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This tea had a me confused for a moment. There was a typo on my package naming this “Amber Dragon (Bai Hao).” I knew that Bai Hao was Oriental Beauty, so I searched their website and Amber Dragon actually doesn’t exist, so I’m not sure where it came from. I deduced that this was their Oriental Beauty/Bai Hao.

This has been the most balanced/neutral brew I’ve ever had. I opened that package to reveal a variety of colors. These small summer leaves ranged from light brown to silver tips. They carried a darjeeling alike aroma of muscatel and sweet grass. I brewed these in my gaiwan. I washed them once to release their honey almond aroma. The reason I say that this was a neutral tea is that my steeping time never increased. I kept a consistent 30 second steeping. It had a very plateau palette of flavor. They were heavy flavors of nut and roast. I could hint at a sweet honey undertone, but this was very faint. This brew was a lot heavier than I thought it would be. If I steeped it shorter it would not have flavor, and if I steeped longer it would go south. I was amazed at the fact that I could continue a steady half minute steep time. The flavors did not fluctuate and even the bronze shimmer of the liquor maintained its color. This was an interesting brew. I did not find it incredibly good, but it also was not terrible. It was completely balanced.

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This is one of those teas I wish I could just sit and sip all day long! Sadly, I wasn’t able to get a days worth of steeps out of this.

I expected to open the package and revel long frosty tendrils of black and blue. Instead, I am greeted with an almost darjeeling/nepal green tea look alike. These beautiful leaves were a variety of colors. I could see long luscious golden leaves with black embers. I was very excited to begin tasting. The dry leaves carried a faint scent of roasted spice and sugarcane. I brewed these in my gaiwan, and I actually worked backwards on steeping times to start. I washed them once and the aroma they gave off was oh so good! My tea room was filled with a sharp crystal honey scent. I brewed at 50, 15, 30, 60… second intervals. At the first sip I was hooked on this gorgeous brew. I could taste a smooth creamy vegetal with a nutty undertone. It reminded me of a nepal green tea. The next steeping actually shocked my mouth with an encompassing honey mouthfeel. I could feel my taste buds tingle. This truly is a delicious brew! The steeped leaves carry a sweet forest scent. This drink has an essence of a forest floor in spring after a rain storm. It was floral, vegetal, and with a background of roasted almonds. This was a well rounded drink, and I’m so happy about my purchase. I was only able to get about 8 steepings out of my gaiwan. Again, I really wish i could just sit, sip, and enjoy this for the day :)

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This is the last sample from my Divinitea batch. I decided I could use a little green before work. I didnt want to bust out my Kyusu, so I threw this blend in my mug.

The leaves have small dried peaches in them and of course carry a strong peach tone (who’d have thunk). The actual tea has a different aroma. It smells of rotted leaves with peaches under them. It has a weird bog scent. The tea’s flavor follows suit. It has a spoiled peach undertone that is covered with a dry grass flavor. I could also describe it as wet hay with peach Crystal Light sprinkled on top. This isnt my cup of tea…

What a delicious brew! I love rock oolongs! I wish I had just a little more of this, so I could have brewed in my yixing. I guess my gaiwan will have to do.

I wanted something calm and relaxing before I went to sleep, and I knew I had just a little bit of this left. I had to pull off some detective work in figuring what this was. I used process of elimination of Divinitea products to determine it. Upon brewing I know for a fact that it is Ginger Lemon Mint, hahah.

This is a nice blend. There is nothing unordinary about it or special. I think the fact that it is organic causes the flavors to be more clear and prominent. The initial sip is a strong mix of ginger and lemongrass. You can hint at a slight mint tone in the background of this brew. The aroma from my mug smells like a powerful natural cold medicine. Its off putting to be drinking this in fit health. I hope this doesn’t jink me hahah. This blend is otherwise a casual blend. Its a good thing for night time quick sip.

Thank you Blodeuyn again for this :) This will be the last sample.

I was saving the best for last. This tea was promoted to be the classic of the company, and this is what put them on the map. I knew it would be good!

The aroma coming from this package was amazing! These leaves carry the scent of a true vanilla. I define a true vanilla as one that is not a sugary sweet flavor that is often associated with the color white, but a bold dark taste that is a balance of sweet and malt. I brewed this dessert in my glassware western style. I didn’t wish to use gongfu on flavored teas. My glass gave off an enticing cloud. It was a floral vanilla but with an undertone of oiled fine wood. I took a sip of this delectable treat, and I now know why this is so popular. The flavor started as a smooth syrup with a honey mouthfeel. The flavor was dark mahogany with a sugarcane sweetness. This flavor continued into various others, ever changing. I could hint at dried plums, black cherries, and a slight floral. This bouquet of flavors was wrapped up in a complex blend. The finishing taste was that of the true vanilla side by side with a tone of milk chocolate. I also indulged in my shortbread cookies (website recommended) which maximized the flavor. This brew carries some amazing flavors, and it lasts well into multiple steeping.

I am never a person for flavored teas, especially when they are sweetened. I think they taste too artificial, or the flavors masks the actual tea. This blend I believe was done right, exceptionally right. I guess I should never say never :)

Thank you blodeuyn for this beautiful tea!

This is a strange (in a good way) brew for me. I saw these gorgeous curls on the website and knew I wanted them. I love Yunnan Blacks! I especially love the golden ones. I was lucky to have been given this, so I brewed with anticipation.

I opened the package to take in the scent of these snails. I was hit with a whiff of an anise sugar cookie, or an italian cookie for those that know what I’m talking about. It reminded me of the ones my nannie used to make when I was younger. I used my mini gaiwan for these little guys. I washed the leaves and then brewed in 15, 30 alternating second intervals (5,15,30,60,75…). The aroma of these critters was amazing! I was surrounded by sweet maple and malt syrup. I poured out my cups and drank it in. The initial sip was surprising. I expected a Yunnan malt and with a background of sugarcane sweetness. Instead, I was greeted with a crystallized honey mouthfeel and slight undertone of maplewood. This brew was incredibly light and fluffy. I expected the malt to come out in later brews, or I thought even the baked bread flavor would show. I never experienced these classic Yunnan flavors. I loved the atmosphere this tea created. This is why this brew was strange to me. I am in no way complaining haha. I actually added more leaves in my gaiwan in mid brew. I thought I might have underscored it the first time. I guess thats just how this brew is. The wet leaves gave me my dose of malt that I needed. The malt and bold flavors must of been trapped in the steam; because my tea room had a heavy mood. I love this tea, and I think it would be a perfect crowd pleaser. I’ll have to break this out at the next gathering :)

Thank you Bloeduyn for this spectacular blend!

I received this by accident actually, hahah. This blend was confused with Elderwood, which I will hopefully stumble across someday. Upon tasting, this was a wondrous mistake and I’m very glad that it happened!

I brewed this in my glassware and prepared for what I assumed to be a chai. I gave the dry leaves a light whiff and was surprised by a dark fruit chai. I could hint a currant tone. The boiling spring water hit this leaves with a light sizzle. My cup released vapors of a autumn walk in the woods at dusk. I could scent a sweet caramel and sap aroma. I took a testing sip and analyzed my senses. I thought of an early morning breakfast in the forest. I could taste the buckwheat pancakes stacked high as the sun rose. The hot syrup poured over these caked wafted in the air. This sweet maple tone then turned into a slight spice. It was a hearty clove and brisk cinnamon. The finish was the currant I had noted earlier. It was a ripe berry rush that surrounded the aftertaste. It has a deep undertone of root and moss. The second steeping had the flavors swapped. I tasted spice dominant with undertones of the sweetness. I enjoyed this brew and the places it took me.

I think I have a new favorite company. So far, I have vocalised a “wow” sensation every steeping of each blend. I had a feeling that this company had some choice tea, but I didn’t quite know until I experienced them. I am fascinated with their creativity and description. I love the work that goes into these and the thought that follows.

I like it :)

Good morning! I wanted a warm drink to wake me up and this was it! The leaves look similar to that of other chai. The only distinct difference is the yerba mate within the variety of herbs. I brewed it in my mug as I got ready for the day. Its a very smooth chai with little spice. The most distinct flavor is the cardamom which calms out the brew. The scent is strongly of cloves and spices. This wasn’t a bold chai and would be perfect for people just starting on the chai road. I enjoyed it and it worked to get me pepped up for the day. I love the smell of chai in the home before the day begins :)