Ocean of Tea

Sip down… Goodbye, plum elixir. I could definitely see ordering more of this in the future.

This is a nice, light tea. Not much going on with the oolong, which means nothing to distract from the bright plum and slight floral undertones.
Upping my rating and chalking up my first try with this tea to user error. :)

Upon opening the bag, the smell reminded me of a fresh box of raisins with a hint of rose, in a nice way, even though I don’t care for raisins. First sip while still quite warm— I was expecting a bold fruit flavor with some sweetness— but this tea is TART. Perhaps I mishandled it, because it is tart in an unsweetened juice kind of way, and I don’t taste the oolong at all. Closer to room temperature, I can smell some oolong, but the tartness has increased. My mouth feels rougher in texture and I can feel the taughtness inside my jaw, a less pronounced version of what happens with sour citrus. Not a fan. Bummer.

Backlog:

This is really a nice Chamomile. The blossoms are whole and LARGE. No crumbly pollen-y dust. Light and sweet, notes of apple. I like that this isn’t chamomile dust (I hate cleaning my tea strainer after having something with pulverized chamomile!) and it has a clean, refreshing, soothing flavor.

I’ve enjoyed the teas that I’ve tried from this company.

Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2014/09/04/chamomile-from-ocean-of-tea/

Backlog:

A seriously awesome Earl Grey! This has a strong bergamot essence both in dry leaf aroma and in brewed tea aroma … and in flavor! It’s a strong bergamot taste but it doesn’t taste soapy or perfume-y. It just tastes bright and uplifting, the way a good Earl Grey should taste.

Smooth and nicely round. The black tea base is full-flavored and robust and satisfying. The bergamot has a few light floral notes popping in here and there throughout the sip but mostly I get a bright burst of citrus-y notes which is just the way I want it to be when I’m drinking Earl Grey.

A VERY very good Earl Grey! In my top 5. Although I admit that my top 5 seems to change a lot. But this one belongs there.

Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2014/05/16/earl-grey-premium-black-tea-from-ocean-of-tea/

Backlog:

Beautiful green, tightly wound pellets that unfurl in my hot water … what could be more relaxing than watching a Ti Kuan Yin brew in my gaiwan? One of my favorite afternoon activities.

This Ti Kuan Yin from Ocean of Tea is absolutely lovely. Very flavorful, with beautiful creamy notes. I found myself surprised at how much flavor the first cup (infusions 1 and 2) offered, because it is usually the softest tasting cup. But for a delicate taste – there’s a whole lot of flavor in that cup! Sweet with notes of apricot, and creamy notes, floral notes.

Later infusions brought development of the aforementioned apricot, and the floral notes developed into an orchid-like flavor. Notes of vanilla! A soft and silky tea.

A really lovely Ti Kuan Yin! I recommend it.

Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2014/04/26/ti-kuan-yin-oolong-tea-ocean-tea/

This came to me via Nicole_Martin at an NYC meetup almost a year ago. It’s a nice, basic jasmine green. The jasmine is quite strong, which is fine by me, but the green base comes through reasonably clearly as well. I love watching pearl teas unfurl, and this one was no exception. I’m happy with most any quality (read: not artificial and soapy) jasmine green, so naturally I enjoyed this cup quite a bit.

MEGA BERGAMONT ALERT! Bergamontasaurus RAWRRRR! This is the strongest bergamont earl grey I’ve ever tried.

This earl grey is for the bergamont lovers with constant bergamont flavor throughout the sip. So much bergamont, the tea is refreshing end of sip. The black is really background here, but isn’t dry or bitter. I like bergamont heavy earl greys, so I liked this earl grey.

Full review on my blog, The Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/earl-grey-premium-ocean-tea-oolong-owl-tea-review/

We have tried to grow chamomile with zero success. My wife loves the stuff. So we always have some around. I find I seldom help drink it. I like it. It just never occurs to me to fix it. Not much of a lead in to this tasting note but let me say I enjoyed this quite a bit in the middle of the afternoon. Just got home from watching X-Men and thought a quiet moment was in order. This smells of tart apples, honey, and flowers. The taste is similar with a spiciness added. I also caught faint saltiness and hints of mineral. I used filtered water but can’t rule out the last notes being from our water. A nice calming cup.

Oh my. I have finally lost my mind. I was looking for my tasting note on this one, only to realize I hadn’t written it yet. Eek.

This is a moderately roasted oolong. The leaf really expands when brewed. The aroma is moderate roasting with light orchid floral notes. The sip is very nicely balanced. The orchid notes rise up and the roasted one drop just a little. No bitterness or bite, but some dryness. This has a good presence of honey like sweetness. It is also nutty.

My own preference is for greener nonroasted oolong but otherwise there is certainly nothing wrong with this cup. Since there are only two ratings at this point, I will rate this one.

SO MUCH PLUM! Plum plum plum! I’ve had a couple Plum teas, this one from Ocean of Tea being the most plummy (is that a word?) blend out there.

I found this tea tastes different hot, sweetened, resteeped and iced – the best being sweetened and iced.

Hot, it’s a fresh tasting, lightly roshipy tart tea with the main focus around a berry flavor with a hint of plum.

Sweetened – 100% plum flavor. Never ending plum taste.

Iced – My favorite – refreshing, fruityness with plum notes, lingering plum flavor, with a hint of citrus floral adding interest.

resteeped – a lightly roasted oolong with a tart finish.

Ocean of Tea’s plum oolong is all about the plum – this be the tea if you want a strong flavored blend. As an oolong? There is not much in oolong here, just a bit in the background adding an earthyness pairing great with the plum, but sweetened and iced, I can’t taste the oolong.

Full review on my blog, The Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/plum-oolong-ocean-tea-oolong-owl-tea-review/

Enjoying the last of this today from Ocean Of Tea. This is an excellent Earl Grey. It has enough bright citrusy bergamot to cause the faint of heart to become weak in the knees – Sil ;P The black tea base is likewise assertive with enough astringency to make you notice without causing turmoil or harshness. This. This, is Earl Grey done right. Much love.

5:00 pm and my first cup of tea. Not how I planned the day. I grabbed this thinking it was the last of it but was delighted to find I still have enough for one more day. This is a good solid Earl Grey. Bright and citrusy with a good black base bite. If you are only going to get one cup today, make it a good one. I just did.

I have had more tea today than I have had over the last two weeks combined. How I missed it! I let this go the full 4 minutes that is recommended for the steep. Wow, it makes a big difference. I get some bite but not bitterness. Yes it is somewhat drying. It is Earl Grey after all. The base is fuller but remains refined as it supports the blast of glorious bergamot. If you love Earl Grey it is not over the top but it is definitely no wall flower. If you aren’t a fan of bergamot you really aren’t going to try this any way. For those who do, go for the long steep. Respect.

My first experience with Ocean of Tea. I am no stranger to Earl Grey. I know what I like, what I’ll tolerate, and what I won’t. If you are going to call your tea Earl Grey it better not have anything but black tea and bergamot. That is cause for immediate dismissal (I don’t mind additional flavors but don’t call it Earl Grey because its not). This one passes the first hurdle.

I also cannot stand a wimpy Earl Grey. It is Earl Grey – give me bergamot! I don’t want faint traces of it. Don’t make me search. This one has a bright lemony citrus scent when dry and even more potent in the wet leaf aroma. I could sniff it all day and never grow tired.

On the other hand don’t overwhelm me, or give me a weak base, I want to taste tea. I like Twinings Earl Grey but find its base to lack presence. Admittedly my tastes run towards a Ceylon base that fights back. This one is more refined. It has depth without the rough edges. I can definitely taste the base without it moving to the forefront.

Earl Grey Premium has enough bite to be satisfying while remaining very well balanced. The bergamot is the primary note but is not overwhelming. The bergamot is very natural and pleasant. I can’t think of anything to complain about with this tea except my cup is empty.

So, I have started a new and exciting project! I have decided to make my own tea tray for my various Gongfu brewing sessions. Let’s just say I am tired of spilling water everywhere on my desk, and since I am not so much having the monies I decided to be all crafty. Using a frame, some paint stirrers, some caulk, varnish, a small cake pan, and paint, I will create my new toy. Pictures will show up when I finish it…or tears will flow if I ruin it!

Today’s tea is an English tea time classic! Considered to be one of the most famous Western teas, I certainly know I have been drinking it since I was a tiny child. Earl Grey Premium by Ocean of Tea is a blend of premium black tea and bergamot oil, as expected from a tea named Earl Grey Premium. The aroma is a very potent bergamot, bright and lemony! It is certainly a tea to sniff when you want to wake up and be alert. There is also a tiny bit of sweetness and a nice finish of malt.

Brewing the leaves brings out a much stronger malty tone to the very citrus heavy tea. I am amazed at how fresh the bergamot aroma’s is, it smells more like sniffing a fresh fruit than the oil. The liquid once the leaves have been removed is creamy and malty with a hint of cocoa and strong bergamot. It smells quite zingy!

Tasting time! The mouthfeel is dry, not rasping and puckering, but a nice brisk dryness. The tea is a little astringent, but not unpleasantly so, it has that brisk bite to it that really wakes you up. I know some people really object to teas having any bitterness to it at all, I personally like it when certain black teas have a bit of a bite…not enough to be nasty of course, just that hint, kinda like eating fresh kale or bitter greens, I just find it tasty. Of course there is more to this tea, there is a nice bergamot kick that leaves a bit of sourness causing a salivary response, goodbye dryness! After that there is smooth malt and a subtle sweetness that lingers to the finish. Usually when I describe an optimal Earl, I am lauding the tea’s tendency to not kick me with bergamot, this Earl certainly kicks with bergamot, but it is such a fresh and clean citrus taste that I really like it.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2014/05/ocean-of-tea-earl-grey-premium-tea.html

It has been a rainy, cold, and generally miserable day…which of course makes it perfect for sipping tea and doing crafts. Of course in my opinion all days are perfect for crafts and tea, the only thing that makes a real difference is cold, dreary weather makes for snuggling under blankets. The really good news is I am about half-way finished with my great paper organization project, as soon as I am finished it will be back to folding.

Today’s tea is Ti Kuan Yin by Ocean of Tea, a rolled Wuyi oolong from Fujian, China. Ti Kuan Yin (or Tie Guan Yin, depending on dialect) is one of my favorite oolongs and is THE tea that really got me obsessed with different kinds of tea all those years ago. The aroma of this Ti Kuan Yin is a really great blend of roasted and floral notes. There are notes of honeysuckle and orchid, along with roasted chestnut and a touch of roasted peanut. The roast is fairly light for a roasted oolong, none of the charcoal notes or smoke, much more delicate allowing the floral notes to shine.

The steeping instructions are for Western Style, but you all know me, if it is an oolong it is going into the gaiwan. I kept the 195 temperature and had the first steep for 35 seconds instead of 3 minutes. The aroma of the brewed leaves is a fantastic balance of roast and heady floral. There are notes of sweet honeysuckle and roasted chestnut. The liquid is delicately creamy and sweet, with chestnut, honey, and heady orchid notes.

For the first steeping I notice a smooth, almost buttery mouthfeel, that accentuates the flavor. The taste of the first steep starts off with delicate roasted chestnuts and nuttiness which makes a transition to honeysuckle and finally orchids. The aftertaste is one of honey, a nice finish to compliment the floral notes.

Second steeping time! I really need to spend less time on tumblr because the tasting notes for the second steep are written in my tasting notebook in doge style. Much roast, very floral. Oh memes, you are so addictive. The aroma, doge aside, is quite roasted and very floral, taking the notes from the first steeping and magnifiying it. The taste is much the same but more intense, I did detect a change in the mouthfeel. It is less buttery and smooth and more dry and assertive.

And now it is time for the third and final steep, the leaves have unfurled and show off inside my gaiwan. The aroma is a combination of creamy honey and roasted chestnuts, there is only the barest hint of floral. The taste does the opposite of the previous steeps, starting out with heady floral, it fades to roasted chestnut, and then fades again into sweet honeysuckle. The mouthfeel starts off smooth and transitions to dry when the flavor changes to roasted. I liked this Ti Kuan Yin, I am not going to say it is the best oolong I have ever had, but it is really quite enjoyable. I would recommend this tea for those who are wanting to get into oolongs because it represents the roasted aspects and floral aspects really well.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2014/04/ocean-of-tea-ti-kuan-yin-tea-review.html

I have gone full on into origami obsession again, even if I cannot find a decent way to organize my paper. Currently I have the paper divided by colors and types and I am tying them up with string. It is not a perfect solution but it certainly is better than the paper being tossed in various boxes. Now I just need to go to the library and pick up the origami books waiting for me.

Today’s tea is a classic for those who can’t sleep and want a sip before bedtime, Chamomile by Ocean of Tea. This specific chamomile comes from Egypt, and let me start by saying I was very impressed by the flowers, usually chamomile teas I run into are about half full buds and half a pile of fluff, which is a real pain to clean out of my tea basket. The aroma is very distinctly chamomile, but if you have never had the pleasure to sniff this flower it has a similarity to straw, a touch of honey, and a bit of pollen. Also if you have ever sniffed a yarrow plant you will notice there is a similarity to chamomile. I will say this for this particular chamomile is it smells really fresh, almost like the fresh flower and not just the dried version, very nice!

The now re-hydrated (ok they were never THAT wet) flowers have an aroma that is still very distinctly chamomile, but the honey notes come through stronger giving it an extra layer of sweetness. The liquid smells identical to the wet flowers except it is a bit more delicate.

Ah chamomile tea, you have always been a favorite of mine, drinking is always a pleasure. Especially so with a chamomile that tastes as fresh and clean as these flowers! There is a nice blend of straw, honey, pollen, and floral notes that to me evoke summer time. Drinking chamomile might not make me feel sleepy the same way that taking a sleep aid does, but it does make me feel sleepy the way that napping in the sun on a warm day does. This is some of the best chamomile I have had short of drying my own, it tastes very clean and fresh, perfect for relaxing before sleep…and with that note, I am going to bed!

For photos and blog: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2014/04/ocean-of-tea-chamomile-tea-review.html

Another tea from Teaequalsbliss thank you very much. Now this I’s my second cup,first cup I oversteeped. Dry this smelled like berries and black tea. I steeped this a shorter time. And can smell the blueberry with abit of strawberry. This tastes like blueberries with abit of strawberry and some hibiscus and black tea. This I’s a good tea just Not something that will be a favorite.

This is an excellent Irish Breakfast blend. The Assam REALLY pops in this blend – malty and rich! It has a full-flavored taste, I really like this. It definitely has the gusto to get you going!

I can’t believe I am the only one to log this! This is a FAB Irish Breakfast! Bold, Flavorful, beyond your basic black tea! It has a notable semi-sweet finish. Something I usually don’t mention for an Irish Breakfast. This is nice and strong!