Teatulia Teas

This is probably the nicest chamomile tea I’ve ever had. I don’t know if it’s because they use whole flower parts in the satchet as opposed to a ground powder, but the flavors come through very strongly.

I like that it’s a bit on the weaker side, seems to me this allows for the individual flavors to be more prominent. Overall this tea isn’t anything to write home about but does make for a nice pick-me-up in the morning.

I think I’m making notes for the right tea…the photo looks like loose tea but mine is in pyramid teabags. I’ve never had anything from Teatulia before. I found this tea in the organic section of my local grocery store and thought I’d give it a try. It looked like it’s the only Teatulia tea the store decided to carry. I’m trying it brewed western style using the time and temperature recommendations on the package (2-3 minutes, water just off the boil) and also tearing open a teabag to try it gongfu style in a gaiwan. The package does not specify what kind of white tea this is but gives the description “abundant white flowers & peach blossoms with a nectarine connotation.”

Dry leaf fragrance is lighter than the shou mei and moonlight whites I’ve been gongfu-ing lately. I guess I can maybe smell something sort of like nectarine or peach. Maybe.

Western style: steeped about 2.5 minutes, I wasn’t sure how “just off the boil” they meant…most western style instructions I’ve seen for white teas suggest a lower temperature like you’d use for greens…I don’t know how accurate my kettle’s temperature readings are but I tried 180° in a glass mug that had not been pre-warmed. The brewed tea is a pretty light golden color. It smells less like actual fruit and more like how certain kinds of flowers smell slightly fruity. I get occasional whiffs of something that smells like cereal or some kind of grain. Not sure what that’s about and I don’t smell it in every sniff. Flavor is light but pleasant. There’s something fruity-ish, but I’d almost say more melon than nectarine. Aftertaste is more peachy. Some light floral in the background. Something a little bit green but it doesn’t seem like grass or hay to me. A little bit sweet. It’s all relatively subtle but there’s a decent amount of interesting things going on. It’s pretty consistent with my western style white tea experiences. It’s maybe not the fanciest white tea ever but it’s pretty good for a grocery store find and I’d drink it western style again if I’m in the mood for a big mug of tea.

Gongfu: contents of one teabag, 50ml gaiwan, water about 200°, super quick rinse and then steeps starting at about 15sec. The leaves in the teabag I used for western style looked less broken up than the bag I opened up for gongfu. Lots of teeny bits. A strainer probably would have been a good idea. Wet leaf smells really sweet with more of a vegetal green thing going on than I had with western style. I tasted the rinse because I’m weird like that. It wasn’t great. Made me worry the water was too hot. First steep definitely harsher and more astringent than western style. More of that green vegetal stuff than fruity or floral. Maybe too hot or needed to start the steeps shorter. Shortened the second steep by a few seconds to see if that helped. Nope, still kinda gross. Dropped the water to 190°. Maybe a little better but still not doin’ it for me. Dropped down to 180°. Better but still not good. I usually go higher temperature for gongfu than western style so I didn’t think I’d need to go this low or lower. I can’t go much shorter on steep time with this setup, I’m clumsy and it takes me a certain amount of time to put the kettle down and adjust the gaiwan lid for pouring. I sort of feel like I should experiment until I find the right temperature and steep time because this is probably a user error thing, but at the same time, the broken up leaf bits are a pain in the rear and I’m not enjoying this at all. I have too many other teas I think are delicious to waste time and energy on something that doesn’t smell or taste good.

green tea is a little bitter for me and jasmin not bold enough

This was the last of the four tea sodas, and another one that I found VERY busy in terms of competing flavours. It’s also somewhere in the middle of the four flavours for me, in terms of ranking…

I liked the concept a lot; there was lime in the majority of these but this was the only one where I thought the lime actually tasted distinctly like lime and not just citrus. Lime, berry, and lavender actually all should go really well together; and usually I’m into that pairing. I think the lavender should have been much lighter though because it came off very heavily floral and almost soapy, and I also just don’t know that my brain/palate were fully prepared for carbinated lavender.

Overall, I could probably nurse a can of this over an extended period of time and find it alright but I couldn’t, say, drink a can of it over a lunch hour or anything like that. It’s just a bit too… much.

This was the best of the tea soda flavours in my opinion, and probably the only one I think I could actually drink a full can of – though I still didn’t think it was exceptional.

It’s pretty damn accurately named though – a very sweet and sour/tangy lemonade and hibiscus combination that works pretty well, in my opinion. It’s certainly the type of flavour that I think translates really well into a carbonated form, and while it initially starts VERY sharp I do feel like it grows on you and the sweetness level is good. For being called the “mint tea soda” I think the mint is actually pretty mild compared to everything else; but it’s certainly there, especially in the cooling feeling it leaves in the mouth after the sip. I think it added character, and certainly separated this from a profile that probably would have seemed a little bit generic otherwise.

Definitely my least favourite of all four flavours…

Like the others, I found the sweetness level good and liked the carbination. However, there was far too much going on with the flavour for this to be enjoying. I’d say that the pineapple is initially the strongest flavour, and I actually did like the pineapple notes a l. However, then the peach comes in and that’s fine – it’s neither good nor bad, doesn’t complicate the profile too much. It all goes to shit was a finishing note of STRONG artificial cucumber. It was like the gross cucumber scented lotions/hand creams that were so popular in the 90s – and that flavour would have been really gross all on its own, but it’s made so much worse being paired with a sweet, tangy pineapple/peach flavour. My brain could not compute those notes together, and I just majorly struggled to swallow this one…

Hard pass.

I had a chance to try the line up of tea sodes from Teatulia today; I was fascinated by the concept but overall I didn’t end up being a big fan of the execution. I’ll touch on the specific flavour of each one in an individual tasting notes, but on the whole things I felt were consistently positive throughout all of them was the sweetness level and degree of carbonation. I also had a consistent con for all of them; they were also quite “busy” tasting with too many competing flavours…

This one was somewhere in the middle for me – I think if you had just removed the weird herbaceous cilantro note and one fruit flavour it could have been really good but as it stands there were too many very strong fruit flavours fighting to dominate. You also couldn’t in any way taste that there was actual tea in the drink – a con for some and a pro for others…

Overall? Not terrible, but no way I could drink a whole can.

Another from Sips by. I dunno why I was hesitant to try this one. I always do that with oolong and I don’t know why. I can’t remember having a bad experience with one or anything.

This oolong falls on the roasted side instead of floral. It’s very smooth and mild. Pleasant as a breakfast tea, for sure. It almost tastes like a black tea. In fact, if I was sipping this blind, I wouldn’t guess this was oolong. It even comes out to a black tea color. While it’s tasty and savory, it just feels kind of boring. No notes stand out in particular to me. It’s not bland, exactly. Just unremarkable.

Weak Floral Aroma. The green tea was incredibly bitter and overpowering. I normally like a strong brew, but it was so strong you could not even get a hint of Jasmine.

To be honest, I am trying to get through my tea stash to buy more tea. I am pretty sure I received this along with a few others as a trial or a sampler. I don’t remember how or why but I have a couple others.

PROS
- I love that it’s caffeine-free as herbal teas are which make it perfect for night time. Caffeine really affects me so drinking anything with caffeine ever 3pm will keep me up all night.
- It’s organic! Also certified by another source which is a huge plus .
- Packaging is compostable! Love it.

TASTE
It tastes like lemongrass… There isn’t really anything else I need to mention about this tea. It’s yummy but it’s not extraordinary. I like it but I wouldn’t go out of my way to purchase it again.

It tastes like mint, but really, really dry mint. I did not enjoy this one.

I actually like this one more than their oolong. The black tea itself is very smooth and sturdy. I might even say it is sweet. The tulsi compliments the black’s malt nicely, being very fresh, crisp, and almost minty. I was able to steep this tree times. After drinking it, I felt oddly relaxed and alert. This really is an ayurvedic blend. Newer tea drinkers would enjoy it, while more experienced ones would approve of the black tea’s classical body and the Holy Basil’s freshness.

Thank you Teatulia! Okay, so this leaf has a strand of holy basil. The ginger helps my bloating stomach and the holy basil strand helps slow me down, but the taste is not so great. I like the ginger and appreciate the basil. Unfortunately, sour notes dominate with an unpleasant lime feel and cannabis like grass taste. I was going to get this one, but now I’m thankful that I just had a sample.

I finally stock piled for winter, and I had to try this one based on so many recommendations. Well, every single review on here is accurate. Generally, the tea is on the weaker side taking a while to steep or very little water for flavor. Butterscotch was obvious in the dry leaf scent and for the lick of water that I rinsed in five seconds. The actual steep took around 8 minutes in 10 ounces of water to get the flavor. it really does have a weird butterscotch taste followed by a really powerful lemon curd sweetness, almost developing tart tones.

Like Amanda says, this really does not taste like a usual oolong, and more so like the love child of black and green. Although oolong IS the black green between fermentation, this one does not really have oolong notes. The malty background of the butterscotch is distinctly a black flavor profile while the lemon curd is something that I’d expect more out of a green tea. Those tastes are what I like about those two teas though. As it over steeps, the less like an oolong it tastes which is unfortunate.

Since this tea is weaker, it is an ideal pick for travel. I won’t take the same artful care as a loose leaf and I really can’t gracefully on the go. Also, it really does not need sugar though some honey might compliment the natural flavors.

The oolong did not really become my go to. It almost did and I’m really glad to have it and to have tried it, but honestly, I slightly prefer Touch Organics oolong because it tastes like an oolong. Will this tea be incredibly useful across Campus? Yes, but not my preferred. It remains as a solid staple.

This oolong comes in bagged form, direct sourced from Northern Bangladesh, and 2014 NATC 3rd place for Oolongs.

Teatulia’s oolong is interesting – citrus lemon curd notes with a dash of savory biscuit/crackers and butter. There is a light floral peach end of sip, with the entire sip being quite fresh and delicate. I found it did a decent resteep as well, steeping a bit more tart. Pretty excellent for bagged tea and I enjoyed how easy it was to drink and complex enough to stay entertained. I found the longer infusion time worked best for this oolong otherwise it is too light.

Full review on Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/teatulia-oolong-tea-tea-review/

Another tea I was a bit apprehensive about, I love lemongrass in food and I can kinda tolerate it in tea blends when I feel it belongs (no idea, but for a while it seemed that lemongrass was in everything, drove me crazy) but just straight lemongrass as a tea, never had it! Giving the bag a sniff I was pleased, I love the way it smells, I used to wear lemongrass oil as my signature ‘smell’ in high school. It blends crisp lemons with a touch of savory, it makes my mouth water the same way that savory citrus dishes (and salted lemons) do, it is the slightly green undertones that really make lemongrass work for me. Brewing the tea does not really change the aroma, it is still richly lemony and green.

Ok, here is the big moment, and…ok, I was not expecting that! It is sweet, lemongrass is actually sweet! I was expecting it to be herbaceous and savory, but nope, it is like mildly sweet warm lemonade, I almost always find lemonade too sweet, so this is pretty delicious. Expectations man, subverting them can be awesome or it can be gross, this time it was awesome! I like you lemongrass, I am sorry I shunned you in tea before, from now on, you and me are bros.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-teatulia-tea-review-feature-part-two.html

So, I opened the little plastic bag expecting the usual blast in the face of peppermint, but there was none, cautiously I stuck my nose close to the bag and still there was pretty much nothing. Only a hint of mintiness and a tiny bit of herbaceous notes, like sage, it does not smell like any mint that I am familiar with. Brewing the mint brings out just a tiny bit more of the mint smells and more of this odd green herbaceous tone. It is like someone took a mint plant and removed all of the mint and just left the herb.

I am a bit apprehensive, I love mint, I drink it a lot for nausea, headaches, and clearing my sinuses, it is one of my favorite teas to drink in the summer and I love having different mints in herbal blends. This tea does not look or smell like peppermint, it does not taste like peppermint, in fact I would go as far as to say this might be the worst mint tea I have ever had. But I am also intrigued by it because it does not taste like mint, I honestly feel as though someone is trolling me! It tastes like a blend of very old mint, sage, pepper, and spinach. I did not like this tea, but I think it might be because it does not taste or smell like what I expect it to, if I was given this blind I might like it, if anything this tea is a lesson in never go into a tasting expecting something to taste or smell a certain way, it can color your opinion of things.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-teatulia-tea-review-feature-part-two.html

Next up on the tasting adventure is Earl of Bengal, a blend of Bergamot and Black Tea, I made this when resident Earl aficionado was home, so he got to help me taste, and by help I mean he split the cup with me. The aroma of the teabag is pretty much all citrus all the time, the sharp slightly lemony aroma of the Bergamot is so potent, I only detect the tiniest hint of malt. After steeping, the tea is a perfect split between Bergamot and malt, one does not overpower the other, and at the finish there is a tiny hint of cocoa.

The taste is distinctly malty with a mild Bergamot taste. There is a hint of tannins and it is quite brisk, the Bergamot, even though it is fairly mild is present throughout the entire sipping experience, it is lemony and goes well with the malty black tea. I did find myself wishing it was stronger in the Bergamot department, and of course Ben wanted lots of Bergamot, but his love of that citrus goes into insane levels, so maybe take his opinion with a grain of salt.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-teatulia-tea-review-feature-part-two.html

In this little teabag we have a blend of Tulsi (Holy Basil) and Black Tea, a simple blend that has one of my favorite ingredients in it, I absolutely love Tulsi! The aroma is a blend of the herbaceous bordering on savory with notes of pepper and basil and a nice sweet blend of malt and honey. Black tea and Tulsi mix really well in my mind, it has a balancing act. Brewing the tea brings out the briskness of the black tea and more of the peppery notes from the Tulsi, it smells quite good.

The taste is also quite good, it blends the peppery and herbaceous notes of the tulsi and gives it a savory tone, after the initial Tulsi burst it transitions into briskness from the Black tea. The finish is malty and a touch of honey, the aftertaste leaves the mouth a little tingly and tasting like basil.

For photos and blog: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-teatulia-tea-review-feature-part-two.html

Last stop on the oxidation train is the black tea, hopefully drinking these teas one right after the other will give me the caffeine boost that I need, if not I am going back to bed. So, the aroma of this tea is brisk with a blend of honey, woodiness, malt, and a touch of berries at the finish. It smells like an iconic black tea, at least to me it does. Brewing up the bag I get notes of malt and honey, it is both rich and sweet.

This tea is rich and brisk, just what I expect from a cup of a tea that smells so iconically like a black tea. There are notes of malt and woodiness with a distinct sweet blend of honey and berries at the finish. The briskness just starts to sneak over to the astringent side but stops before it gets mouth drying, which is a plus in my book. I could see this being a really good breakfast tea, and might be pretty tasty with cream and sugar.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-teatulia-tea-review-feature-part-one.html

Ah oolong, my possible favorite tea, it is hard to tell, it is certainly the tea I drink the most of. The aroma of the curly and rather dark leaves is pretty sweet, a blend of stewed cherries, honey, and distant orchids. There is also a hint of smoke and spice, though they are faint, only little whiffs. The brewed tea now is a powerhouse of raisins and cocoa with a hint of spicebush and smoke.

The taste is brisk for an oolong, reminding me more of a brisk black but instead of malt there are notes of raisins, sweet caramelized sugar, and a rich note of honey. This is definitely one of those times that it is an oolong that tastes like a mix between a green and a black, erring more on the black side. The aftertaste is slightly smoky, though it does not linger for very long.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-teatulia-tea-review-feature-part-one.html

Next up is the green, I decided to go in oxidation order, it just seemed appropriate. The aroma of the broken green leaves in the teabag is, well, rather green! It is like a blend of fresh spinach, buttered greens (specifically buttered cauliflower) and a little like fresh collards. Brewing the tea I found it surprisingly brisk, almost like a black tea with its briskness, there are also notes of honey and hay along with grass and a touch of spinach.

The taste of this one was similar to the aroma, brisk and green, and a little on the bitter side. Bitter like eating fresh kale, in fact the taste reminds me of kale at the beginning of the sip and then it transitions pretty intensely to mown grass and honey. Sadly this tea did not wow me over much, though I cannot be expected to like every tea I drink, just most of them.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-teatulia-tea-review-feature-part-one.html

Starting off with the tea with the least amount of processing and oxidation, good old fuzzy white tea. It is totally random if I will take a tea out of its bag if presented with a teabag, but I was feeling a bit lazy today and decided since teabags were made for convenience, I am going to use that ease of access. So, sniffing the teabag I get notes of wildflowers, fresh hay, a bit of lettuce, and a tiny bit of fruitiness at the finish. This is one of the more delicate white teas I have sniffed, giving it a steeping brings out more of the honey and wildflower notes, it reminds me of a summer field in full bloom.

The tea is surprisingly dark for a silver needle tea, it has the coloring of a shou mei, which excites me something fierce because that tea is fun. Ok, tasting the tea, it is similar to a shou mei, with rich honey and fruit notes with a bit of earthy loam. However there is also similarities to silver needle with delicate floral notes and vegetal (I almost always pick out this specific vegetal note as lettuce) and a touch of sage. I have no qualms saying that I chugged this cup really quickly, and not just because I had just woken up and desperately needed some caffeine.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-teatulia-tea-review-feature-part-one.html