Westholme Tea Company

My first Canadian-grown tea! I bought a sample (10g for $35 y’all) mostly out of a desire to support the company, and also because I was really curious to know what it would taste like. Pretty great, as it turns out! Very fresh, crisp, vegetal flavours and aromas. Slight sweetness. Little to no astringency. Comparable to a nice long jing. I’m impressed.

This is another that I got out of the last TTB that I’m just now trying. It’s pretty unremarkable, with charcoal notes being the most prevalent flavor and aroma. Heavy amount of sediment in the cup. Not something I would try again.

Day 3 of the 24 days of Tea Herbal Edition from Westholme Tea Company:

Ah, a familiar one! I did order a bag of this about 4 years ago and went through it, enjoying it, but neglected to write a note on it! Well I will this time, this is a nice smooth cup of rooibos, I like the vanilla and lavender combo here, it is not overdone but helps tame the woodiness of the roobios quite nicely. I didn’t do any additives as this tea really doesn’t need them, but I could see honey going nicely in here. Very relaxing – this is a before bed go to. I enjoy this, and am happy to have it in my cupboard again.

Day 2 of the 24 days of Tea Herbal Edition from Westholme Tea Company:

This one I was leery of, since hibiscus and me are not good friends. It did end up being a bit too tart for my liking, even with honey. Next time I will tone down the steeping to 2 minutes – I did the recommended 5 minutes and while it was a gorgeous colour, it screamed hibiscus too much haha. I won’t judge it too harshly until I try the shorter steep time. No rating for now.

I ordered the 24 days of tea Herbal calendar from Westholme Tea Company this year for my advent calendar! I will try to keep up with logging them every couple of days or so :)

This was Day 1 – very spicy, very energizing for no caffeine due to it being spicy, and lovely and warming. I like chais, and this is a good caffeine free option. Would like to try it stovetop next! I did add a bit of honey to it :)

I could have sworn I’d reviewed this already, but I couldn’t find the listing.

Anyway, this is a few years old now and I’ve been trying to finish up all my older white and green teas. I’ve had this tea many times hot, today I coldbrewed it 5 minutes (1.5 tsp leaf/what was left with 250 mL cold water). It is nicely floral with well balanced jasmine and rose. The tea is on the whiter side, but still quite vegetal. I didn’t love it, but for a floral tea intended to be had straight, I think this is a good choice. Most of my rose teas are black teas intended to be had with milk. It was nice to have something else in my cupboard.

My package calls this tea White Peony, but I assume it is the same listing.

I finished this off last night as a coldbrew with milk, oddly enough. I’m not sure I’ve had a white tea as a latte before, but it worked well. Vegetal, classic white tea flavour. Nothing extraordinary about this Bai Mu Dan, just your expected flavours.

Roasted twig and creamy rose just don’t go together. I love kukicha and houjicha, however the vanilla bean doesn’t work at all. The metallic and Earthy smoky flavour clash with the rose.

Make sure to go for a shorter steep as the flavour gets weirder after 2+ minutes.

Day 24 – As someone who isn’t a massive green tea fan, I was a little apprehensive about day 24. But, Westholme really did save the best till last! This mix of canadian grown tea leaves and twigs has been cold smoked over big leaf maple chips to create a strong punch of smoke, layer over a subtle toasty green tea.

For more on my tea advent journey: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk/2017/12/02/advent-westholme-tea-farm/

Day 23 – A twiggy green tea, made from a spring sencha harvest, offering toasted flavours of green tea.

Day 22 – Although this tea has the classic muscatel characteristics of darjeeling, they are much less refined. Instead this tea has adopted a more robust and astringent quality.

For more on my tea advent journey: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk/2017/12/02/advent-westholme-tea-farm/

Day 21 – This is a matcha (tea leaves ground into a powder), made from white tea grown in Kenyan mountains. The aroma is much less grassy than the normal green tea matcha, with a delicate bouquet fragrance.

For more on my tea advent journey: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk/2017/12/02/advent-westholme-tea-farm/

Day 21 – Also known as “Nai Xiang”, which translates to milk fragrance, which is indeed reflected in the cup. The smooth creamy aroma and flavours, make it easy to see how this tea developed its name. Although, I once loved milk oolong, a string of fake (mainly flavoured) milk oolongs has ruined this wonderful liquid for me.

For more on my tea advent journey: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk/2017/12/02/advent-westholme-tea-farm/

Day 19 – A revitalising mix of lemon balm, hibiscus, licorice root. ginger and rosehips. The combination of powerful herbs is designed to uplift, soothe and restore. Before steeping the aroma is full of ginger. Disappointingly (for me at least), the flavour is less ginger filled, more licorice.
For more on my tea advent journey: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk/2017/12/02/advent-westholme-tea-farm/

Day 18 – I know I said I’m not the biggest fan of green tea, but there’s always an exception to the rule. Jasmine pearls are one of my ten. Anyone who follows the blog on the regular will know I had a slight obsession with jasmine in the summer of 2017 and just couldn’t stop writing about it. Anyway, these are very good. Perhaps not THE best I’ve had, but a close second with a succulent, dry, lasting flavour.

For more on my tea advent journey: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk/2017/12/02/advent-westholme-tea-farm/

Day 16 – Sharp, grassy and pungent. I’m ok with sencha, but I’ve never warmed to it in the way some people do (Hey, I already said I wasn’t a green tea gal). It’s ok, but I wasn’t stoked to see it the morning of day 16. Can’t win em all.

Day 15 – As I’m typing this up, DAYS after I opened day 15, I realise I have actually only have about 1 cups worth left. I LOVED this twist of the classic earl grey, consisting of orange peel, vanilla bean and bergamot oil. It’s sooo good! And all the better for having that sweet, creamy element of vanilla.

For more on my tea advent journey: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk/2017/12/02/advent-westholme-tea-farm/

Day 14 – A perfect evening concoction. This caffeine free blend feels GOOD. It’s relaxing and restorative, in a way I never really felt from mint or nettle. Winner.

For more on my tea advent journey: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk/2017/12/02/advent-westholme-tea-farm/

Day 13 – Apparently Lu Shan Yun Wu tea is fairly famous! Who knew? As I’m not the BIGGEST fan or follower of green tea, the fact I’ve never heard of it doesn’t surprise me. I wasn’t really looking forward to this one, but the sweet, slight toasted, slightly grassy flavour was pleasant enough that I would go back to it. Who knows, I might even finish the packet!

For more on my tea advent journey: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk/2017/12/02/advent-westholme-tea-farm/

Day 12 – I love a black tea and it’s always a delight to experience the rich, malty flavours of assam. I take mine steeped for 2 minutes, with milk. Please and thank you.

For more on my tea advent journey: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk/2017/12/02/advent-westholme-tea-farm/

Day 11 – The first oolong of advent! This semi-oxidised oolong is from the northern most point of the Darjeeling region. Though not quite as tasty as your average darjeeling, this oolong is nutty, buttery and still very yummy.

For more on my tea advent journey: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk/2017/12/02/advent-westholme-tea-farm/

Day 10 – “Gonna take some time to do the things we never had…” – Sorry, had to put that in, I’ve had it stuck in my head all. day. long. >.< Anyway, aside from my brain replaying song lyrics in my head… this blend of rooibos, lavender, vanilla bean and orange peel , was a delight! It smells sweet like marzipan, but once steeped the relaxation vibes come out to play.

For more on my tea advent journey: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk/2017/12/02/advent-westholme-tea-farm/

Day 9 – After recent bad experiences with puerh, I was excited to see how this mini puerh cake would compare. The actual quality of the leaf was pretty much dust, while the smell was distinctly earthy and not overly appealing. However… the taste more closely resembled a black tea, with an intricate addition of rich, earthy notes. I think it will take some getting used to, but overall a far better experience when compared to the mouldy, peaty flavour of other puerh.

For more on my tea advent journey: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk/2017/12/02/advent-westholme-tea-farm/

Day 8 – Grown at nearly 8000ft, this estate is one of the highest tea gardens in the world! The tea is characteristically bold and lively, giving it a great kick for a wake-me-up tea. Personally, I like a mild black tea, so I took this with good dash of milk.

For more on my tea advent journey: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk/2017/12/02/advent-westholme-tea-farm/