teakruthi

Thank you teakruthi for the sample. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a CTC type tea since I haven’t had a lot of experience with it and the experiences I have had weren’t great. However, this is quite nice. It’s strong and a touch astringent. As I drink, petrichor comes to mind, as well as the idea of wet and dark woods. It’s also a bit malty which provides a nice counterbalance to the other flavours.

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Thank you teakruthi for the sample!

Malt and lemon and a metallic twang at the end. This was alright but not a favourite. The lemon never quite worked for me and was always a little more pledge than citrus fruit.

This was a nice black tea but I didn’t get much lemon. I will try it again to see if I can coax out that flavor. Nevertheless, thank you teakruthi for the sample.

Thank you teakruthi for this sample. The plan was to write a Sororitea Sisters review for this but then my sister asked me to do something with her so that didn’t really happen. However, I sipped on this while talking with her and it was really good. I wasn’t paying it much attention but it made for easy drinking and went down real smooth. I hope to revisit it soon as clearly I enjoyed it.

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There is a lot more peach today than usual. I’m cool with that though. It’s a nice ginger peach balance that I’ve enjoyed each time I’ve had this tea. Hopefully Sil also enjoys it as I’m passing the rest of the sample on to her. Thank you teakruthi for the sample!

I don’t love this one. It’s got a briskness that for my tastes is drying. It’s fuller bodied and more sharp so based on my preferences, this is not for me. It’s not bad, just not my cup of tea.

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I was going to write Sororitea Sisters review about this tea but if I am being honest, there is not a lot to say about it. It’s a good tea but nothing particularly stands out. It is malty. Since it is called Southern Malt, I suppose that’s all it needs to be and it delivers.

In these quarantine times, I, like so many others, have watched many TikTok videos. I have also been trying a bunch of new recipes. Sometimes those two things converge, such as with the Dalgona coffee. Today it happened again as I attempted the one-pan egg sandwich that seems so simple when people cook it on the app.

As to be expected, it wasn’t so simple to makes and there were some kinks that I’ll need to correct next time but all in all, the sandwich was good. This tea, which is also good, accompanied the sandwich. Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/B-rvTUNAHpV/?igshid=17wmz9hg2348s

It’s sweet and malty. A little raisin, some baked bread, and some sweet potato. And malt. A lot of malt which is to be expected given the name. As it cools, it gets a touch astringent which gives it a leather sort of finish. Not life-changing amazing but still a solid black tea option.

Thanks again for the samples, Teakruthi!   A fantastic robust black tea here.  The leaves look unique to me — they remind me of the pelt of some feral wood creature for some reason.  Dark, wiry, short leaves with touches of gold.  It somehow just appears slightly different than a usual black tea! (Maybe I’ve been watching The Witcher and it is AMAZING.) The flavor is like the image.  Robust, tough, strong, wild, but also malty with touches of sweetness and a bit of starch.  Reminds me of leather somehow, in the best way and dark dried fruits.  It’s so mysterious yet the flavor notes really meld together well.  So drinkable and comforting. A black tea I’d give an award to.  Tough to describe the details, but simply perfection on that first steep today.  I did start drinking this in the morning and it makes a great morning OR afternoon tea.  The second steep wasn’t as special with either steep session.  The first session, I didn’t brew it at boiling like I normally would for the second steep of a black tea.  But the second session was more like how I’d brew a second steep and it was a little bit brisk, with the characteristics mostly like a drying coppery assam.  Both first steeps were FANTASTIC though.  With adjustments, I can probably make the second steeps just as good. This is exactly what I look for a strong black tea and I will certainly stock up.
With much embarrassment, I’m finally finished reviewing the teas from Teakruthi, since they were so kind sending samples a while ago. Most of the teas that I tried, I would definitely buy! ANNNNDDDD… I already went ahead and placed a smallish order since I already had rewards points to use anyway. I usually like to order from a shop if they send samples. It hooks me every time…. wish I had ordered a bit of this though. Next time! But Teakruthi is a new favorite tea shop, that’s for sure.
Steep #1  // 1 1/2 teaspoons for full mug // 14 minutes after boiling  // 2 minute steep
Steep #2  // 10 minutes after boiling //  3 min
Second steep session:
Steep #1  // 1 1/3 teaspoons for full mug // 23 minutes after boiling  // 2 minute steep*favorite steep
Steep #2  // 7 minutes after boiling //  4 min

I’m hoping everyone stays safe and healthy! Scary times.
Thanks for the samples, Teakruthi!  These leaves must be the largest that I’ve seen even in a white tea!  Impossible to measure with a teaspoon so I just threw a ton of leaves in the infuser.  Probably a small handful in my smallish hand.    I’ve tried this a couple times using different parameters.  The scent of the dry leaves is like the sweetest pile of hay in sunshine. The flavor is very light, so light it is tough to describe: light, full of minerals, smooth.  It’s like a blank slate of a tea, more than most teas I’ve tried, which can be a good thing or not depending what you’re in the mood to drink.  If you are simply craving a lovely white tea, this is a good one to try.  I had to steep it the way Teakruthi recommended, and really this is impossible to oversteep.  I will dock some points due to the comparisons between price & simpleness of flavor, however.
Steep #1   // 39 minutes after boiling  // 2 minute steep
Steep #2  // 16 minutes after boiling //  1 1/2 min
Second steep session:
Steep #1   // 28 minutes after boiling  // 2 minute steep
Steep #2  // 16 minutes after boiling //  5 minute steep
2020 sipdowns: 19 (David’s Glitter & Gold)

Thanks again for the samples, Teakruthi!  NOW Teakruthi has a great new rewards system on their already great free shipping and tea sales.  I love trying a new mint tea and with the black base here, it’s quite crisp and refreshing.  Plenty of mint mixed in — very fresh fragrance!  The black tea is on the lighter side so it’s tough to taste underneath that mint – too dark and deep and it might seem a bit odd with mint anyway.  But the black tea is a nice carrier for the mint when I’m craving it (or need it for headaches) while also offering a bit of caffeine. The ‘zen’ of the name is accurate – this is a very calming and soothing blend. The second steep is also full of flavor.  I guess I don’t see too many black mint teas that other companies sell, so this is a unique tea for Teakruthi to carry.  I have really been loving most of the teas I’m trying from Teakruthi and I’m glad I stumbled on the shop!
Steep #1 // 1 1/3 teaspoon for a full mug // 16 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 4 minute steep
2020 Sipdowns: 9 (52Teas – Pumpkin chai – Anne’s but still have Frank’s)

Thanks so much for the samples, Teakruthi!  I highly appreciate the actual peach pieces in this blend.  To a lesser extent, the ginger.  I’m just not much of a fan of ginger.  I wouldn’t mind a plain Ceylon with legions of peach added to the black tea.  The ginger takes over the flavor, leaving a bitterness, but also something savory that is reminding me of fennel or sage or some other spice I’m hardly familiar with.  Sadly the peach is hiding, though I made sure to get at least one noticeable piece of peach in the infuser.  Maybe someone steeping this one differently will have better luck with it.  I’d lose the ginger, personally.  But it has such a unique savory flavor, it’s like I’m sipping soup.  The second steep still doesn’t have much peach.  It might be TOO strong with 1 3/4 teaspoons.  It’s different!
Steep #1 // 1 3/4 teaspoons for a full mug // 17 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 3 minutes after boiling  // 3 minute steep  

The next day I wanted to try it again with a FLAT teaspoon to see if the bitterness would go away… not bitterness from the black tea at all but from all of this ginger.  The flavor was obviously less strong this time, still with that savory note, still not much peach — only wisps and hints of peach in the occasional sip.  It’s hard to taste the black tea underneath all this ginger, but it’s a good base for it.  I’d probably prefer this blend with 1 1/3-1 1/2 teaspoons.  It’s different but not something I’m eagerly wanting to stock up (too many other favorites from Teakruthi and again, ginger isn’t my favorite)… though I imagine down the line I will be remembering the unique flavor.
Steep #1 // 1 teaspoon for a full mug // 13 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled  // 3 minute steep

Latte Sipdown (284)

The last latte I had with this tea wasn’t good. When I had it, I had issues with all the milk I steeped so I think part of my not enjoying it was because of that.

This latte is much better. Sil would be a fan because the cardamom is the real star here. Creamy but with a whole lot of cardamom and warming spices. Also the whipped cream and chai sprinkles help make it that much better.

I brewed this as a latte and lately I find when I froth milk in my milk frother, it smells a little off. Not bad but off-somehow. I wonder why considering I clean it thoroughly after every use…

Anyways, I don’t know if it is the milk or the tea (steeped for 3 mins at 185F) that I am not enjoying. It’s not bad per se but I think cardamom is coming through more in the scent than anything and there is something floral about the latte in general I was not expecting. I am not a fan but I think this may be user error…maybe.

I caved and bought a few of my favourite teas from Teakruthi during their Black Friday sale, and also got a couple more samples to review. I was in the mood for a breakfast tea this morning, and this broken orange pekoe did the job. I steeped 2 teaspoons of tea in a 355 ml mug at 205F for 3.5, 5, and 10 minutes.

The dry aroma of these very broken-up leaves is of malt, honey, and green grapes. The first steep has notes of malt, honey, tannin, baked bread, wood, grass, and green grapes. I get a coppery, malty aftertaste. The second steep focuses on the malt, baked bread, and honey, and is actually a bit weaker despite its longer time. The final steep is surprisingly gentle for this type of tea and echoes the malt and honey in the second steep.

This is a nice breakfast tea with some distinctive Sri Lankan components (i.e., the flavour I identify as green grapes and that coppery aftertaste). It never gets too bitter, which is a plus for a BOP. I recommend it for mornings when you want something solid and uncomplicated.

Thanks to AJRimmer for the sample! Advent day #2

This is such an odd tea. It tastes like a wintermint/spearmint type tea but with a black tea base. It reminded me of wintermint lifesavers.

I usually enjoy white tea, but don’t drink it often for some reason. True to this pattern, I was eager to try a Sri Lankan white, but I’m posting this as my penultimate review for this company. Thanks to Teakruthi for the sample. I steeped two teaspoons of leaf in a 355 ml mug at 190F for 4.5, 6, and 10 minutes.

The dry aroma of these small, dark, not very typical white tea leaves is of autumn leaf pile and something tart. The first steep has notes of tart rhubarb, herbs, malt, autumn leaf pile, honey, and florals. The liquor is quite drying. The second steep is less tart and has a hint of rose, in accordance with Teakruthi’s description. The final steep is tart, floral, drying, and malty.

This is a pleasant if unusual white tea that’s more assertive than many similar teas from other countries. I can see people who don’t usually opt for white tea really liking this, as the malt and honey make it more akin to a black tea. While I can’t see myself drinking this regularly, I think its divergence from other white teas is fascinating.

I like chai teas on occasion, and was glad to get this cinnamon version to review. Thanks to Teakruthi for the sample. I steeped around 4 g of leaf in a 355 ml mug at 203F for 4, 6, and 10 minutes.

The dry aroma is of strong, woody cinnamon. In the first steep, the cinnamon is the star, and is strong but not too sweet. It’s the kind of cinnamon that gets put into baked goods, and it’s making me hungry! The black tea is malty, woody, and not astringent. The next two steeps continue the nice balance between cinnamon and black tea, and even brewed for ten minutes, the astringency is minimal.

This is a simple, well-executed cinnamon tea that I really enjoyed. It’s not particularly spicy and calling it a chai might be a stretch, but I guess it fulfills the same warm, cozy niche.

Thanks again for the samples, teakruthi!  The leaves here don’t look like a traditionally rolled, pebble type of oolong.  There are some longer pieces.  The description is confusing, as it mentions being green, not an oolong, and I think some might end up being disappointed if they’re looking for a typical oolong flavor, as this definitely tastes like green tea to me.  It tastes very similar to the Mythical Green tea, with that smoky, mildly spicy profile.  But now that I’m actually realizing that this is a green tea, before the second steep, I was treating it like an oolong and brewed it with close-to-boiling water, rather than waiting a while to prevent bitterness.  So now I’m very surprised this didn’t become bitter at all, since it tastes green and I brewed it like an oolong.  It tasted like a normally cooled-then-brewed green tea.  So what makes it an oolong over a green tea? I’m not sure.  But this isn’t the flavor I’m really looking for in an oolong either way.   I’d choose the Mythical Green over this one.  However, the descriptions say both teas aren’t even grown in the same area, so I could be very wrong about the similarities and I could not be steeping either tea correctly.  So it’s always worth brewing them yourself and giving them a try!
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 28 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 3-4 minutes after boiling  // 2 minute steep

Another sample from Teakruthi!  Thanks so much. This is fantastic stuff.  Any lemon fan — you need to try this!  It’s so fresh and bright, and does have that hint of sweetness that makes it KANDY.  But really, it comes from the Kandy district in Sri Lanka, so that makes the name of the tea accurate as well.  The black tea is perfect with this lemon.  It tastes like fresh lemon, squeezed into the tea. Wow.  The second steep was somehow very light in flavor — maybe I steeped it stronger in the first cup.  If the second steep was stronger, this would be a perfect tea.  If you’re looking for a lemon black tea, this might be the best lemon tea I’ve ever had.  Unlike the Vanilla Earl (which I sipped recently), which is fickle, this tea is very straightforward and exactly as described.
Steep #1 // 1 1/2-2 teaspoons for a full mug // 16 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
Steep #2 // 4 minutes after boiling  // 3-4 minute steep  

Edit: with the black friday sale, this tea would be around $5 for 100 grams! Their prices couldn’t be better! Free shipping is at $20…

Thanks so much for the samples, Teakruthi!  Honestly, personally I usually consider Ceylon to be the most boring of black teas… sometimes they just taste like cardboard to me… so a tea shop focusing on Ceylon didn’t sound great in my opinion.  BUT I’M WRONG.  These are unique Ceylon teas… completely disproves my Ceylon tea stereotypes. This plain black Ceylon tastes nothing like those poor quality Ceylon teas I’ve had in the past.  The quality obviously depends on many things.  Teakruthi is quality. A Twinings Ceylon is going to be very very different.   I really like this one.The dry leaves are about half an inch long, dusty black with hints of pink.  The fragrance of the dry leaves reminded me of a spicy tomato sauce… I had been thinking of pizza all day.  Hmm.  But the flavor wasn’t too much like a spicy pizza sauce.  I noticed almond, which is interesting because Teakruthi also mentions almond.  I like being reassured that someone (anyone?) is on the same page I am, when it comes to flavor notes.  There is a definitely a sweetness here.  Strong enough with a teaspoon and a half.  The “morning” in the name is accurate – this is a fantastic flavor profile for a morning tea.   Steep sessions can range from reminding me of a brisk Assam, to sometimes tasting like a Ruby varietal. I do love a good Ruby tea, so this tea is certainly many steps above the usual boring tastes-like-nothing-to-me Ceylon.  The second steep was a little bitter and I wouldn’t try steeping it so hot and so long again.  That’s my fault.  The first steep was delectable.  During another steep session, the second steep was just fine after waiting 3-4 minutes after boiling.  Thank you Teakruthi, for solidly proving to me that not all tea grown in the same place can fall under the same quality. 
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 15 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 3 minute steep

Thanks so much for the samples, Teakruthi!  I felt terrible with my internet down not being able to get to reviews of teas from various tea shops.  It seems like I acquired quite a handful before my computer broke.  And then I feel like my chlorine sink water is ruining teas, so I really would like to figure that out before I’m posting reviews of teas.  However, I feel like I should do a couple, as it has been a while!
I was all in for a vanilla Earl Grey!  There seems to be many flower petals here… maybe too many… certainly more flower petals in my sample than the photo.  I do like my Earls brisk, and this Ceylon may be a little too light for my tastes, even with closer to two teaspoons.  I have certainly had worse bergamot teas, but this one seems more like lemon.  Sadly, not much noticeable vanilla in the fragrance or flavor.   As the tea cools, it is more of a smoky flavor somehow, with the bergamot turning to a lemon rind sort of flavor.  Somehow the tea and lemon are stronger, when the cup is cold?  But not astringent.  The second steep is stronger and more to my tastes.  Earl Greys are difficult to please, as well as vanilla teas, so with the added difficulty of both of these types of difficult to make perfect for me, this one is tough to love.  It’s not a bad cup, anyhow! 
Steep #1 // 1 3/4 teaspoons for a full mug // 14 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled  // 3-4 minute steep 

I’m eyeing a couple teas on DAVIDStea’s sale (Chagas, Movie Night, Cookie Dough) , but they already took down Sweet Potato Pie!  The day after Thanksgiving?!?!  I really like that Birch Gold Dipped mug too…