by Lainie P on March 13, 2010
Name: Golden Chai
Brand:
Type: Black tea, flavored
Form: Paper bagged tea, individually wrapped
Review: Cardamom lovers rejoice! If you like your chai redolent of the pungent, mouth-numbing stuff, Numi’s Golden Chai is just your cup of tea.
The cardamom content in this chai blend was evident when I opened unwrapped the bag. The nose was entirely dominated by the cardamom, and while the ginger managed to make itself known after the tea infused to a medium-dark amber, the cardamom still dominated in both the nose and on the palate.
The chai itself is robust though not bitter, and tastes just fine on its own, but can also handle the addition of some milk and honey. While I prefer loose-leaf chais that have a more balanced flavor profile, Golden Chai is convenient, and its appeal to cardamom lovers can’t be denied.
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Sample Provided by Manufacturer?: No
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by Lainie P on March 11, 2010
Name: Plum Blossom Oolong Reserve
Brand: Teas Etc
Podcast: Listen to my podcast interview with Beth Johnston of Teas Etc.
Type: Oolong
Form: Loose leaf
Cost: 1 ounce tin, $16.95, quantity discounts available.
Review: I drink a lot of tea. Most of it is either good or indifferent. Some of it is bad, and there is a very small percentage that I would define as “spectacular”. This tea falls into that last category.
Plum Blossom Oolong Reserve is a Bai Hao (also known as Dong Fang Mei Ren or “Oriental Beauty”) oolong. I am partial to these intensely flavorful oolong leaves, which get much of their unique flavor from having been bit by little insects called “leafhoppers” while still on the tea bush. This version from Teas Etc, however, is now my favorite.
The dry leaf is a dark, mauve-brown with a generous sprinkling of silvery tip. The nose is quite faint, slightly musty, with a bit of wood. The tea infuses to a light yellow-gold with a touch of green, and an intensely rich, fruity nose.
Sipping this tea is a delight, and may actually confuse some tea drinkers, as the liquor is so incredibly “juicy” that it is hard to believe that it hasn’t been flavored. The body of Plum Blossom Oolong Reserve is rich, full, and borders on creamy. The flavor is that of plumbs that have been drizzled with dark honey and baked.
Oh Yum.
Try this one, please. You won’t be disappointed.
Preparation Tips:
- Keep the water temperature on this tea down. Teas Etc recommends 180F-185F and I would agree. Yes, I know that darker oolongs are supposed to be “tough”, but the fruitiness of this tea really emerges at the cooler temperature.
- Don’t be afraid to add more leaf than the package instructions suggest if you want more intense fruit flavor.
- Try it on ice. Most delicious, and is great with food.
- This tea isn’t cheap, but it is good for several infusions. I have found that Teas Etc’s Glass Brew Mug is a great choice of teaware for this tea, because it makes re-infusion so easy.
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Sample Provided By Manufacturer?: Yes
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