Tea Bank FBOPF Ex. Spl. (TC34)

I used a bit more leaves than I usually do for black teas this time, and gave it 4 minutes, but it’s still not producing much flavor. Even with a normal amount of milk, it is overmollifying the tea. I may have to try this tea without milk. Still, it’s not bad, and there is some subtlety to it – slight notes of licorice and honey.

This tea is full of wiry twisty tips. This was my first experience with a Ceylon tea and I enjoyed the vanilla and spicy notes, but in all I found the flavor a little less robust than what I was expecting. A very tasty cup, with an interesting mouth feel that lingered in the middle of the tongue. I tried adding slightly more tea and brewing the same and I noticed I got a more robust cup that I enjoyed. The smell of the leaves is quite high in vanilla and spice

I wrapped up Week 1 of Sample Frenzy with Tea Bank Estate FBOPF Ex. Spl. This cups a very nice Ceylon black: some carmel-like sweetness, a hint of something spicy, and that uniquely-Ceylonese long taste on the finish. I steeped this for four minutes, 15 seconds; if I try some more of this tea, I think I’ll give it the full five minute steep to see if the carmel and/or spice becomes more noticeable. All in all, I’d recommend this tea to anyone who likes black teas.

Time to try one from my Upton order! I admit, I chose a pouch at random… All of the pouches are identical with a small white label that tells you the tea name. However, this makes no difference to me as I just ordered mostly a bunch of different Assams and Ceylons, and I don’t remember the differences between them. So, random it is! This is a Ceylon from Tea Bank Estate. I was expecting a much smaller leaf size since this is a Broken Orange Pekoe, but the leaves are actually on par with other Ceylon teas I’ve tried. Dry scent is rich and strong on the molasses.

Mm, the steeped tea smells sweet, malty, and rich with raisin and molasses notes. Yum! The flavor is also deep and rich with a very strong molasses presence. The mouthfeel is thick and smooth, and I’m not noticing much astringency here. I can also taste syrupy dried fruits such as fig, date, and raisin. Yum, overall this is rich and intense with lovely sweet notes. There’s a little bit of astringency, but no bitterness.

A really good, classic cup of Sri Lankan black tea. This tea has a light, crisp taste, a bracing quality, and the dry sweetness of wine. I drank it without milk, lemon or any other additive and it was great.

I have never had a cup of “Ceylon” tea that is not astringent. Thankfully, this one has less astringency than most.

Full 5 minute steep in boiling water. The dark liquor is rich in notes of vanilla and caramel. Flavor improves upon cooling. Like mine with little raw sugar or honey.