Scottish Breakfast Blend

I woke up this morning feeling quite groggy, and working the morning shift at the hospital leaves no room for dragging feet.  The Scots did it right with this blend, seamlessly blending a malty Assam, a crisp Ceylon, and a spicy Keemun.  I really enjoyed this brew with a spot of milk and some sugar.  The Keemun really adds a peppery zing to the morning blend.  Highly recommended.  Upton claims this tea is, "Blended to appeal to those who favor an eye-opening experience in the morning, this tea yields a cup with a round, full flavor, malty notes, and brisk character. A perfect choice to start the day."

TB14: Scottish Breakfast Blend

Origin: USA 

Steeping Suggestions:

Leaf Quantity: 2¼ g/cup

Water Temp: 212° (boiling)

Steep Time: 3 min.

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.

Black Currant

Upon opening this tea tin of pyramid pouches, I found the seductive and powerful scent of sweet rose petals and fruit drifting in the air.  I was shocked by the 'flower bouquet' scent the currant berry offers.  This black currant tea finds a way to naturally blend the line between floral/rose oil black tea and tastes great with a bit of milk and nothing more.  Sold by Harney and Sons Fine Tea.  "John's first flavored tea. It has 'big' fruity, berry flavor. This full-bodied tea has become a traditional favorite in fine restaurants all over America."  This tea is a personal favorite for the sleep-deprived college student with 8am classes.

Black Currant by Harney and Sons

Steeping Suggestions

Leaf Quantity: 1 teabag/ 8 oz cup

Water Temp: 212º (boiling)

Steep Time: 5 min.

Darjeeling FTGFOP Special Blend

As a newcomer to loose leaf Darjeeling , I was very impressed.  This turned out to be a very flowery and complicated cup indeed!  I definitely noticed the classic muscatel flavors and flowery aroma that are usually associated with a good Darjeeling tea.  This served as a good introduction to the ‘champagne of teas’.  Upton describes this blend as, “A blend of select lots of Darjeeling teas produced without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The golden liquor has a delicate floral aroma and a mildly fruity flavor. The cup is smooth, and the finish is pleasingly pungent.”

TDB5: Darjeeling FTGFOP Special Blend

Origin: India

Steeping Suggestions

Leaf Quantity: 2¼ g/cup

Water Temp: 212° (boiling)

Steep Time: 3 min.

Formosa Amber Oolong

A nutty, toasty oolong that eliminates the grassy aftertaste I often find in other jade tie-guan-yins.  This is my personal favorite of Upton’s basic oolong collection, and trust me I've run through the oolong gauntlet.  “With an oxidation level of approximately 40%, Amber Oolong (Wu-Long) teas produce a liquor that is darker than the Jade Oolongs, listed below. The flavor is slightly more earthy and robust.”

TT55: Formosa Amber Oolong

Origin: Taiwan

Steeping Suggestions

Leaf Quantity: 2¼ g/cup

Water Temp: 190º

Steep Time: 3-5 min.

Tippy Orthodox FBOP Assam

This brew appears to be a lighter version of the full leaf sister by Upton, Tippy Orthodox GFOP Assam.  It reminds me of the sweet black tea used for bubble tea.  It  brings back memories of lunch breaks in Harvard Square.  It is described as, “A uniform, broken-leaf tea with bold character and strong, malty flavor. Floral hints in the aftertaste make this tea a great choice for breakfast and throughout the day.”  I have to agree with this one.  A solid, basic breakfast tea.

A20: Tippy Orthodox FBOP Assam

Origin: India

Steeping Suggestions

Leaf Quantity: 2¼ g/cup

Water Temp: 212° (boiling)

Steep Time: 4 min.

Jianxgi Golden Tips

A light floral taste on the pallet. Smooth. Add a pinch of sugar to really bring out the orchid. Extremely tippy!  Upton's description follows: “This Jiangxi province Ning Hong Jing Hao has a delicate orchid aroma and a soft, sweet flavor that lingers on the palate. The complex cup has a pleasing balance of strength and flavor. Attractively priced for a select, hand-made tea.”

K92: Jianxgi Golden Tips

Origin: China

Steeping Suggestions

Leaf Quantity: 2¼ g/cup

Water Temp: 212° (boiling)

Steep Time: 5 min.

Halmari CTC BOP

Upton describes as, “A bold CTC style tea with rich flavor. The dark liquor will readily take milk. Especially suited as a bracing morning tea.”  It must be the famous crush-tear-curl method that I don't like.  I've tried other teas like this before and I find them overly harsh.  Stick to the full leaf or broken versions. 

TA27: Halmari CTC BOP

Origin: India

Steeping Suggestions

Leaf Quantity: 2¼ g/cup

Water Temp: 212° (boiling)

Steep Time: 3 min.

Banaspaty Estate FTGFOP1 Organic

Dry leaves smell earthy. During infusion, the brew smells like freshly-roasted peanuts. The liquid tastes harsh even with milk and sugar. It's missing that flowery taste and aroma I value in an Assam.  According to Upton, “This modestly priced Assam is a great value, with uniform leaf and a moderate amount of tip. The medium-bodied cup has rich flavor, with smooth, malty nuances. This is an excellent choice for those seeking an organic Assam for any time of day.”  Ultimately my vote goes towards a more flowery, honey-like assam, so I'm afraid I have to give this one a thumbs down.

TA26: Banaspaty Estate FTGFOP1 Organic

Origin: India

Steeping Suggestions

Leaf Quantity: 2¼ g/cup

Water Temp: 212° (boiling)

Steep Time: 4-5 min.

Sessa 'B' Estate STGFOP1(S)

An exceptionally flowery and creamy Assam! It balances the maltiness with sweetness well. I will definitely consider buying a larger packet after trying the sample!  According to Upton, "While this whole-leaf tea displays only limited tip, the pleasant cup has a creamy-smooth character with a rich complexity that suggests a more expensive tea. This is a special Assam tea at an everyday price."

TA25: Sessa 'B' Estate STGFOP1(S)

Origin: India

Steeping Suggestions

Leaf Quantity: 2¼ g/cup

Water Temp: 212° (boiling)

Steep Time: 4-5 min.

Assam Rembeng TGFOP Organic

I am weary of Assam teas because they usually pack the punch of coffee.  But with careful preparation and the right does of milk and sugar, it makes an excellent morning tea.  As the colder weather has come and the sun is rising later in the day, I find it harder and harder to pay attention in class without dosing off.  This black tea is the kick in the pants I needed!  It has a distinct malty flavor and hearty feel to it.  A yummy treat in these cold months.  Brew for 3-5min in freshly boiled water.  Add milk and sugar to enhance flavors.

Special Teas #247

Update: Sadly, Special Teas has gone out of business.  Luckily the Rembeng estate sells to other vendors.