The Persimmon Tree, Berries 'n' Cream

The Persimmon Tree Description:
Our Berries 'n' Cream tea takes a rooibos base and transforms it into a vanilla truffle-like treat with succulent black currents, creamy white chocolate blossoms, and organic hibiscus. This naturally caffeine-free tea makes the perfect after-dinner dessert tea when sweetened with a little rock sugar.

Ingredients:
Organic Fair Trade Rooibos, Organic Hibiscus, Organic Currants, White Chocolate, Natural Flavors

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree

My Review:
I stated in my review of Detox Blend that my wife chose this month's The Persimmon Tree offerings to be reviewed. She loves herbal and rooibos. I am a little stand offish and have to be won over.

When she told me Berries 'n' Cream I thought ooooh, strawberries and cream. Then I read the ingredients. I have had exactly one black currant tea. I did not like it. Hibiscus is an ingredient that usually is overdone and too tart for my tastes. About now, I'm wondering what have I gotten myself into? Man, I'm trying to keep a neutral attitude going into this but it is going to be easy.

I removed the lid and took a whiff. Hmmm. This is a rooibos but the scent is vanilla and berry or possibly cherry. There is no vanilla listed in the ingredients. It has to be the combination of white chocolate, black currant, and hibiscus yet... I think I might, sort of, kind of, like it.

Looking at the leaf, the rooibos is easy to spot. Also visible is the hibiscus and black currant. What isn't showing up in my picture is the white chocolate. Had I realized this while taking the picture, I would have rearranged the scene. There really is little curls of white chocolate but I guess you'll have to take my word for it.

I used a Finum basket, to catch the rooibos, placed in my cup as boiling water was added. The covered steep was 5 minutes.

The result is a dark brew that at first resembles coffee. As the cup is tilted and the brew spread out, it takes on a more reddish purple tint.

Notice there is surface particles. At first I thought some of the rooibos made it through the mesh. Stirring with a spoon and looking closer, I am pretty sure it is from the white chocolate.

The aroma is much like the dry scent.

My first sip is pleasant but a little lighter than I would have guessed. I added some sweetener to see what would happen. I'll tell you what happened - Awesomeness! Ya, that surprises me too.

Once sweetened this came alive. The black currant and the hibiscus combine to give a taste that I can't nail down but drifts between blueberry, cherry, and grape. I do taste just the slightest tartness but honestly it works here. This is creamy, probably from the white chocolate. I do taste the rooibos but it is not the main note. It adds to the overall mix with a touch of spicy sweetness.

I think I can best sum up my perception of this blend by telling you that I went into this review not expecting much from these ingredients. I thought, I'll try to keep an open mind but will settle on just getting through it. I ended up gulping the last half of the cup down and can't wait to have another. Surprisingly delicious.

You can find The Persimmon Tree Berries 'n' Cream here.

The Persimmon Tree, Detox Blend

The Persimmon Tree Description:
When over-indulgence becomes overwhelming, this mild tea takes a hot cupful of natural, organic botanicals to cure your body of its ills. Fused with an array of healing herbs and botanicals, the tisane warms you up, dissolves you of drowsiness, and puts your senses on the path to recovery. Let the Detox Blend recover all the aspects of your body and mind.

Ingredients:
Organic Coriander Seed, Organic fennel Seed, Organic Milk Thistle, Organic Chicory Root, Organic Burdok Root, Organic Dandelion Root

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree Tea Company

My Review:
Today we are going decaf. I let my wife select this month's offerings from The Persimmon Tree because she cannot tolerate caffeine except in extremely small amounts. She even avoids chocolate to make sure she doesn't encounter more than she can handle.

The list of spices, in particular coriander seed, is what caught her attention with this herbal. She has already been into the tin 3 times. I think that means she likes it. Of course she refuses to write the review :)

Left on my own, I will attempt to review this, though I am out of my realm. Popping the lid I catch a whiff of fennel and something much darker and richer - it is almost coffee like.

Removing a scoop of leaf, I recognize fennel from pizza, I also recognize coriander seed. I picked one up and tasted. It was kind of floral, almost soapy, and reminded me of a light lavender taste. Everything else in the mix is a mystery to me.

I used a Finum basket placed in a mug and poured boiling water over the herbs and spices. The steep time was 5 minutes.

The result is a very dark brew. It looks like a cup of coffee and smells like pizza :) Seriously, my brain takes the fennel seed and some bready elements and thinks it is time to eat.

The taste is fennel and coriander. It leans heavier on the fennel. The coriander is more hit and run. Beyond this, I taste something darker, richer, and more earthy. I am really not coming up with words to identify the taste. It has a slight edge but I can't tell where it originates. Ultimately, to me this tastes like what it is, a cup of seeds and spices.

I didn't mind the taste but I don't see me craving it either. As I said though, my wife has been into it 3 times and has claimed the rest as her own. The difference here is she loves herbals and I love camellia sinensis leaves otherwise known as tea.

If herbals are your thing, you can find The Persimmon Tree Detox Blend here.

The Persimmon Tree, Silver Needle White Tea

The Persimmon Tree Description:
Harvested over a few short weeks each year in Fujian, China, Silver Needle white tea is the most sought after of all white teas. Our Silver Needle white tea offers a subtle sweetness, a clean and fresh fragrance, and extraordinary purity in one cup. Be sure to brew these delicate white leaves at the right temperature to fully experience their exquisite flavor.

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree

My Review:
I chose this tea to review today because it is late January and I am in need of a little fresh air and sunshine. I am going to close my eyes and pretend.

The first thing I noticed, this was currently out of stock. Looks like everyone is in need of some spring, When in stock, this was $9.99/oz. That is not out of line with other sellers especially for an organic tea, and The Persimmon Tree teas all come in a solid tin for storage.

Dry Silver Buds

I popped the top and inhaled. It is sweet and summer hay like. Just what the doctor ordered. All compacted in the tin the aroma is almost minty.

The leaf as you see in the picture has some green present must is mostly ghostly white hairy buds. The buds appear to be a smaller varietal than many I have tried.

I used the prewarmed clear glass teapot and added 180 F water. During the steep, the leaf were fairly inactive. Mostly, it remained near the top of the teapot.

A steep time of 3 minutes resulted in a light golden liquor. It is nicely clean and clear. I used a mesh screen when pouring. I would have had a cup full of leaf without it.  

Green Steeped Buds

The steep washed all the silver fuzz off the leaf. It is plump and dragon well green now. The wet leaf scent is different than I expected. It is kind of more like a green tea. I was expecting melons and hay. This is more grassy and vegetal.

The taste is much more substantial than I expected. That is probably because I steeped this twice as long as I normally would per The Persimmon Tree's recommended parameters.

I am getting flavors that bounce between malt and corn. Even this sugar junkie can tell it is nicely sweet without additives.

There is a touch of bright bite at the end of the sip that turns mineral before it fades into a corn and floral aftertaste. I notice only a mild amount of dryness.

Cup two was prepared much as the first. This time the leaf filled the teapot with half suspended from the surface and the other half standing on the bottom. I love a clear teapot.

This cup is much different than the first. It starts out with a clean mineral rush. Next it becomes earthy, nutty, and lightly mushroom. As the sip reaches an end the taste finishes with a unusual sweet mineral with passing notes of corn.

I do sense a touch of cheek tingle and a warming sensation in my stomach. The interesting thing is long after the sip is gone the warmth remains. Strangely, it also results in a neat cooling sensation on my breath.

I love white tea and this is a good one. It is a somewhat different than others I have tried. While this one has some depth to it, the flavor goes in a different direction than expected.

I hope to experiment with this one a bit. I want to alter the time and temperature to see if I can coax anything new or different out of the leaf.

You can find The Persimmon Tree, Silver Needle White Tea here.

The Persimmon Tree, Rooibos Vanilla Chai

The Persimmon Tree Description:
Our Vanilla Rooibos Chai tea features a delightful blend of masala chai spices, red rooibos and a hint of vanilla. Rooibos Vanilla Chai is naturally caffeine, making it a perfect any-time tea. Much like its caffeinated cousin Masala Chai, this tea tastes delicious with milk and sugar.

Ingredients:
Organic Rooibos, Vanilla Flavoring, Ginger Pieces, Cinnamon Pieces, Cardamom, Clove, Orange Pieces

Sample provided bt The Persimmon Tree Tea Company

My Review:
Last month I tried The Persimmon Tree's Masala Chai and discovered that just maybe I did like chai after all. I thought their spices were exceptionally well blended to my tastes. I liked it, so I went all crazy and had this vanilla chai with a rooibos base sent for review this month. I am a wild man - red tea and chai, whilst and at the same time. Yep, I'm out of control.

I love The Persimmon Tree tins. They keep the tea fresh for a good long time, and I think they are easy to photograph. Cutting the seal and popping the lid, I am met with the traditional clove and cardamom spices. In addition I catch faint hints of the ginger and also the rooibos. It all flows together well. It verges on potpourri but that is kind of normal for chai, in my opinion.

There are some chunks in the leaf and something resembling twigs. I finally concluded the chunks are orange rind. The twigs I tasted and still am not sure.

Today I used my mug with built in infuser basket. I keep forgetting the mesh is not usually fine enough for rooibos. It turned out OK as I don't notice any floating in my mug.

I used 200F filtered water and a five minute steep. The result is an inviting deep orange colored steamy brew.

The scent is largely cinnamon and orange. I didn't notice either in the dry scent.

The taste with no  additives is cinnamon and rooibos with some orange and the heat from ginger. I think the vanilla tames the rooibos taking the edge off it. It is kind of hard to know for sure as the ginger puts a little edge back in. This is nice, but I think we can do better.

I added sweetener (Splenda in my test). This did brighten the taste quite a bit. Now the orange and ginger are the front notes with the other spices just behind and the rooibos a little more than barely decipherable. I can't say I taste vanilla, yet it seems kind of creamy. Sweetened is better.

For the final challenge, I add milk. This makes for a warm cup of spicy yum. The spices wash past my taste buds and before I can separate which it is, another washes by. The ginger still dominates a little too much for me but I am not a big ginger enthusiast so it doesn't surprise me that I notice it.

My opinion is milk and sugar are definitely the way to go here. While I prefer the standard Masala Chai, this is a fun drink. It makes me want to sit around a fire in the cool night air and sip while chatting.

You can find The Persimmon Tree, Rooibos Vanilla Chai here.

The Persimmon Tree, Masala Chai

The Persimmon Tree Description:
Our Masala Chai tea combines premium organic Assam black tea leaves with warming cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and other fragrant spices. This tea is finely balanced to create the perfect aromatic blend for you to enjoy black, or as it has been traditionally enjoyed, with milk and sugar.

Ingredients:
Organic Black Loose-Leaf Tea, Organic Cardamom, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Cloves, Organic Ginger

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree Tea Company

My Review:
This month, for whatever crazy reason, I selected two teas from The Persimmon Tree that I normally would not drink. The first was French Vanilla Bean. It was really good. Today I am trying Masala Chai.

I have not had much love for chai in the past. Generally, I find it too over spiced for my tastes. I don't mind any of the ingredients in it, however the ginger is usually too heavy for me and a lot of companies add copious amounts of pepper.

I have come to expect The Persimmon Tree to venture off the path a little bit and deliver a balanced tea that is not overwhelming. Let's find out what happens...

I open the tin and the spices are pleasantly drifting into the air. I can make out more than just the ginger, so nice start.

The assam black tea appears to be little pellets. I also see ginger and cinnamon bark. I have no idea what cloves and cardamon look like. Probably, I am looking straight at them and don't know it.

I used my mug with a steel filter basket. The filtered water was heated to 195 F. The steep was, honestly who knows. My wife had me making her toast, as the toaster is in my den. I also heated a sandwich in the microwave. I am guessing 4-5 minutes.

Normally that would concern me, but traditionally chai is simmered on the stove for 8 minutes or so. As you can see mine came out plenty dark, yet it is not harmed.

The traditional method of brewing chai is to simmer it in milk or a combination of milk and water and use lots of sugar. I chose to use water only and make a western cup of black chai.

The taste as prepared is pleasant. The spices are all present but not overpowering. This may not please the purist but I am impressed. Or maybe once again this is what chai was supposed to taste like all along and what I have tried has not been so good?

The strangest part of this cup is that the assam tastes very fruity and almost green. I am thinking it is the interaction of the base with the ginger. I detect no bitterness and really little if any astringency.

Next, I added one packet of sweetener (Splenda), as chai is usually served very sweet. I think this brings out the spices, especially the ginger, without it becoming too heavy handed. The assam still has that interesting fruity green thing going on.

Finally, I added milk. I never add milk (except to my morning green tea powder), but this is chai, so I added milk. Shazam! This is really good. Past experience has been that milk mellows and mutes the flavor in the cup. That is why it is often added to strong bitter breakfast teas. Here it has done just the opposite. The flavors have spread out. I especially notice the cardamon now. Not that it is stronger than the other spices, rather it finally is asserting itself.

For the first time ever, I can say I actually enjoyed a mug of chai. So much so, I intend to try this again by simmering it over the stove in milk with sugar. Call me crazy. The chai monster in me may have just been awakened!

You can find Masala Chai here.

The Persimmon Tree, French Vanilla Bean

The Persimmon Tree Description:
Whether you fancy hot or cold with a spoonful of honey or rock sugar, this French Vanilla Bean creamy tea is great either way. This tea offers an impeccably smooth blend of organic black loose-leaf tea and sweet vanilla bean flavor.

Ingredients:
Organic Black Loose-Leaf Tea, Vanilla Bean, Coconut, Almonds

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree Tea Company

My Review:
In the past I have tended to avoid vanilla teas. Like my aversion to assam, it is based on years of sipping below par teas. The Persimmon Tree has helped to change my mind on other flavored teas, as they always seem to use quality ingredients, balance, and a lighter touch. Let's see if they can change my mind here as well.

I love the tins in which the teas are packaged. They are attractive and keep the teas fresh for a long time.

When  I popped the top of this tin, I had to check the label. Yep, French Vanilla Bean. You see, when I looked in the tin, the very first thing that caught my attention was a sliver of almond. Of course the second thing I focus on is the chopped tea leaf. It ranges from cinnamon to very dark brown - almost black.

Also in the mix are small whitish looking pieces and several twig segments that are too light in color to be from the leaf.

Yes, this has a vanilla scent but it is mixed with coconut. Looking at the ingredient list, this all begins to make sense. This is not a simple vanilla tea. It does contain almonds, and coconut as well.

The dry scent is very nice. I could probably sniff it the rest of the day... or I could steep some tea. In my little green teapot it goes.

The water was heated to the recommended 195 F. I love that The Persimmon Tree doesn't use full on boil with their black teas. 195 F is my go to temperature when no directions are provided, and I think it generally works really well.

The steep was 3 1/2 minutes. With companies I don't trust (yet) I'll stop at 2 1/2. Here, 3 1/2 seems perfect to me.

The brewed aroma is so fragrant. The liquor is orange/red. I poured through a kitchen strainer. The result is I have some tiny floating stuff in the cup but that won't slow me down. I do need a much finer mesh strainer. The leaf has plumped up nicely and appears a mix of cinnamon and green tones.

The taste begins as a very nice balanced blend of vanilla and coconut. It feels almost creamy. The almond appears as hints as you sip, or maybe it is imagined as I can see it in the leaf. No, I'm pretty certain I am tasting it. I will admit, if I didn't know it was there, I would not be able to identify it.

When you eat something you enjoy, can you identify every ingredient? Probably not, but the addition of each ingredient joins in with the symphony of flavors adding their part at the right moment. So it is here with the almond.

The black tea base is very smooth. As prepared, I detect no bitterness, or astringency. The vanilla and coconut are not overwhelming. In fact, for my tastes, they are at just the right intensity. They are, however, stronger than the black tea base. Though I can taste it, I can't identify it.

I drank this without additives and then with Splenda. If I have to give one the edge over the other, the nod goes to with Splenda. Lately I haven't been saying that much, but this is more of a dessert type tea and sweet just fits my dessert style.

Once again, The Persimmon Tree has made me like a type tea I have never been partial to sipping before today. I'll enjoy sipping this again and again. At $7.99 for two ounces, including the tin, this qualifies as a solid everyday tea.

You can find French Vanilla Bean here.  

The Persimmon Tree, Herbal Balance

The Persimmon Tree Description:
Herbal Balance is a smooth blend of organic peppermint, chamomile, lemon balm, fennel, and licorice root. This delicious herbal tea is caffeine-free and will help restore the balance of your digestive system.

Ingredients:
Organic Peppermint, Organic Chamomile, Organic Lemon Balm, Organic Fennel, Organic Licorice Root

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree

My Review:
Today is the day after Thanksgiving in America, also known as Black Friday. A day of shopping madness to official kick off the Christmas season, though let's be honest, the decorations have already been up for a month. If you are so inclined as to participate, I hope you found some real bargains. I prefer not to be involved. I'd rather stay home and eat pumpkin pie for breakfast. Of course with the over eating at family Thanksgiving meal, the next day can find your system pretty much the worse for it.

Today's tea (actually a herbal - but the point is the same) is billed to help restore the balance of your digestive system. Sounds like a good idea to me, and just what is needed.

Opening the tin, I catch peppermint. I happen to like peppermint. The other ingredients aren't jumping out at me, though there is a grassy type scent accompanying the mint. I am not sure where it is coming from based on the ingredient list but it smells pleasant.

 The leaf contains lots of chamomile flowers and I can see some fennel. The dry grassy clippings look like shredded peppermint and lemon balm. I've grown these plants before in my garden. I don't know what licorice root looks like and I see nothing that stands out as unfamiliar.

Once again I used my Republic of Tea mug with metal strainer basket. After filling with 205 F water, I covered the mug with the lid. The steep time was roughly 5 minutes.

The result is a tea colored brew that is very pleasantly mint scented. It doesn't show up well in the picture but the leaf has revitalized to a fresh green color. For this herbal leaf, the strainer mug works very well. The mesh is fine enough that none of the leaf slips through.

The primary taste here is the peppermint. It gives a chilly blast to the cheeks as you sip. Following the mint I detect the chamomile and the combination of fennel and licorice root. The chamomile, of course, has a light apple like taste. The fennel / licorice root is lighter and mellowed by the lemon balm. Fennel and licorice root are flavors that might not appeal to some, although I like them both. Here I doubt anyone would find them offensive since they are light and muted. At first, I thought I couldn't single out the lemon balm, as I continued to sip I realized I was catching its scent at the beginning of every sip.

I often drink bagged peppermint teas or chamomile late in the evening as they are caffeine free. This is my first combining of the two. I have to say I really like it. I am not sure how much good it will do at relieving the damage done yesterday, but it can't hurt, and it is quite tasty. Reviewer approved!

You can find Herbal Balance here.

The Persimmon Tree, Herbal Grey

The Persimmon Tree Description:
This caffeine-free herbal alternative to Earl Grey black tea comprises fragrant bergamot essential oil and hand-crafted organic fair trade rooibos, delivering a sweet, deep red infusion with fruity and floral notes. This delicious herbal tea is a real treat with milk and rock sugar, and can be enjoyed any time of day.

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree

My Review:
Hello from space - the final frontier! I finally have my internet woes sorted out. We went with satellite internet. It is not cheap and you can't game with it, but that is the price of living out in the boondocks.

So today I have chosen an herbal to review. This one is a South African rooibos flavoured with bergamot oil. You know me, if there is any association with my beloved Earl Grey, I must try it. This also happens to be a decaffeinated herbal, so no worries about late evening or night time sipping keeping me awake.

Upon opening the tin I immediately catch gentle notes of bergamot before I even get the lid completely removed.  It is a light, yet natural and pleasant, citrus scent. The leaf (bark, stalk?) always reminds me of finely chipped cedar. This seems extra shiny to me.

I heated to water to the recommended 200 F. This was steeped in my Republic of Tea mug with a stainless filter basket. I prefer a Finum basket as the mesh is much finer on those. Since my wife is using both (both!) of the ones we own, that leaves me little choice.  I'll survive.

I steeped for about 4 minutes with the lid on the mug. Removing the lid reveals a dark orange red brew. There are some tiny bits of rooibos floating on the surface. This is the issue with using this mug. Rooibos requires a very fine mesh filter to avoid floaters. Again, I'll survive.

The scent is pretty absent of bergamot. Brewed this has a mellow aroma of rooibos. I do attribute the mellowness to the bergamot. Straight rooibos often has a sharp scratchy aroma and taste. This does not.

When the cup is hot, I taste only the tamed rooibos. I like it well enough, however it is not what I was expecting.

As the cup cools I begin to catch more and more of the wonderful citrus I crave. It is still light but obvious.

I guess I can look at this two ways. First, the rooibos is tamed. There is no harshness or scratchy aftertaste. So as a relaxing herbal cup this succeeds. Second, as an Earl Grey alternative this really leaves me wanting. Bergamot and rooibos really do compliment each other, so I want this cranked up several notches.  

If you drink your tea very hot and are expecting a stout Earl Grey, you aren't going to get it. If on the other hand you would like just a touch of bergamot, or simply a way to like the sometimes overwhelming taste of rooibos, then this may well fit your need.

You can find Herbal Grey here.

The Persimmon Tree, Periwinkle

The Tin

The Persimmon Tree Description:
Periwinkle combines the best of two sensations: thick and creamy. The dark, thick black leaves of Assam tea and soothing star shaped vanilla bits create a visually appealing and delicious black and white infusion. Pour a warm cup of this mixture, and enjoy the unique, delicious combination of thick Assam and creamy vanilla.

Ingredients:
Organic Black Loose Leaf Tea, White Loose Leaf Tea, Natural Flavors

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree

My Review:
I have to admit, vanilla teas are not normally something I seek out. I don't dislike them. It is simply not a flavor that hits my radar often. This looked interesting on The Persimmon Tree's website. It is listed as a blend of Assam black tea and white loose leaf, as well as containing 'soothing star shaped vanilla bits'. Too cool to pass up.

Dry Leaf And A Mystery

Opening the tin immediately releases a strong vanilla scent. Removing a scoop of leaf for exam and pictures, has me scratching my head. I clearly see the black Assam leaf with a fair share of golden tips.

I do not see what appears to be white tea leaf in the mix. I also do not see the vanilla bits. I'm sure this is the correct tea as the scent is pretty much guaranteeing it.

So I did the only logical thing I could think of doing - I dumped half the tin onto a plate. Aha! There I found the soothing star shaped thingy. I still do not see loose white tea leaf.

Dry Leaf Mystery Solved

I am pretty sure the site description is incorrect. The star appears to me to be hand rolled white tea leaf. However, the description does say vanilla bits rather than vanilla scented. So its a mystery. Where is Scooby Doo when you need him?

What I decided to do was ask The Persimmon Tree if perhaps the site description is miss worded. And then after hitting send, I read the description on the tin. It says, "This soothing tea blend combines organic Assam black tea with hand-crafted white tea 'flowers' and vanilla pieces." Well now that makes a lot more sense! I deserve a Scooby Snack!

A Vanilla Cup

With the mystery solved, the leaf went into the press and 205 F water was added for a 3 minute steep. The result is an shiny orange liquor. The wet leaf scent is of caramelized vanilla. Nice.

The taste is lighter than the scent suggests but it is plenty vanilla. What I appreciate about this blend is the vanilla does not overpower the aftertaste, leaving an icky taste. The aftertaste is a clean vanilla that fades away quickly.

The vanilla produces a creamy feeling when sipping. How does a flavor cause that creamy sensation. I have no idea. Some mysteries should just be accepted without solving.

I can't really single out the white tea. I think it is there mostly to look interesting. I think there would need to be a whole lot more stars in the mix to make any significant taste impact.

The Assam black tea is nicely smooth with no rough edges. I used to think that was impossible back in my tea bag only days. I have read reviews of this one that claimed the base was bitter. I don't get that. Of course I was raised on Earl Grey with a harsh Ceylon base, so I may just be immune.

Honestly this caused no stomach burn as some black teas tend to produce. If you do find it a little bitter, add a little sweetener, and maybe a little milk. Oooh, I think I need to try it hot with milk and sugar later.

I thought this was a good solid vanilla tea without the usual strong aftertaste.

You can find Periwinkle here.

--------------------------------
Update:
Immediately after posting my review which was only minutes after writing The Persimmon Tree, I got this response to my description question -  We apologize for the confusion of the description. We will have to edit it to make it a bit more clear. But essentially, it is an organic assam black tea, white tea in a shape of stars and bits of natural flavors of vanilla essence.

The Persimmon Tree, Ceylon Black

The Persimmon Tree Description:
Brighten your afternoons and evenings with a cup of Ceylon Black. This loose-leaf black tea is cultivated near the southern slope of Sri Lanka's highest mountain, and brews a bright cup with a flowery and fruity finish. This all-time favorite is wonderful hot or iced.

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree

My Review:
I have been drinking tea my whole adult life. Ceylon tea is like the granddaddy of teas to me. I've had it a thousand times in breakfast blends and as the base for most flavored black teas, including my beloved Earl Grey. Yet, I don't ever recall drinking it unflavored in a loose leaf cup.

As a base I have always preferred Ceylon because it stands up to flavoring and comes through the mix to be tasted. At a full boil it has quite a nice bite that I always expected in my Earl Grey. I have only recently begun lowering the temperature and discovering it produces a warm mellow cup with out bitterness.

The Persimmon Tree teas come packaged in nice tins that keep the tea fresh for an extended amount of time.

I opened the tin and gave it a whiff. It smells like tea... but then why wouldn't it. This is one of the most popular base teas used. There is a slight tobacco aroma, but yeah, it's tea.

Pouring it out on the plate brings the first surprise. I expected very generic looking black leaf. Instead, this is multicolored, with reds, greens, and browns. It sort of makes me think of Darjeeling in appearance.  The leaf is small lightly twisted pieces.

I brewed the leaf with 195 F water for 3 minutes in my trusty press.

The result is the next surprise. I expected a very dark cup of tea. This is darker than the picture suggests but at coppery orange, this is way lighter than I would have guessed.

The desk seen in the picture is very old, and tiny. It belonged to my grandmother. It's the perfect size for my small den. The Mickey Mouse lamp has been around for decades. I think we bought it for the baby room years ago. I just couldn't trash it or give it away.

Back to tea. This mug of tea is bright and clear with nothing floating in it. The wet leaf plumped up very nicely. The green and red colors stand out even more. I can't recall seeing any leaf that really compares to its appearance.

Next surprise came with the sip. It does have just a small amount of bite but certainly nothing most people would find abrasive. I don't notice any dryness. I fully expected this to be quite drying, so maybe there is a little and I am not detecting it based on what I imagined.

This is not malty. I notice I am having more trouble describing what it is than what it isn't. It is fruity. Somewhat floral. There is a touch of woodsy, earthy, leafiness.

I fully thought based on prior experience that this would be a stout, brisk, morning wake me up tea. Instead this is a nice, mellow, fruity, afternoon cuppa. I'm not sensing a huge caffeine buzz.

Later I intend to boil the time out of this until I have a dark, bitter, grab you by the throat cup, just so I can point and say, "Aha! I told you so." Until then Mickey and I think this is a delightful afternoon tea.

You can find Ceylon Black here.

The Persimmon Tree, Jasmine Pearls Green Tea

Jasmine Pearls!

The Persimmon Tree Description:
Our exquisite Jasmine Pearls green tea comprises young, green tea leaves infused with fragrant jasmine blossoms and hand-rolled into beautiful pearls. As they steep the leaves unfurl to give you a smooth, delicately sweet infusion with the most divine aroma.

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree

My Review:
The Persimmon Tree packs all their teas in these round tins. When I received this month's package, the postal service had wreaked havoc upon it. This tin was slightly smashed on the backside. I should have documented this with pictures but at the time my only thought was to check on the tea inside. It was fine. A little reshaping of the tin and everything seems to be sealed.

I have said it before, and I'll say it again, I used to hate jasmine tea back in my tea bag days. The problem, apparently, was because what I had tried was jasmine flavored (probably not even natural flavor) rather than jasmine scented. With better quality tea, jasmine petals are added to the leaf for a period of time and then removed. Tea naturally absorbs odors, good or bad. In this case it is a beautiful thing when done correctly.

Dry Pearls

After reshaping the tin, I removed a scoop for examination.  These are about a 1/4" in diameter. They appear fairly even in size and tightly rolled. It would benefit us to take a moment to appreciate the artistry involved in growing and processing the tea we drink. For instance,with this one each individual pearl is formed by hand-rolling the leaf. Good tea is more than just a drink.

The pearls have a light jasmine scent that is vaguely grape like to my senses. I added the scoop of pearls to water heated to 175 F and steeped it in my press for 4 minutes per instructions.

The resulting liquor is slightly cloudy when very hot but clears as it cools a little. It is a brassy sort of dark golden in color. The scent is pleasant and is not overpowering, perfume, or soapy.

Yum

I have a mountain of leaf in the bottom of my press. Yeah, I might have used a little too many pearls. The expanded leaf reveals mostly intact leaf. I see some that are two leaves and a bud joined to the stem. This is a little pricier than many of The Persimmon Tree's offerings and I think this is reflected in the leaf.

The taste is like the scent. It is lightly floral and yet it reminds me of Grape Nehi soda. I know that is crazy and I almost never hear anyone else compare jasmine to grape, much less Grape Nehi, but I call 'em like I taste 'em. Most reviews I've read mention honeysuckle. Well, sort of, but I live in the country surrounded by wild honeysuckle and tea never really brings this image to my mind.

I am noticing the tea leaf really comes through in the aftertaste.

After tasting, I added sweetener (don't shoot!). Of course jasmine is fairly sweet on its own so give it a try sans additions first. Jasmine will take sweetening well if you have a really sweet tooth.

Abundant Wet Leaf

This is a little drying and has just a touch of bitterness. I suspect this may be due to my using a few too many pearls, or possibly the length of the steep.

I find neither the dryness nor bitterness in the first cup to be strong or detracting. I mention it only for those who are super sensitive.

Now, purely for the purposes of research (a-hem), I steeped the second cup with the same leaf for two minutes. The liquor is much more yellow in color.

In this cup I am not noticing any bitterness or dryness. I also find the flavor to be much less, well, intense. Personally, I like the taste of the longer steep. If reducing the number of pearls doesn't result in a perfect cup for you, a good compromise might be to hold the first steep to 2 1/2 minutes and the second at around 3 minutes or more. Always be willing to adjust the brewing parameters to your own tastes.

This is a solid Jasmine Pearls offering. Its naturally scented, and is flavorful without being overwhelming.

You can find Jasmine Pearls Green Tea here.

10% of The Persimmon Tree's profits will be donated to the Project HOPE School Foundation.

The Persimmon Tree, Mandarin Cream Oolong

Mandarin Cream

The Persimmon Tree Description:
Our Mandarin Cream tea awakens the senses with oolong loose tea leaves, hints of cream and a stimulating citrus finish. Blended with lemon myrtle, marigolds, and natural essence of vanilla, Mandarin Cream is a rich and smooth tea experience with an utterly heavenly aroma.

Ingredients:
Organic Oolong Loose-Leaf Tea, Organic Lemon Myrtle, Marigold Petals, Natural Flavors

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree.

My Review:
This one is listed as a bestseller on The Persimmon Tree website. What The Persimmon Tree does not say on their site, but does mention on the label, is the oolong in the tin is Pouchong. As always I appreciate the solid tins that help with storage.

Dry Leaf

I approach this tea with caution. I like vanilla in my cup but often find such flavors overdone for my tastes. Opening the lid, there is a very pleasant vanilla fragrance present. I must admit, pouring the leaf on the plate to examine made me hungry. The vanilla is very present but not overpowering or alcohol like is nature.

The leaf is pretty with the big lightly twisted pieces of leaf varying in shades of green from olive to quite dark. The lighter green leaf may actually be lemon myrtle. The yellow marigold petals add a splash of interesting color.

I used around 3 g of leaf in my press with water heated to 195 F. The steep was 4 minutes. This produced a slightly cloudy mug of yellow sunshine. Meanwhile the Pouchong leaf has expanded and mostly relaxed. The leaf remains partially folded. I can tell this is mainly large pieces of leaf.

Sunshine In A Mug

The Persimmon Tree use natural ingredients in their flavored teas. What catches my attention though, may be why others are occasionally not as impressed. The flavors are generally more subtle than the flavor blasts of most other products I've tasted. That is the case with Mandarin Cream.

Notice there is a big difference between subtle and flavorless. This mug has plenty of flavor. It just doesn't beat up your senses expressing those flavors.

The vanilla is the primary flavor component, yet it is very pleasant and just the perfect level for my tastes. I can barely catch the lemon myrtle under the vanilla. I think it could stand the volume being turned up just a little.

Adding a little sweetener does just that without making the mug too sweet. I try not to use sweetener at first while reviewing. Often I have discovered the cup does not need it. This being more of a dessert type tea, I feel it benefits from the addition. Try it both ways and see if you agree.

Wet Leaf - Mostly Large Pieces

The Pouchong of the first cup shows up late in the aftertaste if you wait for it. I really don't get any strong orange type flavor here. To me that is what Mandarin implies. I think if I imagine orange sherbet, I can loosely make the connection as this is creamy. It just isn't particularly orangey to me.

Since this is an oolong, it should steep again. We must investigate!

Without sweetener the second mug is quite green oolong tasting - not a bad thing. Once sweetener is added, the vanilla reappears and moves to the background. This is maybe more creamy now, and the orange connection grows stronger. It remains mostly a hint yet present. Mostly, this is a nice cup of Pouchong with a light flavored background.

This makes an interesting cup that I appreciate for finally delivering a vanilla based tea that I enjoy. I personally expected a bit more lemon and a healthy dose of orange. Since orange is not listed as an ingredient, this must not be the profile they were going for with this blend, despite the name. This is nice as is, and tasting the tea is more important than tasting flavors to me, so unless that can all be accomplished without sacrificing the tea taste - it should be left alone.

You can find Mandarin Cream here.

The Persimmon Tree, English Breakfast

English Breakfast Tin

The Persimmon Tree Description:
For the perfect start to your day, try a cup of English Breakfast. This classic black loose-leaf tea has a robust flavor with a smooth, clean finish. Enjoy black, or with a splash of milk and sugar like the English have traditionally done.

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree Tea Company.

My Review:
The Persimmon Tree website lists the ingredients as Organic, Biodynamic Black Loose-Leaf Tea. That's a bit vague for me. According to the all knowing Wikipedia - English breakfast tea is a traditional blend of teas originating from Assam, Ceylon and Kenya. It is one of the most popular blended teas and the most common form of tea in British tea culture. I don't know if this particular tea is a blend of the three types listed or it contains something else, but we will use this as our reference point.

The Persimmon Tree sells all their teas in nice tins. They seem to seal reasonably well, keeping the tea fresh for a long time. Cutting the tape from the lid and opening, I get an aroma that reminds me of cherry pipe tobacco and maple syrup. Honestly I was expecting this to have a very generic black 'tea' aroma. Why? Because I have had so many of them served in a paper tea bag and they all smell like 'tea'. So nice beginning here.

The Dry Leaf

Removing a scoop of leaf for examination reveals broken pieces of leaf. I do not mean fannings here. This is not the dust found in my previous mentioned paper bags. The broken pieces are typical of a good loose leaf English Breakfast tea. The idea is to brew up a quick, hearty, no fuss cuppa. They are generally served with milk and sugar. The leaf is dark brown and cinnamon in color.

I used about 3 g in my Bodum press with the water heated to the recommended 195 F. I steeped it for a little over two minutes. The recommended time is 3 - 5 minutes. I went short because Assam and Ceylon teas can tend to cause stomach burn with me. I always err on the side of caution with a new tea.

Early Morning Tea

The result is a deep orange cup that as it sits on my desk, with the light glittering through, it takes on a glowing ember look. Very cool. It is bright and while hard to see through, is not cloudy. The wet leaf has really expanded and has lost the cherry aroma in favor of a lightly malty smooth aroma.

After this cools, I take my first sip. I immediately realize I could have steeped longer with out fear. This is very smooth. I thought it would be more throat grabbing and harsh. I will try another cup later at full boil and at least a three minute steep to see what I get, as I imagine most people would prepare this, by default, with out reading the instructions.

For now, lets deal with what I have before me. As I say, the first reaction is smooth. I don't get robust or brisk as much as comfortable. There is a definite peppery note in the background. It is not hot and spicy, just flavorful. It is also lightly malty. The aftertaste is pleasant and lingering. It does cause a wee bit of tongue tingle and a tad more cheek tingle. It is moderately drying, because it is English Breakfast tea after all.

A Pile Of Wet Leaf

I find I like this, however, please know I am not keen on most English Breakfast teas. Why? Because I generally find them on one hand too beige, an on the other a bit too brutish. This has a little more color and is slightly more refined. That may or may not be what you are looking for in this type tea. It is what I like.

Now as promised, for the second mug I used the same amount of new leaf (3 g) and brought the water to a full rolling boil (212 F / 100 C). I am feeling brave and let it steep for 4 minutes. My guess is the average morning tea drinker will come closer to using these parameters than the recommended ones.

The brew is only slightly darker than before, looking more ruby red. The aroma of the wet leaf is about the same. The taste difference is not nearly as significant as I expected. It is more robust than before but still remains more or less smooth. The pepperiness combines with the increased briskness to give this just a touch of an edge. I have to admit, I kind of like it this way as well. It appears this is a very forgiving tea. That is something I need in a morning cup. Even with the increased temp and time it did not seem to cause stomach burn in me. I still would not trust it on an empty belly when bagels are just a toaster away, but that's just me :)

You can find The Persimmon Tree's English Breakfast here.

The Persimmon Tree, Biodynamic Darjeeling

Biodynamic Darjeeling

The Persimmon Tree Description:
Famously known as a “champagne of teas”, this exquisite black Darjeeling tea has been hand picked and artisan processed from the steep slopes of India's Darjeeling Hills. It is a rare treat to experience this pure Darjeeling tea outside of India. Combined with a bold apple and fresh floral taste, one cup of Biodynamic Darjeeling tea will awaken your senses.

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree

My Review:
For today's review I have selected a classic black tea. At the same time, Darjeeling is not as familiar to a lot of tea drinkers as English Breakfast or even Irish Breakfast. So sit back and we'll see if we can figure out what makes this tea the  “champagne of teas”.

Opening the tin I am met with an aroma that at first simply says tea. Warm comforting tea. Giving myself a moment to breathe it in, and it begins to remind me of tobacco. Not harsh cigarette or ashes, but the sweet fruity air of a fine pipe tobacco leaf.

The Dry Leaf

Next removing the leaf for examination, noticeable color variations abound. It ranges from olive, through tan, cinnamon, and dark brown.

For today's tasting I used my Bodum glass press and water heated to 185 F per the recommendation found on the product web page. The leaf amount I used is about 2 tsp for a 10 ounce mug of water. I steeped for 3 minutes.

The result is a hearty brew of bright reddish orange. As the mug cools it does become darker. The cup aroma is fruity.

A Hearty Mug

The taste is bold straight black tea. It has a nice amount of side tongue tingle. I detect no bitterness. Despite the tongue tingle it does not seem particularly drying. There is a nice light maltiness in the fruity aftertaste.

The Persimmon Tree description says this has a bold apple taste. Once the idea is in my head, I can see that, but it probably would not have entered my head on my own.

To me it is more woodsy. Like fresh summer leaves. I do pick up the fruity notes. I associate this with grape leaves. Now partly, this is because many websites describe the main characteristic of Darjeeling tea as having a Muscat grape aroma and taste. So yes, I admit, it is slightly programmed into me to sense it.

Honestly though, you don't have to examine the taste long to pick up on the Muscat flavor - especially if you examined the wet leaf before sampling the tea.

The leaf expands nicely and reveals various sized pieces and some whole leaves. The color is muddy brown like leaf lifted out from a fresh running creek bed.

Wet Leaf

It may seem odd to some of you to rummage through your wet leaf, but I find it to be part of the whole ceremony or even celebration of a cup of tea. Further, I love to watch the leaf steep. That is why I generally use clear glass brewing instruments. It deepens my appreciation of the liquid in my cup.

Back to the leaf, here the wet leaf seems strongly scented and almost coffee like when it is very hot. As it begins to cool the grape like notes of fruit and also a woodsy floral combination present themselves.

After writing the review, I added sweetener just to see how it would react. It takes it well if you have a super sweet tooth, but honestly it doesn't need it, as nothing new comes out in the taste. I would assume likewise if you are a milk person, this would take to it kindly.

I found this to be a solid Darjeeling offering. You can find Biodynamic Darjeeling here.