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At the coffee shop, I needed a tea to drink. This tastes like a standard run of the mill bagged Assam. Medium body, clean finish, a little drying on the back outer edges of the palate, I’m unimpressed. However, it’s better than nothing. 50/100. New to tea? Try this one. It’ll grow on you. I’m glad to have hot lightly flavored water on a cold, rainy classic Ohio autumn afternoon. Enjoy your cup today, whatever it may be!

A nice anytime tea. A light, quiet cup. The Kenya Milima doesn’t possess too much body and the flavor is simple: a light malt with fruit in the background. There’s a slight briskness on the sides of the palate with a drying finish that lingers, while leaving the mouth clean. Overall, recommended if you’re looking for a good morning time, plalate cleansing tea.

This is now my new favorite black tea! I have struggled for awhile to find a black tea that I can enjoy alongside other tasting. Unfortunately, my search has only yielded a few results (one being the South Indian Parkside). However, this tea can now be added to that category. It is a rich and smooth black that fills the mouth but does not overpower the taste buds nor linger too strongly. It is have a light tartness to it that is reminiscent to some citrus notes I normally encounter an Assam teas, but this is distinctly brighter. I definitely recommend this tea and will be having it often. A breakfast tea perhaps?

Also, if you might have any other suggestions for black teas that fit the description above, please let me know!

I was disappointed in this tea to be quite frank. It is not bad by any means, but for me, I was not to fond. For me, the black tea was too mild and it could have used more robustness to pull me in. I think there are times in which I will be able to enjoy this tea; however, it will not be a regular staple for me. Overall consensus: some people will love this tea and instantly fall in love, but for the tea purist, it may take little while for you to appreciate.

Addendum: photos (http://twitpic.com/ri495 http://twitpic.com/ri4rp)

This tea for me is relatively plain. It is not robust in flavor; however, after savoring, this tea began to unfold in complexity (and definitely began to grow on me). As the description says, there is a certain truffle aroma to it. This tea is very low in astringency and briskness. It has a light body and lingers on the palate pleasantly with a certain dampness, as opposed to a dryness you may perceive with an umami type. The liquor is a bright orange and the leaves are tightly rolled with a golden brown color and, after steeping, unfurl to a larger leaf (similar to what I would see in an oolong).

Addendum: photos (http://twitpic.com/rh6qk http://twitpic.com/rhmr4 http://twitpic.com/rhmaj http://twitpic.com/rhn42) and video (http://qik.ly/sS1x)

I had this tea alongside the Darjeeling Steinthal (http:/su.pr/), another first flush, for the sake of comparison; however, the ended up being very complimentary. This tea is going to give you a nice sharp bite on the front, providing a medium strength briskness while keeping the astringency minimal. Providing a nice clean finish with its full body, the South Indian Parkside helped to cleanse my palate after enjoying the herbaceous briskness of the Steinthal.

Addendum: Photos (http://twitpic.com/rcep7 http://twitpic.com/rcfot http://twitpic.com/rcewx http://twitpic.com/rcf7b) and videos (http://qik.ly/sJ3W http://qik.ly/sJXv).

This tea is harsh for sure, but in a freshly “green” way (as the description gives way to). You get the herbaceous aroma right off the bat on the front of the palate. Shortly followed with a sharp bite on the sides and rear, a heavy briskness, this tea lingers with an intensity that some tea drinkers may not enjoy. A light edge of muscatel flavor is also noticeable. I complimented this tea with a stronger, fuller bodied tea that provides a clean finish (South Indian Parkside http://su.pr/).

Addendum: Photos (http://twitpic.com/rcfxu http://twitpic.com/rcgq8 http://twitpic.com/rcgw7) and videos (http://qik.ly/sJ3W http://qik.ly/sJXv).

This fruit tea is fantastic! The bitter almond is pleasantly present on the palate as well as the complimenting tartness. In the background, I definitely detect the apple; however, the raisins are tough to notice (especially on any infusion past the first). Overall, this holiday seasonal tea is a must, good hot and iced, and will compliment many holiday dishes as a post-meal desert.

Addendum: photos (http://twitpic.com/r7r7d http://twitpic.com/r7sm5 http://twitpic.com/r7srp) and video (http://qik.ly/sDhc)

This green tea provides a nice vegetal, grassy briskness right of the cup. As its (pleasant) harshness dissipates, it gently calms into a lingering butter finish. The lemongrass is so faint that it is hardly noticeable. I think it adds to the briskness lightly. Overall, I recommend this tea, giving it a 3.5 tea leaves (out of 5). Simple and enjoyable.

Addendum: photos (http://twitpic.com/qixzf http://twitpic.com/qiy5e http://twitpic.com/qiyc2), video (http://qik.ly/rZIx)

This tea gives a nice dark orange liquor (see picture and video below). Off the nose, I am getting a musky & bitter citrus aroma (the oolong is semi-fermented). This oolong provides a nice medium bodied tea that has a clean finish, lingering little (simply the woodiness of the oolong), and no briskness. It is not too bitter/astringent on the palate either. I am, like the description states, getting notes of leather and smokiness, complimenting the light woody notes on the leaf. Right off the bat, you get subtle notes of a floral orange that aren’t overwhelming at all. They compliment the oolong nicely. This is a superb blend!

Addendum: photo (http://twitpic.com/q9b0r) and video (http://qik.ly/rHxz)