Shanti Tea

YAY!!!

YAY!!!!! I said…YAY!!!!!

I finally got my Blue Unicorn today and I am so excited! I won this on Shanti’s Facebook Contest!!! Woot!

I’m infusing 3 “horns” as suggested…

I completely agree with Cinoi that the pre-infusion scent is completely different than the during and post-infusion scent!

Pre – Sweet/Floral
During – Floral/Semi-Sugary
Post – Sweet Honey/Candied

This is a VERY hefty handcrafted leaf! Surely up to multiple infusions!

The Sip…
WOW!!!!
YAY!
I said…WOW! AND YAY!

Oh my! What a treat! VERY unique! VERY Sweet! Juicy! Clean and Crisp! Champagne-Like! Almost fruity but I am not sure what kind of fruit to compare it to! WOW!

I will be playing with this one as often as possible. This is also one I will be reviewing in greater length at SororiTEA Sisters…

http://sororitea.wordpress.com/

Probably within the next week or so.

Of course I am kind of bias because I LOVE Unicorns and that is partially why I chose this tea for my winning tea. I collect anything unicorns! I have well over 500 unicorn items!!!

I love everything about this tea, I really – REALLY – really do! :)

100.

YAY!

Like a little cup of heaven:) This was my first venture into jasmine dragon pearls, I have tried many different brands since then but Shanti is still my favorite. The scent, the flavour, the beautiful unfurling leaves…just wonderful! These leaves can be resteeped 1-2 times before they start losing flavour.

Still working on seasoning my yixing tumbler (according to Teavana guy, this is going to take about a year). So I am brewing my favorite oolongs (which aren’t all the same, I know that, but I am going for general oolong – the floral, crisp aroma, the nutty, clean flavor).

Today’s choice was some more Blue Unicorn. I have ordered this a few times, thoroughly enjoy it and always forget just how much I enjoy it. See previous note for tasting.

I received so much tea in the mail today, you would think it was my birthday (wink wink, nudge nudge). Of them, I was extremely excited to try this one and be the first reviewer on Steepster. I have to say, that all of the reviews (shantitea.ca) and hype (facebook) about this tea are completely justified! The tea is visually BEA-utiful: tiny spears of perfectly rolled tea, a dark color with highlights of silver (tips) and gold and cinnamon-red colors. The smell of the dried tea is very faint oolong, clean, light, wonderful.

I put three of the “horns” into my infusing basket, used water just below boiling (as I typically do) and infused hot for 4 minutes with no additives. The spears unfurled a little, in that time and released a new aroma; still clean and light, but a little more body and a typical sweet oolong scent. The liquor is pale yellow. The tea is almost divine, it is like no oolong I have had before, it is light, sweet, a slight crispness at the end of each sip with an overall cleanliness that is more typical of white tea. The slight undertones that are similar to champagne also help to round out the flavors.

Second infusion, same three horns, brewed hot, 3 minutes. Liquor, aroma and taste is similar, no overdone or “burnt” flavor of the oolong. Still wonderful.

Third infusion, same three horns, brewed hot, 2 minutes. Liquor is slightly lighter, but aroma and flavor remain unchanged.

This tea is so wonderful that it can only be harmed by additions. Absolutely wonderful-highly recommended.

So soothing, almost like mint and cloves combined. You don’t need to add anything to this tea, it has a gentle sweet taste on it’s own.