Thunderbolt Tea Giddapahar Musk 2009
10/10 — 1 review![]() |
Geoff's review: "No astringency, no dryness, no cotton-mouthy aftertaste, just liquid Midas." Read review » |
10/10 |

Darjeeling tea has often been called the “champagne of tea,” and has traditionally been prized in the United Kingdom above all other black teas. Darjeeling tea is grown only in the Darjeeling region of West Bengal, India. It has traditionally been made only into black teas, but in recent years more Darjeeling oolongs and Darjeeling whites have been entering the market. Even traditional Darjeeling black tea is usually oxidized less than most other black teas, giving it a taste and body more similar to traditional oolong.
There are 118 reviews available for this category, for 49 different blends of tea. The average rating for products in this category is 7.48.
Below you'll find extracts of all posts on Teaviews.com related to Darjeeling Tea. Click on any post to pull up photographs and full-text.
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Geoff's review: "No astringency, no dryness, no cotton-mouthy aftertaste, just liquid Midas." Read review » |
10/10 |
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Kari's review: "You don't just drink it for the flavor, you drink it for the experience. You drink it to make your mouth feel alive." Read review » |
9.5/10 |
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Lynn's review: "it is totally handcrafted, with absolutely no machines involved. Hand picked, it is laid out to dry in the sun for six to eight hours, and that's it. The result is a lovely sight to behold; whole leaves and bud clusters gently curled and still a light emerald green, as if they'd been plucked from the tea bush only a few hours ago. " Read review » |
9.5/10 |
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Steven's review: "It's like drinking a bit of summer in a cup." Read review » |
9/10 |
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Steven's review: "This beautiful Risheehat Estate tea's characteristic Darjeeling sharpness really pops, when it's allowed to rest awhile to develop its flavors before drinking." Read review » |
9/10 |
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Lynn's review: "“Superior,” “delicate,” and “finicky” are all applicable to this excellent tea." Read review » |
8.5/10 | |
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Jamie's review: "Primarily, this tea was wonderfully sweet and very floral, with a light and consistent astringency that was very pleasurable and gave a very fresh feeling to the taste. The flavors in this offering are quite focused rather than being all over the page." Read review » |
9.5/10 |
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Steven's review: "This tea is an oolong, but to me it just says, Darjeeling! The terroir seems to define the tea to me, more than does the method of its preparation." Read review » |
9/10 |
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DL's review: "Its "flavor notes" stay in a constant, predictable and lovely rhythm that never changes." Read review » |
8/10 | |
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Kari's review: "A good example of a quality first flush tea... with a roastiness and a very slight chocolate note to it." Read review » |
7.5/10 | |
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Vanessa's review: "A bit heartier than other first flush darjeelings I have had, but is still mellow and clean enough to not be too over-powering or pungent." Read review » |
9/10 | |
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Stephen's review: "A complex earthy/sweet/vegetal Darjeeling that continually transforms itself on your palette... I don't know that I've had a better Darjeeling than this, ever." Read review » |
9.5/10 |
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Vanessa's review: "The flavor of this tea is complex, and requires a little concentration to fully appreciate it. This is an excellent Darjeeling and one that you are not likely to encounter every day." Read review » |
8.5/10 |
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Geoff's review: "The liquor possessed a pleasant, smooth taste; also light, somewhat subtle, fruity." Read review » |
8.5/10 |
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Katie's review: "This is everything I want from a second flush Darjeeling and more." Read review » |
8.6/10 | |
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Dan's review: "This is a quality, flavorful 2nd flush that will definitely appeal to any Darjeeling fan, no question." Read review » |
7.5/10 | |
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Jamie's review: "The tea has a remarkable sweetness and strong notes of floral fruitiness that linger in the mouth. As the tea cools a bit in your cup, a light and pleasantly puckery astringency develops alongside. " Read review » |
9/10 |
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Dan's review: "This gorgeous long-leaf tea can be summed up in two words: elegant simplicity." Read review » |
9.0/10 | |
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Laura's review: "This is pretty mild and naturally sweet and I also think that I detect some honey notes along the way. Make no mistake though there is a slightly bitter component to this in the aftertaste, but it is a sweet pleasant bitterness." Read review » |
7/10 | |
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Joe's review: "I find myself thinking about this tea (and wanting some) throughout the day. In fact, as I write this, Iʼm thinking about making a cup. And I never drink caffeine at night. Is this the beginning of an addiction?" Read review » |
9/10 |
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Shaiha's review: "Lately I have really been leaning towards white teas, yet the taste of this tea is enough to pull back to black teas. It reminds me why I have loved them for so many years." Read review » |
7/10 | |
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Joe's review: "… a tea you must taste to believe. " Read review » |
10/10 | |
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Dan's review: "Overall, this Darjeeling holds not too many surprises, but it is of excellent quality. The sweetness from the second steeping has won me over, and I could see myself resorting almost exclusively to this tea for my Darjeeling needs." Read review » |
8.0/10 |
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Brad's review: "This blend is simultaneously spicier and less bitter than the Darjeeling median, but certainly enjoyable nonetheless." Read review » |
7/10 | |
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Geoff's review: "The fruity and nutmeggish notes didn't manifest 'til the 2nd infusion, which - at double the steep time - I thought was better than the first." Read review » |
8.2/10 | |
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Troy's review: "A strong "Muscatel" Darjeeling that actually exemplifies Muscatel." Read review » |
9/10 | |
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Laura's review: "The taste is indicative of the fragrance and delivers the sweet muscat that I look for in a good Darjeeling. I did find this to be a bit more earthy and rich than most Darjeeling leaves that I have tasted." Read review » |
8.25/10 | |
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Raven's review: "On the palate, this spirited bright amber brew shone with oaky acorn notes tinged with mulled wine and some hop type floral flavours that seemed refined but not quite distinctive. " Read review » |
7.7/10 | |
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Shaiha's review: "I never understood just why Darjeeling was considered to be the champagne of black teas until I tried American Tea Room’s Puttabong SFTGFOP1Q Darjeeling Muscatel. Suddenly it all came clear to me and now I understand why Darjeeling has so many fans." Read review » |
8.6/10 | |
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Steven's review: "Enjoyable precisely because, as I allow a sip to sit in my mouth for a few minutes, various flavors slowly reveal themselves." Read review » |
8/10 | |
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Sophie's review: "A tea that enlivens the senses, full of vigour, striking boldly at the palate with it's dry smoky-spicy flavour and deep muscatel aftertaste." Read review » |
8.9/10 | |
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Dan's review: "This is a winning tea that far exceeds that of the first flush crop from earlier this year. It's sophisticated and delicate, while remaining bold in flavor. And most importantly: it's delicious." Read review » |
8.7/10 |
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Lynn's review: "Since I always drink my black teas with a touch of half and half, I added a dollop and sampled it again. The edge of bitterness was gone, allowing the sweet, pungent, nutty, biscuity flavors to blossom and smooth out over my tongue, still with a definite astringent pull." Read review » |
8.5/10 | |
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Joe's review: "This really is a fine tea! " Read review » |
8.5/10 | |
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Patty's review: "Notes of honey, a bit of peachiness, what I can only call a non-specific summer-sweet-fruity fragrance. You can certainly smell elegant Darjeeling in its heritage." Read review » |
7.1/10 |
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Kari's review: "A full flavored tea,with a hint of "spicyness" and is really good iced." Read review » |
8/10 | |
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Jamie's review: "This tea has a somewhat mild flavor for such a distinct smelling tea, it was slightly floral and sweet, with a honeylike coloring. It has a wonderful natural sweetness, and I preferred the tea very lightly sweetened." Read review » |
8/10 |
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Rebekah's review: "A good, hearty and robust breakfast tea with a slightly nutty undertone." Read review » |
8/10 |
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Numi's review: "The deeper amber color of the tea is calming and identifiable as a Darjeeling, only with a silkiness and deeper complexity that I don't usually find in other darjeelings." Read review » |
8/10 |
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Nicole's review: "A fuller-bodied green tea, with a slightly spinach-like taste. I'd definitely recommend it." Read review » |
8/10 |
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Vanessa's review: "A wonderful example of a first flush Darjeeling. The flavor of this tea is sweet and muscatel-like, with flowery and fruity notes evident. " Read review » |
8/10 | |
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Katie's review: "Mmm..." Read review » |
8.3/10 | |
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Dan's review: "When properly prepared, this is a really nice, very flavorful, Darjeeling. It is definitely for a true die-hard Darjeeling fan, but could also make a nice introduction to the world of fine Darjeelings for the newbie." Read review » |
7.0/10 | |
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Brad's review: "A smooth and calm texture, proper and consistent flavor, and friendly aroma combine to produce a very pleasant experience. This is a fine first flush." Read review » |
7/10 | |
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Patty's review: "...dessert-like all by itself. A taste that might result from eating honey made by bees feasting on apricot and peppermint blossoms." Read review » |
9.1/10 |
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Lynn's review: "This tea has a very good first cup, but the bergamot wins in the end and only the first steeping of the Darjeeling could stand up to it. For a one-shot, however, it's not bad. " Read review » |
7.8/10 |
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Nicole's review: "This tea was compelling but I struggle to describe exactly how it tastes. The description on TeaGschwendener’s website probably sums it up the best, “bright and vegetal with slightly sour notes of wet stoneâ€Â." Read review » |
8/10 | |
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Jamie's review: "What a curious taste! This tea brews up with a strong earthiness, and the taste of the tea is at once sweet, and somewhat salty in a seaweedy sense, with a distinct smokiness to it." Read review » |
7.5/10 |
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Steven's review: "This Jungpana first flush is perfect for tea aficianados who may not be as interested in overly sweet, floral, or fruity teas, but rather desire something complex and a bit harder to put a finger on. It's a great drink." Read review » |
8.5/10 | |
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Vanessa's review: "The tea has a very green flavor to it, primarily because it has grainy and nutty flavors. There is also a sweet butteriness to it that was not immediately perceivable, but became more apparent as I sipped the tea. " Read review » |
7/10 |
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Vanessa's review: "I first noted vegetal notes, but then I picked up on honey notes, followed by a buttery flavor, and now with my most recent sip, a nutty flavor was most prominent. This tea may be described as many things, but 'boring' is not one of them!" Read review » |
8/10 | |
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Laura's review: "Like oolong, this tea took on a totally different personality in the second infusion. " Read review » |
7.25/10 | |
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Steven's review: "The tea packs a kick on second cup, which as I've said before, is the "sweet spot" in any pot. The brightness is such a serious part of this tea!" Read review » |
8/10 |
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Laura's review: "As this cooled, the oolong flavor came alive. It is not dominating, but I can taste it. Again, I can't really identify the flavor as apricot with any accuracy--still think more peachy." Read review » |
7.5/10 | |
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Shelly's review: "Regardless of the mystery apricot flavor, this tea was still very delicious. It brought to mind a beautiful spring day while sitting outside, eating some delicate pastries and basking in the sun." Read review » |
8/10 | |
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Vanessa's review: "One would expect that a tea named "afternoon apricot" would contain, well, apricots. Not the case here. In fact this tea seems to contain a little bit of everything but apricot." Read review » |
8/10 | |
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Lea's review: "Tea Guys found a good balance between the flavor of the black tea and the flavor of the apricots " Read review » |
7/10 |
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Kari's review: "The taste was crisp and light, with a little bitterness. It was not a very complex flavor. " Read review » |
6/10 | |
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Vanessa's review: "This tea offers a really complex tea-drinking experience, with quite a few flavors popping up and surprising the palette." Read review » |
9/10 |
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Jamie's review: "It makes a delightful afternoon cup - a little bit citrusy, contemplatively and perfectly spicy and even a little thought provoking as you enjoy the overall taste and nice pairing of bergamot and Darjeeling. " Read review » |
7.5/10 |
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Laura's review: "It is nice and tasty. The spices used in this are fairly subdued and I don't think strong enough to bother those that are spice sensitive." Read review » |
7.5/10 |
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Katie's review: "This is interesting yet basic enough I could drink it consistently throughout the week and at any time during the day." Read review » |
7.5/10 | |
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Brad's review: "This pleasant darjeeling includes hints of valencia, apricot, and pecan. It is an all day tea and quite enjoyable." Read review » |
7/10 |
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Shaiha's review: "The tea itself is one of the lighter Darjeeling that I have had the pleasure of tasting. This is a rather smooth black tea with just a hint of sharpness to keep it interesting" Read review » |
7/10 | |
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Lynn's review: "The flavor was on the light side, as well, although it definitely possessed some of the Darjeeling astringent sharpness, primarily on the front of the tongue, not much down the sides. This was followed by a dry, woody finish with notes of muscatel and little fragrance in the mouth." Read review » |
6.9/10 | |
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Jamie's review: "The flavor of the tea is quite bright, sturdy and somewhat dry without a lot of overt astringency and offers a peek at the wide spectrum of exhilarating flavors that Darjeelings gain their widespread appeal from." Read review » |
7/10 | |
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Dan's review: "No big surprises with this Darjeeling. A great, admirable company. A great tea. 'Nuff said." Read review » |
8.0/10 |
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Katie's review: "Overall, this tea is complex and beautiful." Read review » |
8.4/10 | |
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Dan's review: "Floral abundance comes screaming through - although bitterness and astringency are slight in comparison (but definitely present). The floral notes are what is ultimately powerful here, which is a whole different ballgame from bitterness." Read review » |
6.0/10 | |
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Jamie's review: "My mind and senses both are really engaged by this tea, trying to place and discern the tastes and scents. The tea is quite flowery, almost like a perfume, but completely lacking in any cloying, oily component. The floral quality isn't strictly flowery. You won't sip this and think, "oh, it's a jasmine" or "oh, it's a rose." Instead, the floral sense is more diffuse than that. " Read review » |
8.5/10 | |
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Vanessa's review: "Tastewise, this is a very complex tea which requires some concentration; this tea is probably best suited to an alert and focused drinker. Flavors of fruit, flowers, butter, nuts, mint, and grass/earth were all present. However the problem with this tea was that it was extremely bitter, as in bitter enough to negate many of the positive attributes. " Read review » |
5.5/10 |
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Troy's review: "This Tea is very approachable, I would say even to those who generally couldn't stand Black tea. The tannins are rich, but not very strong, and nowhere near overpowering, they're more complex than potent." Read review » |
9/10 | |
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Vanessa's review: "The flavor resembled what a pack of cigarettes smelled like, and there was a very subtle smoky character to this tea. I suppose if you enjoy chewing tobacco, then you might enjoy this tea." Read review » |
5/10 |
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James's review: "Robust, heavy, and full-bodied with a smooth finish... not quite as malty as other Darjeelings. I very much enjoyed this one." Read review » |
7/10 |
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Jamie's review: "It seems that My Cup of Tea has sourced out a good blend for their breakfast tea and the bag isn't a hindrance at all to that taste coming through. " Read review » |
7/10 |
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Jamie's review: "I liked that even as a new drinker of first flush teas, I came away from each cup feeling like I understood what I was drinking and could clearly identify many of the points that first flush darjeelings are noted for." Read review » |
7/10 |
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Katie's review: "The overall flavour is still within the realm of good, but I would prefer to drink Thunderbolt's Puttabong SFTGFOP1." Read review » |
7/10 | |
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Steven's review: "The flavor is on the fruity side, rather than the floral side, but with a bright astringency that balances the heavier fruit notes." Read review » |
7/10 |
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Jenn's review: "A tad too bitter but it seems like underneath that bitterness lies a soft Darjeeling." Read review » |
4.5/10 | |
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Kari's review: "Sugar really does add a whole new dimension to this tea." Read review » |
8.5/10 | |
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Brad's review: "This is a safe investment for anyone seeking teas with a bitter hue or anyone consistently adding sugar to tea." Read review » |
5/10 | |
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Jamie's review: "The tea leaves are many colored and the scenting very fresh, with faint overtones of both floral and tobacco nature." Read review » |
8/10 | |
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Vanessa's review: "When it was cooled, the tea was a bit more tolerable, with honey and muscatel notes evident. Still, however, the bitterness was overwhelming. This tea definitely needs some sugar to tone down the astringency. " Read review » |
4/10 | |
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Dan's review: "This is a highly enjoyable tea when properly brewed, perfect for a morning cup or a re-energizing late afternoon or evening boost." Read review » |
8.5/10 | |
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Patty's review: "I am repeatedly reminded of the experience of drinking a good but not quite perfect grand cru wine. It makes it's own rules and it must be evaluated on its own terms." Read review » |
9.7/10 |
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Vanessa's review: "A fairly lively brew and not a bad representative of a Darjeeling second flush tea. I picked up on flavors of muscadine, grains, smokiness and a little sweetness in the aftertaste." Read review » |
7/10 | |
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Nicole's review: "This tea had the typical fruity “muscatel” flavor profile of a Darjeeling but with an additional peppery element more common in Yunnan teas." Read review » |
8/10 | |
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Brad's review: "Never pretending to be pretty or suave, this tea offers powerful flavor and demanding presence." Read review » |
6/10 | |
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Jamie's review: "An acceptable tasting tea but not particularly distinguished or exhibiting the floral, sweet fruity complexity I've come to expect as hallmarks of Darjeelings. " Read review » |
5/10 | |
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Dan's review: "This is some fine Himalayan Mountains tea, that transports you above the clouds, and is perfect for an early morning cup." Read review » |
8/10 |
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Laura's review: "A nice Darjeeling - one that is less dry than its black tea cousin, complex, and medium in body... though barely qualifies as an oolong in taste." Read review » |
6.5/10 | |
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Katie's review: "If I only rated this tea based on the first infusion, I would probably be a bit more positive, but the second cup bordered on disappointing and made the overall experience less than I'd hoped for." Read review » |
6.0/10 | |
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Patty's review: "I think this is a noble, perhaps inevitable experiment. And it works, if you don't expect to find a lot of Darjeeling or Oolong flavor." Read review » |
4.5/10 | |
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Kari's review: "In the cup the aroma really smells good. This was a smooth, refreshing, great tasting tea with a little sweetness to it." Read review » |
8/10 | |
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Jamie's review: "Sweet and fragrant is what you get with Tankha. It's deliciously sweet, in a subtle almost honeysuckle like way, and the tea brews to a pretty pale caramel like color. The sweetness is almost floral, almost citrusy, but not overwhelmingly either, and it's wonderfully pleasant." Read review » |
8.5/10 | |
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Geoff's review: "Any complexity of taste was overshadowed by a roasted, dry sensation; about as floral as a forest fire. In short, deep and somewhat delightful like its tapestry namesake suggests." Read review » |
6.5/10 | |
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Vanessa's review: "In all, this tea was really flavorful and appealing, however my mind could not accept that this was an oolong tea. While Tankha may be oolong by definition of how it was processed, the flavor, to me, is entirely that of a Darjeeling black tea." Read review » |
7/10 |
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Vanessa's review: "If you are a tea drinker that prefers not to add sugar, you will likely find Choice Organic's Estate Blend Darjeeling too bitter to be enjoyable." Read review » |
6.5/10 |
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Jamie's review: "My first tastes were fresh, sweetly springy and vegetal with a slight astringency that left a clean taste in the mouth." Read review » |
6.5/10 |
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Katie's review: "This is tea in solid in both scent and flavour, but I do not find it particularly unique." Read review » |
5.6/10 | |
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Dan's review: "The complexities of this Darjeeling are subtle, but all the more intriguing for it. A nice tea for any time of day that you are looking for a slight pick-me-up and a smooth, gentle, flavorful cup." Read review » |
7.3/10 | |
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Jamie's review: "Despite this being a first flush estate tea, it doesn't sparkle like a gem in the crown of darjeelings, but certainly comes across as a competent, good tasting tea." Read review » |
6.5/10 |
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Steven's review: "It's one of those teas that I drink with my eyes closed, and which I need to return to over and over again. If TeaGschwendner ever stops selling it, I'll have to move to India." Read review » |
/10 | |
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Laura's review: "This is absolutely the best Darjeeling I have tasted and deserves its title as the champagne of teas. This truly is the darling of the second flush." Read review » |
9/10 | |
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Vanessa's review: "More importantly, however, this strange blend of seemingly disparate flavor elements all come together to produce a crisp and refreshing cup of tea." Read review » |
8/10 | |
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Kari's review: "I think this is one of my favorite Darjeelings and I can see that they don’t call it the champagne of teas for nothing." Read review » |
8/10 | |
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Barbara's review: "The taste is that smooth, sweet and floral. As this tea cools, I can also sense a sweet spiciness that compliments the floral undertones." Read review » |
7/10 |
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James's review: "A pleasing, robust brew... not necessarily a top-grade Darjeeling, but certainly a good introduction for anyone new to this type of tea." Read review » |
6/10 | |
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Shane's review: "Not half-bad for a teabag... unfortunately its been discontinued so you'll more than likely never get a chance to try for yourself." Read review » |
6/10 | |
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Stephen's review: "A slightly malty crisp black tea... reminiscent of a good oolong, this is bound to please even the most fanatical Darjeeling connoisseur." Read review » |
7/10 |
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Shane's review: "The taste is quite-good, if a little one-dimensional... there's just not as much flavor here as in other widely available Darjeelings." Read review » |
6/10 |
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Laura's review: "This is an interesting twist on earl grey/earl grey le creme. I like the milder tea base and the caramel as a player in the blend." Read review » |
7/10 | |
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Vanessa's review: "Sadly, I could not taste any crème brulee flavor whatsoever, and the Earl Grey flavor was sub-par compared to other Ear Greys that I have had. Furthermore, this tea had a really bitter aftertaste, even after steeping for only three minutes." Read review » |
5/10 |
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Vanessa's review: "This is a very mellow and mild brew, which on some occasions may be just what you are looking for. This tea just crosses the line into sweet territory and there is also a hint of a nutty flavor here." Read review » |
6/10 | |
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Dan's review: "A "blossoming" tea that does not blossom? Disappointing. Effect on your pocketbook? Disappointing. This tea's flavor? Not disappointing in the least. " Read review » |
6.0/10 |
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Numi's review: "The tea is surprisingly smooth and sweet with just enough astringency to give me a mental nudge in the afternoons. " Read review » |
6/10 |
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Shelly's review: "The first sip wasn’t too bad. At first I thought it was acceptable, possibly even mild and pleasant. But by the third sip it became painfully obvious that it wasn’t up to par with even Lipton tea." Read review » |
2/10 | |
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Vanessa's review: "Both the aroma and flavor of the tea are dominated by fruity and flowery notes, with just the slightest bit of nuttiness. " Read review » |
6.5/10 |
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Stephen's review: "An extremely delicate oolong... I was hard-pressed to coax any flavor whatsoever out of these leaves. Too delicate for my tastes." Read review » |
4/10 |
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