New Mexico Tea Company

Tasting note of the beast.

“It’s those changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes
Nothing remains quite the same
With all of our running, and all of our cunning
If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane”- Jimmy Buffett

One of my recent teas from the local shop. There is a nice mild mango aroma. The flavour is lightly sweet and tropical. Would probably be good iced.

One of my tea samples earlier this year. It has a nice cardamom scent. There is more bergamot when brewed. The flavoured is a nicely spiced earl grey.

Very good with my gingerbread cookies.

Trying this for the first time. It has a nice malt to it, and a hint of that leather flavor that seems to show up a lot in this type of tea. I am not crazy about the leather, but at least it’s not too strong.

I drank this whole bag before I realized I never stopped to write a tasting note. This tea grew on me pretty quickly. It’s a bit light compared to most Irish breakfasts, but still hefty enough to be a breakfast tea. I liked the flavor, and since it wasn’t as acidic as the average breakfast tea, it sat a lot better on my stomach.

Enjoying this one. The ginger, orange, and peach are about evenly balanced. The base isn’t noteworthy, but it sits well with the other flavors.

No. Just no.
This tea arrived in a pretty black tin with a Klimt label, so that’s good – I’ve got that. As for the tea inside the tin, I cannot recommend it to anyone.

I’ve brewed up a little bit of it again today alongside some very good Jasmine black tea from another source for comparison, and the difference is striking. The fragrance of the dry tea is overwhelming and does not change/evolve with the addition of hot water – it remains a strong scent that is NOT floral, much less jasmine – it took me a long time to place the scent but it reminds me of the fruity fragrance often added to lip balms meant for the teenaged girl market. Surprisingly, this overripe-fruit essence does not come through in the taste – the tea doesn’t have much taste at all, either of Tea or Jasmine/Whatever. Brewing it using different methods or for different durations doesn’t change the taste profile for me – it remains understated for tea, per se, but with a definite mustiness that is unpleasant. I perceive no jasmine scent/flavor present.

This blend lists black and green teas with jasmine and vanilla, and states both natural and artificial flavorings are used. I have to assume that both the jasmine and vanilla additions include artificial flavorings in rather large quantities, and it certainly degrades the taste of this tea. The tea leaves are in small, broken pieces with lots of stems and may also be of less than stellar quality – it would make sense…why use excellent tea if you’re going to add artificial flavorings?

If you’re unfamiliar with Darjeeling, especially first flush, it’s not like most other black teas. You can really tell these leaves are young, there’s even a notable difference between the first and second flushes. Steeps light, delicate vegetal and slightly floral taste. Amazing just as it is.

My first sample of the year. There is a very nice coconut scent. The flavour is mainly coconut, with some mango. It makes me want to visit the beach.

Had while trying to catch water Pokemon in Hoenn.

The weather is wintery, so I’m visiting Hoenn. Mainly for the fishing.

Decided to try this tea. Really like the passionfruit scent. There is a nice fruit flavour. It is mildly sweet and very good.

The cardamom in the bag smells SO STRONG, but actually there’s just a nice hint of it in the tea. I think I might prefer this to the chai, but I can’t decide yet.

So I don’t particularly get vanilla in this, but it is a nicely balanced chai. The spices are present but not overwhelming, and the base is smooth. A good tea to have around now that it’s gotten chilly.

Hooray, got a small order in from NMTC, so the cupboard doesn’t feel quite so bare now. This was a little sample they threw in. It tastes very much like English Breakfast, but a bit lighter and mellower. It’s fine enough, but probably not going to become a staple around here.

What a nice surprise on this rather bleak day. I got this as a sample who knows when and forgot all about it, but when I was rummaging through my tea box, hey presto! This is the first long ding I’ve tried. The leaves look very similar to long jing, long and narrow, but they are a darker green and sort of curled in on themselves. It tastes quite mineraly — none of the green bean taste I’m used to getting from long jing. Not my favorite, but interesting. I think I might go poke through that box some more.

Have let this languish in the back of the drawer for a while and I’m not sure if it’s a bit past its prime or what, but this steep is not tasting very peppery. It seems a lot grassier than this style of tea normally tastes.

Got this as a sample. There’s a nice balance to it — strong without being too astringent, and it doesn’t bother my stomach, as some other gunpowder teas have. Basic good tea, even if it seems a bit one note.

“Tea. Earl Grey. Hot!”- standard order while watching Star Trek. A new blend I picked up as my winter sample. The scent is fantastic. Mostly chocolate, and mild citrus. There is a nice sweet cocoa flavour, which goes well with the bergamot. Pairs well with shortbread.

My winter tea. Nice orange scent with some vanilla. The flavour is certainly citrus. Strong, a little sweet, and slightly tart. There is a also some vanilla.

This is a good tea to introduce coffee lovers to tea. It has enough caffeine kick for coffee lovers and is smoother than most coffee, I think. I like the hints of vanilla, and coco. I find myself reaching for this tea when I need a jolt in the morning.

November sample from the local shop. Because turkey tea would be weird. There is a nice scent of familiar spices. Mostly cinnamon, with cloves and nutmeg. The spices also come out in the flavour. Not much pumpkin, but makes a good fall blend.

Pairs well with pumpkin pie.

November review…

My tea for late Autumn. There is a nice berry scent. The flavour is a little tart, with a slight sweetness. While mild, it does have a good cranberry taste. Liked the Korakundah base. Goes well with my cranberry bagels.

I received a sample of this in my last order, and there was enough to do about four steeps with it. I think the tea itself is good quality, but this particular sample was jinxed. The first cup was delicious, but I wasn’t paying enough attention to how I made it or the particular flavor notes of the tea, I was too deep in Terry Pratchett’s Equal Rites. Overall it seemed like a good full-bodied ceylon with a few interesting side notes – maybe something a little eucalyptusy, but I can’t be sure at this point – and a teensy bit of astringency, but nothing unpleasant.

The other cups all got contaminated or oversteeped. I made a really strong herbal in my steeper, and even though I washed it out, I could still taste its influence when I made my next cup of ceylon. I tried it again a few days later and got called away as soon as I poured the water, so the poor tea sat there for 20 minutes. To top everything off, a BUG flew into the last cup, so that was the end of that.

I’m going to have to get another sample before I’m really sure about this one, and then I guess I’ll have to do some kind of voodoo on it to protect it from whatever is lurking out there trying to spoil perfectly good tea.

My favorite of the five I ordered. Fruity without being overpowering. Mellow but tasty. The first strawberry tea I think I’ve ever tried? It was pretty good :)

Chili powder, peppers and rooibos! WOW. I guess it’s pretty obvious why I ordered this one. This would be a great blend to drink sick, as it’s peppery and would probably help your sinuses. I did initially like this one, but once it cooled off a bit it got bitter and undrinkable. Pity!