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Tie Guan Yin Master Grade Oolong Tea from Yezi Tea is an Oolong from the famed tea growing region of the Nanhu Mountain Range. To brew this beauty I decided to go all out, sitting outside on a warm sunny day with my Yixing pot, my vintage Chinese tea bowl, and all my fancy Gong Fu tools. I don’t use my Yixing nearly as often as I would like to, something I plan on rectifying in the future. The aroma of this Tie Guan Yin is nothing short of heavenly, very floral and sweet. I mainly notice orchids and honeysuckles but for an extra treat I can pick out the aroma of scuppernongs. As an afterthought there is a tiny wisp of green, similar to spring time vegetation and an even more scant ghost of honey. This tea’s aroma very much so embodies ideal of Spring.

I was very fortunate to get multiple awesome steeps out of this tea, so I will start with the first soaking of the leaves. The aroma of the brewed leaves is slightly nutty with strong floral notes. There is also a tiny hint of a roasted aroma in the leaves. The liquid is mostly floral, primarily orchid, but there is also a slight hint of vegetal, like spinach. The taste is very smooth and mild! Intensely floral like honeysuckles or possibly lilacs. The tea tastes very clean and fresh, just like a tiny bit of spring time in my mouth. The aftertaste is one of orchids.

The second steep brings in more of a roasted aroma to leaves and a stronger floral aroma to the liquid. The taste of the tea brings in more of a green, vegetal tone. Somehow the tea seems cleaner, like it purifies the water. It reminds me of fresh spring water with a tiny taste of the moss growing near it. Having drank from a mountain spring (it was significantly colder than hot tea) the similarity is surprising.

The third steep brings in even more of a roasted chestnut aroma and it is very heady. The liquid has the aroma of orchids, but instead of being freshly opened these are orchids that have been sitting in the sun for hours and start to have that old flower sickly sweetness. The taste is intense! Best steep of the set, it manages to be intense but still mild (ah the magic of Oolongs) the flavor is mildly roasted chestnut at first and then it fills your mouth with intense orchid. The aftertaste is mineral-like, bringing in the mountain spring imagery from the previous steep.

The fourth and final steep, I notice that the leaves have lost most their aroma but what is left is sweet and evocative of honeysuckle. The taste is sweet and floral bringing out the honeysuckle notes that were in the aroma. There is also a slight mid taste of roasted chestnut and then lastly an aftertaste of mineral spring water. This tea was fascinating and very enjoyable, it was like I journeyed through early Spring with the first steep and traveled through to Midsummer. I recommend seeking this tea out if you want a very different experience with each steep.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2013/10/yezi-tea-tie-guan-yin-master-grade.html

Today I am reviewing another tea by Tea Forte, Cherry Marzipan,a Green Tea blended with Rooibos, Cherry Flavoring, Raspberry Leaves, Almond Flavor, Berry Flavoring, Superfruit Berry Flavoring, and Acerola Cherries (all organic and natural flavorings). I love cherry almond as a smell, for years I used a soap that had that scent and so did my mom so to me it is extremely nostalgic. Instant happy aroma points! Oddly I have never had this combination as a food/drink, I love cherries, I love almonds, but never had them together so this tea excited me. The aroma is very VERY sweet, lots of cherry and almond. It is a great mixture of tart cherries and sweet, nutty almonds. The only problem is I do not smell any tea at all, you could have told me this was just a fruit tea and I would not be at all surprised.

Once the teabag is popped in its hot water bath and given a nice steeping the aroma mellows out a bit. It is still a sweet mix of almonds and cherries (with almonds being more prominent) but there is also a tiny hint of leafy green under all that sweetness. The blend is really smooth and is pleasing to my olfactory bulb.

This tea is surprisingly mellow and smooth! There is absolutely no tartness like some cherry teas can have, and no bitterness like some almond teas can have, bravo for a good blend! The almond is the most prevalent taste and the cherries take the back seat while a hint of hay like green peaks through. I wish the tea would have been a little sweeter, like marzipan and not just almonds, but that was easily rectified with a bit of sugar. There, now it tastes like cherries and marzipan with green tea. This tea is not bad, it certainly gets points due to the nostalgia factor, but I could see myself sipping on this tea when I want to drink tea without having to think about it.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2013/10/tea-forte-cherry-marzipan-green-tea-tea.html

This cold…allergies…bronchitis…thing is really knocking me off my feet. I think I spent the majority of yesterday as an amorphous blob on the sofa trying to play Minecraft. And when it became too hard to focus on Minecraft I downed some PM Cold & Flu medicine and became an amorphous blob in my bed. I think I have spent the past month in one constant state of physical misery and would like to go on the record to say I would like a vacation from my body now. Good news though, we had our first freeze last night so if it is allergies that means they will calm down soon. Today I am reviewing a tea from my notebook because I cannot do a new tea justice with this sore of a throat.

Today’s tea is a Japanese tea from Upton Tea Imports, one Ku-Ki Ho-Ji Cha, a hojicha that is made from kukicha (or as some might know better, twigs) and predictably roasted. I love hojicha (or houjicha) it is probably one of my favorite Japanese teas because it has a huge comforting effect for me. I first discovered it in the form of tea bags when I was recovering from gallbladder surgery and it was so soothing. It has become a go-to tea when I am under the weather or just in need of some liquid comforting. Holy Roasted Sticks, Batman! The aroma of this tea is intense, almost too intense. All I can smell is the intense roast aroma and no real nuances of the leaves (err, actually twigs) it is one of those kick in the face sort of aromas. I should point out it is pleasant, just make sure you sniff it from a distance. Consider yourself warned!

As to be expected introducing the twiglets to some hot water mellowed their aroma out a bit. There is still a strong roasted aroma but it is now joined by notes of earthiness and malt. There is also a very tiny hint of caramelized sugar that sneaks in as an afterthought and following it is a touch of astringency. The stick-less liquid is much the same as the steeped leaves, milder with an added sweetness to the aroma.

Points to Upton for having one of the strongest hojicha I have yet tried! I should point out that the flavor that is so strong is a sweet roast with only a tiny tiny hint of smoke. There is also an underlying taste of pine needles that leaves a lingering sweetness on the tongue. Imagine the distinctive taste of roasted marshmallows with only a quarter of the sweetness and a hint of pine needles and you have this tea. As the tea cools it takes on a slightly vegetal aftertaste similar to green beans. How does this compare to other hojicha? Well for one it is made from roasted twigs which seems to make it a touch sweeter and less vegetal than the typical roasted bancha leaves. I like it, I will keep it on my hojicha arsenal and certainly say it is among my favorites.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2013/10/upton-tea-imports-japanese-ku-ki-ho-ji.html

You all probably know by now that I like trying new things, especially if they are unusual or outside of my comfort zone, especially when it comes to foods and drinks. When I was window shopping for new teas to try I ran across Red Leaf Tea a company that specializes in fancy flavored Matcha. I admit, I did a double take, flavored Matcha? I have never heard of that but I was immediately intrigued, especially when I saw the awesome sale the flavor I am reviewing today was having. I had to try it and see what I think about flavored Matcha.

Caramel MATCHAccino is a fancy blend suitable for making Matcha Lattes (I admit I am a barbarian, this is my favorite way to drink Matcha) all I need was milk, ice, a blender, and whip cream. sadly I did not have any whip cream and I loathe ice in things (too cold, my teeth are super sensitive to that) so I just whipped up a milky blend. Before I get to the blending I should describe the aroma when I open the bag, and what an aroma it is! Intensely sweet caramel aroma just wafts up and gently slams you in the nose, and I say that as a compliment. With just the powder I do not smell much in the way of Matcha, just caramel sweetness.

Adding the milk and mixing it up the aroma becomes more like caramelized sugar rather than caramel candies, which I prefer actually. I had an incident when I was younger involving a tub of caramel sauce and just can not find the same pleasure as I once did. There is also more of a Matcha aroma as well, fresh and green and very distinctive. One of my favorite smells!

First I am going to try the drink cold since you can have it both ways (woohoo! versatility!) first thing I notice is creamy sweetness and then Bam! Matcha flavor! The taste is grassy and green and the caramel is like caramelized sugar. In fact I would say that this drink tastes like a Matcha flavored Flan! I need to make one of those now. I should also note that this drink feels really good on my sore throat.

Next is warm. I should apologize for the photo, I was a good ways into drinking it before I realized I forgot to take the blasted thing. The first thing I notice is that the aroma is much creamier and even more like a Flan. The taste is very rich and creamy, I would go so far as to say decadent. The taste of the Matcha is much more distinct and the sweetness takes on a burnt sugar taste and a bit of sugar cookies as well. I am not sure which of these versions I prefer since they are both really good! My first foray into flavored Matcha was a success and I am certainly intrigued to try some of my favorite flavors mixed with Matcha. Anyone want to take a guess at which flavor I am most likely to try next?

Blog and photos here: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2013/10/red-leaf-tea-caramel-matchaccino-tea.html

Today I am reviewing an herbal blend by Yogi Tea, Honey Lavender Stress Relief to be exact. I am not stressed but a little bit of relaxation would certainly be nice. This tea is a blend of Rooibos, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Spearmint, Lemongrass, Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon Myrtle, Sage, Passion Flower Extract, Stevia Leaf, and Natural and Organic flavorings. The aroma is sweet and minty with delicate undertones of lavender. The tea is only a touch floral and an even smaller hint of grass, there are also bright wisps of lemon balm. To me the aroma is very wintry, like when a novel describes the air as smelling like winter I imagine it being a mix of mint, lavender, and citrus with a hint of sweetness, clean and bright.

As it steeps (and we get to see what neat little phrase is on the bag tag) the aroma is still fairly sweet but it takes on notes of vanilla. There are also grassy and herbaceous notes and of course a hint of floral. But what about the mint you are asking, no worries, it is still there but it has calmed down a good bit allowing other aromas to pop through.

The taste of this tea is sweet and mild, the sweetness is like vanilla, I am assuming it is from the Rooibos since it has that mild earthiness to it. There are also notes of floral and grass with a hint of herbaceous flavors. As it cools it becomes mintier and sweeter. This tea is very soothing for a sore throat and clears up my chest a bit (oh mint, you are so powerful) I do wish the lavender was a bit stronger and less of an afterthought since with a name like “Honey Lavender” I expect it to be one of the main flavors. Taste not matching up to the name aside, I feel relaxed and this tea tastes good. Time for lounging under a pile of fuzzy blankets and cats.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2013/10/yogi-tea-honey-lavender-stress-relief.html

PureTea by Raizana Teas was one of those instant ‘I have to try this tea’ the moment I saw it, the reason why is because it is formulated to detox the liver and aid in gallbladder health. I do not have a gallbladder, sadly about six years ago it up and died but my liver misses it and just does not know what to do with all its bile (the gall of some organs) so eating can cause it to freak out sometimes. The magical ingredients in this tea are Rooibos, Indian Sarsaparilla Root, Roasted Dandelion Root, Burdock Root, Milk Thistle, Stevia, Mango Flavors, and Chicory, all herbs that are supposed to be good at detox and gallbladder health. The aroma of this tea is sweet and very pleasantly herbal, I am always pleased when a medicinal tea actually smells like something worth consuming. It blends the leafy, earthy, and slightly bitter root aromas with a fruity tropical sweetness for really intriguing and clean smelling dry leaves.

Time to break in my nice new teacup! Once brewed the aroma of the Rooibos is much stronger, very earthy with a touch of sweet citrus. There is, of course, a strong herbaceous aroma that blends really well with the Rooibos earthiness. The liquid has creamy sweet notes which are a bit mouthwatering, also strong herbaceous notes. The aroma is a mix between a medicinal tea and a dessert tea, if only all medicine smelled so good.

Well, I can certainly say this is one of the best tasting medicinal teas I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. The flavor is a mix of tropical fruit (more papaya than mango) sweetness and Rooibos earthiness with a hint of fresh leaves. There is none of that bitter taste that a lot of medicinal teas have, it is a tea I can see myself drinking for pleasure and not just because I need it for health reasons. As the tea cools it takes on a honey sweetness as well. But with medicinal teas taste is not everything, how I feel is also important. The first thing I notice is my insides feel cooled, similar to the cooling effect of mint tea, it also seems to have a mild expectorant quality since my chest seems to be loosening up. I do not feel as ‘heavy’ as I had been feeling lately, my body feels cleaner, it also seems to be a mild diuretic so detoxing seems to be happening. I think I am going to have to add this as a daily tea since I also read that Indian Sarsaparilla is supposed to help with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriasis. If I am really lucky this tea will combat bile dumps after eating too, I guess I need to eat a really fatty meal and drink this tea immediately to find out.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2013/10/raizana-teas-puretea-tea-review.html

White Monkey Chinese Green from Single Origin Teas is a delightfully fuzzy tea. I reviewed a different White Monkey at the end of September and spent a large chunk of the review waxing poetically about Trichomes and how entertainingly diverse this type of tea is, I do really enjoy fuzzy teas. White Monkey fascinates me because it seems to have its velvety leaves straddling two worlds bringing the best characteristics of White Tea to a Green Tea. The aroma of this particular White Monkey has a touch of citrus sweetness that mixes with a paper like aroma I always associate with Pai Mu Dan. Yes, I said paper, trust me this is a huge compliment because I love the smell of paper, especially artisan Washi which is what I think some White Teas smell like. There are also very subtle notes of cedar and and fresh greenery.

It is time for the leaves to lose their fuzz and steep! The aroma of the steeping leaves is delightfully complex blending the delicate sweetness of citrus with artichoke and fresh greenery. The leaves lose their papery aroma and take on a more vegetal tone expected from a Green Tea. Once the leaves are removed the aroma of the liquid is sweet and vegetal mixing chestnuts and fresh spinach with a tiny note of green beans. The aroma of this tea is drool worthy, not just because the right side of my face is still numb, I promise.

I have fuzzies in my mouth, I love trichomes so much, they really are so wonderful. I have heard some people (my mother for example) say that the trichomes in tea are a bit much and make you cough but I have never had this problem, the only problem with fuzzy teas I have ever noticed is sometimes it makes my mouth itch just a little. The taste is initially savory, blending artichoke with a hint of spinach. The aftertaste is honey sweet with a little bit of an orange blossom sweetness lingering in the back of the mouth for a few moments. As the tea cools it takes on more of a chestnut taste. I decided to give this tea a second steeping and noticed that it has even richer, the mouthfeel becomes buttery and the chestnut taste is much more prominent. I would have taken a photo of the slightly paler second steep, but I forgot to not drink it all first, whoops! I really enjoyed this tea, it is subtle and refreshing, a tea I wish to sip while sitting outside on a spring day or with a delicate dessert. Now, if you will all excuse me, I am going to go brew up some more of it!

For Photos and Blog Post: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2013/10/single-origin-teas-white-monkey-chinese.html

There is an awesome tradition that my sweetheart started, taking me out for a special meal before any medical procedure. A nice reward for something I really dislike, and since I go for some more dental work on Thursday I requested sushi. No, dental work and sushi are completely unrelated but it was what I was in the mood for! Usually at my favorite restaurant (Kokoro Maki House for anyone curious) I get the Salmon and Vege Tempura rolls but tonight I decided for Vege Tempura and their very yummy Tofu Teriyaki, also some tea. My blogs always lead up to tea, don’t they? The tea arrived a nice shade of golden-green and completely unlabeled, I took a sip and then asked the server “Is the tea Bancha?” he replied that it was and it made me happy. I am getting better at this tea tasting thing!

And now apropos of nothing I am going to review a Chinese tea, debatable my favorite tea from China, in fact. Anxi Tie Guan Yin by Teasenz is a lovely tea from Anxi, Fujian and is probably my favorite Oolong (I am pretty sure everyone who reads my blog knows that Tie Guan Yin is my favorite). Neat fact for anyone who doesn’t know: Oolong or Wulong translates to Black Dragon, so yeah Tie Guan Yin Oolong translates to Iron Goddess of Mercy Black Dragon, this tea is totally metal. Terrible puns aside, the aroma of this tea is heavenly, richly floral and very heady. I would go so far as to say the orchid and gardenia floral aroma is so intense that it is intoxicating, I might need to lay down. It is very sweet, like honey and flower nectar which is fitting with the intensity of the floral. This might actually have the best aroma for a Tie Guan Yin that I have had the pleasure of inhaling.

I almost feel guilty putting these beautiful and wonderful smelling leaves in a water bath, what if it loses it aroma? That would be a crime! Hooray, I did not commit a crime, the aroma is still wonderful and takes on some interesting side notes. It is still honey sweet and intensely floral, but now there are buttery notes of chestnut and a touch of leafy green. This might sound a touch strange but the aroma has a creamy texture, a nose feel if you will. The liquid is very rich, it is even butterier than the steeped leaves and it has a hint of chestnut and after notes of honey.

Reading my notes on this tea in my notebook I am amused that the tasting part starts to list to an angle and becomes, well, sloppy, I think this is a mark of a good tea tasting! The taste is very buttery and smooth, I feel like my mouth is coated with happiness. The orchid is very intense and incredibly heady, it is disorienting with how intense the floral taste is. Imagine being in an orchid themed conservatory and breathing through your mouth, with each breath you can taste the orchids with the same intensity as the aroma. Towards the end of the taste there is a hint of herbaceous green similar to sage and an aftertaste of mineral water.

As to be expected I wanted another go with these leaves. The aroma of the liquid manages to be even more intense, the chestnut and heady orchids shine through and they are followed with little sparks of honey and gardenia. The taste of the tea is initially very sweet and strongly floral. Everything about the second steep is sweetness, the foretaste and the aftertaste, and a tiny hint of mineral. The mouth feel is still buttery until it reaches the back of the mouth where it takes on a bit of sharpness. I am not sure how but the tea gets even sweeter as it cools. There are different kinds of Tie Guan Yin, roasted and green, Anxi and Muzha, and one for all the seasons, it is a very versatile Oolong and each one I have tasted has a distinctive quality that links them together. This is possibly the best Anxi Tie Guan Yin I have had the pleasure of drinking and I do not give that statement lightly.

For blog and Photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2013/10/teasenz-anxi-tie-guan-yin-tea-review.html

Today is Columbus day, I do not like Columbus day because it means there is no mail, meaning my nice expected packages are just sitting at the post office instead of arriving in my greedy clutches. Also Ben’s college didn’t get a day off so that also made me sad. No matter, the day is almost done (well for some, I am rather nocturnal) and tomorrow I will have mail, for now though, there is tea!

The people at Buddha’s Herbs were kind enough to send me a sample of their Green Tea to review and I have to admit when I saw the ingredients of this tea I was intrigued. Green Tea with Chamomile, Thyme and Peppermint? Sounds like fun, and full of health benefits, but I have a confession: I do not drink tea for the health benefits, I drink it for the sensory pleasure. So, let us start with the olfactory analysis! The first thing I notice is the mint, as per usual with a tea containing mint its aroma is almost always the first thing that pops up. After the initial minty blast I start to notice a straw like aroma from the chamomile and a nice herbaceous note from the time, there is also a nice bit of vegetal from I assume the Green tea. I also noticed a hint of dill which made me think of pickle spices and makes me want to eat pickles.

Once I give the tea bag a nice hot bath the mint aroma calms down and the chamomile like straw aroma becomes more prevalent. The thyme is still present and very pleasant and mixes well with a mild green aroma. I am glad the mint is a little more calm since I was worried it would overwhelm. The tea still has a strong savory aroma, which I like.

This tea is very refreshing! The taste is a touch herbaceous and a tiny touch sweet. Luckily the mint is mild allowing the other flavors to shine through, and those flavors are rather herbal. The green tea adds a touch of mild vegetal (and I mean really mild) so mainly you taste the chamomile and to a lesser extent, thyme. As the tea cools the mint becomes stronger, giving it a cooling quality. I certainly think this tea would be great after a rich meal or on a hot day to cool you off, I think it would be good iced as well.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2013/10/buddhas-herb-green-tea-tea-review.html

This has been a weekend of constant interaction, the extreme introvert that is me is having a bit of burn out and in response to that, probably getting sick. Of course sickness can be alleviated somewhat with copious amounts of tea drinking, long soaks in a hot bath, and not coming out of my room for a few days. Yet another reason I need an electric kettle. Today we are going to look at a soothing tea, one filled with flowers and fuzzies.

Chamomile Rose Silver Needle White Tea by Teavivre is a beautiful tea blending Silver Needle from Fuding, Fujian, the chamomile is Winter picked in Sinkiang, China, and the roses are plucked in France during Autumn. When I saw this blend of tea and flowers I knew I had to try it, I was so glad they sent me a sample to try! The aroma is delightfully delicate and fresh, like flowers drying on a warm Summer day. I am not sure I have ever smelled a tea so evocative of the idea of Summer. The mix of heady rose and straw like aroma from the chamomile mixes very well with the dry, herbaceous aroma from the Silver Needle. Delicious and filled with the beauty of nature, that is a tea I will enjoy.

I love when I steep a tea and the aroma fills up the area I am in, it really heightens the tea experience and seems to make it last even longer than it would usually. The aroma is heavenly floral and herbaceous, the leaves take on notes of sage and thyme and are much stronger than the floral scents from the dry leaves. The liquid has very faint notes if sage mixing with the rose and chamomile aroma giving it a very clean feeling.

Time for the fuzzy trichomes to tickle my mouth, it is my favorite things about drinking Silver Needle tea. The taste is very clean and pure, it is a tea I would recommend drinking on a hot day or when you need a tea that refreshes you. I can certainly see myself putting this tea aside to drink when I feel feverish or too hot on the inside. The taste is also mildly sweet with a hint of the straw like taste of chamomile flowers, the Silver Needle carries on from the aroma and gives the tea a hint of a sage taste which blends well with the other flavors. But where is the rose you are probably asking, it is there at the end leaving a sweet floral aftertaste that will stay in your mouth for a few minutes. As the tea cools it becomes a little more sweet and a touch more floral. A very balanced and enjoyable drink filled with beautiful flowers.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2013/10/teavivre-chamomile-rose-silver-needle.html