"Not particularly exciting, but it's satisfying, a great everyday oolong." Katie’s Teaview: 7.4/10 Your Reviews: Add your review »

This Spring 2012 tea is from Lishan, otherwise known as Pear Mountain. The main thing I love about T-Oolong Tea is that they have quality oolongs at accessible prices, especially important for teas with a reputation as esteemed as Lishan. I don’t mind paying top dollar for top quality, but I find few things as disappointing as paying a premium price for a tea that has a premium name but is actually pretty average. So I find companies whose pricing I trust and stick with them, like these guys.

The leaves are yellow and green and surprisingly dull rather than vibrant with the pleasant sheen I like to see on high mountain oolongs. I steep at 180° for 2.5 minutes. The cup is creamy and oily, coating the mouth and leaving a lingering mineral flavour. Overall, it’s not particularly exciting, but it’s satisfying, a great everyday oolong.

My 3-minute second steep is less oily and coating, but it’s more interesting. The mineral flavour is stronger now, accented with notes of steamed spinach and a hit of acidity. My third and fourth steeps are similar to the second, leading gently into the mild, simple fifth steep. I doubt this tea will stick in my memory for long; it just doesn’t stand out overmuch. It was, as always from T-Oolong Tea, quite satisfying.

— To purchase T-oolongtea.com Lishan Tian Fu Oolong Tea, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular tea, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

Katie Teaviews.com Reviewer » Read more about this reviewer on Katie's profile page. » Find a list of recent posts by Katie.

"This tea strikes a good balance between the leaves' buttery contribution and the jasmine's sweet, juicy notes. It's a good bet for white tea and jasmine lovers alike. " Sophie’s Teaview: 8.1/10 Your Reviews: Add your review »

This tea was produced in Fuding, located in the Chinese province of Fujian. The leaves were scented up to 6 times, for 6 to 7 hours each round. Teavivre’s informative website is worth a visit for more details on the production of this tea. Looking at my sample, the silver and grey leaves are very downy. They are mostly whole, with a few broken bits here and there. Their aroma is predictably floral, bordering on soapy.

I used the instructions posted on Teavivre’s website, infusing 3 grams of leaf in 8 ounces of water heated to 80 degrees Celsius for 1 minute. My sample’s package recommends a temperature of 85 degrees, but 80 seems safer. A pale gold cup ensues. It’s scented with a sweet jasmine perfume, obvious but not overwhelming. The jasmine and the leaves’ flavours mesh well, the tea being smooth, slightly buttery and floral. There are also some thirst-quenching cucumber, honeydew melon and mineral notes. All in all the results are good but not great.

I much prefer the following steep. Following a 2 minute-long infusion, the tea’s flavour is more focused around the leave’s contribution than the jasmine’s. Slightly astringent grass and green bean notes have developed, giving the cup a more substantial feel. The finish is less sweet but somehow more filling.

I steep the leaves again for 3 minutes. The flavour profile is more astringent and mineral still. The cup is less pleasant overall but definitely still drinkable, especially since strong jasmine notes chime in for the finish.

I try a fourth infusion, thinking that it will be my last. After a 4 and a half minute-long brew, the tea is smooth, sweet, floral, with a hint of honeydew melon and honey. It becomes a bit more astringent as it cools, but the results are quite good – somehow even better than the previous steep.

I can’t help but try a fifth steep, clocking in at 6 minutes. The leaves are definitely passed their prime now, but not in any unpleasant way. While it’s a bit bland, the jasmine still kicks in a bit of smooth floral sweetness. There is no bitterness or astringency present.

This is a very pleasant example of a jasmine silver needle. It strikes a good balance between the leaves’ buttery contribution and the jasmine’s sweet, juicy notes. It is a bit pricey but the leaves have an amazing amount of staying power. Taking into account the number of possible infusions reduces the cost significantly. My one pet peeve is the discrepancy in the brewing instructions between the website and the package, but that’s a minor detail. This is a good bet for white tea and jasmine lovers alike.

— To purchase Teavivre Jasmine Silver Needle White Tea, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular tea, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

Sophie Teaviews.com Reviewer » Read more about this reviewer on Sophie's profile page. » Find a list of recent posts by Sophie.

"Geophags, rejoice! Deliciously dirty tasting." CJ’s Teaview: 10/10 Your Reviews: Add your review »

In 2011, Cornell University reported that people who craved dirt as a food had a valid, biological reason to do so:  The clay in the earth protects the digestive tract from bacteria and viruses, and it aids in nutrient absorption.

I thought of this the minute I tasted this tea.  It tasted like dirt.  And guess what is one of the primary health properties of pu’er tea? It aids in digestion.

I happen to like dirt.  I ate it by my tiny fistfuls as a toddler.   These days, I just indulge in the aroma when poking around the garden.  For enhanced digestion, I now have pu’er tea.  And Canton’s 2007 Lincang holds a special place in my heart, because…

The aroma, for starters, was just like garden soil.  It had a loamy richness that connected me to Mother Earth.  It lacked the fermented pungency present in many other (equally fine, just different) cooked pu’ers.

The flavor was just like the smell.  Mellow, and unassuming, it was like a raw mushroom.  Earthy, yes, but satisfying and anything but bitter.

If my sense of delayed gratification were more developed, I would hang on to some of this 2007 Lincang.  It will just get better and mellower with age.  But I love it as-is.  I rate it a 10.

— To purchase Canton Tea Co. 2007 Lincang Cooked Loose Puerh, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular tea, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

CJ Teaviews.com Reviewer » Read more about this reviewer on CJ's profile page. » Find a list of recent posts by CJ.

" I particularly enjoyed the shift from roasted grain and wood flavours to a wide range of sweeter notes. I highly recommend this oolong, especially to those who enjoy hearty, smokey teas." Sophie’s Teaview: 9.1/10 Your Reviews: 10/10 1 reader review | Add your review »

This oolong has been fermented longer than most, almost like a black tea, giving the leaves a “slightly smoky taste with a full bodied, sweet long lasting finish with a cinnamon aftertaste”. The raisin-like, rolled leaves have a charred looked to them. Their aroma is a mix of pipe tobacco and toasted barley notes.

I followed the suggested directions on Lu Lin’s website. After a quick rinse, I infused 3 grams of leaf in 8 ounces of water heated to 85 degrees Celsius for 1 minute. The tan-coloured cup has a similar but more intense aroma compared to the dry leaf. Taking a sip, the top notes are smooth, tasting of mostly toasted barley, oak and tobacco. Somewhere in the middle the flavours get much sweeter, vanilla and raisin notes taking the lead. The finish is surprising, with lingering tart fruit flavours – plums and apricots come to mind in particular.

I steeped the leaves again for 2 minutes. The results are a much darker cup, in both colour and flavour. The top notes are a bit rougher with more pronounced charred tobacco and grain flavours. These mellow out to taste more like cantaloupe and marshmallows. The end of each sip offers a dryer, almost wine-like finish. This quite a flavourful and complex cup. Who knew that red wine and marshmallow notes could taste so good together!

My third cup was similar to previous but smoother and more even throughout the sip. An interesting cinnamon gum flavour appears in the finish. While it doesn’t have all the flash of the first two brews, this steep is still very engaging.

I was able to get two more mild but decent cups from the leaves following a 4 minute and a 5 and a half minute long steep. The smokey toasted notes have pretty much disappeared by this point. The flavour profile is mostly sweet, in a grassy sort of way. The tart, fruity finish is still going strong though.

These leaves make for a refreshing and complex cup. I particularly enjoyed the shift from roasted grain and wood flavours to a wide range of sweeter notes. Being able to get 5 cups from the same leaves makes this tea great value for the money. I highly recommend it, especially to those who enjoy hearty, smokey teas.

— To purchase Lu Lin Teas Black Oolong, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular tea, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

Sophie Teaviews.com Reviewer » Read more about this reviewer on Sophie's profile page. » Find a list of recent posts by Sophie.

"There's a winey acidity that balances the pleasant bitterness." Katie’s Teaview: 7.5/10 Your Reviews: Add your review »

The 2013 First Flush teas have already mostly come into certain retailers, and I have already bought an obscene amount of Darjeeling. So I guess it’s time to start clearing out all my 2012 Indian brews. This is a classic tea from a garden I’m always happy with, so I’m excited to try it.

I steep one heaping teaspoon in one cup 195° water for three minutes. The cup is remarkably simple, but brilliant. The classic Margaret’s Hope flavours of muscatel and herbs are the main notes, though the herbal flavour is more prominent than the fruit, an aspect that doesn’t bother me but may dissuade some people.

There’s a winey acidity that balances the pleasant bitterness. At least, I would call the bitterness pleasant, but it is somewhat heavy-handed, even for a Darjeeling. Again, it’s a note that some may be off-putting but it pairs nicely with the higher notes of fruit and wine, bringing the cup down to earth a bit.

I get a second steep, similar to the first, though somewhat simpler. Overall, this tea satisfies. It’s not the greatest Margaret’s Hope leaf I’ve ever had, but it’s good, and it’s very affordable. A definite would-buy.

— To purchase Golden Tips Tea Margaret’s Hope (Clonal) First Flush 2012, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular tea, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

Katie Teaviews.com Reviewer » Read more about this reviewer on Katie's profile page. » Find a list of recent posts by Katie.

"Sure, it is still a decent brew, but the wonderful aroma had me anticipating a spectacular brew and I couldn't help but be a little disappointed in the reduced strength of the flavor. " Vanessa’s Teaview: 8.2/10 Your Reviews: Add your review »

Apple Crumble is an herbal blend offered from Canada-based Shanti Tea. This is a blend of organic ingredients: honeybush, apples, cinnamon, and natural essences. My sample appears to be mostly honeybush, with a small spattering of larger apple pieces. I steeped one heaping teaspoon of the blend in six ounces of boiling water for about eight minutes. The tea is a reddish color, very similar to rooibos teas. The aroma wafting off of this tea is truly wonderful. It is sweet and fruity, with a wonderful cinnamon sweetness. It reminds me of autumn seasonal potpourri, except that it is totally natural and has no chemical/synthetic components. The aroma easily filled my entire kitchen, and I was really excited to sample this tea. While the flavor of this tea is enjoyable, it is a much subdued version of that delicious aroma. The honeybush is the primary flavor that I could taste, followed by the cinnamon, and then lastly by the apple. Sure, it is still a decent brew, but the wonderful aroma had me anticipating a spectacular brew and I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed in the reduced strength of the flavor. This tea doesn’t seem to need any sugar or milk, but given its rather light flavor profile the addition of one or both could improve the quality of this blend as a dessert tea. While I tried this tea both hot and iced, I definitely prefer it as a hot tea. I would recommend this tea, but with the caution that the apple flavor is rather weak, especially when compared to the apple fragrance of the brewed tea.

— To purchase Shanti Tea Apple Crumble, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular tea, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

Vanessa Teaviews.com Reviewer » Read more about this reviewer on Vanessa's profile page. » Find a list of recent posts by Vanessa.