Bruu Tea

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95
drank Biscottea by Bruu Tea
68 tasting notes

1/28/22
sipdown from Teaandmeblog’s advent calendar.
Loved it. Orange and cinnamon forward, but this really does taste like a dessert. Very happy with this cup. added sugar.

Flavors: Cinnamon, Cookie, Fruity, Orange, Sugar, Sweet

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 10 OZ / 295 ML

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68
drank Green Rooibos by Bruu Tea
16545 tasting notes

Sipdown (1333)!

This sample comes from a tea swap with Sewwie over on instagram – thanks Sewwie for the tea sample! I brewed it up last night and I really just expected a straight green rooibos, but surprisingly it tasted quite ginger infused to me – mostly in the finish which had a bit of peppery/“back of the throat tickling” heat to it that I just wasn’t expecting.

I think I’d have preferred a plain green rooibos, but once I got used to the ginger note I didn’t mind it. It’s a confusing name for the tea though, if the ginger was intentionally there…

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70
drank Angel's Kiss by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

While I´ve almost emptied the pouch, I notice I haven´t written a review of this blend yet.
Aroma´s of tropical fruit in nose with the dry tea, once steeped these aroma´s have left and only a sweet air stays. Quite neutral taste (the green tea backbone), more sweet than fruity (maybe only a soft strawberry in finish) in my opinion. Easy enough to drink, without lasting impressions though.

From Bruu´s website :
What it is? A heavenly green tea blend, with plenty of papaya, a pinch of pineapple and stacks of strawberry.
Why we love it? Sweet and bitter in equal measure, with a real fruity finish. Perfectly refreshing to be enjoyed hot or cold.
Where it’s from? Also known as ‘Dragonwell’, Lung Ching is one of the most famous Chinese green teas worldwide, renowned for its quality and remarkable flavour. True Lung Ching tea, with its unique flat and crisp leaves, is grown only in the Hangzhou area in Zhejiang province. Longjing Village at the west side of the West Lake is the very “place of origin of Longjing Tea” and is called the “No. 1 Village of Tea”. Surrounded by the super high mountains, Longjing Village is not only the residence of over 800 people but the growing plantation of near 800 acres of Longjing Tea as well.
How our drink hits the senses: Huge swathes of pineapple and strawberry, with an almost bitter climax. Sweet and bitter in equal measure, with a real fruity finish.

Flavors: Strawberry, Sugar, Tropical

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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89
drank Mao Jian by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

This is tea from one of those golden pouches Bruu adds to their tea subscription. As in general I´m more of a black tea lover, I hadn´t tried this tea before, but I must say that I really like this green tea : needle-like appearance in loose tea, with an almost floral aroma (not grassy at all!), and when brewed, very light in colour and almost sweet in mouth. Floral again in finish. Nice.

How does Bruu describe the tea? I copy everything :
What it is? Mao Jian, is a sweet and floral green. There is an honesty in its flavour, reflecting the stress the tea bush goes through, due to the winter snows and altitude. As a result of the climate and temperatures the tea bush is exposed to, the season for the perfect Mao Jian tea is short, with the perfect crop coming from early spring.
Why we love it? Needle-like in appearance, and made from only the buds, Mao Jian leaves are commonly known as ‘hairy tips’ due to their appearance, the downy hairs (Mao) are what gives the tea its name.
Where it’s from? Hunan, Xinyang, China. Bai Yun mountains. 750m above sea level.
How our drink hits the senses? This Mao Jian is super fresh and packed full of flavour. Produced by smallholders in the Bai Yun mountains, you can almost taste the Chinese air!
The taste journey : It is a light, sweet cup, with a gentle floral aroma and a sappy freshness.

Flavors: Floral, Green, Sweet

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 15 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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89

Another golden pouch (added to every tea subscription by Bruu), and another very solid breakfast tea. The tea is very fine of texture, as I understand from the brilliant leaflet Bruu adds to all these golden pouches is the result of the CTC (crush, tear, curl) technique which allows for a stronger tea when brewed. As I make my breakfast tea always in a glass mug with glass filter, I was wondering if I wouldn´t end up with a inefficient filter, but it´s doing just fine. The brew is a lovely dark red colour and the malty taste is strong but complex and elegant. As far as I am concerned, no need to add milk ;-)

From the leaflet :
Why we love Surianalle
Clean & medium-toned fragrance of sweet biscuit in a dip of malt. Liquor of golden yellow with an orange and a rounded cup. Strong bodied with lively briskness, a touch of fruit and a sterling lingering note of sweetness in the finish. Expect the unexpected. The beauty of the hills beckons you to an inspiring morning of tea. A lot can certainly happen over this cup of tea!

Flavors: Malt

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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88
drank Luponde by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

I tasted this tea from a “golden pouch” Bruu is adding to each tea subscription this year. I might order it in a bigger pouch as it´s a nice breakfast tea, malty but not too agressive (strong) as they sometimes are (especially the ones from Kenya and Tanzania). Elegant with a particularly long finish.

What Bruu themselves say on their website :
What it is? A malty black tea with a nutty character.
Why we love it? Luponde is much softer and more mellow than other Tanzanian teas, yet with an aromatic zest and a fine length of flavour.
Where it’s from? Njombe District, Tanzania. With a hot and humid eastern shore bordering the India Ocean, and a mountainous, densely forested area in the northeast, Tanzania is one of the most important tea-producing countries in Africa. It has a warm, tropical climate with seasonal patterns of precipitation – a perfect recipe for growing tea. Although much of Tanzania is too dry for tea, the Luponde Plantation flourishes in the high altitude.
How our drink hits the senses? A very light, malty and earthy aroma fills the senses.
The taste journey : A very mellow, fresh BRUU with a fine length of flavour. Luponde can be drunk with or without milk, we just love the versatility.

Flavors: Malt, Nutty

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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75
drank Elderlong by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

I picked this tea because I was curious about the elderflower character added to oolong…in nose the dry loose tea definitely promises, especially because the elderflower aroma is soft and delicate…this changes quite abruptly when the tea is brewed : here, the apple character comes fully through and in mouth the tea is sweet. Not bad, but the oolong character is completely lost to me, so this is primarily a fruit tea as far as I am concerned.

From Bruu´s website :
What it is? A Chinese Oolong and fruit blend.
Why we love it : Chinese Oolong Ti Kuan Yin and the delicate, characteristic notes of the elderflower is simply perfect.
Where it’s from : This oolong tea is a Chinese tea that is partly fermented during processing. Fertile soils, pure water and a pleasant climate combine to produce this perfect in-between tea. Combined with carefully selected autumn fruit and spring blossom from UK, this tea is fit for the Iron Goddess.
How our drink hits the senses : Sat dry in the container, natures sweetest smell in all her glory, with a wonderful earthy note from the Oolong. During the infusion process, this calming flavour makes this a sweet yet smooth experience for your mouth.
The taste journey : A late Spring walk through blossom and apple trees with your favourite person by your side.

Flavors: Apple, Floral

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 15 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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85
drank Mayfair Black by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

Another strong and very decent breakfast tea. The addition of safflower petals makes the tea more elegant, and doesn´t only add a floral touch, also a subtle spicey one, as far as I can tell. That might be what Bruu themselves identify as tobacco…
Here I add their description :
What it is? A careful blend of Assam and Kenyan black teas are mixed with a sprinkle of calming Safflower petals to produce a wonderful, full bodied tasting tea with a slight mellow astringency.
Why we love it : Full round bodied taste with yielding a slightly mellow astringency. Picture those mornings when there’s just enough time to pause before the busy day ahead and a peaceful calm surrounds – well that’s the ambience each sip will provide.
Where it’s from : Assam, India, (2nd Flush) & Kericho, Kenya. The multihued nature of the taste of Kericho tea might be explained by the varied soil types which consist of well drained, shallow to extremely deep volcanic types. These factors combine to bring out the easy going vibrancy of Kericho highland teas.
How our drink hits the senses : A very earthy, tobacco, full bodied loose tea which fills the senses instantly.
The taste journey : A reddish brown cup with wholesome full tea notes. Full round bodied taste with yielding a slightly mellow astringency – great with milk. This tea is certainly a high class tea to be savoured and enjoyed.

Flavors: Floral, Malt, Spicy, Tea, Tobacco

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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80
drank Lockhart Gold by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

A very nice breakfast tea, malty and quite strong (don´t oversteep this one!!!).
What Bruu say themselves :
What it is? A splendid black, traditional breakfast tea that’s packed with flavour. It’s the pride and joy of South India’s Lockhart Tea Estate.
Why we love it : Handpicked on the day BRUU visited the Lockhart Factory. The Indian supervisor at the Lockhart factory where we sourced these leaves, made us a Lockhart Gold drink with added sugar. Naughty but nice. Thanks Mr. Yonus.
Where it’s from : Munnar, Kerala, South India (Lockhart Tea Estate). The slopes of Chokarmudy, one of South India’s highest peaks, from which the entire valley of Lockhart can be seen. Munnar is a place known for its beautiful tea estates and tea cultivation. No one will return home without tasting or shopping the tea essence of Munnar.
How our drink hits the senses : A sweet, earthy, brilliant and distinct malty scent that oozes quality.
The taste journey : Rich, strong and flavoursome cup enjoyed with or without milk.

Flavors: Malt, Tea

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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81

To be honest, I´ve already finished this tea well before writing this review…so I´ll limit my personal review to saying that it was another very decent breakfast tea with good body.

What follows, comes from Bruu´s website :
The story : In January 2018 the BRUU team got a special invitation by the Sri Lankan Tea Association to visit one of its premier tea estates run by Sri Lanka’s number one tea taster Eranga. Even better, they allowed us to fly the tea immediately back to the UK to guarantee freshness. Usually, in Sri Lanka, all tea has to go through auctions, which can add months between the time it is picked and when it ends up in your cup.
What it is? Usually, in Sri Lanka, all tea has to go through auctions, which can add months between the time it is picked and when it ends up in your cup but not this one, we flew the tea immediately back to the UK to guarantee freshness. It is a masterpiece created by Sri Lanka’s number one tea taster!
Why we love it? A blend from the higher and lower regions of Ceylon delivering a light, refreshing flavour with real body.
Where it’s from? Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC produces the best of high-quality Ceylon Teas in Sri Lanka. The estate is managed by Eranga Edodawella, awarded the Best Tea Taster in Sri Lanka. The plantation strategically plants trees around the tea bushes to cast timed shadows each day.
How our drink hits the senses : A refreshing smell, unlike your traditional black, it has a light aroma, it isn’t trying to overpower itself, almost closer to a light Oolong…..but wait, here it comes, after a few minutes that leaves uncurl and wow, flavour hits the senses!
The taste journey : We love this tea, it is so luxurious. You won’t want to add milk to this, it already has a creamy profile owing to the cooler region it is grown in. It’s naturally sweet and packed with character.

Flavors: Tea

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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85

This came as one of the “golden tea pouches” Bruu offers with every episode of its monthly tea subscription. As I´m not a great fan of green teas, I sort of put it aside, to try it earlier on today. And it sure came as a nice surprise, as I fully agree to what is indicated on the discover sheet : “Our Sourenee has sappy, grassy notes, overlain with soft fruits and a deep grapey aroma.” it´s this grapey touch that I can appreciate here.

All of the info Bruu gives about this tea online :
What it is? An early second flush of roasted green tea.
Why we love it : Due to the altitudes, tricky growing conditions and limited space, the Darjeeling district only produces 1% of India’s tea, at just 8,000 tonnes each year. This makes our Sourenee extremely rare, as it’s one of only a few estates able to produce a green Darjeeling tea.
Where it’s from : The Sourenee Tea Estate, Mirik Valley, India. The estate has an elevation of 700-1300m above sea level. The soil in that region is a stiff red loam with clay.
How our drink hits the senses : These leaves never cease to give out such scrumptious scents. A real unique green tea that oozes quality.
The taste journey : Grassy notes, overlaid with soft fruits and a deep grapey aroma. The well twisted green leaf provides an earthy undertone.

Flavors: Grass, White Grapes

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 15 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML
Nattie

I have a second flush Darjeeling from the same estate, but mine is a regular black. It’s one of the best I’ve tried. (:

Ilse Wouters

That´s interesting…where did you get it?

Nattie

It was from Butiki, but they’re closed for business now.

Nattie

‘Organic Sourenee Black Blossom’, if you’re interested in reading reviews and comparing the two.

Ilse Wouters

I´ve just read it and it seems like it was a very interesting tea. A shame Butiki closed, as I always admire people with a passion to teach you more about it as well. I make a note of the estate and the black tea…ta!

Nattie

Any time! (: Yeah, Stacy from Butiki was fantastic.

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75
drank Bird of Paradise by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

I actually finished the pouch before writing this review, oops. Enjoyable, but nothing extraordinary. The fruit pieces are big, which makes taking the right amount to steep tricky.

So, mainly giving the information from Bruu´s website :
What it is? A lovely, delicate green and white tea blend form a sturdy base for the variety of large fruit pieces and generous helpings of rose petals.
Why we love it? Tropical papaya flavours and juicy orange notes have been perfectly combined in this fresh green tea blend. Sweet berry notes add a very special, delicious touch to the cup.
Where it’s from? Shizuoka is widely known as the green tea capital of Japan and is responsible for over 40% of Japan’s tea production. The almost magical beverage boasts many benefits, and it is often touted as a contributor to the longevity and health of the people of Shizuoka. There are several great view spots of Mt.Fuji in the city which creates an amazing contrast with green tea leaves, blue sky, and white snow.
How our drink hits the senses? One sniff and we’re drinking cocktails on white sandy beaches.
The taste journey : Once the ingredients have infused, the tropical fruit taste is trying to dominate the cup, but the green and white tea blend start to come through to unify the drink. Sweet and fruity.

Flavors: Flowers, Green, Orange, Tropical

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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87
drank Caribbean Kiss by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

Citrusy when opening the tea pouch, in a fresh way (it reminds me of when the lemon trees are in bloom). Once steeped, the loose leaves open up nicely and that´s a lovely sight, with the pink peppercorns and the orange peel slices to complete the “painting”. The tea is the colour of a sweet white wine, and in nose now the peppercorns come through with the bits of pomelo. Spicy taste but very balanced. A blend which works for me!

From Bruu´s website :
What it is? Discover hidden treasures in a fine green/black tea blend, red peppercorn pearls, golden orange peel nuggets and as the highlight, exotic, colourful pomelo slices ═ everything but a curse.
Why we love it? Punchy and sweet, with a fiery heat from the peppercorns. Smooth and velvety, just as you would imagine a Caribbean kiss of a pirate from the Caribbean tastes like on stormy waters
Where it’s from? The humid climate of the Sichuan province, China, lends itself well to the production of tea. From a distance, the tea farms could almost be mistaken for rice paddies. The most popular tea styles in Sichuan are green and black.
How our drink hits the senses: Punchy and sweet, with a fiery heat from the peppercorns. As you’re drinking there’s a genuine warmth, perfectly blended, with a big ol’ citrus punch. This tea is smooth and velvety, just as you would imagine a Caribbean smooch!

Flavors: Citrusy, Grapefruit, Orange Zest, Peppercorn, Spicy

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 15 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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90
drank Bogapani by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

Let me start by saying I´m not a big fan of chai. Most of the time the cinnamon just overwhelms me entirely, so it´s OK for one cup (running up to Xmas, for instance), and then I need a (long) break to drink anything…apart from chai.
Yesterday, as I felt like having a cup in the evening while watching a movie, and it had snowed in the morning, so I thought I would give the chai sample Bruu added to its January subscription box a go…and I really enjoyed it : balanced in nose, nicely copper coloured and quite soft mouthfeel with the orange peel finishing it off, a lot subtler than most chai teas I´ve tried before.

I imagine I´m not the only one having enjoyed this tea, as it is now part of Bruu´s collection. They say about it as follows :
What it is? It is extremely rich, luxurious and malty which works perfectly with the cinnamon and orange. Most chai teas contain many complex ingredients, but this Bogapani tea can hold itself with just three.
Why we love it : The tea bushes on the Bogapani plantation are well established, and so the harvest is consistent year-round. More established plants also produce better tea leaves and this Assam is no exception.
Where it’s from? Assam, a state in Northeast India, is well known for its tea production along with its rich culture and vibrant environment. For example, tea is so important to this culture that they even have their own festival to celebrate it, called the Assam Tea Festival, held in November.
How our drink hits the senses : Most of Assam focuses on mass-produced tea, but this Bogapani is reserved for the luxury end of the market. In appearance, the tea is a light brown cup, which will work well with milk and even a touch of honey!
The taste journey : Bogapani is rich and malty, whilst the added cinnamon and orange peel give it a sweet aftertaste; making it perfect for a winters day to get you in the mood for Christmas. The tea is from the higher quality June harvest and utilises the fresher, fine-needle leaves.

Flavors: Cinnamon, Orange Zest, Tea

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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88
drank Formosa by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

Malty with earthy undertones in nose, light of colour after steeping for 3 minutes, no nonsense oolong in mouth. With oolongs, my stomach can tell so I need to drink this tea not too late during the day, as my digestion is busy with the half-fermented tea the rest of the afernoon/evening.

I´m not sure whether I can completely find myself in Bruu´s explanation. Here it is anyway :
What it is? Formosa is a speciality tea produced in the Taiwanese mountains. After plucking, the tea is fermented to approximately 50% and then wilted in the sun. Frequent turning of the tea in bamboo baskets during the drying process allows Formosa to develop a mild aroma and a large, wildly curled leaf.
Why we love it? Easy to prepare and remains a lovely introduction to Taiwanese tea.
Where it’s from? Taiwan. The word Formosa, meaning “beautiful”, is the word Portuguese navigators used to describe Taiwan when they caught sight of the island back in 1544.
How our drink hits the senses : Earthy with a slight minty edge and a floral waft.
The taste journey : The taste definitely builds with each sip. Simple, no fuss, no-frills classic Oolong. After brewing, the still green leaf centre with the fermented leaf edges becomes clearly visible. It is very light in the cup and has a very flowery and spicy taste.

Flavors: Earth, Malt

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 2 min, 45 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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87
drank Vithanakande by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

The visual aspect of this tea is really nice : wiry leaves for the dry loose tea, a dark copper colour for the brew. Maybe not as fragrant as one would like, but this is well compensated in taste : malty, with character (stone fruit), all well balanced.

What Bruu says about this tea on its webpage :
What it is? A higher than usual grade of Orange Pekoe, consisting of very well rolled, wiry leaves. An extraordinary quality and unique taste from an award-winning estate.
Why we love it? This is a gentle, full of flavour, exquisite black tea, perfect anytime of the day. Neat black and silver leaves produce a dark amber liquor. It has a smooth deep character with stony and malty notes of fruits and molasses.
Where it’s from? Sri Lanka, New Vithanakande tea factory. Ratnapura has a lower elevation, and its geography is a transition between hills and plains. Worth a trip one day? Pick your own tea maybe? The highest estates share in the microclimatic conditions produced by the rainforests, cloud forests and high, grassy plains endemic to this region. As a result, they produce tea of a somewhat different character to that grown at lower elevations in the district. Some of these estates receive the highest rainfall of any in the plantation districts.
How our drink hits the senses : Almost chocolaty, strong and intense
The taste journey : The tea is leafy and has a glorious black and copper sheen since the soil is abnormally high in nutrients. When infused, New Vithanakande has a complex caramel flavour and has hints of forest fruits; a tea truly blessed by nature.

Flavors: Malt, Stonefruit, Tea

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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80
drank Champagne by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

From Bruu´s website :
What it is? A dry white and green tea blend, with lush peachy chunks and sweet sultanas.
Why we love it? The smell is amazing, instantly your mouth begins to water with the peachy tones. Crisp and fruity initially, but super dry on the finish, just like a glass of fizz. Raise your glass with us and take delight in the sweet, ripe grape and peach notes, which are mirrored in the sultanas and reddish golden peach crunchy bits.
Where it’s from? Unlike the alcoholic beverage which is from the Champagne region in North France, this wonderful tea is produced in the Fujian province in China. The hilly territories with their red and yellow mountain soils, year round mild climate and abundant rainfall contribute to the White Tea’s unique character.
How our drink hits the senses: Crisp and fruity initially, but super dry on the finish this tea is light and subtly peachy, just like a glass of fizz.

First of all, I don´t understand all the fuzz about the fizzy drinks and imitating them, when most of the people aren´t too bothered about the quality of the champagne/cava/sekt/prosecco in the first place, but seem to only be interested in the visual effect of pearly bubbles rising up in the glass. I´m not an expert, but I do know there´s a HUGE difference between a champagne from a small and artisan vigneron and the mass produced low price versions available everywhere. So, getting to this tea blend : it´s fruity (peachy indeed), a bit on the sweet side w/o overdoing it, which makes it all quite festive and summery. The blend is well put together, it smells nicely, and it´s easy to drink. Complex? No, not really. For me it´s more punch and less champagne. A decent fruity tea , which even people who mainly drink black tea can enjoy.

Flavors: Peach, Sweet, Warm Grass

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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75
drank It's Darjeeling by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

From Bruu´s website :
What it is? A strong, malty and aromatic leaf with a rich body.
Why we love it? Works well with a drop of fresh lemon juice.
Where it’s from? Nestled between the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal. Tea from the Darjeeling district in West Bengal, India. When brewed, tea grown and processed in this area has a distinctive, naturally occurring aroma and taste, with light tea liquor; the infused leaf also has a distinctive fragrance.
How our drink hits the senses? Whilst sitting dry in its container waiting to become your BRUU; A strong, malty and aromatic leaf with a rich body. As the drink is BRUUing; Black but edgy.
The taste journey? The in-between we are offering excels due to its well-worked leaf, a light amber cup and an incomparable, slightly flowery, scented bouquet. A special tea with a delicate, fine taste for a perfect Sunday afternoon. A full and rounded blend.

I admit this sounds fantastic. Unfortunately, the tea liquor is light but so is everything : aroma´s and taste. I´ve tasted darjeelings which were very “delicate” with subtle but elegant aroma´s and taste, but this blend is lacking this finesse. So, just an average mark for a “just OK” tea, in my opinion.

Flavors: Malt, Tea

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 45 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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90
drank Maple Syrup by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

Maple flavoured oolong sounds pretty sweet to me, but “Maple Syrop” is actually quite balanced. However, I don´t know whether the pieces of real walnut and almond really make a huge difference in taste. (Maple) syrop-y in nose, in mouth this oolong reminds me a lot of a caramel flavoured black tea very popular (or at least it was popular 20 odd years ago) in France, called “Marco Polo”. I used to enjoy this Marco Polo a lot, especially on a Winter´s afternoon, and so, I can only rejoice in Maple Syrop being available in my tea cupboard.

From Bruu´s website :
Canada in a cup – fine walnuts and the flowery Oolong tea, the sweet maple flavour unfolds to its fullest. This composition promises exceptional indulgence!
How our drink hits the senses: Whilst sitting dry in its container waiting to become your BRUU; One sniff, I’m in Canada eating pancakes loaded with maple syrup.
As the drink is BRUUing; After the initial syrupy hit, the earthy Oolong and nuts come through.
The taste journey; It’s sweet, it’s nutty, it’s smooth – what’s not to love here?!

Flavors: Caramel, Earth, Maple Syrup

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML
Martin Bednář

Not really sure if I want to try it, as I am trying to avoid sweet flavours, but… the nuts?!

Ilse Wouters

they make the loose leaf tea beautiful, don´t know + not sure whether they have an impact in taste.

Roswell Strange

Nuts are a surprisingly common addition to maple blends; maybe because “Maple Nut” is a pretty common flavour combination in Canada? Maybe because some nuts, like walnut, actually have a slight natural maple-ish taste? I’d be curious to see if this maple flavour would get a Canadian stamp of approval, though. I’m not sure I’ve ever had a maple tea from a non-Canadian company that’s really nailed the flavour…

Ilse Wouters

I can agree with you there…and it works for the personal taste as well : all the Canadians I know just love maple syrop, for the other people around (like me) it´s nice once in a while, but we get fed up with it quite easily, I think. As a Belgian I´m always completely stunned by how the North-Americans treat our waffles when we only add a bit of glacing sugar or a bit of butter.

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82
drank Diamond Black by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

This is Bruu´s earl grey blend. In nose it definitely shows. When steeping the tea the bergamot aroma´s linger on, but then, taking out the filter, the liquid itself has sort of lost the typical earl grey smell, and in mouth it tastes maltier than other Earl Grey blends. I have no objection to this malty character, but I really love earl grey, and its typical aroma is part of the enjoyment, as far as I am concerned. So not that happy an end IMHO

From Bruu´s website :
What it is? A harmonious interaction of the soft, slightly spicy tea basis with natural bergamot flavouring let every Earl’s heart beat faster!!
Why we love it? Very tasty. Not only the bright blue mallow blossoms give this popular English classic touch of royal flair.
Where it’s from? Mahseer is located in the centre of Assam, Northeast India, on the North bank of the Brahmaputra River in the district of Sonitpur, 20 minutes from the ancient city of Tezpur and 2hrs away from Kaziranga National Park. It is a beautiful oasis set in the midst of the Balipara division of Addabarie Tea Estate. Assam tea is mostly grown at or near sea level and is known for its body, briskness, malty flavour, and strong, bright colour.
How our drink hits the senses? Whilst sitting dry in its container waiting to become your BRUU, Diamond Black has such a floral hit. And that hit carries through as the water lands and infuses. Gradually the black tea makes an appearance. Blending! BRUUing!
The taste journey : Such an intelligent blend. The two potions combine perfectly and the order in which the palate senses each flavour leaves you wanting another sip.

Flavors: Bergamot, Tea

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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82
drank Naranja by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

A lot of people adore the combination of orange with let´s say chocolate (my brother is a big fan of Pim´s Cakes, for instance), or vanilla, and that´s great, but according to me no combination is as good as …a simple orange itself! Needless to say, I´ve encountered very few orange teas I really like. This 75% green tea (with white tea completing the blend) might be one I can enjoy more than once ;-) …and it truly smells like when peeling a ripe orange!

From Bruu´s website :
What it is? A premium blend with the aroma combination of oranges and vanilla. Deep red rose buds, bright carrot shreds and golden orange triangles will lighten up your day.
Why we love it : Teas have been selected very cleverly to create a subtle blend here. We’re pleased with this one, we think you will be too.
Where it’s from : Green tea from Kawane, Japan. Located on the mountainside on the upper stream of Oi river, Kawane is famous for producing refined, deep-steamed Sencha (green tea). Around this area, there is a nostalgic steam locomotive that still operates on the Oigawa Railway. Take the train to see the huge tea plantation from aboard, or get off the train to capture the lush scenery of this tea plantation as a backdrop to the whimsical black locomotive. Surrounded in mountains, Kawane features no shortage of unforgettable natural scenery.
How our drink hits the senses : Imagine the scent you get when you peel a ripe, juicy orange.
The taste journey : A taste with sweet notes and a special finish. A real pleasure without caffeine.

Flavors: Orange, Orange Blossom, Orange Zest

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML
ashmanra

That sounds good! Nina’s of Paris had an orange black tea that tastes like fresh fresh spray of orange in your face when peeling the fruit! It really is delightful as is, though I do like the scent of orange and vanilla, as well.

Ilse Wouters

the scent maybe, the taste…mmm, not sure ;-)

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80

A second review, now i´ve taken it a few more times : mango clearly in nose, but once steeped, the tea has a greener, grassy aroma, also present in taste, with some added – subtle – citrus rounding it off. Fresh and spring-like indeed.

Flavors: Citrusy, Grass, Green, Mango

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 2 min, 45 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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80

This was actually a tea included in my first month´s Bruu tea subscription, but one way or another, I took it on holidays with me, forgot to taste it, travelled back with it…and so, almost 6 months later, I finally drank it. It´s a very easy drinking tea, fruity (in a tropical way even : mango!) and light. So, its name is definitely a good pick.

What Bruu themselves say about the tea :
What it is? A harmonious premium gourmet blend of green and white – a real Spring-time delight, all year round.
Why we love it : The scents from the initial opening become more prominent in the steeping stage. A desirable green with fruity kicks throughout. The palate is teased by a fruity, nippy aroma composition that makes this tea blend a real speciality. The combination of the different fruits flatters the smooth, fresh taste of the tea.
Where it’s from : Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The region has a long history of volcanic activity with eleven still active, such that much of the land throughout Kagoshima has been covered in a layer of volcanic ash known as “shirasu” (in Japanese). This ash helps produce soil that is exceptionally rich in minerals.
How our drink hits the senses : The scents from the initial opening become more prominent, a real fresh green and white mix that is reminding us that summer is coming!
The taste journey : A desirable green with fruity kicks throughout – a harmonious blend.

Flavors: Green, Mango

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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85
drank Magic Moon by Bruu Tea
321 tasting notes

From my Bruu tea subscription a couple of months ago. I need to make sure I write a review before the sample is finished!

What Bruu writes about this tea :
This extraordinary blend of black tea with a portion of green tea enjoys great popularity. This tea is not only strikingly decorated, the selected ingredients unite to create a completely new taste experience: the sweet papaya interacts harmoniously with the fine tartness of the intensely red, shining rose hip peel.
What it is? Magic Moon is an aesthetically pleasing tea, with generous cubes of sweet papaya combined with rose-hip peel.
Why we love it? The selected ingredients unite to create a completely new taste experience. The sweet papaya interacts harmoniously with the fine tartness of the intensely red, shining rose hip peel. a unique taste sensation. Simply magical!
Where it’s from? Assam Green and Black Tea, India. In Assam’s subtropical conditions, the plants suffer for nothing, least of all water: Assam is one of the wettest places on the planet. In the tropical moisture, the tea bushes draw from the rich, alluvial soil to generate thick, big leaves from May through June. In the humid air, tea makers have to rush to process the tea.
How our drink hits the senses? The crisp sweet and fruity, refreshing smells hit the senses as soon as you open the pack, there is no saving this tea for later it smells just too good!
The taste journey : Bursting with fruity flavours of select, high quality, exotic but also popular domestic fruits. Each sip makes you quickly take another and another and before you know it you’re BRUUing another pot.

This is primarily a black tea, but a bit of green tea and other – sweet – additions make this a very easy drinking tea for all to enjoy. I cannot really say there´s papaya in the blend, but the warning “contains sugar” is easy to understand when drinking the tea. Lovely to see, lovely to smell, lovely to drink, not giving any hard feelings at all, but I prefer my black teas more tea and less add-ons.

Flavors: Fruity, Sugar, Tea

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 250 ML

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