Ceylon is a perennial favorite of mine, and while lower quality versions of this tea are often used as the base for countless flavored black teas, a good Ceylon holds its own without any flavor needing to be added. Drink the Leaf’s Ceylon Black is an excellent example of a self-drinking Ceylon that offers enough flavor and body to satisfy the black tea drinker. Visually speaking, the tea is unimpressive in that it looks like 99% of the black teas on the market today. The scent is very fruity, perhaps most reminiscent of raisins and apples. I infused the leaves in boiling water for a little less than three minutes. I was impressed with the aroma wafting off my tea, even though I wasn’t sticking my nose near my teacup, the scent was strong and inviting. I was equally impressed with the full flavor that these leaves produced. The tea offered a sweet cocoa essence with a malty finish. This was smooth-drinking and had a sort of lip-smacking effect on me. I drank this tea faster than I care to admit. I didn’t add milk or sugar to my tea and honestly that’s because I drank it so fast I didn’t have time to! However, this tea is sturdy enough that it would probably take milk and/or sugar well, although I would suggest adding only a little sugar at a time, since the natural flavor might be plenty sweet for most folks. At a cost of $7 for four ounces, this tea is entirely affordable and worth consideration. This isn’t the absolute best Ceylon I have ever had, but it is a top-notch offering that packs plenty of flavor.

— To purchase Drink the Leaf Ceylon Black, 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.

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