Tea Reviews

	My Tea Review Page Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea . - author Henry James (1843-1916)
	I dedicate this page to all who understand the joy of a good cup of tea. These are my impressions of a few of the teas I have tried. They are generally easily obtainable with a few exceptions. You won’t be reading a lot of deep thoughts. You also aren’t going to get a gourmet description of the teas like this tea has a pleasant amber color and a flowery bouquet with just a hint of nuttiness. What the heck does that mean? Was it any good? In that vein, here are my mini reviews. I have listed the reviews by company name in alphabetical order.
	Ahmad This is a 50 year old English company that I have only recently discovered. While I have only tried two of their teas, based on just that small sampling I would not be hesitant to try any of their others blends. This is very good tea. At first I could only get this brand online. I have since found it in some specialty food stores. Earl Grey I have a weakness for Earl Grey tea. It began years ago and shows no sign of easing up any time soon. I have tried this bergamot-flavored tea in bag form. The black tea taste comes through very well, as the bergamot does not overpower it. The citrus flavor is complex and changes with the temperature of the drink. If you are a fellow Grey junkie, you will really like this tea. Earl Grey Green I love this tea! It is my extreme nothing else even comes close favorite. Let me say it again, I love this tea! I first tried it in bag form when Twinings stopped selling their version of this tea in the U.S. a couple years ago (they have since resumed). I was instantly hooked. Now I use it in loose-leaf form. The green tea is very good. The leaves when dry are about the size of half a pine needle. After brewing, they swell and unfurl into full leaves. The bergamot flavoring is just the right amount to give the tea a wonderful aroma and a taste that draws you in and begs you to relax. Not every one likes green tea. I believe it is because they have never tasted a good cup of green tea. Try this a few times and I am pretty sure you will agree that when you go back to black tea it tastes bland and flat in comparison. Can you tell I love this tea? Bentley My wife brought home a wooden tea chest filled with Bentley tea. All of it is labeled as pure Ceylon tea. The chest was wrapped in plastic. The whole package was $10 in an after Christmas sale, so the box is nice enough for the price paid. The individual tea bags were in paper wrappers. The smell of the raspberry tea dominated when the box was opened. This fact is bound to have affected the tastes of the teas mentioned below, so keep that in mind. Earl Grey While this was actually a pleasant cup of tea, if it had any bergamot oil/ flavoring in it I couldn’t detect it. As an Earl Grey it fails miserably but as a mellow cup of black tea it was enjoyable. English Breakfast I never purposely grab this classic. I have nothing against it. The problem is it just isn’t memorable in my opinion. This blend is no exception. It is beige. Nice enough I think… I just can’t remember. Green This reminds me of a green tea I used to get at a local Chinese restaurant. So I give it extra points for bringing back pleasant memories. While I think this is nowhere near the quality of Ahmad green tea, it is miles above Stash green. The taste has very little grassiness and is not harsh like some green teas. It did have a peculiar I can't place it quality about the taste but that may be due to being surrounded in the box by the smells of the other flavored teas. Orange spice This is just nasty harsh. It irritated my throat. The taste was heavily cinnamon flavored. I detected no orange and little tea taste. I removed this from the chest so as not to ever accidentally drink this again! Peach I fully expected to hate this tea. It surprised me. The peach aroma is inviting but it did not mask the tea flavor. Bentley behaved themselves. Instead of the overpowering nasty drink I was expecting, this was a wonderfully subtle cup of tea. Raspberry My only previous experience with raspberry tea was ice tea at Olive Garden. I asked them to take it away and bring me something I could drink! So I was leery of trying this tea. Unlike the Peach, the Raspberry is very detectable in the taste but it was enjoyable. I would like it more if it were less flavored, however, when I finished the cup I immediately wanted another. I must add, a friend of mine tried this tea and immediately swore off trying any Bentley tea ever again. What I am saying is your mileage may vary. Bigelow Founded in 1945 by Ruth Campbell Bigelow, R.C. Bigelow, Inc. is based in Fairfield, CT. Bigelow tea is readily available in almost every super market and super center in America. Earl Grey This is the tea that started my lifelong passion, or addiction whichever the case, for Earl Grey. I have used the regular and decaf versions of this black tea in bag form. It used to come in a heavy cardboard container with a metal top and bottom. The lid was oval-shaped metal that you had to pry open. Now it comes in an ordinary cardboard box but the bags are individually sealed in foil envelopes. I haven’t bought it in a few years so I am not sure if they are still using actual bergamot in the blend or if they have switched to flavoring like most companies. The original blend is still my favorite black tea. I recently found an old box in the back of the cupboard. Even way past the expiration date it tasted so very good. Hello old friend! *( see update below) Constant Comment Originally blended at her kitchen table this is the tea that launched Ruth Bigelow’s tea empire. This is also the tea that started my passion for tea beyond the Lipton iced tea my family consumes (the Earl Grey addiction came later). This is a black tea with orange peel and spices. If you are just starting out looking for teas or if this is one you just missed, I highly recommend you try this legend for yourself. (* see update below)** Update - I recently purchased a new box of both Bigelow Constant Comment and Earl Grey. The first of either I had bought in a while. I was sadly disappointed as the brew was very weak and bland compared to my memories of it. In large part the problem was the oversized Starbucks cup I have been using recently. The bigger issue for you to consider is Bigelow has repackaged their teas to contain only 1.65g per bag instead of the 2g bags I remembered. To get the same taste I used to get in an 8oz cup it is now necessary to cut the cup size down to just 6.6oz. Will this hurt Bigelow sales? Stash has used the smaller bag size for years so maybe not but I will now find it harder to recommend Bigelow tea. Ethnic Gourmet* A division of Hain Celestial Group, Inc., which sells Celestial Seasons tea. Honey Lotus Oolong This is the only tea I have seen so far by Ethnic Gourmet. It is also my first oolong tea, so I have nothing to compare it with, however if this is any indication I will try others. The three flavors (honey, lotus blossom, and oolong tea) blend wonderfully together. The combination suggests, but not quite, a light peachiness. Ordinarily that would not appeal to me but here it is very pleasing. With Jasmine tea the flowery taste is too much, not so with the lotus. The only downside to this tea is I am still not sure what oolong tastes like, as I can’t single it out of the blend. I will buy this tea again. Sweet and pleasant. Sadly, it appears this tea is no longer being sold. What a shame. Harry & David Estate Teas Harry & David Operations Corp. was officially established in 2005, however, the company really had its beginnings much earlier, just after the turn of the 20th Century. Then after the depression they began selling fruit through the mail. That makes them one of the nation's oldest catalog mail order companies Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Contains rooibos, cinnamon, ginger root, and artificial and natural pumpkin essence (whatever that means). Ok, since this is a red tea it isn’t technically a tea. I include it here as it is the best use of red tea I have tried. It looks good in the cup. It smells good. It tastes good. The tin it comes in is a keeper for future use. This was given to me and I have no idea where to buy it but if you find some, it is worth trying if red tea interests you. Kroger Brand Green Tea Perhaps the worst example of green tea I have ever tried to drink. In a blind taste test I would be hard pressed to distinguish between this tea and a cup of cheap latex paint. Yes it’s that bad. Lipton I only mention this company here as its Brisk tea is the yardstick most of us in America use to measure all other teas. Love it or hate it Lipton iced tea is as American as apple pie. I personally am not a fan of it hot, but iced it satisfies like nothing else. Prince of Peace Founded in 1983 by Kenneth Yeung, POP has its headquarters in San Francisco, California and specializes in importing and distributing gourmet products. Premium Peony White Tea This is inexpensive tea. Don’t let that stop you from trying it. Up until I discovered this brand I considered Stash white tea to be the best of what is available locally. I have changed my mind. I enjoy drinking this tea. I also like that the bags come packed inside a zip lock bag. I also enjoy knowing that every time I buy a box I am helping to support an orphanage in China for special health needs children. That in itself is enough reason to try this brand. More mellow than black tea but similar in taste. Republic of Tea I know nothing about this company and they seem to want it that way. Earl Greyer Green Tea At 3% there is way too much bergamot flavor for way too little tea (1.6g) to produce what I consider a good cup of tea. Smells nice. Salada Founded in 1872 by Peter C. Larkin or in the 1920’s depending on what you read. The company is now owned by Redco Foods, Inc. White Tea With Green Tea Blend While this isn’t great tea it is pleasant. It is also inexpensive. In the tea deprived wasteland of our local grocer’s shelves this is a little oasis. It will hold you over until you find something better. Green Tea This is an inexpensive non-spectacular tea. While there is nothing particularly wrong with it there is also nothing particularly memorable about it either. It does however stand miles above Stash or Kroger green tea. Stash This is an American company that has been blending and selling tea since 1972. Earl Grey It’s Earl Grey so I give them an E for effort on this black tea. The problem for me is the brew is too weak to enjoy (1.6g). The taste is pleasant enough. There just isn’t enough of it. Fusion Red & White Tea This is one of my favorite Stash teas. It is a blend of Red and White teas. White tea is similar to green tea in its processing as it is not fermented. The difference is white tea uses very young leaves giving it its unique taste, which I think has more in common with black tea. Rooibos or red tea is not a true tea. It is made from a small African shrub. It has a naturally sweet earthy taste to it. This is labeled as caffeine free so it is a perfect late evening drink. The taste of red tea is impossible to describe. If you are curious this is the one I would try first. Green Tea This tea is just plain bad. It tastes – and I do not exaggerate here – like a cupful of dried grass clippings. If that appeals to you fine, otherwise look elsewhere. Lemon & White Tea White tea has less caffeine than other true teas but this one is apparently further decaffeinated making this another fine choice for late evening. What I really appreciate about this tea is how understated the lemon flavoring is in the blend. For some peculiar reason most companies think that if a little is good a lot must be great. Stash did not follow that maxim with Lemon & White and I appreciate it. This is a very good tea. Pumpkin Spice Naturally decaffeinated black tea, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, pumpkin spice flavor, and clove. I wouldn’t want this all the time but it is a fun drink. The box says to add milk to compliment the luscious flavor. White Tea I like this tea a lot. Similar in taste to a black tea but it is much more mellow. I can’t think of a better way to describe it. It does not have that after bite that most hot black teas have. St. Dalfour A French company. That is all I know about them. Earl Grey The box says this contains organic Ceylon tea with the all natural flavor of bergamot. The bags are individually wrapped in foil envelope. I don’t know if the box I tried was mislabeled or if it really is their take on Earl Grey tea. I enjoyed it but it tasted like a cinnamon flavored tea not Earl Grey. Much more subtle than the Bigelow cinnamon tea I drank years ago. Not bad but not what I was expecting. Twinings They have been making tea since 1706 so I suspect they know what they are doing. Maybe that explains why I can’t think of a single Twinings tea I have tried that I haven’t enjoyed. Earl Grey I switched to this tea from Bigelow brand because this is a bergamot flavored tea rather than containing the actual oil of bergamot. That might sound strange to some but I made the change on purpose. The oil has a more complex taste but it seemed to be harder on my system. Your mileage may vary. Twinings Earl Grey allowed me to continue to indulge. However, Twinings has reformulated this blend and increased the bergamot flavoring. I don't like the change but maybe you will. Earl Grey Green I really enjoyed this tea when I first discovered it. I had it hidden away everywhere. Then they discontinued sales in the United States for a time. I was sad but I moved on after a time of mourning. Now it is back (who knows for how long). I immediately grabbed a box to celebrate its return. Seems the time off was to reformulate the blend. It is now a 3% bergamot flavored tea. I personally liked the old formula much better. There is enough actual tea in the bag (2g) that I can make a strong enough cup for my tastes but I prefer a slightly less amount of the citrus flavor. I am sure they have done their research. I hope they do well. It is not that it is bad, it isn’t. It is just not my, ahem, cup of tea. Oh, come on you knew I was eventually going to say it. English Breakfast A friend of mine claims this as his favorite tea. It has a strong enough flavor to be enjoyable without being bitter. I enjoy it while drinking it but can't remember what it tastes like afterwards. Beige, a good quality beige, but still beige in my opinion. Gunpowder Green According to legend this tea is so named because the tea leaves are rolled into very tight little balls that resemble gunpowder. OK I have to admit it, my son and I tried this tea for the simple reason we thought the name was cool. It is a bold tea like its name. I will almost guarantee that you will make it too strong on your first attempt. Because of the tightly rolled leaves it takes a smaller measure of the tea per cup. This tea is also said to make a good iced tea, though we have never tried it to see. Lady Grey A much overlooked and under appreciated black tea. Ingredients include black tea, orange, lemon, and citrus flavor. The orange and lemon are 3% each of the total blend but in this case they do not overpower the drink (unless they have recently reformulated this blend as well). Bergamot is at least part of the citrus flavor mentioned. That may be the reason this is my second favorite type tea after Earl Grey. Prince of Wales A good black tea. I normally don’t drink a lot of hot straight black tea without other flavorings added. This is an exception. This blend is very smooth without the after taste common to most hot black teas. Taylors of Harrogate Founded in 1886 by an enterprising Yorkshire tea merchant, Charles Taylor. Yorkshire Gold An English chap informed me that when the British sit down to tea this is their drink. From an American point of view, I don’t think it makes a good iced tea, however as a hot tea it shines. This is especially suited in my opinion as a morning replacement to coffee. Their oversized bags make for a strong brew that tastes stout. I suggest using a bigger cup. This is not a tea for wusses. Home Loose leaf or bags? Tea Storage Iced Tea Hot Tea Tea Reviews Tea Links Well there you have my thoughts on several teas. I would be interested in your thoughts of these or any other tea that has captured you imagination or sent you screaming towards the drain. Feel free to drop me a note.
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