Basilur

I wish I had another tea bag of this to see if making it differently would make it more palatable. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t something I would reach for again.

I like Ceylon tea grown at lower elevations but not particularly the high grown ones. I don’t know what this is, but the base was a little harsh. The orange and passionfruit flavors were somewhat redeeming, but I honestly though the orange flavor Twinings uses was better. And don’t even think about comparing this to the orange flavor in Nina’s Tea!

The packaging on these book teas is so pretty! These will be going on my bookshelf to hold little doodads once the tin is empty.

When I opened the pouch of loose tea inside the aroma rushed out and enveloped me with summer! White rum, pineapple, and coconut – all there just like the company said. And the pouch has a nice sticky zip closure to keep it fresher in this tin.

I mixed a first and second steep together and it was still nice and strong with no washing out of the flavors. This would be amazing iced, too. I can seeing lounging in the sun with a glass of this, with a little umbrella in! These flavours are spot on, too. Very nice!

Many thanks to my daughters, Superanna and youngest, who bought this for me in Toronto and gave it to me on Valentine’s Day!

A lovely, generous sample from Kaylee.

As seemed to be the consensus in the forums, Basilur isn’t the highest quality tea, but this is actually really pretty and tasty. The black base is just kind of there, without contributing a lot to the flavour, but this is a really different take on Earl Grey, with bergamot, vanilla, light chocolate and citrus notes. It’s quite smooth and the flavour and mouth feel are a bit creamy.

I’m not sure I’d ever want 100g of this, even for the really cool music box tin, but I’m definitely enjoying the sample I got.

How i got it: I got some good references to this tea, so i bought it when i had the chance (Too bad Basilur doesn’t have a “Oriental Collection” variety pack =/ )

Experience: My good references were indeed very accurate: this is a great tea. It has an intense aroma, with Basilur’s classic caramel/toffee notes and a little touch of toast smell. Its flavor reminds me of an intense Assam, but keeping the classic crisp Ceylon character. It has some fresh and wooden notes in this respect too. In addition, i can sense honey, toffee and a bit of muscatel at the end of the sip. Really good.

Would i buy it again?: You can bet

How i got it: Got a bag in a swap with my wife (part of Basilur’s “Specialty Classics” Pack)

Experience: This is the fifth and last tea from Basilur’s “Specialty Classics” pack, which i can say, has very few low points, and this time was not different. It has a mild to intense aroma, with very clear and natural bergamot notes. Its taste is intense as well, but gives a smooth sensation, has a good duration and a fair balance between the tea flavor and the bergamot scent. The typical caramel notes of Basilur teas make an appearence once again, helping make this tea one of the best Earl Grey’s i’ve tasted. Very good.

Would i buy it?: It’s a real possibility

How i got it: Got a bag in a swap with my wife (part of Basilur’s “Specialty Classics” Pack)

Experience: Well, it has been a long time since I wrote the last note! This is the fourth tea in the Basilur “Specialty Classics” pack, a Darjeeling one. It has a very classic, soft aroma for which, as i usually said, Nepal teas are my closest mental reference. I can sense herbal/floral notes, similar to the ones found in a green tea. Its flavor is quite delicate, low to medium intensity, but is clear and well defined. It has some hints of honey too. I only miss the taste of muscatel and a bit more duration. Aside from that, this is a very good tea.

Would i buy it?: Mmm… i’m not sure. I’d put this tea close to Dilmah’s Darjeeling, but if you ask me, i’d go for the later and leave this one in a second place.

How i got it: Got a bag in a swap with my wife (part of Basilur’s “Specialty Classics” Pack)

Experience: Third tea in the Basilur “Specialty Classics” pack, and the only green one. A distinctive part of this tea is its aroma, which i find to be a bit less like the usual green (i’ve tried other Senchas, but this is still different) and a bit more acidic. On the taste side, is very light and less flowery and sweet that the usual green, too. Not bad, but a bit more of intensity/character in the flavor would have been very welcome. In the end, i’d say it’s above the average, but stays behind of its pack partners.

Would i buy it?: Mmm… i don’t think so. Better black (and some green) teas out there.

I got this tea as a present from my brother -as many others. I must say, the first thing that caught my attention was its aroma; Slightly citric. It makes you want to give it a taste right away.
It’s such a fresh kind of tea. Really nice for these Summer days. I would buy this tea instead of my regular lemon scented kind, if I can be honest.

How i got it: Got a bag in a swap with my wife (part of Basilur’s “Specialty Classics” Pack)

Experience: This tea has a crisp, mild to intense, well defined, classic Ceylon aroma. Indeed, I’d say it’s more fragrant that the average Ceylon, reminding me of Dilmah’s English Afternoon. I can sense some acidic notes in its scent, too. On the other hand, it has a bold, well defined and lasting flavor, but also a distinctive smoothness (unlike other other Ceylon teas, i couldn’t sense any tart notes on it) and richness. I sense very slight hints of caramel too, characteristic of the Basilur teas, which gives it a special touch. I’d say with some confidence it justifies its OP classification. Very good.

Would i buy it?: It has real possibilities, but competition in this category is tough, hehe. Maybe i’ll go for it when looking for a good loose leaf Ceylon.

How i got it: Got it in a swap with my wife, in addition to the one i got from the shop seller as a gift (part of Basilur’s “Specialty Classics” Pack)

Experience: Well, let’s start with a new Basilur pack, more on the classic side this time. This EB has a very intense aroma, which i could describe as a mix between Assam and Ceylan, with dominance of the latter. On the flavor part, however, this mix is more balanced, going from malty notes to fresh and crisp ones. Not very intense, but very rich and deep on taste, one of its most notable traits is that the characteristic bitter note of the Breakfast blends is very nuanced, almost absent from its flavor. Very interesting, and really good tea.

Would i buy it?: I think this would be a ‘yes’, sometime in the future.

How i got it: Bought It (Basilur’s “Leaf of Ceylon” Assorted Pack)

Experience: Well, this is the fifth and last tea in the “Leaf of Ceylon” pack. It has a quite delicate aroma, not very intense, but complex; it reminds me to spiced varieties like Twinings’ Russian Caravan. On the other side, its flavor is light, and has a low-to-mild intensity and good duration. At the beginning of the sip, it tastes a bit similar to a Darjeeling, but it gains more of a Ceylon character reaching the end. I sense some very nuanced notes of caramel and toffee too, although this tea don’t have additives or scents. Interesting tea, and a very good ending for the experience of the pack. One of Basilur bests, i’d say.

Would i buy it again?: Being enjoyable as it is, i’m not fully decided yet, but sure has good possibilities

How i got it: Bought It (Basilur’s “Leaf of Ceylon” Assorted Pack)

Experience: The fourth tea in the “Leaf of Ceylon” pack, this one maintains a little similarity to other Basilur teas like Winter Tea and Dimbula, but i’d say Ruhunu is better from the beginning. In the aroma side, I can sense toffee, caramel, vanilla and cream, creating a very enjoyable mix. On the other hand, the taste is dominated by caramel and vanilla notes, while the flavor of a more classic Ceylon appears almost to the end of the sip. Mild intensity, smooth and relaxing character. I’d say that’s hard to imagine a tea like this is not scented… but i saw again the envelop and realized that Basilur did it again: they added caramel scent. But that doesn’t make this tea less great. Indeed, this is how Lipton’s Caramel Truffle should always have been. Really good.

Would i buy it again?: I’m looking forward to have this blend again in my cupboard. The answer is clearly ‘yes’

How i got it: Bought It (Basilur’s “Leaf of Ceylon” Assorted Pack)

Experience: Third tea in the “Leaf of Ceylon” pack, and a nice surprise. Very acidic aroma, with some flowery notes and just a hint of the smell of an usual Ceylon. On the taste side, its has a lasting, mild-high intensity flavor, but at the same time is curiously fresh and light. It follows a classic Ceylon style, but i’d say that i could taste some notes similar to a Kenyan tea too. Extra points for a particular, very smooth and gentle citric touch – i’m thinking in something like lemon candy notes – that comes from the inclusion of some Bergamot, which goes very well with the tea (I realized this after seeing the package. Basilur, you cheater, wasn’t this supposed to be a pack of non-scented Ceylon’s? hehe). Very enjoyable tea. Really good.

Would i buy it again?: With good possibilities too, i’m almost inclined to say ‘yes’. This is one of the better bagged teas i’ve tried, and my cupboard is open to try the loose leaf version.

How i got it: Bought It (Basilur’s “Leaf of Ceylon” Assorted Pack)

Experience: Next one in the “Leaf of Ceylon” pack, this is another curious tea. It smells very similar to Basilur’s Autumn Tea, even being a non-scented black. I can sense toasted, caramel and toffee-like notes, among which the aroma of a more classic Ceylon only appears from time to time. Its taste is more standard, but it also is dominated by soft and toffee/creamy notes that fade a bit to the end of the sip. Good duration, relatively well-defined flavor. What an unusual taste for a Ceylon tea! This is another new experience for my record. Good.

Would i buy it again?: I like it, but Uva comes first in this regard. Maybe i need further drinking to settle my mind, but until then, i’m more inclined to pass the offer.

How i got it: Bought It (Basilur’s “Leaf of Ceylon” Assorted Pack)

Experience: First 50 tasting notes, yay! hehe.. Well, it’s time for some Basilur teas, so i began trying this one. It smells like a mix between Ceylon and Darjeeling, with an acidic and light aroma. At the other hand, its flavor is mainly malty (i’d say even a bit more than an Assam), but with a good deal of richness and complexity. It has a particular soft-bitter touch at the beginning of the sip, which reminds me of Breakfast blends, along with some ripe grapes/blackberries notes. Its taste tends to fade a bit at the end of the sip, but not that much. Really interesting tea, and a good start for this pack. Quite good.

Would i buy it again?: Has good possiblities. I’m looking forward to try the loose-leaf version someday

How i got it: Bought It (Basilur’s “Four Seasons” Assorted Pack)

Experience: Being the last of the “Four Seasons” teas remaining for me to try, i have to say this pack has been a good experience overall. This time, the blend includes cherry and green tea, which turns out very well due to the quality of the fruit flavoring (clearly more natural than Lipton’s Mixed Berry Green, for example). That said, it’s not as fruity as its Summer partner, resulting in a more relaxing blend. As always, the fruit notes dominates the tea’s, but in both aroma and taste, it’s balanced enough to be enjoyed. Very good.

Would i buy it again?: I prefer black teas to green ones, but this blend makes a good choice when i decide to have the latter. Has good possibilities.

I got this tea thanks to my brother, who took me to the PuroOlivo store in Santiago (Chile).
When opened the teabag package it was like an explosion of scents. It mainly smelled like gummy bears. Delicious. I thought it would be very artificial because of this first impression, but after the steeping, I sweetened it a little bit and got to take a first sip.

I wish it could taste a little more like kiwi than strawberry, but knowing that strawberry is much more dominant and more people like strawberry than they like kiwi, I think that can’t be changed. (If they were to upgrade their brew, that’s the only thing I would suggest. More kiwi)

Overall, this is a nice summery tea. Goes good with a good book to read or some pages to write. I imagine…

Though, it’s not one of my favorites, I would recommend it.

How i got it: Bought It (Basilur’s “Four Seasons” Assorted Pack)

Experience: Well, this is a brand new experience for me. Never ever had maple syrup, so i was wondering what it was like. The intense aroma of this blend is defined by this ingredient, which seems to me like a mix of toasted caramel, vanilla, truffle and cinnamon, all together. No much room for the tea to appear in this respect. The taste, at the other hand, is more balanced, and both the tea and the syrup could be noted. Mild intensity flavor, no astringency. I guess that it will take me some time to get used to this new flavor, but this was a good start. Very good.

Would i buy it again?: I think this one goes behind Winter and Summer in my list, but there’s a chance too.

How i got it: Bought It (Basilur’s “Four Seasons” Assorted Pack)

Experience: Just as its Winter counterpart, this tea ended up being better than i imagined. I’m not that seasoned in flavoured greens, so i didn’t know what to expect about the strawberry + green tea combination. But it worked! Similar to the Winter tea, its aroma is dominated by the fruit notes, while the flavor is a nice mix between these and the herbal notes from the tea. The result is a light and fresh blend, which seems to include touches of melon and watermelon. Very good.

Would i buy it again?: Another Basilur one that has good posibilities. Maybe i’ll try that loose leaf version.

How i got it: Bought It (Basilur’s “Four Seasons” Assorted Pack)

Experience: Since the moment i looked at the package and saw “cranberries”, i lost quite a bit of confidence, thinking this tea would be similar to those berry tisanes i run away from. But in the end, it turned out to be a nice surprise. While its aroma is indeed dominated by the cranberry, its taste is a nicely equilibrated mix between the frutal flavor of the cranberries and the gentle bitterness of the ceylon, which prevents this tea to become unpleasantly acidic. Now, i have a bit more appreciation for the fruits on my tea. Very good.

Would i buy it again?: I think this one has good posibilities.

(Note from last night as the website wasn’t working for me)

This oolong has a herbal, almost peppery scent, just like fresh herbs. Also a hint of mint, a refreshing sort of scent.

Flavour is sweet and thick, highly perfumed and herbal. It’s nice but a bit strange…sour, herby perfume is a strange mix but it’s not disgusting, acquired taste I suppose.

This is a green tea, flavoured to taste like Milk Oolong. It’s good. I like it. It’s not as great as a loose leaf natural Oolong, but a bit more flavourful than a basic green. It’s a pretty good teabag approximation of real Milk Oolong. I drink it when I’m feeling too lazy to make leaf-tea.

Backlog:

OK … I LOVE love LOVE the book-ish tin that this tea comes in. It’s so cool.

And the tea inside is pretty good too! A tasty roasted almond essence enchants the nose, evoking thoughts of something freshly baked. The black tea is a Ceylon and it’s a mild, even-tempered sort of tea. The almond notes are lovely. There are jasmine flowers in this tea but this isn’t a jasmine tea. I taste hints of flower in the distance, but the focus isn’t on the floral notes but the sweet, nutty almond notes.

A really tasty tea.

Usually when I have fruity black teas, I expect the fruit to be the star, and the tea to be there in the background. This tea actually has the tea as the star, but complemented by the fruit. The result is rich and pleasant — actually, it reminds me a bit of bubblegum. I do with that the fruit was more of a star in this tea, but I can’t say I mind it like this either.