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The leaves are quite a refreshing sight and scent, varying from light to dark green, with twists and untwists that give a bright fresh vegetal scent with a bit of sweetness.

Steeping maintains that refreshing experience, giving a very clear and very bright green brew, with a fresh citrus and spice aroma.

The taste is very unique to most green teas, leaning more towards the nutty, with a fresh sweet vegetal flavor and slight astringency. A couple more sips give a hint of spice, but mainly refreshing.

A delightful green tea of sorts, more for relaxing than a lunch time tea with coconut yogurt, but an enjoyable tea nonetheless.

This tea is more mint than anything else.

The scent is powerfully minty, with hints of island zest, which intrigued me, as mojitos are a drink of choice for me.

Alas, the island zest could only go so far as the scent, as the flavor is mainly mint, with some faint green tea.

It’s not bad, but when the name says mojito, I would expect mojito.

It’s probably been about a week since I had teabag tea, and it has been quite a while since I last bought teabag tea, but I had decided to try some artisan whole leaf pouches as I seem to have more success with them than typical teabags.

The pouches are quite a surprise, with quality details such as a fine mesh and braided string, as well as room to breath while steeping.

This is possibly my first Mighty Leaf tea as well, as I cannot recall teabags ever giving off a nice detailed vanilla scent like that. It is quite a bright and sweet aroma.

But the true test is in flavor, which this tea seems to know how to handle. It is not reckless in overbearing typical black teas with flavor, the vanilla is quite subtle and quite sweet. I can taste some of the black teas and it is good the vanilla bean works in settling down the overall taste. Quite smooth.

I can tell it had plenty of room to breath while steeping for a nicer flavor. I’m glad this isn’t a typical teabag tea.

I was surprised to find this at Save-On last night, as I did not expect to find any loose-leaf tea there. A whole line of Nourish Tea was in the tea isle just waiting for me to buy.

I didn’t really expect a lot from this tea, as it would be a typical breakfast tea. The first sip about ten minutes after steeping wasn’t great, somewhat too bitter, and with most typical breakfast teas I find the taste of orange pekoe quite bland.

I let it cool for another ten minutes and gave it another sip. Not bad second time around, less bitter.

It still wasn’t anything special, and typical orange pekoe doesn’t sit well with me very long, but with more sugar and some milk, this tea just might be a little more.

The first thing that hit me when opening the bag was how sweet the leaves smell. It is accompanied by a slight fresh scent, but it is mainly sweet. The leaves are also curled and dark in color, with deep greens and greys and browns.

Steeping gives a similar sweetly scent, with a barely minty feel. The brew is a brilliantly bright and clean yellow.

The taste is also sweet, but also more fresh and green. It isn’t strong, more rounded flavor with no astringency.

This is a very deliciously sweet and bright tea. It isn’t a surprising tea or a particularly outstanding tea, but it is a delicious tea and one that will not disappoint for enjoyment.

Finally, onto my only two first flush oolong teas.

The rolled leaves are a nice blend of deep earthy colors, with a not too flowery scent, more fresh than planty.

As with most oolongs, they steep quite beautifully, making me wish I had a pot that would showcase them as they brewed.

The liquor gives a brilliantly clear golden color, and a fresh floral aroma with a slight toasted finish. I love the scent of a good oolong, and this one does not disappoint.

The flavor is a very green and very fresh taste, very well balanced with little to no astringency. If there is astringency, it works perfectly with it’s floral finish, which is a nice surprise.

This is a surprisingly complex floral oolong, and one I really admire, strong, yet well rounded and very nice.

From what I can remember about this tea, it was a symphony of joy and pleasure that epitomized Darjeeling commonly known as the champagne of teas, a work of art.

You are given a fresh flowery aroma, the leaves are quite beautiful with dark greens, delicate details and slight twists. This alone excites me, the leaves alone make this such a wondrous tea.

Steeping gives the liquor a brilliant bright yellow with an aroma of fresh bouquets. A deeper inhale gives even more details, slight sweet fruit with some toasted notes, vanilla maybe. There is so much dancing about, the beautifully rich aroma alone is satisfying.

Just as my experience with last year’s First Flush Gopaldhara Wonder Tea, this year’s continues to surprise. Explosions of floral flavors, bouquets of details in each sip. The floral side just excites with complexities and wonder. There is also a light fresh breeze, with a lightly nutty taste, more sweetly buttery. It is also very balanced and well rounded, with almost no astringency. Simply delicious.

I have fallen in love again. This tea continues to excite, surprise, drive my passion for Darjeeling teas and teas in general. This tea continues to be my favorite, my champagne of teas.

Second steep gives a slightly less strong flavor and aroma, milder, but maintains the woody characteristics.

It is sweeter, bringing out more muscatel and softening the astringency, and still ever pleasant.

This is a very versatile leaf.

This tea is very satisfyingly strong and dark. The leaves are thin, with a mixture of black and deep green colors. You also get a nice strong woody aroma once the bag is open.

Steeping is no different, giving an equally strong woody aroma with a slight fresh floral scent, the color a brilliantly deep gold.

The flavor is nicely fresh and green, but very strong in body with a strong after taste. Like it’s aromas, it is a slight woody, as well as a slight muscatel. But strong, satisfyingly and pleasantly strong.

I would imagine with repeated steepings, leaves this strong would be versatile. But, with the initial steep, you are given a very pleasant strong and dark brew perfect for a late afternoon.

I had been drinking this and the 2012 Darjeeling First Flush Goomtee (Muscatel Valley) Black Tea all day yesterday, as I had problems accessing the Steepster site, I could not provide my notes on both teas until today.

I am also still drinking both teas today, as both teas have surprised me with multiple steeps.

This tea gives a very green, slightly spicy, and dusty woody scent when you first open the bag. The leaves shift from light to dark in color, and flat to twisted, simple but beautiful.

The liquor has a light and bright amber color. It’s aroma is very close to green tea, with slight hints of muscatel.

The flavor is less flowery and more sweet dark fruit, less rosey and more peachy. There are slight hints of spice and muscatel, and because of the darkish tone of flavor, the slight astringency compliments.

It is not an entirely clean flavor overall, but those little details are what make this tea great. It is not complex, more seasonal, and a very fine cup of tea.