TeaSource

While doing some online tea shopping the other day, I read on the TeaSource site that Pu-erh teas and other Chinese “dark” teas are probiotic. I’ve been interested in probiotics lately, and I would prefer not to have to get them through dairy or pills. So the thought of getting them through my favorite beverage was enticing.

I’ve not drunk a lot of pu-erh teas in the past, because the ones that I have tasted seemed a bit watery regardless of how long I steeped them. I decided to give them another shot and ordered several cake-type pu-erh and dark teas, along with this spicey loose-leaf concoction.

The tea gives an extra dose of both flavor digestive health, with the addition of licorice and pepperment. I don’t think clove does much for digestion, but let’s face it, it makes tea taste good. The aroma of the opaque black brewed tea is mostly peppermint, but the other spices come out a bit more in the flavor. The overall taste is a lot more like an herbal tea with bit more of a full flavor. It does lack the definitive kick of real camellia sinnensis that I prefer even my flavored teas, but I think I will enjoy this as a mid-morning tea, especially knowing that it is good for my health.

I had this tea in my cupboard for a good five or six months before trying it. It tastes great! One of the better black teas I’ve had.

By far one of my favorite single estate teas….if you don’t love it, you are not a purist tea drinker. That’s okay too.

This is my favorite; hot or iced

Dry, this tea smells pretty malty. It brews up to a lovely dark amber, almost brown cup. It looses most of the maltyness and gains a wheaty smell. Which makes the smoothness of this tea kind of surprising. I was expecting something a bit more…harsh. At the back there’s just a hint of honey. All these smells and tastes come together to make a very good tea.

Dry this tea smells very sweet. Overpoweringly so. It brews up to a very light colored cup and the sweet smell is virtually gone leaving something that might be rhubarb. But it doesn’t really taste like anything. Maybe this is because I used a TeaDrop and it needs a bit more attention. I’ll take it home and see if that improves it any.

This has a lovely toasty aroma. Brews up a nice amber color. I don’t think this comes close to being fruity but it is a nice medium bodied tea. If i let it sit in my mouth for a few seconds, some earthiness seems to come out. It’s a great tea for everyday drinking.

Dry, the tea has a lovely ‘tea’ aroma. It’s all black and brown bits. The cup brews up a lovely amber color and loses none of the tea smell. It’s a light tasting tea with just a touch of dryness at the back of the mouth. I love this tea because it’s so good and it’s not going to break the bank. This is one tea that’s always in my cupboard and at work.

“Intoxicating aroma” is the phrase that comes to mind while brewing this tea. It’s the most fragrant unflavored tea that I’ve ever tasted. The pure tea-like goodness rolls from the cup as it’s poured and the flavor does not disappoint, either. Incredibly smooth and spicey, it reminds me of assam, but it is lighter and not so full-bodied.

I was afraid of this tea for a long time because it looks like the tea you’d find in tea bags. And it has the same smell. But I finally got brave and tried it a couple of weeks back and it’s not bad. It’s quick to brew up because of the tiny leaves. And it’s a very dark cup. It is indeed a smooth tea with lots of flavor and depth. But it’s not my favorite tea. It’s ok but nothing special.

Opening the package I get a nice earthy aroma. But not the icky earthiness that makes me think of mud & worms. Upon brewing, it becomes a very mellow tea but still retains some of that earthiness. After TeaSource’s house Darjeeling, this could very easily become my everyday sipping tea.

I really love this tea both hot and iced. It doesn’t have that syrupy taste that some cranberry teas have. Add a spot of vanilla syrup and YUM.

I’m a sucker for tea that include a color. Unless it’s green. But this tea didn’t really thrill me. It tastes sort of bland. It doesn’t really have an aroma, either dry or brewed. I don’t have much experience with Assams so I’m not sure if I’m just missing something or if this is the way Assams are supposed to be. Either way I don’t think I’d be buying this one again.

Before steeping, this tea has a very fruity aroma. Very sweet smelling. Almost too sweet. After brewing it loses most of that fruity sweetness and takes on an almost earthy scent. The flavor is smooth and mellow. It’s a lovely tea I almost can’t get enough of.

I don’t do herbal infusions much at all. I seldom drink them, just like my black tea. However, I was very pleasantly surprised. This infusion is tart, fruty, with a hint of floral. It was very smooth. I did ice this one, and yum! It was even better. By itself, or maybe combined with a black tea over ice, it is very nice. Hmm, 3 very’s, must be good.

So, this was not a real favorite of mine. It has a nice aroma, especially the wet leaf. It was like warmed fruit from a hot oven. It has just a hint of fruit, with a little astringent after taste. May be better iced.

I liked this tea. It has a very pleasant, mildly fruity tea. It had no bitter after taste that green teas sometimes have.

First thank you Meghann M for this sample. This is the first of many to go.

I went into this blind. I didn’t look up the ingredents because I wanted to see if I could identify them myself. Big mistake, I couldn’t tell what I was tasting at all. What I do know is that all the flavors were blended evenly so I couldn’t distinguish what was what and it was worse, after I read what the ingredients were I still couldn’t taste the cherry at all but did notice the coconut. Keep this in mind although I was not a big fan of this one I still greatly apprecaite the opportunity to try it. I have more left so I may give it another chance. I had to use a larger mug today and it may be that I put too much water when steeping it so I may not be getting the full picture. I will try it again in the future and add more notes.

Yum! This makes a very nice ice tea. This tea is mild, fresh, with a hint of mango, with a very pleasent aftertaste.

This tea took me by surprise. When I opened the package, I was a little unsure I would like it. The aroma was a mix of both pleasent, and a bit odd. However, once brewed, I was rather pleased. I did 3 brewings with the same leaves, and could have gotten a few more, I am sure. The first cupping was smooth and fruity, but not overpowering. The second cupping was milder, with a hint of sweetness. The third was similar to the second. Once totally cooled, I could tell this tea would be great iced.