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Tea Forte sent me a few free samples (including this one) along with their Kati brewing system to review. The samples are designed to be the exact right size for the 12 oz brewing system. Just open the packet and dump the tea into the filter.

I think really nice. It tastes a lot like a Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime tea… but much much better. It’s minty. The minty flavor leaves a nice cooling feeling in the mouth. It also has chamomile and lemongrass flavors. I kind of wish I’d saved this one for my evening cup instead of mid-afternoon. It’s so nice and calming that I might just fall asleep while working!

As for the brewing system (http://www.teaforte.com/store/tea-accessories/other/kati-loose-tea-system/), it is a ceramic double-walled mug without a handle. It has a very fine mesh loose tea strainer and a brewing lid. I really like the Kati. It did not get overly warm for me as AmazonV’s did. That could be due to the difference in our brewing temp. Since I am at high altitude, my brewing temp is somewhere between 198-199. My mug just got nicely warm on the outside. Just warm enough to wrap my hands around and warm them (it’s snowing here and a bit cold).

One thing I didn’t like about this particular sample with the brewing system is the amount of leaves that got through the filter. I think other types of tea will work in it very well, but the herbal left cruft. I am a big hater of tea cruft and will usually use a paper filter for teas that are very fine. Since the system is designed for newbies to the loose tea scene, I think this will be a concern for them too. I can’t wait to try my rooibos tea in this cup because I think the strainer is fine enough to catch the rooibos.

Update – all the fine leaves settled to the bottom of the cup after a few minutes so the cruft wasn’t so bothersome after all.

Link to full review and pics:
http://parkcityvegan.blogspot.com/2010/04/tea-fortes-kati-loose-tea-system-and.html