A review of Refreshing Orange Tea (Single Estate Indian Black Tea) by Teajo Teas
Date: 10/01/2012
Company: Teajo Teas
Tea Name: Single estate Indian black tea
Tea Type/Varietal: Black
Region: Northern India
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: cup/ leaf
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: Reddish orange
Leaf Characteristics: The dry leaves are very finely curled with the bits of orange peel/ gojiberries mingling for a floral scenting aroma. When steeped, tea leaves are fuller in bits and the berries and bits of orange peels are more noticeable, with the orange peels more heavy in scented oils.
- Steepings 2 good steeps with 2nd steep being better than first steep.
1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 5 minutes
Note: I wanted to experience this tea to its fullest so I decided for the first steep to be brewed longer. I let the tap water boiled for a good five minutes until fully boiling and left it to cool down, with less steam. I place one teaspoon of the tea in my tea strainer and put this over my tea mug and then added the hot water over the strainer and into my cup. Tea seems to color at one, that brownish/orange glow and the smell of the orange peels permeating around me.
I let the strainer sit in the water for a few minutes more so that tea color is darker and stronger. I remove the strainer and put this aside and take my tea to have a sip. At first tea is bitter, not because of the orange peels but just tasting heavily astringent; It is a heavy –bodied tea, fullness since it leaves quite a lingering after taste when swallowed.
For this first steep I am not finding anything to like about this tea, I think I let it sit to long with the leaves in it.
2nd Steeping:
Water temperature: 190 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes
Note: Since my first experience with this tea is not as good, I am having tea again with lower water temperature and steep only for a few minutes. Tea’s color is a pale orange color with slight orangery/berries aroma; it is a citrus aroma that I am finally getting which I did not get with the first steep. Tea was to heavy, over cooked perhaps.
I find I like this second cup much better and I can see warming the water for another cup with the same leaves. I don’t wish to add anything to this tea, just to have it plainly and a bit hotter. Water temperature can be at 200 Farenheit and to steep it for lesser time makes for a better cup of tea.
Overall, tea has a bright lovely coloring that peeks out at you with the orange peels and goojiberries intermingling in the air while adding layers to the teas texture. Tea’s characteristic is its bright color and full-bodied effect upon tasting of the tea.
