Wild Forest Black

I found this while my boyfriend and I were giggling-drunk in the health food section of the grocery store. I was intrigued with the name of the tea at the time, so it found its way into my basket. (Despite the fact that I have so many other teas to be reviewed!)

This is actually my second time drinking it. I took it with me to work in a 16-ounce cup. I underestimated the strength of it and used two bags, which was a MISTAKE. It was so strong that I had to gulp some and add more water. But after that, it was great.

Like I said, this is a strong black tea that does not kid around. Perfect for your first cup of the day, especially if it’s cold outside and you have things to do. (The caffeine content is delightfully high.) After barely four minutes, it’s very dark, almost like coffee or a puerh. The flavor is malty and caramel-like, especially in the aftertaste. It certainly has a bitterness to it, but I crave that sort of thing. This is an especially good black tea for something bagged, I think. I’m actually pretty surprised by it, since it’s something from the grocery store. This might end up as my go-to convenience tea for those mornings where I just don’t feel like dealing with an infuser.

This was a gift from the extensive and famous Teaequalsbliss collection, and I was grateful to try it!

Steeped the recommended 5 minutes, this is dark, almost ebony, and rich and thick. There’s not a bit of fruit in it, but it made me hold my tongue the same way I would if I was eating a bowl of black cherries. A very good black tea with subtleties you wouldn’t want to miss by having it too early in the morning.

Houston, Tranquility base here. The Eagle has landed. That’s code for envelope from TeaEqualsBliss arrived loaded with much joy! I bought Choice teas before I joined Steepster but not since, so I have never logged any of them. This one, I have never even seen before now. It is a bagged version in a paper envelope. Ingredients listed as Organic Black Tea.

First off, the provided brewing instructions (For best results brew 4-5 minutes) will result in a really harsh cup of tea. I went 3 minutes and even at the shorter steep this is very astringent. Cotton mouth astringent. If I had another bag of this I would try 1-2 minutes.

Now on to the positives. This is pleasantly malty. It also has an interesting taste that to me tastes like leather similar to the Teavivre mini toucha – a first with a black tea for me. I think with a little patience and brewing artistry (getting the most out of a bag is as much an art as it is with loose leaf) this would be a really nice cup.

I’m having a cup right now and enjoying it! This is a fairly strong black for a bagged tea. Malty and a darker black taste not a sweeter type black if that makes sense. Smooth finish.

To be honest, I usually don’t like straight black tea. It’s too bold and kind of bitter to me. But a good English Breakfast and good black tea, once adjusted to the perfect taste, is great. And this happens to be that tea!

Smell: You know, since it was bagged, I didn’t take the time to really smell it, but what I did get was just a smooth, bold black tea smell. But good, you know?

Taste: It’s rich, a bit sweet with a nice strong flavor. I added a little bit of honey, no sugar this time (see, I can enjoy tea with no sugar! Though I have to think back on that because I may have? I’m almost 100% positive I didn’t though) and it came out amazingly well. The honey gave it a pleasant flavor and smoothed out some of the bitter that I find in straight black teas. And it had the slight caffiene kick I needed, and it was just really yummy for a black tea! Unfortunately, I only have one more bag………:-(

This is a very dark and strong black tea – perfect choice for first thing in the morning. Brisk and bold – this tea is hefty!

Nice!