Colonial Bohea

This was super smooth without any bitterness. I’m actually not exactly sure how to describe it since it’s different from the teas I usually drink. There is a bit of an emptiness that I start to notice after a while. On my second and third cups of this, I enjoyed it more. It became desserty and almost biscuity.

I bought this tea on the basis of it coming from the only American tea plantation: Oliver Pluff & Company, in Charleston, South Carolina. I was intrigued by their slogan “A leaf from America’s tea heritage”. I would like to know how they determined this to be like the tea drunk in Colonial America. Whence came the recipe(s) for curing the tea to produce this flavor? I don’t know, but here are my impressions, from my first two cups, today:

It seems a bit weak. I used three teaspoons, had the water to the suggested 195 degrees, and steeped it 4-1/2 minutes. I’m glad it’s not too strong, as it’s not bitter. There’s a subtle smokiness, much lighter than the Lapsang Souchongs I’ve experienced. It’s an all right cup of tea, but not as distinctive as I would have liked, considering its presumed heritage of “America’s” tea. Perhaps it’s simply that American soil is not the right place to grow tea. I shall try to use a bit more the next time I try it.

My favorite “treat” tea is Upton Tea Import’s Lapsan Souchong Black Dragon. But I always felt like it wasn’t a “daily tea.” This much more mellow yet still smoky tea is perfect for me: it has the smoke to begin with, it remains flavorful throughout my entire day, and ends on a gently sweet note.

Two things to note: I fill my filter almost 2/3 full to make it through the day. I noticed that when I added more leafs, I gained more end sweetness. It could just be my crazy taste buds. ALSO this may be the absolute perfect daily tea because it handles oversteeping like a pro. I tend to forget my tea’s steeping at work. Leaving it steeping for up to a half hour is more common than not. It still tastes awesome and not bitter. Yay!

I have made this three times now and can’t believe I don’t like it. My very first tea swap was with TeaEqualsBliss and she included a Bohea. Back in the day, I found it to be a strong tea, but my tea palate has grown up a lot and now I like smoke. I also want the smoke to have a nice base.

This tastes like thin, watered down tea with a tiny bit of smoke. I tried adding a hint of maple syrup for flavor at breakfast even though I never add sweetener to my teas, but that made little difference. I just saw a review, however, that says two tsps. per cup is the sweet spot, so I will try that before chucking this tea out or sending it to a home where it will be loved.

So, finally! After trying a sad attempt at a true Colonial Bohea (The Spice & Tea Exchange), I have a feeling this is the tea that may have started a Revolution.

It took me two brews to find the sweet spot. Wow! Aromatic, rich, malty, fruity, and slightly smoky.