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“A Berry Frui-tea July! This is one of the teas I grabbed a single sample of from the last Here’s Hoping Traveling Teabox (thanks to all contributors and tea-sipper for organizing!) Sadly, I didn’t...” Read full tasting note
“Here’s Hoping Teabox – Round Seven- Tea #9 Without looking, I thought this tea was cocoa flavored, it definitely tasted like additional flavoring had been added and not just black tea. But it is...” Read full tasting note
“Also from the Here’s Hoping TTB… This tea is fairly unique for a black tea blend. It’s not bad iced. It’s no “Cocoa Kisses” (that one is better) but it works. It’s actually got some creamy...” Read full tasting note
“Drinking this hot this time. I think it may be better hot than iced. The raspberry flavor is a little stronger. This is quite a tea when you consider it cost $5 for 100g. If we do another group buy...” Read full tasting note
From the mountainous region of Colombia, in an area steeped in biodiversity, along the western slope of the Andes, is the Bitaco tea estate. The gentle mist from the mountains, rich soil, and ample rainfall all stimulate the growth of the tea bushes, producing a tea with unique characteristics.
Bitaco Tea owns over 200 acres of tea plants that are cultivated at over 6,000 feet above sea level in the region of Choco. This region enjoys a high rainfall and has exceptional biodiversity. The tea gardens are located next to a thriving, protected rain forest, the Bitaco Regional Forest Reserve, where there is a wide diversity of flora and fauna: 256 bird species, 28 amphibian species, 23 reptile species and 772 species of plants. The garden, located near the Equator, enjoys a consistent climate which results in a bountiful production of tasty, delicate tea-tips that are picked and processed throughout the year.
Bitaco Tea not only cultivates exceptional teas, they also are committed to their community. They created the Agricola Himalaya Foundation to develop and improve programs focusing on education, especially for local children. Activities focus on the improvement of infrastructure, recreational opportunities, local culture and access to technology.
This Blend balances the naturally acidic flavor characteristics of Colombian fruits with the sweet flavor of Black Tea. Isabella grape is a hybrid distinguished by its high acidity and enhanced level of antioxidants. Andean raspberry is a type of blackberry found in northwest South America that is noted for its high vitamin C content, calcium, and phosphorus. Andean Princess tea brews to an amber cup with a full fruit flavor.
Ingredients: Colombian Black Tea, Isabella Grape Skin, Andean Raspberry, and Hibiscus Flower.
Steeping Instructions: Brew tea at 212º – steep for 3 minutes.
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A Berry Frui-tea July! This is one of the teas I grabbed a single sample of from the last Here’s Hoping Traveling Teabox (thanks to all contributors and tea-sipper for organizing!)
Sadly, I didn’t really get any fruit flavor from this tea… it’s supposed to have raspberries, grape skins, and a touch of hibiscus petals, but it is just tasting like a standard black tea for me, so I think age has gotten the best of this one.
It is a fairly tasty black tea; very malty, a slight bit of a baked bread quality to it, and a little citrusy toward the end of the sip, with a mild astringency left after the sip. It isn’t quite as harsh as the experiences I typically have with assams; it reminds me a bit of a mix of a sweeter Chinese black with a Ceylon. But I was really hoping to get some of the berry notes in the cup, and there is simply not a hint of that flavor left here. One day when my cupboard isn’t so crazy I plan to try some Simpson and Vail teas and I’ll make a note to put a sample of this one in there at that time, so I can get a better read on it; until then I think I’ll leave it without a rating. The base is nice, at least?
Flavors: Astringent, Bread, Citrus, Malt
Here’s Hoping Teabox – Round Seven- Tea #9
Without looking, I thought this tea was cocoa flavored, it definitely tasted like additional flavoring had been added and not just black tea. But it is amazing if this tea just naturally tastes like this much cocoa. But maybe there is cocoa flavoring I don’t know about. The aftertaste was even better which is something I don’t usually notice. There was an odd clump of something in the leaves. Not sure what that was still. And THEN I look on Steepster and this should have had raspberry flavor… there was definitely absolutely NO raspberry flavor. Ah well, I would have liked this for what I believe to be the natural flavor of the leaves anyway.
Also from the Here’s Hoping TTB…
This tea is fairly unique for a black tea blend. It’s not bad iced. It’s no “Cocoa Kisses” (that one is better) but it works. It’s actually got some creamy undertones to it. This is probably a decent flavored tea if you are not a huge fan of chocolate or desert teas in general. Otherwise I’d pick Cocoa Kisses over this.
Drinking this hot this time. I think it may be better hot than iced. The raspberry flavor is a little stronger. This is quite a tea when you consider it cost $5 for 100g. If we do another group buy next year I definitely recommend others join in. It is good stuff.
I brewed this one time in a 16oz Teavana Glass Perfect Tea Maker/Gravity Steeper with 3 tsp leaf and 200 degree water for 3 minutes.
