Certified Organic Peppermint (BH46)

Hey Steepsters!

I’ve always loved Peppermint tea, but surprisingly had only a few different brands. The only peppermint tea I’ve had that rivals this is Stash’s Peppermint which I had quite a few years ago.

The aroma upon opening the bag is AWESOME! I just inhale deeply…yes, I do inhale people. OH WAIT…I’m talking tea here! Anywho, the leaf, and aroma are top notch. The cats are drawn to the smell as well.

This is first quality Peppermint. The flavor is not weak, it is so fresh. Brewed hot I use less tea than for iced tea. I do tend to use more leaf for iced tea, maybe as much as twice the amount of tea. While most of my cups this Summer have been iced; whether you drink this tea hot or iced it is has a smooth, strong peppermint flavor. There is no bitterness, no mudddy (earthy) notes, that some lesser peppermint teas can possess. For example Upton’s Organic Egyptian Peppermint #27, #BH42, while not bitter is more earthy than minty, and nowhere near as good.

This is my favorite peppermint tea, and cannot imagine a peppermint tea any better. However, I have left a little room, for a higher rating should a better peppermint tea dare show its’ taste. 97

VERY aromatic, very tasty, good plain or with honey — all the good cooling volatiles remain in the leaves. Wants a full 2 teaspoons to brew a full-tasting cup. Doesn’t get bitter if left to steep too long, as some peppermint teas do.

2tsp/212F/to taste

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 :)

Straight up peppermint. There’s not much not to like about this if you like peppermint and I do. It’s nicely minty without any fake candy cane taste to it, but not so strong that you have the feeling it’s been doused with additional peppermint oil or flavorings to artifically enhance the taste. The only thing I found surprising is the aroma, which is a lot more earthy than I’d expected. But this is my first loose peppermint, so as far as I know it’s entirely possible they all smell like this but the bags screen out some of the loamy, planty smell.