Tea Aisle

So today my wife and I went to Bloomington to shop. My wife wanted to hit the craft stores. Did I tag along just because I am a good husband? Uhmm no. I had ulterior motives.

There is a world food store in the town named Sahara Mart. Back in my early quest to try every tea on earth this store was one of my main hunting grounds. They have an entire aisle dedicated to tea. Most of it, but not all, is tea bags. Still it was more tea than I had ever seen in my life. Most of my tea shopping now is loose leaf and found online. This place is still where I go when I need a quick fix of comfort tea.

Today I was looking for just a simple loose leaf green tea to use in mixing with several herbs I have growing in my yard. I kind of forgot what I went for and never got my green tea. Instead I walked out with a box of Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane, left over from Christmas, that I have heard good things about. Also I grabbed a variety pack of decaffeinated Bigelow teas for my wife and I to share. She cannot tolerate caffeine.

The main reason I forgot my plain green was I found a one pound (actually 500g) box of Ahmad Green Tea with Earl Grey. For several years this was my absolute favorite tea. I ordered it often from Amazon as I had never been able to buy it locally. It always irritated me I paid as much for shipping as I did the tea. Today I found it on the shelf for $8.99. Did I mention this is over a pound of tea? Today being Tuesday meant it was 10% off - so $8.09! That's 200 - 250 cups of comfort tea for about 8 bucks! 400 - 500 cups if I steep twice, which I always do. That is $0.02 or less per cup. I love a bargain - especially when it is a favorite comfort tea.

Yep, it was a good day on the tea aisle.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Restaurant Tea In Small Town America


This post was prompted from a recent email. Thanks for the inspiration.

A lot of my Internet tea friends tell me they avoid ordering tea in restaurants. They say the quality is so poor they would rather do without. I am not afraid of controversy, so I am going to admit I have not found the situation to be quite that dire. Or possibly I am just too stubborn to give up my tea. I choose to persevere while looking for that elusive memorable sip (or gulp).

I have certainly had my share of weak, sour, warm, and stale restaurant teas. I have even suffered through horrible glasses of instant tea. Especially in the latter case I ordered a Coke the next time. Sounds dismal right? But I have also had some good experiences that encourage me to keep trying.

One thing I always try to do is tell a restaurant when they get it right. I also politely let them know when they miss the mark. I advise you to do the same. As I noted in “Slow down and smell the tea leaves”, tea is the fifth most consumed beverage in America. Most folks have only a casual attitude toward tea because honestly they don't know any better. Restaurants will work hard to not disappoint with their soda and coffee offerings, with tea, well, not so much.

The vast majority of tea in America is served iced and comes from a bag.  For this reason, I am more likely to avoid hot tea in a restaurant. I know I am likely to be handed a Lipton tea bag and a little metal pitcher of under-heated water. I have to admit, I am not a fan. The trouble is most restaurants, and the average consumer, don’t see anything wrong with it. They probably don’t like it either but think this is what tea is supposed to taste like. They need educated.

Our local Denny’s not only serves hot tea this way, but their water tastes fishy. I uncovered the water issue when I tried taking my own tea, only to have it taste fishy as well. I will never order tea or water in our Denny’s again. Yes, I told them so. No, it did not seem to matter to them. It’s just tea. sigh.

Even with hot tea I have found exceptions. The most notable is at our local Steak N Shake. They serve an inexpensive and little known brand called ‘Mother Parkers’. Yes, it is a bagged version, and yes I find it very pleasant – especially the Darjeeling.

With iced tea, you will generally be served Lipton, Tetley, or Luzianne. Sometimes, even then, it can be cold and refreshing... sometimes. More often it is watered down and warm because they added a small amount of ice to the hot brew and all the ice melted before it got to your table. So, you ask for more ice, thus watering it down even more.

Just when you think it couldn’t get worse, you order a glass and are served something slightly resembling tea that is soured, or stale, or both. Sadly, you have to inform them because they probably think it is supposed to taste that way – because that is the way they have always done it and no one else complained.

Sometimes they get it right and the glass makes the meal.

Our local Red Lobster serves an exceptionally good iced tea. It is clear, and bright. The taste is strong and brisk. It is a delicious Assam based tea. Their web page states they use Tetley, but the local restaurant told me it was Maryland brand. I have never found this for sale in the stores. I believe a large part of their success is filtered water and attention to detail. Tea is more than just tea.

Our Texas Roadhouse also makes a successful glass of tea that is similar and only slightly less tasty than our Red Lobster. They seem to use similar filtered water. Here I think the difference is the brand of tea used.

My absolute favorite restaurant tea to date was found at our local Cheddars. My wife noticed it as well and she is not a tea junkie. Coffee is more her thing. This tea was bright, clear, and nearly orange. The taste was earthy, with a hint of smoke. I asked the waiter what they were serving. He looked puzzled and said, “It’s just tea.” Noooooooo!

It is sad when you find an exceptional glass of tea and the fact seems to escape those who serve it. Educate them. Tell them how good it is and why. Encourage them to keep making an exceptional tea. Just maybe others will notice and comment. Just maybe you can help make a small dent in the wasteland known as restaurant tea.

I later confirmed the tea is S&D brand. This is apparently a very common brand used by restaurants. It is anything but common as made at our Cheddars.

So, what has been your experience with local restaurant tea? I'd like to hear about it.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

TeaVivre, Anxi Superfine Tie Guan Yin “Iron Goddess” Oolong Tea

TeaVivre Description:
When mentioned Anxi County, people will spontaneously think of Anxi Tie Guan Yin, “Iron Goddess”. It is well-known both inland and abroad. This Tie Guan Yin is close to forest green in color, has a pure aroma. Meanwhile the liquid of this Oolong tea is transparent and bright, which truly is a feast to the eyes. In taste, this Tie Guan Yin has sweet flavor, long-last fragrance and comfortable sweet aftertaste.

Sample provided by TeaVivre.

My Review:
The sample packaging is different than normal for TeaVivre. Usually they are shiny silver packets. This is dark grey and vacuum packed. When I cut it open and attempted to pour out the leaf - nothing came out! I pulled open the pack and pulled the leaf out. It was a solid shiny green mass. What? Looking closer I realized the leaf was sealed in a second plastic wrap. I have never seen that before. Removing it revealed the beautiful green pellets of this tea.

I used half the sample pack in my press. Full boiling water was used per TeaVivre's directions. My steep time was about 1 1/2 minutes. The result was a pretty clear and bright yellow liquor. The leaf only partially relaxed. The leaf is brilliant green in color.

The sip while very hot seemed peppery. Once it cooled a little it became much more floral. The most interesting aspect of the first cup is how incredibly thick and creamy it feels in my mouth. This seems weaker than I expected. Hmmm. Either, my taste buds are off today or I should add more leaf.

For the second mug I steeped about 2 1/2 minutes. This cup fills your mouth with delicious combination of floral and fruit. The first sip was one of those Mmmmm moments, you know when the world goes into momentary freeze frame and you get lost in the cup. Yeah, its that good. It still has that wonderful thick creamy feel and I notice a fair amount of cooling sensation on my breath. The aftertaste hangs around with kind of a melon taste.

Tie Guan Yin normally has a distinctive floral taste, well except this one. I mean it is there, but it is just different. This is so much fresher, lighter, more defined but harder to describe. Normally I think of Tie Guan Yin as tasting like a geranium plant smells. This is closer to something like rose petals, citrus (peach and melon?), and warm spices. It is just Wow!

For the third cup I added the rest of the sample. According to TeaVivre, they use the entire packet for gaiwan brewing which produces only about 3 ounces of liquor at a time. I steeped for a couple minutes and, my lands, that is a lot of leaf. How do they even fit it in a tiny gaiwan? This cup is buttery, almost nutty flavored, and the aftertaste is strong and floral.

By TeaVivre's gaiwan method this sample will produce 7 steeps @ 3 ounces, or 21 ounces total. I have brewed this western mug style and have already steeped about 30 ounces. I can easily get another steep out of this leaf. The problem with my method is the flavors of the first cup are very subtle. I have read other reviews by folks who steeped this and were met with amazing flavors. I think I blew this one.

This is too expensive not to get the most flavor out of it possible. I highly recommend losing the standard western approach and going with smaller and shorter steeps. This is a beautiful cup. Treat it as such.

Visit the TeaVivre website.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

TeaVivre, Guang Dong Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong Tea

TeaVivre Description:
Phoenix Dan Cong is a famous Tie Guan Yin from Guangdong Province. The tea has a high aroma with a different taste between the first sip and aftertaste. Along with the fragrance of sweet potato, an aroma of litchi will also be felt from the liquid. Be aware of the infusion of this tea. If you use gai wan, remember to quickly pour the liquid into your pitcher, instead of a long time’s infusion. A shorter time for the first brew will bring a more wonderful taste because the fruity aroma is stronger by now.

Sample provided by TeaVivre.

My Review:
My first Dan Cong so I am not sure what to expect. The leaf is very dark and looks more like a black tea than an oolong. The dry scent is slightly malty/cocoa with very light roasty notes. I used half the sample in my press. The press was wet from being washed. When I added the leaf it picked up the moisture and became very aromatic. The scent reminded me of the leaves of a tomato plant.

I prepared this western mug style. It steeped for 2 minutes with boiling water. The brew is golden turning darker in the mug. The scent continues to remind me of lightly roasted tomato leaves.

I may have under leafed. It is a bit thin and mineral. I added a bit of sweetener to compensate. That helped a lot. At the front of the sip this reminds me of the Formosa oolong I recently reviewed. The aftersip goes to floral tiguanyin. I can taste just little more than hints of the roasting. This is light, sweet, floral, and only improves as the cup cools. TeaVivre mentions litchi and sweet potato. I am not sure what litchi tastes like but I don't think I am picking up either of these notes. There are some fruity notes late in the sip. This tea has a saliva producing characteristic that is very noticeable. Sorry if that sounds kind of disgusting. It is interesting.

I added more leaf for the second mug by using the other half of the sample. The cup now has much more and bolder flavor. This is such an interesting juxtaposing of flavors. There is the smooth and mild side of a highly oxidized, though lightly roasted, oolong. This meets up with the throat scratching and lingering floral aftertaste of a TGY. This is a very good and interesting cup.

Visit TeaVivre on the web.