Irish Breakfast by Adagio (review)

by Lainie P on March 16, 2010

Name: Irish Breakfast

Brand: Adagio Teas

Type: Black tea

Form: Loose leaf

Cost: $2.00 for a sample, $8.00 for 4 ounces, quantity discounts available

Review: Adagio’s Irish Breakfast tea is a decidedly pleasant surprise. It is admittedly a simple black tea blend (Assam and Ceylon), but Adagio did a good job of it, and the result is a most palatable breakfast tea that, despite Adagio’s ad copy to the contrary, does not require the addition of any milk.

The dry leaf looks unremarkable, though  not as broken as one might expect. There is a faint lemony nose, however, which is not surprising in a blend that contains Ceylon.

After infusion, the maltiness of the Assam shows itself more in the nose, and on the palate, but the lemony backnote makes the tea quite refreshing at the same time. Medium body, medium astringency at the finish: Great for cleaning up my palate after breakfast.

This tea has a fresh, sprightly character that I like very much, and while the Assam gives the tea some ooph and structure, it isn’t overpowering and I don’t need to add any milk or sugar to cut it.

Recommended.

Affiliate Links in this Post?: Yes

Sample Provided by Manufacturer?: No

Availability: In addition to Adagio’s online store (link above under “brand”) Adagio Irish Breakfast Tea is also available through Amazon.

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Golden Chai by Numi

by Lainie P on March 13, 2010

Name: Golden Chai

Brand:
Taste the Purest Tea on the Planet - Shop Numi

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.

Affiliate Links in this Post?: Yes

Sample Provided by Manufacturer?: No

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Plum Blossom Oolong Reserve by Teas Etc (review)

March 11, 2010 Oolong Teas

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 [...]

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Glass Brew Mug by Teas Etc (review)

March 9, 2010 Teas Etc

Name: Glass Brew Mug (click on link at right to view on Teas Etc’s site)
Brand: Teas Etc
Type: Teaware
Cost: $14.95
Podcast: Listen to my podcast interview with Teas Etc founder and co-owner, Beth Johnston.
Review: I do love well-designed teaware, and anything that makes drinking loose leaf tea more enjoyable gets a big gold star from me. Teas [...]

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Tea News

March 3, 2010 Tea News

Greetings,
Just a few bits of news for my tea-loving readers:

The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story today entitled “The Tea-He’s: Men Savoring Brew by the Cup”. My good tea-friend, Tony Gebley passed this on to me, and I thought it a great read.
Speaking of Tony, he just opened his own online shop, The Chicago Tea Garden. [...]

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Be Cool by Kusmi Tea (review)

March 1, 2010 Kusmi Tea

Name: Be Cool
Brand: Kusmi Tea
Type: Tisane
Form: Loose leaf (teabags are available)
Cost:$18.40 for a 3.5 ounce tin (quantity discounts are available)
Review: This is the latest in Kusmi Tea’s line of “Wellness Teas” and while “Detox” remains my favorite in this range,  “Be Cool” is nonetheless a tasty tisane.
Be Cool is a caffeine-free blend of rosehipseed, apple, [...]

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ZeroWater Z-Pitcher & TDS Meter (review)

February 25, 2010 Water Filtration

Name: ZeroWater Pitcher
Brand: ZeroWater
Type: Water Filter
Podcast: Listen to my interview with ZeroWater’s VP of Sales, Robert Roney, on Friday, February 26th, at 2pm central time. The show will be archived at this same link (and on iTunes) so you can listen in at any time.
Review: As folks know, I am a stickler for using good [...]

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LeafSpa Organic Passionfruit Green Tea (review)

February 24, 2010 Green Teas

Name: Organic Passionfruit Green Tea
Brand: LeafSpa
Type: Green tea, flavored
Form: Loose leaf
Cost: $9.95 for 4.23 ounces
Review: Flavored green tea lovers rejoice: This is a well-crafted tea that marries a sweet Chinese green tea with passionfruit and other flavors. A sniff of the (very pretty) dry leaf reveals a subtle nose of passionfruit. The tea then brews [...]

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Keemun by Teas Etc (review)

February 20, 2010 Black Teas

Name: Keemun
Brand: Teas Etc
(Check out my interview with Beth Johnston, owner of Teas Etc.)
Type: Black tea
Form: Loose leaf
Cost: $5.95 for a 1 ounce tin, quantity discounts available
Review: I do love me some Keemun. You can keep your English breakfast blends, I want some rich, wine-y, Keemun to  clear my palate of my bacon and eggs [...]

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Sugardaddy by Shui Tea (review)

February 19, 2010 Black Teas

(Note: This review was previously posted at Examiner.com.)

Name: Sugar Daddy
Brand: Shui Tea
Type: Black tea, flavored
Form: Loose leaf
Review: This is a curious item from Chicago-based Shui Tea (check out my podcast interview with Shui Tea’s president and founder,Jim Schreiber). Black Ceylon tea is blended with stevia leaf to create a sugar-free “sweet tea” with anise overtones.
If [...]

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