Nina's Paris, Earl Grey

Nina's Paris Description:
Bergamot from Sicily. The smoothness of Keemun (Black Tea) together with the freshness of bergamot. An ancient recipe that was handed down by a high dignitary of China to Earl Charles Grey. A classic that definitely shouldn't be missed.

My Review:
I originally reviewed this tea as Nina's Teas USA, Earl Grey. So why am I reviewing it again? Well, Nina's has changed the base tea from a Keemun to a Sri Lanka (Ceylon) leaf. The base has not been revised on the website or in the description above.

Red happens to be my favorite color, so I find the tin especially attractive. The ingredient list is on the bottom of the tin along with a suggested steep time of 3 minutes. The lid fits snugly and is a press fit.

Earl Grey is often highly aromatic. This one I could smell through the tin as I removed it from the box. It is a glorious, peppery, citrus, bergamot. Inside the tin, the tea leaf is further packaged in a plastic bag. Removing a scoop of leaf, shows it to be very dark, nearly black, with some hints of golden tips.

I prepared this with two different parameters just to see how the base would respond. For the first cup the leaf was added to the press with 194 F water and a 2 1/2 minute steep. This is my normal Earl Grey method of late. For the second cup I used 212 F water and the recommended 3 minute steep.

With the earlier Keemun base the cup was highly refined, even civilized. There was no noticeable astringency, and no smoke.

A Sri Lanka base is what most of my favorite Earl Grey teas have used. It often tends to have a little rougher edge. As I have stated in other reviews, I am a bit of a barbarian when it comes to Earl Grey. Nina's are masterful blenders and the blends I have reviewed thus far have been very smooth. So let's see how they handle it here.

What I can tell you immediately is the time and temperature difference between my two cups today did not make as big a difference as I expected.

They both produced a very beautiful ruby red cup that turned a little more root beer color as they cooled. The bergamot in both has a wonderful scent, and when hot are moderately light in flavor. With both, the citrus picks up as the cup cools.

Now the differences. The lower temp and time actually seemed slightly more astringent as the sip was moderately drying. I did not notice this drying with the boiling water and longer steep. That surprised me.

Another surprise was the lack of a rough edge that is characteristic of the lower grade Ceylon teas I am very familiar with drinking. I like the edge, however, I have recently started using a lower temperature to reign it in a bit. That is not all that necessary here.

What didn't surprise me was the longer steep brought out more of the bergamot flavor. I highly recommend the second approach.

But the question that remains is how does this compare to the earlier Keemun version? I personally prefer the new Sri Lanka base. While it does not have a rough edge, it does have more character in my opinion. However, those who love Nina's traditional smooth and refined approach may easily disagree with me here. Bottom line, while this is definitely not my usual barbarian cup, it is Earl Grey the way I like it - strong and with character.

You can find Nina's Earl Grey here.

Nina's Teas USA, Lapsang Souchong

Nina's Teas USA Description:
A Black tea from the Chinese province of Fujian. The tea leaves are dried over the smoke of pine fires to give a rich, distinctive smoky flavour which accompanies savoury or spicy flavours perfectly.

Sample provided by Nina's Teas USA for review:

My Review:
Lapsang Souchong. Possibly the most divisive cuppa known in the land of tea. Only sipping puerh could possibly result in a wider range of opinions. As it says above the leaf is smoked over pine fire. The smoke can run the range from light and sweet to BBQ'd pork, and on to ashes.

My experience is limited to only a handful of tastings. In that handful I have experienced the full range of smoke. I have no idea what to expect today. Opening the sample and inhaling reveals heavy sweet smoke.

I steeped this for three minutes with 200F water in my press. The room seemed filled with the aromatic pine smoke.

First sip, and all I can think is Nina's you have completely surprised me. I have reviewed several samples. They have all been exceptional and elegant. Nina's teas are like a sophisticated lady. One that turns heads but commands respect without demanding it. This tea is totally another side of the lady that shocks and delights but still never causes you to lose the respect.

This cup is perhaps the heaviest smoked Lapsang Souchong I have tasted but it is not ashes. This is fully developed sweet pine smoke. It actually tastes like pine to me. It is sweet without the bacon or pork BBQ notes. While it is heavy it has layers of taste as you sip.

One more mention - I was concerned this tea would be overpowered by my lunch. I knew I should not review a new tea with a spicy lunch but that is just how it worked out today. I had a salad bowl of greens with banana peppers, provolone, chicken, and chipotle ranch dressing. I forgot all about the spicy flavors in the bowl after the first sip. This tea strangely cleansed my palate. If you are having an overpowering lunch and are not sure what can stand up to it without clashing, I think I just found it.

Cup two was prepared the next day. I couldn't help myself. As I approached my den the pine smoke grabbed my full attention. This cup is every bit as full of layers of smoky pleasure as the first. Now it slightly reminds me of bacon. Excellent cup especially considering the gap between first and second.

Cup three is lighter but still plenty of delightful flavor.

Nina's Paris has been blending masterful fragrances for 300 years. They have brought this mastery to their USA tea line. You can currently find their offerings on Amazon. They plan to open an ecommerce webstore at ninasteastore.

Nina's Teas USA, Ceylon

Nina's Teas USA Description:
A copper gold coloured and aromatic tea, this Ceylon comes from the south of Sri Lanka. A tea that will marvelously accompany any moment of the day

Sample provided by Nina's Teas USA

My Review:
Have I ever had a straight up cup of Ceylon? Hmmmm. Surely I must have, but none come to mind. Ceylon is the base of most Earl Grey teas I drink, so it is not like we are strangers. We are more like casual acquaintances. Maybe it is time we got to know each other a little better.

I opened the sample and inhaled. It isn't revealing a lot. I get light tobacco leaf from the experience. The leaf itself is very finely cut. I almost used a Finum basket thinking this might pass through the mesh of my press. Sanity or the challenge kicked in and I used the French press and boiling water. The steep was, well, as long as it took to toast a bagel. For this tea to pass the audition it has to stand up to a breakfast bagel.

The brew is dark and the nose is sweet and lightly fruity. My first sip was tea. OK brain, time to wake up. The second sip is, at first, light and flows or flutters down to a more toasty level.  There is some sweetness. There is a note that makes me think green leaves. There is a fruitiness that reminds me of Darjeeling. At the end it rises up against the sides of the tongue in just a touch of astringency. It does not grab your throat like some Assam breakfast teas. This is a smooth tea with no grit.

Nina's flavored teas have all been so successful in their quality. I wasn't sure how they could maintain that level of excellence with a CTC Ceylon - but they have succeeded. This is a very nice tea. It stood its ground against the cream cheese and bagel without either suffering in the combination. So this tastes very good on its own. It works well with others. Yep, it passed the audition.

Nina's Paris has been blending masterful fragrances for 300 years. They have brought this mastery to their USA tea line. You can currently find their offerings on Amazon. They plan to open an ecommerce webstore at ninasteastore.

Nina’s Teas USA, Taurus

Nina’s Teas USA Description:
Strawberry pieces, strawberry and cream flavors

My Review:

So, if someone asks you if you would like a cup of rooibos, what is your immediate reaction? Too often the reaction is - No thanks. My own take is generally, it's OK and if offered I'd try it. 

That is exactly what happened with this sample. Nina's asked members of Steepster who would be willing to try this blend. I'm no fool, I said pick me, pick me!

I have come to respect Nina's Teas USA as being masters at crafting a wonderful and elegant tasting cup. Let's see if they can blend rooibos in the same magical way. 

The sample looks like standard rooibos. There is only a slight scent, but nothing that really grabs my attention. I poured the sample into my Finum basket, boiled some water and poured into the cup. The steep was around 4 minutes.

I took the first sip and was totally surprised. I don't taste rooibos. Instead this is a very light cup of strawberry. It reminds me of the wild strawberries that grow in our fence row. It is slightly green tasting, not at all tart. This is very nice. I passed the cup to my wife. She said, "ooh strawberry but its kind of light". My son took a sip and also thought of wild strawberry. 

At this point I added some sweetener. OH WOW! I don't care if you never add sweetener - just do it! This is amazing. The cup now explodes with flavor. It is like a big juicy bowl of sweet strawberries and cream. I do catch a slight woodsy aftertaste of the rooibos. It blends so well with the berry and cream that you won't mind. There is no tartness from the berries and no rough edges from the rooibos.

I am impressed at how really good this tastes. This is a caffeine free tisane you can actually look forward to sipping.

Nina's Paris has been blending masterful fragrances for 300 years. They have brought this mastery to their USA tea line. You can currently find their offerings on Amazon. They plan to open an ecommerce webstore at ninasteastore.

Nina's Teas USA, Demain

Nina's Teas USA Description:
Raspberry and strawberry coupled in tenderness will make you melt in pleasure. A green tea to overindulge in!

This is the last of the latest round of samples provided by Nina's Teas USA.

My Review:
I opened the sample packet this evening and was greeted by the delightful scent of strawberries and raspberries. I could sniff this leaf all night... or I could just brew it up! The leaf is dark and shiny just like in the picture.

I used a 6oz Corelle cup and my Finum basket. The water was heated to steaming and I steeped for three minutes. The result was a liquor that is bright and clear and the color of honey. Did I mention the aroma? Smells so good.

The sip is lightly fruity. This is not an over the top flavored tea. The strawberry is the main flavor. I had a strawberry salad earlier this evening. So I can tell you this tastes natural. The raspberry is lighter and supports. It is easy to pick it out in the scent as you breathe will sipping. Also very natural.

The green tea is easily detected in the sip as well. That is something I always appreciate in a good cup. In lesser blends the flavoring overwhelms the green base. Not here. Lovely and vegetal. There is a slight bite at the end. I like it, but a shorter steep would probably eliminate the bite.

I added a small amount of sweetener to make the fruit flavors pop. The second steep was just as flavorful as the first. Maybe my favorite part of the sip is the lingering berry aftertaste. This is a wonderful cup. Thank you Nina's for sharing this with me.

Nina's Paris has been blending masterful fragrances for 300 years. They have brought this mastery to their USA tea line. You can currently find their offerings on Amazon. They plan to open an ecommerce webstore at ninasteastore.

Nina's Teas USA, Gyokuro

Nina's Teas USA Description:

(From Uji tea gardens, near Kyoto, Japan)
Gyokuro is the most prestigious of the Japanese teas, its name literally meaning “pearls of dew.” The tea leaves, coming from the first harvest, are shaded for a few days before being hand picked. They are steamed, dried and rolled length-wise. This tea, shiny and clear green in colour, will surprise you with its smooth and silky texture. The jade green infusion is mellow and fresh with slight accents of the sea.

Sample provided by Nina's Teas USA

My Review:
That last couple weeks have not been very conducive to tea drinking or review writing. The spring weather changes and high pollen count have definitely taken a toll on my head. Today I am feeling up to tasting this tea from Nina's. This is my first Gyokuro.

The leaf scent is very fresh and grass-like. I poured the entire sample into my press and added water heated to a temperature similar to what I use for white tea. That means cooler than for a normal green tea. The brew is jade in color and the nose is vegetal, yet reminds me of what I can only imagine is the scent of the ocean as I have never been to the coast.

I have had Sencha on several occasions. This is not Sencha. I think grassy tasting when I picture sencha. This does not taste overly grassy to me. It is more vegetal with light grassy notes, and a light mineral touch. By using the lower brewing temperature there is no bitterness. Nina's description is spot on. This is smooth and silky. Oh, and look, Nina's mentions slight accents of the sea! I didn't just imagine it (I start my notes and while adding them to the blog I grab the company description).

As I mentioned, this is my first Gyokuro. I don't know by comparison if this is a good representation of the type. Given my previous experience with Nina's teas, I suspect it is of high quality. I can say with confidence that I very much enjoyed this cup.

Nina's Paris has been blending masterful fragrances for 300 years. They have brought this mastery to their USA tea line. You can currently find their offerings on Amazon. They plan to open an ecommerce webstore at ninasteastore.

Nina's Teas USA, Tigre Blanc

Nina's Teas USA Description:

Orange flowers, peach
A semi-oxidised tea with the soothing taste of peach blended with orange flowers. Make time to enjoy a cup of this tea and appreciate a sheer moment of peace and serenity.

Sample provided by Nina's Teas USA

My Review:
Man, the cool wet spring weather and the abundance of pollen in the air have knocked me out of tea drinking commission lately. I think the worst is past, so let's drink some tea.

I opened up the sample packet and breathed in the aroma of peach and orange. It is not overly heavy and is quite nice. There is also a darker scent in there as well. Pouring the leaf into the press and adding heavily steaming water reveals the roasty notes of the oolong base. I steeped for about 3 minutes. The brew is caramel in color.

By the roasted scent of the wet leaf, I was expecting this to taste like a heavily roasted wuyi oolong. Instead the flavor is only mildly roasted, more nutty actually. At the beginning of the sip it tastes lightly peach. Then oolong picks up. Toward the end of the sip it turns back to peach with an ever so light touch of orange. This has a natural sweetness but still handles added sweetener if desired. The peach lingers long in the aftertaste. As the cup cools, the peach picks up in intensity, yet remains balanced. This is a worthy cup.

I did not try this myself, but another reviewer prepared this as a cold brewed tea and stated it was delicious.

One thing I have learned is that Nina's Paris has been blending masterful fragrances for 300 years. They have brought this mastery to their USA tea line. The flavors are generally light, always refreshing, and wonderfully natural. For now you can find their offerings on Amazon. They plan to soon open an ecommerce webstore at ninasteastore.

Nina's Teas USA, The sur la Lune

Nina's Teas USA Description:
Blueberry, passion fruit, raspberry, orange Oranges, passion fruit and red fruits united in harmony to bring you a balanced blend of delicious flavours.

Sample provided by Nina's Teas USA

My Review:
First take a moment to check out the picture. This alien looking leaf is what I found when I opened the sample bag. The aroma is blueberry and citrus. This, as far as I recall, is my first blueberry tea. Dry it smells pretty awesome.

In the press it goes with near boiling water for a 3 minute steep. I am not sure what Nina's recommends. I just used my stock flavored black tea brewing method. The cup is nice and dark with a bright shininess. The wet leaf aroma is berry and citrus with a dark carmel roastiness.

The last tea by Nina's that I reviewed was Magicienne. I said it reminded me of eating cotton candy at the fair. This one is a good follow up. It is like a grown up version of the shaved ice drink we often enjoy in the summer. The flavors are so balanced that I really can't separate them - other than the blueberry. I drank this warm and found it very nice, but I feel certain that iced with a little sweetener this would be amazing.

Nina's Paris has been around for over 300 years. Just recently they have begun to sell tea in America. You can find at least some of the offerings on Amazon. They also plan to open an ecommerce webstore at ninasteastore.

Nina's Teas USA, Magicienne

Nina's Teas USA Description:
The magical combination of pineapple and coconut. This tea, with a hint of tartness, will pleasantly surprise you. An exotic blend that will satisfy all seeking enchantment.

Sample provided by Nina's Teas USA

My Review:
This is the last of my surprise samples from Nina's. I thank you very much! The picture looks exactly like the sample. I didn't look it up before hand but this is obviously a green tea. The dry leaf is coconut scented and something else... what is it?

I steeped the sample in my press with steaming water. After 3 minutes I noticed the liquor is green tinted and a bit cloudy. The aroma I can now tell is pineapple and coconut. There is also a creamy touch to the scent. It is kind of lightly vanilla, though I don't know if there is any of it actually in here. The tea leaf expanded more than any other tea has from Nina's.

Now I must tell you, I love coconut. I must also admit I hate pineapple. Another interesting tidbit is the scent of the cup is the most intense of any of the samples so far. This is even more aromatic than their Earl grey. This will be interesting.

I should not have feared. All of Nina's teas have been sophisticated, well balanced cups. This continues the trend. The pineapple and coconut are definitely present but delightfully not overdone. This reminds me of summers at the fair eating cotton candy. Probably not the reaction Nina's was going for but that's what this does for me. I love cotton candy at the fair, so as far as I am concerned this is high praise. The green base is nice with no bitterness or astringency. The aftertaste is long lingering, sweet, and very pleasant.

This is really good!

Nina's Paris has been around for over 300 years. Just recently they have begun to sell tea in America. You can find at least some of the offerings on Amazon. They also plan to open an ecommerce webstore at ninasteastore.

Nina's Teas USA, Nina's Paris

Nina's Teas Description:

Blood orange, peach, strawberry, cherry, 
This tasty blend will fill you with its exquisite fruity flavour. Orange, peach, strawberry and cherry brightened with sunflowers to please all tastes.


Sample provided by Nina's Teas USA

My Review:
Another sample I unexpectedly received from Nina's Teas USA. I love surprises. This sample simply said Nina's on the zip lock bag. Looking at the pictures, this appears to be what I will be tasting today.

I poured the contents of the bag into my press with 10oz of just off boiling water. I steeped for 3 minutes. The dry leaf scent is lightly orange. The brew looks reddish brown in the press. The aroma of the cup is orange and peach.

In the taste I am getting predominately orange, followed and supported by peach. Both taste natural. They are light and the sip seems a bit creamy. As the cup cools, the strawberry comes out of hiding. The cherry is the last to be detected by me. The black base tea is smooth with no astringency. Like all of Nina's teas that I have tried, this  is a subtle cup. This is not a bold fruit blast. It is a quiet, balanced cup, that reveals itself in layers as you sip. Experiencing this cup left me feeling quite relaxed.

Nina's Paris has been around for over 300 years. Just recently they have begun to sell tea in America. You can find at least some of the offerings on Amazon. They also plan to open an ecommerce webstore at ninasteastore.

Nina's Teas USA, Marie-Antoinette

Nina's Teas Description:
The Original MARIE-ANTOINETTE
Rose petals, apples, rose
A very delicate tea, flavored with apples & rose, with a touch of strongness with ceylon tea basis Apple aroma done with apples coming from King’s Kitchen Garden – Versailles.

Sample provided by Nina's Teas USA for review.

My Review:
Another sample I received totally as a surprise by Nina's Teas USA. Looking at the leaf I could see the manila colored petals. I had not yet read an ingredient list and wasn't sure what they were. I sniffed the dry leaf and it was strong, sour, and almost medicinal. Gee, I don't know if I am going to like this.

So, I poured the sample into my press and added water heated to just off boiling and let it steep for 3 minutes. The cup was orange brown and turned darker as it cooled. The aroma is now rose (oh, that's what the petals were) and something I am still not deciphering. It at least is pleasant and no longer medicinal.

I sip and I taste the rose and apples! I have not had many apple flavored teas and certainly none with rose. what an interesting combination. I would never have thought to put them together.

The Ceylon base is very smooth. They call it a touch of strongness. They have obviously never tried any of my barbarian Ceylons. I stand by smooth, maybe even gentle.

This is a smooth sophisticated cup with balanced and interesting flavors. It is a little more expensive than my usual fare but if you want to pamper yourself, this is a very nice cup.

Nina's Paris has been around for over 300 years. Just recently they have begun to sell tea in America. You can find at least some of the offerings on Amazon. They also plan to open an ecommerce webstore at ninasteastore.

Nina's Teas USA, Earl Grey

Nina's Teas USA Description:

Bergamot from Sicily 
The smoothness of Keemun together with the freshness of bergamot. An ancient recipe that was handed down by a high dignitary of China to Earl Charles Grey. A classic that definitely shouldn't be missed.

Sample provided by Laurent at Nina’s Paris Tea Store USA.

My Review:
Nina's Paris has been around for over 300 years. Just recently they have begun to sell tea in America. You can find at least some of the offerings on Amazon. They also plan to open an ecommerce webstore at ninasteastore.

I received this as a total surprise! I am one blessed tea drinker. The picture does the leaf justice. What it can't give you is the heavenly aroma of the bergamot. I am a sucker for bergamot. Earl Grey just happens to be my weakness. It also is the one type of tea where I know exactly what I like. I can be hard on companies that tamper with the classic. If what is in the cup is something besides tea and bergamot I expect the company to call it something besides Earl Grey. Nina's Earl Grey passes the first test. This is Earl Grey.

Most Earl Grey teas I have use Ceylon as the base. This version uses a keemun tea that makes for a very smooth base. There is no hint of smoke. There is no astringency. I steeped this for 3 minutes. I believe you could steep this 5 minutes and it still would not get bitter or astringent. The bergamot is just a touch lighter than I prefer, but just a touch. It has a wonderful aroma and pleasant taste. The cup seems very slightly creamy with the mildest hint of vanilla. It does not contain vanilla so it is just a natural part of this tea/citrus combination.

I tend to be a bit of a barbarian when it comes to my Earl Grey. I like the base tea to fight back and I like the bergamot to pack just as powerful of a punch. Nina's Earl Grey is much more refined than my usual tastes. Don't misunderstand - I definitely like it. I would love this with a fine meal or while chatting with friends. I think this blend was designed for those who dislike all the brutish qualities that appeal to me and yet demand a quality cup of Earl Grey. If you normally think Earl Grey is a big cup of 'ick' this might well appeal to your more sophisticated palette. It is nicely done.

Nina's Tea USA, Jasmin

Nina's Tea Description:
A delicate blend of jasmine and lotus. Enjoy the pleasant floral scent of jasmine and how the lotus flowers add a subtle note to the tea. A tea to bring you a moment of rest and tranquility.

Sample provided by Nina's Tea for review.

My Review:
Nina's Paris has been around for over 300 years. Just recently they have begun to sell tea in America. You can find at least some of the offerings on Amazon. They also plan to open an ecommerce webstore at  ninasteastore. At the time of this writing the webstore is not open.

I open the clear zip lock and caught the magic scent of Jasmine. I poured out the leaf for examination and first noticed the small flower petals. Then I noticed the leaf is very finely cut and looks dark for a green tea. As you can see in the picture it looks more like a black tea.

This was steeped for two minutes with well below boiling water. The brew is a lovely yellow green. The wet leaf is still very fine but worked nicely in my French Press.

The sip is relaxing and quiet. The jasmine is floral and natural. I really dislike poor quality jasmine that taste fake and bitter. It is always a pleasure to find a tea that is done correctly. The lotus can be caught as only faint notes late in the sip. Whereas the lotus notes in The Persimmon Tree's Lotus are bold and reminiscent of star anise, the lotus notes here are closer to Tazo's Lotus in taste but far lower in intensity. The jasmine and lotus flavors fit seamlessly together. The green tea is a bit hard to detect as it rides under the floral aspects.

A lovely and enjoyably relaxing tea that is a mild twist on straight jasmine teas.  

Nina's Tea USA, Darjeeling

Nina's Tea Description:
A great classic tea, our Darjeeling is produced in a small estate at the foot of the Himalayas. Soft and flowery, it can be appreciated at any time of the day.


Sample provided by Nina's Tea for review.

My Review:
Nina's Paris has been around for over 300 years. Just recently they have begun to sell tea in America. You can find at least some of the offerings on Amazon. They also plan to open an ecommerce webstore at  ninasteastore. At the time of this writing the webstore is not open.

This is the second of three samples offered by Nina's Tea. The small clear zip lock bag contained just the right amount for a single cup of tea. The leaf is fine cut pieces. The scent is dry leaf tobacco. 

I used my French Press and below boiling water. The steep time was about two minutes. The resulting brew was a light coppery bronze in the press and darker in the mug. The wet leaf looks like small pieces of fresh green leaf and smells fruity. 

I have tried several bagged Darjeeling teas. I can only recall a couple loose leaf versions. This tastes different than all of them. This is a black tea but the sip leans toward green tea. There is no bitterness and no sharp bite. I expected both. There is only the smallest amount of dryness. 

The cup aroma is floral. The sip is thin bodied and fruity. To me it tastes kind of woodsy or vine-like, you know, planty, but not like nuts. The aftertaste is pleasant, cooling, and lasting. I normally have Darjeeling with breakfast on the weekends. I could see myself enjoying this one with my sausage, eggs, and a biscuit. 

Nina's Tea USA, Rouge

Nina's Tea Description:
The tang of oranges infused with the mystery of cinnamon creates a blend that is certain to invigorate and stimulate your mind.

Ingredients:
Black tea, Orange, Cinnamon, Safflowers

Sample provided by Nina's Tea for review.

My Review:
Nina's Paris has been around for over 300 years. Just recently they have begun to sell tea in America. You can find at least some of the offerings on Amazon. They also plan to open an ecommerce webstore at  ninasteastore. At the time of this writing the webstore is not open.

So Nina's recently announced they would send 3 samples out to any Steepster folk who were interested. Free tea? Yeah, I think I can handle that one. This is the first of my three samples. It came in a tiny clear plastic zip lock baggie. Just the perfect size to make one cup.

The leaf pieces are small. I considered using my Finum basket, just in case, but the leaf worked fine with my press. The leaf actually plumped up nicely. This is very fragrant of orange and cinnamon. Breathing in the aroma from the press, the black tea base is easily detected. The liquor is a dark golden color in the press and much darker in the mug.

The sip is quite pleasant. Sometimes cinnamon can be overpowering and orange can turn too candy like. Neither is the case with this tea. Given the intensity of the scent, one might expect a bold cup. This is a light cup and very well balanced. If it were any more subtle it would be too light. If it were more flavored, I think it could enter the realm of Constant Comment, not in taste but in intensity.

The only negative I find is my expectations. By Nina's description of invigorate and stimulate, I was expecting a big bold in your face wake up you sleepyhead tea. For my tastes this would not work as a morning cup. This is more a lazy afternoon or early evening tea. It is quite nice for such occasions.