I found this Pu-erh to be average (good); which is probably what Teavana was going for by offering this tea.  It’s on par with their direct competitors.  Since it’s a loose leaf tea and not a cake or brick, it’s easier for the average tea consumer to steep.  Teavana describes the tea as aged black tea.  Having said that, as a consumer I have no idea how “aged” the tea really is.  The earthy tones you would expect are found in Teavana’s Pu-erh Organic.  I also detect a slight sweet-floral flavor to the Pu-erh.  I steeped the tea in a clay teapot, and it was not bitter.  I do a quick rinse of the leaves before steeping the tea. This is an affordable Pu-erh to help get you started on your Pu-erh journey.  The tea creates a dark liquor.  It’s as black as coffee.  I typically steep Pu-erh in a clay teapot to avoid staining some of my travel/plastic teapots (plus it tastes better).  This Pu-erh was sufficient for about three steepings.

From a previous marTEA blog:

Pu-erh is one of the few teas that has a cult like following. Connoisseurs around the globe revere Pu-erh for all of its fame and glory and they will pay thousands for top-grade aged Pu-erh. The “earthy” black tea from the Yunnan region of China has a history as interesting as its flavor. It is named after the county Pu’er.

Pu-erh is said to have many medicinal benefits such as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. In addition, it is marketed as a “slimming” tea. For the general tea lover (like marTEA), Pu-erh is just a complex tea with attitude. It’s the kind of tea that dares you to drink it. It’s often described as having an “earthy” aroma and flavor.

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Indulge your senses as well as your taste buds with Good Earth Teas, a delicious premium quality range of organic flavoured teas and infusions.

The National Drinks Survey reveals that around 60 percent of British public will drink tea today, so let’s raise our cups to tea experts Good Earth, whose healthier brews contain antioxidants (otherwise known as flavonoids), but no artificial colourings or preservatives.

Made from the leaves of different varieties of the tea bush, Camellia sinensis and other herbs, Good Earth Teas are available in five mouth-watering flavours, made up of white, red, herbal and green tea infusions.

For the health-conscious, the ideal choice is green tea, which is rich in antioxidants. Good Earth Organic Jasmine Blossom Green Tea and Organic Mango, Peach and Pineapple Green Tea are both light, aromatic infusions which support the body’s well being and calm the mind.

Or if a caffeine-free tea tickles your taste buds, why not try Good Earth Organic Harvest Berries Red Tea, made from Rooibos, a herb unique to South Africa or the refreshing Organic Cool Mint Herbal Tea? Both varieties provide the relaxing comfort of a cuppa without the over-stimulating effects of caffeine.

The more refined palate will enjoy the delicate Organic Sweet Citrus White Tea, the most exclusive variety of all teas.  Made from the topmost leaves, plucked by hand in the first weeks of spring, this unique infusion will captivate your senses, leaving you refreshed and revived.

Good Earth Teas are not only good for your body; they are also kind on the environment.  All Good Earth tea are packaged in a 100 percent recycled carton, of which 60 per cent of the recycled packaging is post consumer waste.  All the packaging used can be recycled and the tea bags are unbleached, so they do not damage soil when they decompose.

All Good Earth Teas are certified organic and are available in major retailers across the UK.  All varieties are sold in boxes of 18 bags, which retail at £1.89 (RRP) and are available in Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Waitrose and independent retailers.

For more information, please visit www.goodearthteas.com

Tetulia caught my attention at the World Tea Expo in 2008.  I didn’t get to spend much time focusing on this one brand, but the name “Tetulia” just sticks in your head.  I can’t think about it without saying the name at least three times - Tetulia, Tetulia, Tetulia.  It’s just fun to say…

About Tetulia: Tetulia is named for the region in Northern Bangladesh where our tea is grown. Tetulia teas reflect the pristine and delicate environment from which they hail. The Tetulia Garden sprang forth from virgin land nestled against the Himalayas to the North and the Brahmaputra and Ganges Rivers to the South.  Into this perfect tea-growing land, we introduced strong, vibrant saplings, which were planted with care in the new millennium. Since then, the tea plants have been encouraged and nurtured by Mother Nature’s own hand. The result: exquisite, organic teas unlike any you’ve experienced before. Fresh. Clean. Smooth.

Social responsibility is a primary focus of Tetulia.  The Tetulia Cooperative has provided many opportunities to those closest to the tea.  Education, health and cattle-lending programs, are just a few of the benefits Tetulia has offered the Bangladeshi men, women, and children.  I applaud this effort and can only hope by supporting their products that it will benefit a group of people that deserve an improved living environment.

The good news.. the black tea was very enjoyable.  After receiving my order, I quickly started steeping the loose leaf tea.  The scent of the dried tea has a deep freshness about it.  It’s not the most aromatic tea I’ve ever had, but I liked the fact that the scent differentiated itself from other black teas.  After steeping the tea for a few minutes in water around 208 degrees, I poured the tea into my cup.  With no major expectations, I enjoyed the aroma of the steam rising from the cup.  Then, I took a sip.  The flavor was very pleasing.  The smooth, fresh flavor with low astringency, made for a very good first impression.  This is an excellent everyday black tea.  The tea is full bodied with a slight sweetness that adds to the overall balance of the tea.   This tea easily rivaled many breakfast blends that I’ve tried lately.  Although the region is very close to India, the tea did not remind me of Assam or Darjeeling teas.  To top it off, Tetulia is certified USDA Organic.  Definitely give this tea a try if you are a black tea drinker looking for another black tea to diversify your daily routine.

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This is an excellent, everyday, Chinese green tea.  The dried scent is oceanic with a slight sweetness and vegetal accent to it.  Wuyuan Ruikang Green is fun to drink.  It’s affordable, easy to make, and full of flavor.  To add to the quality of the product, it’s certified organic.  After steeping the tea in a water temperature of around 180 degrees for a couple of minutes, you’re left with a dark yellow infusion that is full of character.  I detect flavors of floral sweetness, a slightly salty bite, and a delicious vegetal (green) finish.  This is a green tea that most people will find enjoyable.  It has a lot of properties sometimes found in Chinese black tea and certain Oolongs.  I typically steeped the tea in a Gaiwan.  Typically, I made three infusions of the tea at a time.  The great thing about this tea is the fact that you can experiment and steep the tea to your flavor preference.  It’s difficult to mess up.

Upton describes the tea as: A full-flavored green tea with a sweet floral note and mild tartness. Overall, a very satisfying tea, priced for everyday consumption.

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Choice Organic’s Earl Grey is made from Fair Trade Certified black tea, organic orange peel, organic oil of bergamot, and organic safflowers. This tea is another example of Choice Organic’s commitment to social responsibility and customer satisfaction.  Their Whole Leaf organic products contain loose leaf tea in a pyramid tea bag; which gives the tea consumer a quality tea in an easy to use tea infuser.

Earl Grey is a popular black tea blend often referred to as an afternoon tea. I like it anytime of the day, especially in the morning. There’s one catch to liking Earl Grey, you have to like the flavoring of the Bergamot oil. Bergamot is a citrus fruit described as a cross between a pear lemon and a grapefruit.  The flavor combines to create a flavorful black tea that is a favorite of many.  With the Choice Organic Earl Grey, I didn’t find the flavors to be overpowering.  I typically do not add milk, sugar, and honey to tea, but this one needed something extra to bring it to its full flavor potential.  I think most people that enjoy Early Gray in a tea bag will enjoy this tea.  If it had just a bit more flavor from the start, I would have been more satisfied with my cup.  Keep in mind this product is organic and fair trade.

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Choice Organic Teas has recently introduced eight new whole leaf organic teas.  The teas are neatly packaged in an artistic wrapper.  The tea itself is contained in a biodegradable tea pyramid (mesh-like). Today, I’m drinking Lychee white.  The white tea is both organic and fair trade.  From the start, this tea’s fragrance will make your mouth water.  The dry tea has an inviting sweet scent to it.  It’s a very welcoming scent.  As you inhale the fragrance, it awakens your senses and motivates you to get your day moving along.  If you drink white tea for its low caffeine content, you’ll enjoy the relaxing nature of the tea.  The lychee is a small fruit native to southern China.  The lychee flavor found in tea reminds me of a mix between a sweet grape and a raspberry.  You need to try it for yourself and decide.  Regardless of what it reminds me of, it tastes great.  To prepare the tea, I let the water sit for about 3-5 minutes after it boiled.  I let the tea pyramid float in the water for about 2-3 minutes.  I was left with a delicious cup of tea.  The white tea was very enjoyable.  The flavor is very well balanced.  The white tea and lychee flavors blend together to create a beautiful medley of flavors.  For an extra touch, Choice Organic added organic osmanthus flowers to the mix.  This is easily one of my favorite Choice Organic products, and I can’t wait to try the other new flavors.

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