Tea Rebel

Gongfu!

All the weird and wonderful experimental tisanes coming out of Georgia are so fascinating and worth a try, but the Blueberry Leaves may be my favourite – plus you can’t tell me that you didn’t scroll through these photos and not think this was black tea leaves. They really, really nail the visual. Steeped, there are definitely differences, but the thicker and more syrupy liquor they produce is really quite flavourful. Fruity, but in a more subdued way with woody undertones. Tastes of blueberry, unsurprisingly, but not particularly sweet. Maybe a little bit tangy and fermented in an almost more apple-y tasting way. It’s very, very round on the palate without a trace of tannin or astringency, which is perhaps what differentiates it the most strikingly from a black tea. That’s okay though – this tisane is it’s own thing, and that thing is delicious.

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6WfkjEuIqV/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWR9BoVuxck

Gongfu!

This is not my first time tasting straight blackberry leaf and I’m also pretty familiar with with them as an ingredient in blended/flavoured tea as well, so I did have some idea of what this tisane would be like. However, this Georgian production is definitely the largest “cut size” of blackberry leaf I’ve come across, and I feel as though that did have an impact on the taste. The liquor was thick and almost syrupy with darkly sweet hints of blackberry and cassis alongside a more medicinal herbal grassiness. Steeps out pretty quickly, but it’s unique and pleasant!!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3k53uqO4XZ/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMQvFDygYdQ

Gongfu!

Brewed this for the first time yesterday afternoon! It’s very smooth with a warm, golden profile of toasted grains and nuts and a clean, gentle sweetness that makes me think of fresh sugarcane. The stems of this tea are definitely more broken up and powdery than the kukicha that I drink more regularly, but other than a slightly less clarity to the steeped tea I really didn’t find there to be any substantial negative impact; and I can certainly live with a bit more cloudiness in the tea liquor!! Overall, definitely a really easy drinking tea that I’m happy to have added into my rotation of roasted green teas.

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3It8qGOsq3/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWYMPxxqLx4

This was a morning cuppa paired with an Amazing Spider-Man comic reread. Some old arcs, like Kraven’s Last Hunt, have been reprinted lately, so it’s been really lovely exploring or, in some cases, re-exploring them. I thought that not only was this a really lovely white tea, but it also paired quite nicely with this early morning deep dive. It was smooth and creamy with fresh green notes of cucumber pulp alongside tastes of condensed or steamed milk and a subtle cocoa finish. Crisp, cool, and calming – all the things I want in a good Shou Mei!! Plus, hot damn look at those tea leaves!! What a stunning, intense green colour!!

Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2fuFpYOdkq/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdCs72DUAs4

Got a modest tea order (first haul of 2024) with some interesting Georgian teas and tisanes… and also some kukicha, since I’m running a bit low on the one I drink more regularly. I’ve tried Georgian blueberry leaves before, which were processed in the style of black tea. It was a super wild and pleasant experience, so when I saw some of the other more experimental and unqiue herbal teas Tea Rebel was offering they were really calling my name. Plus, it was so convenient to be able to grab them all in on place instead of having to go on a scavenger hunt for all the funky and unique Georgian productions!!

I started with a mug of vine leaves, and though the loose leaf visual was a bit mulchy and unassuming, the flavour was quite lively!! More of a light to medium body but with a tangy, fruity flavour that made me think a bit of kombucha or apple cider vinegar. The undertone was just a bit earthy and vegetal, providing an anchor point for the bright and effervescent notes. My immediate thought was how refreshing this would be iced or cold brewed!!

Can’t wait to explore the rest of this order!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2az22PxWQo/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbl3NlkMVDQ