Teajo Teas

I have been drinking lots of tea lately, but have been too busy to sit down and log anything. I’m sitting now and enjoying a glass of Ginger Peach iced and lightly sweetened. Actually, this is the last of my small purchase of this yummy tea. For me this tea has a great balance of ginger and peach that compliments the black tea well. I will buy more!

Last full cup of the sample, managed to sneak it in before our first really hot and humid day of the season kicked in. (When you live in southwest Missouri, anything above 85 before Memorial Day spells trouble. There’s a giant National Weather Service bulls-eye over our entire corner of the state.)

But I digress. This black tea is stout enough to please heavy-duty Assam-ites, light enough to accommodate those who don’t want a black eye from the punch of the drink, and versatile enough to come out just right no matter how little care you pay to time and temp. Good, good stuff.

So this is the Earl Grey! And it’s a sipdown! (Much needed too, I gotta say. My samples from Courtney came in yesterday and now I’m over 230, with a Butiki order coming in the next few weeks, and some more samples from Sil! Haha. BEST problems to have).

This is a pretty decent Earl Grey. It’s really not that strong but there is a tangy astringency at the end of each sip. It’s enjoyable, but I think I prefer EGC over regular EG’s. And yes, I know I could just ADD cream, but… I’m lazy? Also I guess I’m just used to drinking it plain.

I really like this! The sample package says that it’s Assam tea. This is my 2nd Assam. The first one was a revelation (‘Awesome’ Assam Banaspaty, by Yokotea), as it opened my senses to enjoying black tea.
This Ginger Peach Assam is just as good, perhaps more interesting because of the added flavouring. Lovely mild peach scent/taste, not overpowering, and that really good flavour that I can’t name or put my finger on, and presume is the black tea itself. Maybe “malty” says it. (I can’t really taste the ginger, but I don’t care because the tea is great.)
I added a little sugar and skim milk.

I’m glad to have an ample sample (ha!) packet, and thanks Starfevre for bringing Assam tea into my life.

Sample thanks to Sil! I’ve delayed tasting some of the wonderful teas in Sil’s generous swap because the ideal time for me to try them (afternoon) is usually eaten up in caring duties. (I’ll go so far as to bring some tea with me, but nothing special or hard to obtain!) Today should have been a day I didn’t have to spend the afternoon there but ended up having to, so I decided to try one before going up – but one that Sil didn’t much like, so as not to waste it by rushing. There’s method to my apparent irrationality! I think?

Was a bit surprised this didn’t get boiling water, but followed the instructions, not expecting too much. And at first I thought the tea wasn’t good, but it grew on me as I sipped on (possibly as it cooled). The black base is quite nice, and the mango flavour is being held against Yumchaa’s Mango Sunrise and a mango tea I got around here, both of which are very superior mango teas indeed. Teajo website says it’s natural flavour, and I think the slightly artificial whiff I was getting at first was in fact the orange peel, which was giving a slightly bitter note. (Orange peel has its place, most definitely, but I don’t think this is it.) It’s not going to surpass either of my other mango teas (both greens, admittedly!), but I’m glad to have got to find that out, and will also try it cold. Thanks again to Sil for the chance to try it!

Thank you Piccolo and Teajo Teas for this generous sample!

There was enough here to make around half a dozen cups in the pouch I was sent, but I didn’t try it iced until the very end. That’s a shame because the fruity mango flavours really come to the surface in the colder brew. I get fruity notes of mango, peach, and raisins and a smooth sweeping of something floral (it’s starting to bug me that I don’t know my flowers), sweetness, and a brisk, somewhat sour, finish that makes my mouth pucker a bit.

The hot mugs I made up were a little more muddled and brisk, and maybe that’s my fault. It was more flowery and scented hot, whereas the cold brew allows for more syrupy mango, which is what I was looking for.

I don’t think I would pick up this particular blend again but I did enjoy drinking a mug before trying out the elliptical trainer in the evenings. Black teas, even fruity ones like this, tend to make me feel more energized and ready to move than green teas do. I don’t know what I was thinking when I decided to only bring two fruity greens and one fruity black tea. I failed at tea packing and traveling.

Edit: As it sits longer and the dust sinks to the bottom the briskness is swapped for a creaminess that reminds me of sour yogurt and fruit. This is the best this tea has ever tasted for me. Really slapping myself in the face right now for not trying it iced sooner.

The last of my sample – thank you again, Teajo! Brewed this straight and strong, to do a final focused study of my first Assam.

A cohesive profile – no complex layers, and no need for them.

Sharp, aromatic, and bittersweet in the same way that liquor-infused semi-dark chocolate is. And this is not a comparison of taste at all, but a comparison of character. That refined, whole body, with a silk-thin thread of bright, bitter fruit running through the middle, pleasantly cutting.

I wonder what this particular characteristic is? Is there a single term for it?

The liquid is a dark but highly refractive red, with that brisk texture that delivers the flavor straight to the middle of the tongue without sinking or settling. For being a black tea, there are remarkably few CTC-like pieces, and although it is assertive, it’s restrained. No wildly overbrewed tendencies, here.

Pairs nicely enough with vanilla cookies, but it’s not a perfect pairing. The flavor is a little too malty, and the texture a little too brisk, to accompany dessert. It’s a mediocre pairing with strawberries, although that does make that slight fruit note ring clear, which is interesting. A guess for next time: pair with lean protein.

Second steep: Yields a smoother, maltier cup, with more sweetness. The fruit lightens up and moves to a solid citrus end note, and the texture softens and fills out.

Resteeped mine from yesterday. I had done 2 tsp tea in ~15 oz water for 3 mins. Today I did the tea in about 8 oz water for 4 minutes. It’s actually really good. All the strong (bitter or astringent) flavour that one might get from one of these teas in the first steep is gone, and it’s a lot smoother and more floral and sweet.

Yum!

This is a tea I’ll need to remember to resteep. I don’t often resteep teas, but I feel like I should start exploring it more since I’m looking for work. :)

Miscommunicating with friends, cleaning the house, forgetting to eat… I wanted a nice strong cup of black tea with some sugar and plenty of milky substance.

Oh yeah, this is good.

And now I think my brother is coming over, because I’m cranky and don’t want to go out. I’ll be making him dinner for my birthday… what?

Edit: oh yeah. 200 tasting notes.

Brewed this up this morning with a little less leaf (25% less), since I wanted a simple, lighter black tea for this morning to have with honey. I don’t usually sweeten my teas, but maybe the honey will help combat whatever it is I’ve come down with.

Today’s light-brew resulted in a pleasant black tea on the mellow side that was strangely reminiscent of Lipton bagged tea – but fuller, and with no bitterness at all. There’s a warm, slightly malty flavor throughout the cup, with a bit of mild lemon-orange at the front of each sip. The texture is also a bit softer, smoother.

To complement this profile, I chose my new orange, tangerine, and lemon blossom honey. It’s local to us in the Mojave Desert, as citrus is blooming here right now, so hopefully this will give me a boost against the terrible pollen the city is suffering from right now.

It’s rich but soft, with a distinct kind sweetness from the citrus. With the addition of this honey, the orange-lemon notes in the tea have gone from just a sprinkle to a bright highlight in the profile. The texture is a bit fuller and even more smooth now. Soothing…

Lucky pairing! I’m feeling better already.

No notes yet.

Thank you to Teajo teas for this sample!

This one hurts my nose. There’s a floral and cinnamoney, spicey scent going on. I can’t entirely say with any accuracy that i’m smelling mango. In sipping this, i don’t taste mango whatsoever. I suspect that this might be a better cold brew than hot, but hot is how i tried it. I do really like the tea base for this one. But in terms of the flavouring, it’s just not what i was hoping for.

I received this generous sample from Teajo Teas (whee!).

This tea is very strong and hearty, and very different from the other Assams in my cupboard. Sticking my nose into the package and taking a big whiff, this is the smell I associate with a strong black tea! The Hathikuli Estate Assam I have from Steam Tea House is more floral and sweeter, while the Assam Mangalam from Zen Tea doesn’t smell nearly as strong as either.

Brewed, I immediately added 1/4 tsp sugar to my 16 oz mug, as well as a splash of soy creamer. The tea is strong with a very mild dryness and no bitterness. This is a breakfast tea for me, rather than an afternoon tea. I hope it does well in a travel mug!

I think my favourite is still the Hathikuli Estate Assam, but the Black Manas is a close second in my sampling of 3 Assam teas! Not really representative, so that must mean I need to try more teas.

(I definitely want to try some flavoured teas now. From what I understand, their flavoured teas have this base. Wow! That is definitely up my alley.)

First off, thanks for the generous sample!
I really enjoyed this tea – mango is one of my favourite fruits so I am always on the lookout for anything featuring it! I haven’t tried it hot yet and to be honest I may not, because it is really good iced! I found the mango flavour authentic and the base was definitely still present. A tea-loving coworker smelled it and guessed correctly that it was mango, which I think it pretty impressive!

I’ll definitely be taking a second look at this company because I was very happy with this sample :)

I don’t know how much i used, i just dumped the last bits from the sample bag into a pot with some Oolong (that had been steeped maybe 5 times? i kind of lost track). The resulting liquid was dark, like puerh DARK. I added lots of milk and sugar and wow it’s knock your socks off good. I def. like the subtle flavor that the oolong added. P: Wish i had more of this chai :(

I was excited to get the chance to try this Earl Grey because Assams, or an Assam rich blend are my favourite bases for this type of tea, mainly because of the chocolate, or biscuity tones that they often have that nicely support the citrus notes and secondly because they usually have a thicker body to them that I feel better supports the Strong Bergamot Earl Greys which are most often my favourites.

In Silky Earl Grey, Teajo comes close to creating my ideal earl grey. It has a really lovely Assam Base, paired with a heavier sweeter bergamot. I would like just a bit more of a spicier bergamot to create my ideal Earl grey.

Dry Smell
- fairly strong , spicy and sweet bergamot, hint of lemon rind and cocoa.

Brew Colour
– nice, clear, classic amber colour.

Texture
- Tastes quite smooth at first, finishing with a drying effect at the front of the mouth. The tea has a medium bodied mouth feel.

Flavour – A nice balance between a sweet bergamot baked goods taste, sweet red fruit in the tea base, and chocolate undertones. The base tea has enough depth to support the strong flavouring. The re-steep contains a flavour consistent to the first steep, with just a little bit more malty, chocolate tones shining through the lemon pound cake with custard smell and taste. The third steep was sweeter with less citrus notes but still a rich flavour.

Aftertaste – lemon(the taste you get when you drink lemon in hot water), lavender, with bitter sweet chocolate notes and a hint of malt.

This is a really nice strong and fruity Earl Grey with a great deal of flavour and a natural sweetness.

Thanks Piccolo for the chance to try your tea! It has a really lovely base and I look forward to trying some more once I make some room in my cupboard.

Thank you for the generous sample, Teajo Teas!

Although black teas aren’t my favorite, there are a few fruit-flavored black tea blends that I really enjoy. I was very excited to try this tea – Tropical Mango with an Assam base. Sounds promising!

As soon as I opened the sample, I was greeted with a strong but pleasant fruity smell. I don’t know what mangoes smell like, but I thought this tea smelled like a peach.

After brewing, this tea still smells very strong and fruity. It’s a strongly flavored fruit tea with a smooth and malty black tea base. I could easily taste the black tea through the flavoring.

This is a high-quality tea, but unfortunately it’s not for me. I would prefer it more if the flavoring and black tea base were more subtle. It’s possible this tea would be more to my taste as an iced tea. I’ll try it that way next month!

I made a jug of this iced at lunch time today. AMAZING!

This was a free sample from Teajo!

This makes a nice and balanced Chai that I’m really enjoying. I’ve had a few lately that had too much cardamom or something, but I have no complaints here! When I was choosing my sample, I noticed that the prices were pretty reasonable – I might have to place an order.

I wish I could just smell this tea all day…

Firstly, thanks Teajo teas for the huge sample!!!!
When I got this tea home I just wanted to open it up and try it. Upon opening the sample the smell is very powerful….but not too overwhelming. You can actually smell the tea and the mango quite clearly. I am in no way a huge fruity tea fan, but this smelled very appealing.
It steeped to a nice darkish liquor(followed directions on sample). And it tasted really good. Very mango/fruity as well as the assam came through very nicely. Even my wife who was sitting beside me had to have a taste because it smelled so great.

A tasty tea for sure and one of only a few fruity teas I like.

No notes yet.

thank you so much Teajo for a sample of this one! There is enough here for many cups. The dry leaves are as black as they could be. I always thought cream was what made me love an earl grey. But this one is so smooth, it is almost like there is cream here (though there isn’t.) This is a very different earl grey somehow. It’s unique… I guess all earl greys are different. This one is citrusy and bright but very smooth. It kind of reminds me of Fruity Pebbles cereal (awesome, in my opinion!) The second steep reminded me of the lemon part of a firecracker popsicle (awesome again). The black tea base is an assam. I don’t think earl greys usually have an assam base.. I’m not sure. But the base here is perfect for an earl grey flavor. It doesn’t disappear behind the earl grey but it doesn’t overpower it either. I didn’t see how there was safflower or cacao in this though. But I do agree that it is silky! I really really like this one. This one tells me that earl grey creams aren’t the only earl greys I love! This is a straight earl grey I could easily buy a ton of!

Been having a long day. My husband got in a minor car accident yesterday (just cosmetic car damage) and dealing with that – plus he got like 2 hours notice he has to do a 3 hour drive to help out his friend, who’s quite sick. I was almost done my review, but I had to stop and start making food for his drive, as well as treats for his friend.

Finally, onto Tropical Mango! This tea is best iced! It has that “classic iced tea” flavor, but with juicy mango. Much better than store bought mango iced tea!

Full review on my blog, The Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.wordpress.com/2013/03/29/tropical-mango-from-teajo-tea-review/

Thanks Teajo Tea for this generous free sample.

The dry tea smells very strongly of bergamot, which I like. Already off to a good start.

The tea tastes like a very smooth Earl Grey. There is a strong bergamot taste but it is not bitter, its very smooth and creamy. I also feel like I am getting notes of vanilla and caramel.

I also would like to say I am happy that Teajo labelled the tea package with the ingredients and the preparation details, so I did not have to look anything up. I wish more tea companies did this.