Extra Bergamot English Earl Grey

Holy Bergamot!  Drink this treasure iced with sugar to keep the mosquitoes away during the summer months.  Add a bit of lemon to the iced mixture to really bring out the citrus-like nature of the bergamot oils.  Much more powerful than traditional Earl Grey teas sold at your typical supermarket.  Upton claims the tea is, “Specially blended for those who prefer a richly scented Earl Grey.  Our most popular Earl Grey. Rated ‘best overall’ by the Wall Street Journal's Catalog Critic.”

 TE11: Extra Bergamot English Earl Grey

Origin: Germany

Steeping Suggestions

Leaf Quantity: 2¼ g/cup

Water Temp: 212º (boiling)

Steep Time: 4 min.

Tippy Orthodox GFOP Assam

An excellent Assam. Just add milk and sugar and it is good at any temperature- hot, warm, cool, or iced.  I would describe this as a classic Assam tea with a malty flavor profile and honey-like notes.  I've introduced this tea to several of my family members and friends, and it has become a solid 'tea-time' favorite.  Even my boyfriend, new to loose leaf tea, enjoys this blend.  I always keep a tin of this on hand.  Upton describes the blend as, "A whole-leaf Assam with golden tips (young leaf buds). Characteristic maltiness and complex flavor. This is our most popular Assam."

 TA40: Tippy Orthodox GFOP Assam

Origin: India

Steeping Suggestions

Leaf Quantity: 2¼ g/cup

Water Temp: 212º (boiling)

Steep Time: 5 min.

Copper Knot Hongcha Black Tea

A complicated brew indeed.  Although a member of the Teavana lineup, I was impressed by its muscatel-like nuances and spicy aftertaste.  A little on the expensive side, but enjoyable nonetheless.  Tastes great iced or hot with a little bit of rock sugar or honey.  Teavana describes the tea as, “Hand-curled in an artful, spiraling knot, this golden and black tippy tea brews to a rich coppery-colored cup. Grown in the famed Yunnan Province of China at a 2,000 foot elevation, this exquisite tea is comprised of delicate pairings of single buds and leaf pairs. The taste is complex and full; this is a tea not to miss. Excellent as a morning or afternoon tea, it contains 20% of the caffeine in a cup of coffee. Good for multiple infusions.”  This infusion has many flavor similarities to Congou teas I've tried in the past- especially considering the muscatel and spicy notes.  I wish Teavana gave a little bit more background on the origin and style of preparation.  Unfortunately I think they focus purely on marketing strategies. 

Copper Knot Hongcha Black Tea

Steeping Suggestions

Leaf Quantity: 1 tsp/8 oz cup

Water Temp: 195º

Steep Time: 2-3 min.