MEM Tea Imports

I was playing tourist today with some visitors and came across a really cool vegan/vegetarian, organic cafe. The people there seemed a tad snobby about it, but the food was delicious nonetheless. I also ordered this tea and was pleasantly surprised that it was served in a cast iron teapot with a cute, earthy-looking mug. This oolong was very roasty and had a smokiness about it that I don’t usually taste as strongly in oolongs. It was a bit oversteeped by the time it got to my table, but not very bitter. I really did enjoy it, so I asked about the company, and looked it up when I got home. Unfortunately, it looks like they only sell by the pound online? Yikes. I guess I’ll just have to go back to the cafe soon!

Love this tea. Very delicate, very relaxing. Tastes a bit like honeysuckle, but that isn’t a bad thing at all. I like mixing it with MEM’s chamomile sometimes.

Tried this at Blue Bottle’s siphon bar and was quite shocked. It brewed more like a white than a green and the fact that he only steeped it for four minutes (as the label recommends all baristas do) was sort of odd. I guess when ordering tea at a highly coveted coffee siphon, you get what you pay for.

This is the first Earl Grey I have ever tried and it is my favorite. My local Coffee Shop (Rao’s in Amherst) serves this tea and they always give you way more than a tsp per cup. I might have to try this with my other teas as this one tastes phenominal and never bitters. The bergamont is perfect, and the flavor has just the punch that other Earl Greys seem to be lacking. Perhaps I will need to try to use more tea for the others. I wouldn’t say it’s as smooth as others, but it taste so good!

To prepare as you’d receive at a shop, this tea should be brewed at double-strength, steeped a bit on the long side. Sweetener is mixed in, and cream dropped on top. When brewed this way, it’s quite tasty, with the bitter notes of the spice balanced by the sweetness and body of the rooibos.

When brewed in a more traditional black tea style, and served without sugar or cream, the flavor is light and bright, but quite different. Very nice.

Unbelievable striking taste. Notes of fresh cut grass, floral, and bright. A hint of astringency (nothing to worry about), but mostly mellow. Perfect balance to be a sipping tea, not too strong, but not subtle. I bring this tea with me for the whole day in the black sealed airtight bag that MEM tea sells its tea in. Very calming and perfect at just under 185 degrees. It was an expensive tea, but so worth it! Jade Oolong is to Chinese teas what Gyokuro is to Japanese teas: far superior to most other greens and oolongs.