 | "As the tea cools off the taste/flavor increases especially I find a mild hint of citrus or sweetness develop in the middle of the taste."
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I had never heard of Teajo tea before. Reading about the company on the website (www.teajo.com) I found out that the company began in 2007 and is located in Tampa Florida. The story claims that the teas are organic but I did not see the any of the typical organic seals or labels. Some teas are clearly labeled organic while others are not. Prices are reasonable ranging from about 6.30$ to about $8 for two ounces.
The company offers one white tea. The tea ranged in shape and color from long silvery needle like (though I don’t think this is true Silver Needle tea) to small dark leaves. None of the tea has the down associated with some white teas. The actual source and type of tea is not identified. The tea has a slightly fruity smell prior to brewing. This is especially true in the sample bag where there is a fairly large quantity. In the brewing basket the tea did not exhibit the same smell appearing bland and slightly non-descript.
Brewing:
I brought the water up to just where there was steaming starting to come out of the kettle. Then I let the water stand for about a minute. Two generous teaspoons of tea for about 10 – 12 ounces of water steeped for 3 minutes.
Taste/Impressions:
It is possible to catch the faintest hints of the fruity smell the tea exhibits in the bag before brewing but it is not easy. The aroma improves as the tea cools off. There is a clear taste as the tea travels over the tongue, but it drops off rapidly in the throat. This tea does not produce a long lasting flavor. As the tea cools off the taste/flavor increases especially I find a mild hint of citrus or sweetness develop in the middle of the taste. The tea has a distinct flavor often described as nutty. The nutty flavor has a very light and mild sweetness. There is no bitterness or sourness associated with this tea, none whatsoever. That is nice, though delicate teas usually are able to avoid bitterness.
Conclusion:
This tea is very reasonably priced. The taste has no immediately distinguishing characteristic. It is certainly adequate but not spectacular. I don’t find any major negative qualities but none either that excite or wow me. In teas there are so many that offer a major interest that when I come across an average tea I find it hard to return only because of the treat an exceptional tea brings. Bad teas drive you from them never to return intentionally. I am afraid this tea falls into the former category in that I will turn to other teas with more to offer instead.
— To purchase Teajo White Leaf and Bud, 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.
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David_A Teaviews.com Reviewer » Read more about this reviewer on David_A's profile page. » Find a list of recent posts by David_A. |
October 9th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
I don’t typically drink a lot of white tea, but I certainly do enjoy the White Leaf and Bud. David is right. It is not a true Silver Needle, but we offer it because it has many of the qualities of Silver Needle, offers a slightly different flavor profile and provides a lesser expensive alternative. This tea is a combination of leaves mixed in with the buds (needles). We normally also offer a true Silver Needle but are currently out of stock.
We will also be happy to inform the readers and reviewers as to the origin of our teas. We have a wonderful partnership with a tea grower based in Assam. We are one of a few tea companies that are fortunate enough to be directly supplied by a grower. Other than Rooibos, all of our teas, including the White Leaf and Bud, are grown and harvested in Assam and come specifically from one grower. So when you taste our flavored teas, the body, character and texture are the result of a pure Assam tea base, which is also extremely rare in the U.S. market.
Organic certification is certainly a future goal of ours, but sadly, the process has become incredibly cost prohibitive. We are pleased to state, however, that Teajo teas are grown organically and meet a global standard known as MRLs or Maximum Residue Levels, which test for chemical residue in agricultural products. Unlike USDA certification, which is very process-oriented, MRLs are based on the testing of actual product samples.
My Rating:
8/10