Brittany

The scent of this tea is greatly inviting. It’s very sweet and airy, so I can understand the poetic expressions of the “sweet dew” that comes to mind. I’m not one, however, for that kind of sweetness in tea, but I have to appreciate its subtle, light, and delicately sweet taste. It holds up well to multiple infusions (the second one was quite nice actually). It’s just not a tea I would order myself or drink very often.

The scent is smoky and also a bit nutty. Taste wise, it’s ever so slightly fruit-like sweet with a bitter vegetal aftertaste. The main thing I appreciate about this tea is that the flavor lingers on your tongue for quite while. Otherwise, I’d say it’s rather mediocre. The second infusion is still quite flavorful and not bitter at all even though it was steeping for quite some time.

I was quite afraid to brew this tea based on how it smelled from the bag. The scent was super potent and it reminded me of cough medicine. My boyfriend thought it smelled like weird soda. I erred on the side of caution (strange smell and hibiscus) and brewed it just for five minutes. Thankfully, it’s not at all scary and actually quite pleasant. This would make a great iced tea, so that’s how I’ll finish up my sample I’m thinking. The berry flavors are definitely present, but the hibiscus is at the forefront (though, not too hibiscus-y or I wouldn’t drink it).

I’m cutting my rating for this tea considerably. I truly have to wonder what possessed me to order 3 oz. of this in the first place. I reminder it being better (I’m sure a couple months diminished some flavor, but still…). This time I brewed two cups (trying desperately to use it up) with some whole milk. It tastes better with milk than plain, but that’s what bothers me. I’m sitting here thinking I should also add some honey. Again, that’s a problem for me. I don’t want to drink a tea that I have to add extra things to. A good tea, in my opinion, just requires water and a cup. It’s a weak tasting black tea surrounded by faint hints of chocolate and strawberries… nothing special and makes me wonder what I’m doing with the 55 g I still have left (yes, I actually weighed the tea to see how much of it I would have to suffer through).

I was a bit surprised just how broken up the leaf was. I mean, I knew it was broken (BOP), but it looked very close to an almost fanning stage. Regardless, the tea brewed up pretty nicely. This is most definitely a classic Ceylon- bright citrus notes, lively, and slightly tangy.

I’’m drinking the last bit of my sample hot, but iced is when this tea really shines. The peach and strawberry are the most prominent flavors for me, but the citrus lingers in the background and as an aftertaste. The sunflower petals, in my opinion, are simply for show and do not affect the taste. All in all, the fruity flavors blend harmoniously with the light, refreshing green rooibos.

I’m upping my rating for this tea quite a bit. I decided to brew two cups of this tea with a little honey and it really hit the spot. I’m in love with the creamsicle-like smell and taste. The vanilla from the oolong blends well with the orange flavored rooibos and the floral, apple notes of the chamomile. It’s definitely a good tea to have around the evening when I’m slashing my caffeine intake, craving something dessert like, and wanting something relaxing.

This is another second flush Darjeeling from Tindharia Estate. Compared to the other tea, this one is a lot less astringent and more well-rounded. Interestingly enough, there is quite the scent and taste of maltiness, which one would expect to find in an Assam, not so much a Darjeeling. A light, fruity note finishes up the sip.

I used to love a bagged white peach tea, so I got a sample of this in hopes it replacing it and tasting better. The smell reminds me a lot of Adagio’s Green Rooibos Bonita. That doesn’t surprise me because there’s peach flavor in there, too! I’m thinking I should have steeped it for five minutes instead of three because it’s pretty mild tasting (though I did want to see how it stood up to re-steeping). The peach flavor is more potent in smell than flavor (like most flavored teas), so I can actually taste a lot of the white tea, but that’s also a good thing. It’s a rather enjoyable light tea, good for the evening when I want something a little less caffeinated and subtle. Next time I’m trying a longer steeping time.

This tea is a lot more mellow than the previous Kenyan tea I had. The astringency is fairly mild in comparison. It’s medium bodied with a notes of spice and wood, but not a whole lot stands out about this tea. The more I drink it, I actually pick up some underlying sweetness that makes it a nice finish.

I’m trying to enjoy this tea while being sick >.< I’m probably the one of the few people that can get sick in summer! Oh, well. This seems like a pretty basic Assam. Well balanced with moderate astringency that builds up the more sips you have. A tad bit malty, but not overly so. There’s nothing that’s a huge wow factor here, but sometimes a simple tea like this is the best tea to drink while you’re sick. Enjoying the next cup with a little bit of honey, hoping it will coat my throat nicely.

This was my first African tea, so I had no idea what to expect. It came out a beautiful red color. The scent is invigorating and definitely unique – hints of woodiness with apple and cherry notes. It is incredibly astringent, so by the time I’m done drinking this my tongue will be bone dry. It’s hard then, to pick up more subtle flavors when the astringency really kicks in. At first I actually did notice the reference to apple. The malty flavor still stands up to the bite of astringency. This tea is definitely different, perhaps a cross between a Ceylon and an Assam.

I can’t think of a better way to cool down after drinking so much black tea today. Peppermint is nearly my favorite thing to drink (the only other beverage that rivals it is water!). That said, the best peppermint is the freshest peppermint you can find (much of the flavor and health benefits are found in the highly aromatic volatile oils). This is my first cup from the peppermint I just got today. I’ve finally finished off peppermint I had ordered from Adagio in September and the freshness is just the world of difference. I love how it just cools my throat and literally opens up my nasal passages so I can further smother myself in the intoxicating scent.

Enthusiasm and worship of peppermint aside, Upton’s peppermint is clean tasting, sharp, and with no hints of muddiness or earthiness sometimes found in peppermint. Seriously, why did I just brew 6 oz. of this? I need to brew an entire pot. Drinking peppermint is possibly one of the most enjoyable and pleasurable experiences alive. The smiley face rating doesn’t go up high enough. Yeah, I’m so weird :)

My first impressions: a bright orange color with a fruity and oddly nostalgic scent. I couldn’t stop sticking my nose in the bag. The smell was just that good. Well, fortunately it looked and smelled just as great as it tasted. Slightly bitter, full bodied, and with a fruity, honey-like sweetness. I feel like I’m not appreciating this tea enough by almost chugging it! Mmmmm!! Next time I’m going to cut back on the steeping time to see if I can slash some of that bitterness, though.

The tea smells slightly peppery with hints of cocoa. I can’t say I taste or smell the fruity nuances as other reviewers and Upton Tea’s description implies. Call me crazy, however, because I do pick up a faint taste of caramel. It is very smooth and has a light touch of astringency. It is rather light bodied, though, and really fails to blow me away. It’s enjoyable, but I most likely won’t be ordering this one again.

The first tea I’m trying from the 47 samples I just ordered from Upton Tea… yeah, I know I went a bit crazy ordering!

The tea brews a beautiful amber color with a sweet, yet subtle earthy scent. It is incredibly smooth with a full bodied taste. It possesses an ending dry note that lingers in your mouth until it slowly turns into an airy sweetness.

The first tea I’ve had from my plethora of samples… this is definitely setting a high standard for the others!

I had originally wanted to get a sample of this tea, but Adagio was all out, so I had to get 3 oz. (you think it would be the other way around!). Oh, well part of me is glad I have a lot extra!

This makes the perfect dessert tea. I usually add a splash of almond or soy milk to bring out the flavors even more. I oftentimes find myself with my head in the bag simply enjoying the sweet aroma – it’s just that good. I’ve always been a fan of chocolate covered strawberries and that’s exactly what this is, but in tea form. The rose petals aren’t noticeable in the flavor, so I’m thinking they’re just there for decoration and it to make it seem more romantic. The balance between the strawberry and the chocolate flavor is just right – neither overpower each other. The subtle bitterness and tannins of the ceylon base definitely give it a dark chocolate feel, with a full bodied taste.

I just finished my sample of this tea (wow, that didn’t take me long at all!). In other words, I greatly enjoyed this tea. Originally I made the mistake of steeping it for 5 minutes, which, in my opinion, ruined it. I could hardly taste any notes besides bitterness. Steeping it at 3 or 4 really helped bring out more of the flavors.

The smell, oddly enough, reminded me of a humid, hot summer day overblown with moist grass and hay. The taste was very smooth , yet brisk with a noticeable astringency. While nothing really stood out, it made the perfect complement to any one of my lunches and yet it could easily be enjoyed on its own.

As the self-centered and ever curious Leo I am, I just had to try a blend that was all about me. My initial reaction from the smell and taste: Wow, I didn’t know I was so similar to an orange creamsicle!

For me, the dominating flavors are the earthy, slightly orange rooibos paired with the apple, floral chamomile. I have a hard time discerning the oolong in this blend, but its astringency is slightly there in the aftertaste.

All in all, It’s a relaxing, sweet and floral blend that makes a good evening tea. I would, however, have a hard time drinking more than a cup of day of this tea . The flavors are very prominent and towards the end, my interests slightly wanes.

I bought this tea initially because I love the combination of chocolate and mint, but I wasn’t sure how it would work in a tea- especially rooibos.

I’m pleasantly surprised with the mixture. The smell definitely makes me salivate- the sweet mint and chocolate remind me of mint chocolate chip ice cream or candy. The two flavors do not overpower the tea; however, at first sip the earthy rooibos definitely stands out. The mint and chocolate flavors are more of an aftertaste. I have difficulty recognizing the mint, but the chocolate’s sweetness at the end is definitely palatable.

I’m finishing off my 3 oz. (only really brewed probably four cups so far). So far, I’m not sure if I would buy this tea again, but it’s a possible contender because I’m enjoying the tea the more I have it. I just wish the mint flavor was more dominate (I’m a mint addict!).