TE47: Moroccan Green Mint

For a anniversary gift, My mother gifted me with some lovely Moroccan Tea Glasses.
They are turquoise and gold and just plain gorgeous.
So, thought I, how can I possibly use these glasses for anything else without first using them as they were originally intended…for tea! (translation: Yah! an excuse to buy tea!)
So, I ordered this from Upton. A proper big tin of it too.
We are real glad I did too.
Because it is over in my gypsy wagon (a camper where we have been living and will be living most of this summer) and after a long morning in a hot field (yes, its hot here already, reaching above 90 degrees) this tea cold-brewed has absolutely hit the spot.
I have also enjoyed it hot.
Hubby even loves this tea, he will be out in the field, and stare up at the sun and say “can’t wait to get back to the camper and have a large, cold glass of that minty tea”
I might have to place another order of it soon, we are flying through the big tin much faster than I expected.
I miss you all! Since living over in a camper most of the time without wifi or anything, I can not write to you all.
But, I am thinking of you each time I have a cuppa.
I bought a little kettle and tea cups from a thrift store and I have a little tea chest over there in the camper.
My hubby makes fun of me.
He says that most people might bring some tea bags, but no, I have teapots and a tea chest of loose tea.
I tell him just because we are living in a camper does not give me the excuse for missing out on a proper cuppa.

Note that Upton has switched from using spearmint in this tea to peppermint. When I ordered it, it said spearmint. When it arrived, it said peppermint. Looking at the reviews on their site, many mention spearmint (so I’m not crazy, lol).

The aroma of the dry tea is of peppermint (uh huh, sneaky Upton). I prefer spearmint, but since falling in love with Adagio’s Casablanca Twist, peppermint is ok too.

I added 2 tsps. of raw sugar to this and it is very sweet (note to self: use less next time). I can taste the tea and it is very mild and good. The peppermint is mild in this, and in comparison to Casablanca Twist, it is sort of a “Casablanca Twist” light (more green, less peppermint). But I like this a lot. Mint is a category that I’m going to favor over others, so take that into consideration … but will probably add this to my next order to have around. Mild, calming, nice tea.

6 grams tea leaves to 500 ml. water in the Breville.

Another moroccan mint for the boyfriend – he went through 4 oz. of Teavana’s pretty quickly so we ordered from Upton since it was the same price point, but you get twice as much leaf. At the below parameters you get a nice balanced minty green tea – mild enough that I don’t feel like I’m drinking gum, but it is minty and vegetative enough that I know it’s a flavored green.

The thing I don’t like however, is the smell. It’s got a very smoky scent that I find off-putting since I don’t like smoky smells or tastes in anything. Luckily it doesn’t cross over into the taste, and luckily my boyfriend doesn’t mind because he’s going to be drinking this for a bit. I noticed the same burnt smell from Teavana’s leaves after they were in the Breville, but never in the cup I was drinking. And then I realized that it’s likely called Gunpowder green tea for a reason – and I’m dense enough that I just didn’t pick up on it before now.

It’s a nice up to have every once in a while if you’re me, or every day if you’re someone that loves a minty green and doesn’t mind that charred smell.

I love Moroccan mint tea. I can’t deny it. I have to admit I think it’s very suspect of Upton, whose tea I drink almost exclusively, to source their mint tea from Germany. I am sorry but what does Germany know about tea? Anyway, this is actually a good tasting tea. It’s a blend and my feelings about tea blends are similar to my feelings about Scotch blends, though I am easing up on both. This tea brews up very cleanly – little to no residual leaves or “dustings” at the bottom of the mug. The color is a light golden and there’s a hint of acidity on the front of the tongue. There is an underlying tone of tanins but nothing like you’d get in a darker tea. The mint is very subtle but is definitely present. This is an extremely relaxing tea and I wish I could on a comfortable sofa right now instead of my office chair.

Perfectly blended! No flavor is overwhelming. This is my usual morning tea. I can get two steeps out of the leaves.

Lewis & Clark Traveling Teabox – Tea #4
A solid Moroccan mint! Very minty… almost so minty I can’t taste the smoky gunpowder but it is always a great combination. There are some refreshing and sweet qualities too. This is one of the better I’ve tried. I should have saved this one for a headache!
Steep #1 // 30 min after boiling // 4 min

Great Flavor. Good change over from Upton’s organic peppermint so I don’t build up too much of a tolerance to it’s strength.

This is a really lovely mint tea. You simultaneously get the refreshing mint with the smoky earthy green tea. Its extremely smooth and great hot or cool. I think it would be perfect on a hot summer day. I drank it when I wasn’t feeling too hot and the hint of mint was perfect for an upset tummy. I tsp of turbinado sugar is perfect with this cup. I tried to do a second brewing with the leaves and it turned a bit bitter without as much tea heft . . . I just caught the mint.

The best mint tea. Has a permanent place in my cupboard. Always have it with a little bit of honey. Tastes especially good when I am sick.