"Unbelievably smooth." Katie’s Teaview: 8.6/10 Other Teaviews: Lynn gave it 9/10, Melanie gave it 9.5/10, Sophie gave it 9.5/10, Nicole gave it 9.5/10, Jamie gave it 8.5/10 Your Reviews: Add your review »

Canton Tea Co. has earned the respect of more than a few tea lovers I know, and it’s no surprise – Their teas are consistently delicious and beautiful. I have yet to have one of their teas ebb near disappointing and a few that have left lasting impressions.

I should confess that I have a tin of cheap loose leaf jasmine tea from a grocery store that is obviously jasmine flavoured rather than scented. Some of you would probably recognise the yellow tin – it’s sold everywhere. It’s cheap, delicious, easy to make, and sometimes, drinking it feels like I’m downing Grandma’s perfume, giving me the urge to stab myself in the eye. It’s fine for everyday absent-minded drinking, but sometimes I do love a jasmine tea that’s quality.

I notice two things right away with this: One, it’s rather reasonably priced for a quality scented tea, even considering the conversion for North American customers. Two, the leaves are gorgeous. Beautifully streaked with a palette of silver and greens, these delicate balls deserve the best. it takes me three tries to get a steep I’m happy with. Pulling out the delicate flavour enough to avoid it seeming bland without burning the leaves is trickier than I thought it would be, but in the end I’m most satisfied with letting them float freely in a preheated class cup at 180° for three minutes then straining into a preheated porcelain cup. I end up doing this for all three steeps.

The tea is unbelievably smooth. Unsurprisingly, it has none of the bitterness that comes with cheap jasmine flavoured teas. It’s creamy, milky, and gentle with a surprising very subtle smoky undertone. The smokiness comes out more with later steeps, but even then, the tea remains smooth. The creamy base tea pairs beautifully with the floral jasmine. It’s a very delicate tea, so on the surface, it seems simple, but once you start looking, you notice all the subtle complexities. I wouldn’t mind a stronger floral component, but it’s obvious why this is a world-class, award-winning tea. It’s exquisite.

— To purchase Canton Tea Co. Jasmine Pearl Tea, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, 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.

"A rather bland oolong. Not recommended." Shaiha’s Teaview: 5/10 Other Teaviews: Rebecca gave it 6/10, Dave gave it 7/10 Your Reviews: Add your review »

I don’t know about other folks but there are just some morning when I wake up that I just know that today is going to be an oolong day or a black tea day. Well you get the picture. Today just happens to be an oolong day and I was very happy to see that I still have some oolongs to review. My choice today is a high mountain Tikuanyin or Iron Goddess. This particular batch was harvested in the fall of 2010 and arrived in a vacuum packed packaging so that the freshness is assured.

My sample consists of little fists of leaves that range in color from a pale olive to a darker medium olive. The aroma is very fresh and reminds of a field of clover. There is a slight creaminess to the scent as well. I set it up to brew using my Breville One-Touch Tea-Maker using 4 teaspoons of leaves to 195 degree water and a steep time of 2 minutes.

It brews up to rather pale gold and unlike other Tikuanyins that I have tried in the past, this one doesn’t have any floral component to the aroma. Instead it reminds me of creamed clover honey. Well I guess that you could consider clovers to be flowers.

I found this to be rather bland tea. I mean I know that it was oolong because of the tea leaves but nothing really stands out on this tea. It is drinkable and has some heft with a medium mouthfeel. And it is velvety smooth as described on the website but I would have preferred some bite if it also included some flavor. I made up a second pot and doubled the steep time to 4 minutes with no real improvement.

— To purchase Grand Tea High Mountain Tikuanyin, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

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

"Each and every time, the liquor turned out exactly as I hoped - deep gold-to-amber, reeking of honeynut-chocolate." Geoff’s Teaview: 10/10 Other Teaviews: Vanessa gave it 8/10, CJ gave it 9.8/10 Your Reviews: Add your review »

I was randomly contacted through Steepster by a rep for Teavivre a couple of months back with a glowing opportunity – that being to try several of their wares. I don’t usually hit up vendors for review samples individually, but I’m certainly not one to turn down offers when they’re posed. Happily enough, one of the samples being sent was a Yunnan Dian Hong (black tea). A golden-tipped one, no less. My favorite kind.

The dry leaves for this new batch were all twisty green-’n-gold excellence with a peppery sweet aroma. It reminded me of honey dipped in pyrite. Always a good sign. If this differed from other Jin Cha (gold tea), it was that the sweetness was more omnipresent. Not that I minded.

Teavivre recommended a brew approach of 1-2 tsps. in 8oz. of 185F water steeped for two-to-three minutes I went…um…decidedly stronger than that – 1 heaping tablespoon in 12oz. of 200F water steeped for the full three. Actually, it might’ve been more than three minutes each time I tried this. I was having problems staying focused.

Each and every time, the liquor turned out exactly as I hoped – deep gold-to-amber, reeking of honeynut-chocolate. On taste, it was as I expected, if not a little bit more. It started off with a honey-ish forefront before settling into an earthy maltiness. Once the bold middle subsided, the trail-off was all sweetness and creamy texture. A second infusion turned up a nuttier/roastier brew but still well within the realm of excellent. A damn good Gold Dian Hong.

— To purchase Teavivre Yunnan Dian Hong Black Tea, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

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

"I did find the orange flavor to be a little harsh in the aftertaste especially. The oolong base isn't the best and its murky flavor comes through in the aftertaste as well." Jamie’s Teaview: 5.5/10 Your Reviews: Add your review »

This flavored oolong from Tealicious is a very twiggy mix of dull brown and dark green oolong leaves ranging from open to bound. The scent is creamy orange and reminiscent of sherbet or a creamsicle.

I used a heaping teaspoon of tea leaf to 8 ounces of water heated to 195 degrees and steeped for four minutes.

I found the taste of this oolong to be kind of murky and “dusty” without sweetener added and didn’t particularly care for it much. With sweetener added it was much tastier. The orange flavor shines through. The orange is clean and distinctly orange in flavor; there’s none of the sherbet flavor or creamsicle in the scent to be discerned in the taste. The flavoring is quite naturally orange tasting, though I did find it to be a little harsh in the aftertaste especially. The oolong base isn’t the best and its murky flavor (as opposed to crisp and clear in taste, I suppose) comes through in the aftertaste as well.

The second infusion is better all around. The orange is a little less oily sharp and essential tasting. The oolong is mellowed, too, less overtly murky and dusty tasting. Overall, this was not my favorite flavored oolong.

— To purchase Tealicious Orange Blossom Oolong, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

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

"This blend makes for a lively and refreshing, fruity cup. The finish is sweet and reminiscent of pomegranates, cherries and raspberries as well." Sophie’s Teaview: 7.6/10 Other Teaviews: CJ gave it 8.8/10 Your Reviews: Add your review »

Specializing in fair trade teas and coffees, this British Columbia-based operation has been around since 1894. They blend and package all their teas on site. This tisane’s aroma is tart and sweet, alluding to ruby red berries and pomegranates. The rooibos’ needles are unusual looking. They are longer, thinner and chocolate-coloured rather than brick red. Perhaps this is a new variety? What seem like pieces of orange peel are also visible. Unfortunately the list of ingredients was not available online, so I can’t be certain of what else might be floating around in there.

Following the instructions provided, I steeped a generous teaspoonful in 8 ounces of water heated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. The rooibos needles lend their characteristic nutty sweetness. Their flavour also has a tannic quality to it, making it a closer approximation to black tea than usual. The finish is sweet and reminiscent of pomegranates, cherries and raspberries as well. There is a bit of tartness to the blend, but it’s well balanced by the other flavours present. It’s more in line with soft citrus notes than a harsh hibiscus-like astringency. Combined with the tannins, these make for a delicious, thirst-quenching iced tisane. As this blend is naturally quite sweet, I didn’t find it necessary to add any sweetener.

An adequate second steep is possible following a 7 minute steep. The rooibos’ flavour feels much thinner but the fruit notes are still bright and pleasant. I wouldn’t go out of my way to re-steep this tisane, but the results are certainly drinkable.

This blend makes for a lively and refreshing cup. While it’s not the most extraordinary flavoured rooibos blend I’ve ever had, it’s solid and satisfying thanks to it’s well developed fruit notes. Pomegranate fans will not be disappointed flavour-wise. The fact that it’s fair trade and reasonably priced make it all the more interesting.

— To purchase Murchie’s Tea and Coffee Pomegranate Rooibos, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, 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.

"The body has a delightful thickness to it that pairs up just splendidly with the caramel fruitiness of the tea. I don't think I've ever noted this kind of caramel flavor in a Darjeeling." Jamie’s Teaview: 10/10 Your Reviews: Add your review »

The Tea Emporium has a tea that I think you will want to find out about. It’s called Turzum DJ-19 and is a 2nd Flush clonal tea from Darjeeling with fat, long and twisty curled leaves. Most of the leaves are coal black with some dark chocolate colored and silvery green leaves here and there. The scent of the leaves is lightly woodsy, sweet and fruity floral at the close. This is a fragrant tea!

I brewed a teaspoon of leaf in 8 ounces of water brought to about 205 degrees. I allowed a three minute infusion. The liquor is dark orange and has an immediately fantastic flavor. The taste is rich and full with a lot of depth to the sweetness. I am amazed by this tea because the sweet flavor in this tea is absolutely caramel in flavor. The body has a delightful thickness to it that pairs up just splendidly with the caramel fruitiness of the tea. I don’t think I’ve ever noted this kind of caramel flavor in a Darjeeling. I’m impressed. Unlike Yunnans and other Chinese black teas often noted for their luxurious caramel overtones, this tea is caramel and fruity at the same time. I’m hooked. It’s fantastic!!

Cooling brings out a very slight dryness that is not overly astringent or drying and leaves a pleasant feeling in the mouth that is edges with a fruity citrus taste.

The second infusion of this leaf is excellent, unmissable (if that’s a word). It’s smoother than the first and more resonant due to the longer steep (5 to 6 minutes for me). The caramelized fruit flavor is more strongly pronounced as is the dry finish. There’s a lingering dry feeling in the mouth that is clean and refreshing.

I can’t recommend this tea more highly. Ten out of ten seems stingy! I had a very hard time locating this tea online at Tea Emporium’s website, but I would recommend inquiring. It’s well worth a little effort and you might find yourself with an absolutely new favorite tea.

— To purchase Tea Emporium Turzum DJ-19 2nd Flush 2011, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

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