gramarye1971 Send Message

Reasonably mild for a single-note peppermint tea. Might disappoint some who are looking for an extremely fresh or minty taste, though it works for casual sipping.

Robust Earl Grey flavour layed on fragrant rooibos. A much better alternative than some of the decaffeinated black tea Earl Grey concoctions out there.

A solid and serviceable sencha, fine for everyday drinking or for blending with other teas, but remarkably overpriced for what it is on its own.

A very citrus-y aroma, both before and after steeping, raises the unfortunate suggestion that the green tea itself isn’t very high quality, or at the least is not assertive enough to be anything more than a backnote to the citrus. However, the finished product is very drinkable on its own, or with spicy or savoury foods that call for an astringent accompaniment.

Made a valiant effort to produce the right floral notes, but suffered from its flat and slightly bitter taste. Could be used as a blending tea, but does not hold up well on its own.

(Granted, this tea had been poorly stored in a friend’s cupboard for the greater part of a year, so a more recent and better-cared-for purchase might have a different taste.)

Similar to a Darjeeling, but with a lighter body and simpler finish. Not quite as aromatic as it could be, though it may benefit from extended steeping.

One of the more basic generic jasmine teas out there — inexpensive, frequently served in Thai and Vietnamese restaurants. Very strong (almost overpowering) jasmine flavour, perhaps to cover the relative weakness of the tea, but subtlety is not really something to be concerned about for a tea of this nature. Perfectly acceptable for day-to-day drinking (especially in the bagged form in situations where looseleaf isn’t a viable option), as long as it isn’t steeped to the point of bitterness.

I was a little disappointed at the first cup, which seemed to be a good but unremarkable black tea, but after about five or six minutes of steeping the second cup revealed a rich, complicated set of flavours, with a particularly strong blend of malty caramel and wheat toast. Definitely benefits from extended steeping time.

Fine amber colour, pleasantly malty though not overpowering scent. Well suited to its name — the taste holds its own without being overly assertive. Would be a nice accompaniment to a dessert, particularly something sweet or fruity.

A fine Lapsang with a very smoky aroma and smooth lingering finish. Might be a little off-putting for those who are still getting used to the taste of Lapsang, but a good standard to have for an everyday drink. Would be a welcome addition to pep up a black tea that needs a little more flavour, like a basic English Breakfast or Irish Breakfast blend or even a medium-bodied Assam.