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Another sample I received in the black tea sampler from Vahdam last year. I got up early today to watch my favorite soccer team (heja BVB!) play in Matchday 29 of the Bundesliga and wanted something to wake me up. I figured that, with a name like “Red Thunder,” this tea would do it!

The sample size was only 7 grams, so I used the whole sample in my 16 oz. teapot, but brewed it for three minutes instead of my usual four. Besides, I enjoy my tea on the stronger side, anyway. I followed with a second steeping for four minutes.

The brewed liquor comes out a nice reddish-brown color, with more red than brown. The scent is fruity—particularly muscatel grape, as expected for an autumn flush Darjeeling.

The fruity/muscatel aroma carries over into the flavor of the tea, which also has a bit of spice behind it. There is also some astringency to the tea, but it could be from the extra leaves I used when brewing it (I normally only use six grams in my 16-ounce teapot). This is a hearty tea—flavorful and strong, with enough caffeine to wake me up.

Overall, this was an excellent tea that I would love to try again. Unfortunately, I see that the vendor’s site shows this is currently sold out, so I’ll have to wait to try it again some other time.

NOTE: my sample shows a date of picking as October, 2016

I had this one again this morning. I was in the mood to try puer tea once again, and this is the only one I currently have on my shelf. Once again, I could taste the cooked spinach and wet wood flavors of the tea—both of which seem to appeal to me more than the last time I had it. I remember having reservations about this when I first had it, but I would actually say I enjoyed it this time—it’s definitely flavorful! I only have enough unused tea for one more session, so I am going to order more puer tea, but I think I will try another product to compare and learn a bit more about puer tea.

Sipdown! I enjoy matcha when I am in the mood for it, but that is so infrequently, and the powder expires so quickly, that it really doesn’t make sense for me to keep it on my shelf. Overall, though, I am still very satisfied with this one! I’d buy it again if I ever get into a matcha kick. Making no changes to my original review and rating.

At first, I wasn’t sure about this tea. The tea leaves are all tightly hand-rolled into small balls, but they took longer than I expected to unfurl in the water. I therefore ended up drinking it grandpa style rather than the Western style brew I had initially started in my teapot.

Once the leaves did unfurl, the leaves were smaller than I expected as well, and looked much more fragile than the firm leaves I’ve found in other hand-rolled oolongs. Closer inspection, though, revealed no stems—my steeping was entirely full leaves (slightly torn around the edges but not broken). That was nice to discover!

The liquor itself has a sweet flavor to it—both floral and nutty at the same time. The floral flavor is stronger than the nutty flavor, but they both are there. It is nuttier than the Tung Ting oolong I drank last week but that adds something extra to this tea. I could see this being a tea that would last through repeated steepings (although I can’t attempt that today).

Overall, I am deeply satisfied with this tea, as the quality shows in both flavor and in appearance. I look forward to coming back to this tea again throughout this spring and summer.

NOTE: The vendor website notes that this shipment was harvested in October, 2017

I’ve had this one for breakfast off and on over the past week or two. I really like the smoothness of the Keemun, which balances the harsh Assam. That combination makes it very drinkable—even on an empty stomach. I didn’t get the upset stomach from the tannins that I normally get from straight Assam.

I can (slightly) taste the cocoa flavor with which this tea is marketed by the vendor. Along with that, though, I also find a stronger flavor of cherries. The first time I had it, I noticed the cherries and thought I’d see if that was a one-off—that something in the way that I made it that day caused the flavor. Nope—each successive time I’ve made this tea, the cherry flavor has been there. I didn’t find the maltiness normally associated with Assam teas, but the astringency of Assam is still there.

Overall, it is a great morning blend—strong caffeine, medium-bodied, and not too harsh. The flavor is different enough from most black teas that keeping it stocked in my collection is definitely warranted.

I found this tea in the back of my pantry this morning and thought, “It’s an oolong kind of day today.” Last time I had it, I drank it “grandpa style” and remembered it being quite good that way, so that’s what I am doing again today.

It’s still a great tea—I especially love looking over at my glass tumbler on my desk and seeing the floating leaves throughout the morning. I’ve been neglecting oolongs these past few months while focusing on blacks and greens throughout the day—this tea tells me that I have to remedy that going into these next few months.

This is one that has been on my shelf for about 6-9 months and I had forgotten about it. I first had it as a sample and liked it so much that I ordered a larger quantity. It arrived, and I promptly forgot about it as I wasn’t in the mood for a second flush for a number of weeks. I found it again this week and I am glad I did! It has a smooth mouthfeel with pleasant sweet flavors of Muscat grapes and apricots. It’s a great afternoon tea—light and fruity. Slight nutty flavor as well.

Sipdown of the last of my Ancient Forest! :(

I hope my local tea shop still has some in stock—I couldn’t find it listed on the Art of Tea website anymore, so I am not sure if they are distributing it.

I will miss this one—it was a surprise find and one that I have thoroughly enjoyed.

After reading so many wonderful reviews of this tea by other Steepster users like Rosehips and ashmanra, I finally decided to include an order for Queen Catherine in my latest H&S shipment. I am so glad I did—this is a wonderful tea!

I steeped nine grams of the dried tea leaves in 20 ounces of near-boiling water for four minutes. The brewed liquor came out very dark—like coffee.

The tea did not have any revealing aromas that I could pick up. Drinking it, though, I was immediately presented with a hint of cocoa flavor behind the tea. There is absolutely no astringency to this tea at all—very smooth and creamy. It has a full mouthfeel to it as well, enhancing the experience with this tea.

I am very happy to have finally tried this tea after hearing so much about it. I was not at all disappointed in the quality and the flavors. A tea this smooth would make an excellent choice for regular/daily drinking and I will be glad to add it into my regular rotation while my tin lasts.

A blend of Assam, Darjeeling, and Ceylon black teas? Yes, please!

I’ve been having this as a morning tea for the past few days and have been deeply satisfied with it. It is a strong, dark tea, sure to wake you up!

I brewed the tea using my usual guide for black tea: nine grams of dried leaves in 20 ounces of near-boiling water for four minutes.

The dried leaves are broken and small—consistently dark with the occasional lighter tip.

I can definitely taste the Assam in the tea—bread-like and malty. It isn’t as malty as a straight Assam, though, so the blending with Ceylon and Darjeeling leaves seem to have tempered the flavor a bit. The tannins haven’t affected me as much, either, so that is plus. I normally don’t drink my teas with cream/milk or sugar, so I always worry about being affected by tannins in my morning cuppa.

Overall, I am enjoying this tea and have worked it into my morning routine, taking turns with a straight Assam, depending on my mood. Given the location and clime from which this tea gets its name, this is a perfect tea for a cold, windy, dreary morning like today.