E. Alex Gerster
Tea Reviewer
Member since Jul. 18th, 2011. Reviewed 66 teas.
Reviews of Teas & Herbal Teas
Page 1 2 3 of 3 pages with 66 results
Ceylon Tea OPA from Ahmad Tea
Style: Ceylon Black Tea – Region: Sri Lanka / Ceylon80 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Oct. 15th, 2013
Very impressed with quality and value of this tea. Ahmad teas continues to surprise me with nice flavors and aromas that more expensive brands often miss. I first came across their Darjeeling, which has become a staple when I visit my local Indian Market, and have since had the chance to try a variety of their other te...
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Temi SFTGFOP1 First Flush Black Tea from Republic of Tea
Style: Black Tea – Region: Sikkim, India87 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Oct. 15th, 2013
What a wonderful and unusual tea! I had read about the Temi Tea Gardens before ( nice article on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temi_Tea_Garden) and am so glad to have been able to taste this beautiful tea (thanks Alex Z.).
The aroma of the dry leaves is herbaceous and lightly floral, with hints of dried fr...
Guangxi Osmanthus from Tea Horse
Style: Osmanthus Tea – Region: Guangxi, China80 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 3/5
Oct. 11th, 2013
I am a big fan of osmanthus flavor and aroma. Traditionally this flower is brewed both by itself and with various teas in the summer months because of its cooling qualities.
This blend has only a small proportion of osmanthus to green tea, more for aroma, and to let the green tea to shine through. I very much enjoy...
Ceylon (Ceylon Orange Pekoe) from Ahmad Tea
Style: Ceylon Black Tea – Region: Sri Lanka / Ceylon77 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Oct. 11th, 2013
Amazed at the quality of tea for a great price. Nice blend that brews up consistently with a pleasant aroma and flavor, showing off the characteristics most sought in Ceylon/Sri Lankan teas. Bold, smooth and slightly astringent. Brisk, bright and two good steeps from the leaves. Classic!
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Emperor's Puerh - Black Tea from Numi Organic Tea
Style: Pu-erh Tea – Region: Yunnan, China77 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Oct. 6th, 2013
Made of a very good quality "Ripened" Shou Cha, the convenience of having this in a teabag is nice for travelers and is perhaps the first Puerh in a bag that I have liked. It is definitely bold, earthy, with the distinctive fermented aroma of forest leaves--not for the faint hearted!
If you are not familiar with Pue...
Organic Nonpareil Ming Qian Dragon Well Long Jing Green Tea from TeaVivre
Style: Dragon Well (Long Jing) – Region: Zhejiang, China93 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Oct. 6th, 2013
If you are looking for a truly great Long Jing (Dragon Well) tea, then this is the one to buy. I have tried dozens over the past decade, and none could stand up to this. Sweet and fresh, light and flavorful. You can really taste the springtime in this tea, which leaves a wonderful feel in your mouth long after the liqu...
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Houjicha - Smokey from Obubu Tea
Style: Hojicha – Region: Kyoto, Japan80 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Oct. 4th, 2013
Having sampled a number of roasts of Obubu Hojicha, I can definitely say this is my favorite. Sweet, smooth and very soothing. An earthy cup where the smokey flavor does not overwhelm the tea's natural flavor.
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Moroccan Mint (Formerly Simply Mint) from Numi Organic Tea
Style: Mint Tea – Region: ?????80 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Oct. 4th, 2013
Had this at Choices Cafe in Miami and was pleasantly surprised. A fresh bright flavor and pleasant aroma. Not overwhelming, just right!
Definitely a taste of spearmint, not peppermint.
Updated info from Numi website: "Our organic Moroccan Mint, known as "nana mint," flourishes in North Africa. With a flavor as li...
White Night from Mandala Tea
Style: White Tea – Region: Simao, Yunnan, China83 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Sep. 13th, 2013
Recently was able to restock my supply of this wonderful tea, after enjoying it on and off for the past two years. It is quite unique for a white tea, with light flavors and subtle complexities that change as the tea ages. Added a link to the Steepster page where I have added a few notes on this one. A "sturdy" white t...
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Best Oolong Tea from Tradition
Style: High Mountain Oolong – Region: Taiwan / Formosa83 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Sep. 13th, 2013
My mother really loved oolong tea, and first introduced me to this one as a recommendation since she first found it in a local Asian market. She loved the convenience of the foil wrapped sachets that made it convenient for her to stick in her purse when traveling, and I came to love the clean, simple, green oolong flav...
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Ginger Flavoured Tea from Dilmah
Style: Flavored Black Tea – Region: Sri Lanka / Ceylon70 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Sep. 3rd, 2013
Ran across this at my local Big Lots, with a price of $2 for 20 teabags, so of course I bought some. I am happy to say that I was not disappointed, in fact, very happily surprised. The tea bags are not individually wrapped, but instead come sealed as a group. The ginger flavor is mild and doesn't overwhelm the black te...
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Sencha Overture from Adagio Teas
Style: Sencha – Region: Japan77 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Aug. 17th, 2013
In short steeps, I find this sencha much better than if you you steep for the full 2 minutes recommended on the package. Nice aroma and flavor with grassy notes, and prominent brothy (umami) qualities that make it rich yet refreshing. The second and third steeps off the leaves always seem better to me. Affordable quali...
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Hojicha from Adagio Teas
Style: Hojicha – Region: Japan73 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Aug. 17th, 2013
Toasty, nutty, earthy and light roasted flavor. I enjoy this warm brewed most of the year, and iced in the summer. Adagio teas have consistently good quality that are great for everyday sipping. This Hojicha is particularly good with food, and is very refreshing when served cool.
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Laoshan Black from Verdant Tea
Style: Black Tea – Region: Shandong, China87 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 3/5
Aug. 11th, 2013
An unusual artisan tea, smooth, creamy and flavorful. The aroma is out of this world, and you will be amazed that all the flavor comes only from the tea itself, and the careful way it was manipulated during the oxidizing and drying process. Best brewed Chinese Gong Fu style, and yet still amazing when just brewed in a ...
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Organic Earl Grey (Loose) from Harney and Sons
Style: Earl Grey Tea – Region: Blend80 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 3/5
Aug. 11th, 2013
Received an 8 ounce tin of this tea for Christmas, and have nearly finished without ever having left a review... It is really a wonderful tea, that is both bold and yet light--good for traditional afternoon English tea, or just for a casual cup to sip through out the day.
Nice base of primarily Assam and Keemun tea...
Kyobancha from Obubu Tea
Style: Kyobancha – Region: Kyoto, Japan80 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Aug. 9th, 2013
Roasting the bancha leaves produces a tea that combines the best of hojicha and bancha together in one brew. The light grassy flavors are enhanced by the light smokiness, and the astringency is cut to a minimum. The sample I had of this was used up quickly as I tried brewing it both hot and cold the same day, and both ...
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Bancha Suruga from Den's Tea
Style: Bancha – Region: Shizuoka, Japan77 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Aug. 9th, 2013
This is truly an "upgraded" Bancha, picked just after first flush from the larger, thicker base of the leaves. More astringent than sencha, but well balanced in flavor and aroma. I love the grassy flavor and feel it leaves in your mouth.
Den's Bancha Suruga is wonderfully refreshing when brewed as per their instruct...
China Breakfast from Rishi Tea
Style: Yunnan Red – Region: Yunnan, China77 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Aug. 9th, 2013
This is a very wonderful tea, reasonably priced (about $4 per ounce on their website at the date of this review) and having appeal to both tea newbies and veterans alike. I like it better brewed for slightly shorter times than those recommended by Rishi, which seems to eliminate any bitterness and enhance the complexit...
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Sun Dried Jingshan Green from Verdant Tea
Style: Green Tea – Region: Yunnan, China87 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Jul. 24th, 2013
This tea was a real revelation to me. It is an amazing example of how careful growing and processing can bring out the very best in the tea leaf. Multiple brewings--either western style or Chinese style--bring out subtle flavors ranging from almost floral, vegetal sweetness in early steepings, to more substantial nutty...
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Yatawatte Single Region from Dilmah
Style: Ceylon Black Tea – Region: Sri Lanka / Ceylon83 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Jul. 24th, 2013
Dilmah has a great line of Ceylon/Sri Lanka teas that really let you taste the different growing conditions available on this small island nation. They have single region teas (like this low grown Yata Watte) and single estate teas (like Dombagastalawa Single Estate) that really open your eyes to the variety of flavor...
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Original Tulsi Tea from Organic India
Style: Tulsi / Holy Basil – Region: India77 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Oct. 30th, 2011
I used to grow Tulsi on my windowsill, and missed the lemony fresh brew that the dried leaves used to make. It was always a soothing, calming sup of calmness that I looked forward to. I found these teabags of a blend of Tulsi at my local Whole Foods Supermarket, and have found them to be a worthy addition to my cupboar...
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Jade Cloud (aka Green Jade) from Rishi Tea
Style: Green Tea – Region: Hubei, China87 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Oct. 29th, 2011
Excellent example of a Chinese Green from Hubei, that is both smooth and refreshing. I first tried this a number of years ago, then again recently based on Alex Zorach's review. He hits it on the nose when he describes it of being "simultaneously clean and rich tasting."
One of the things I like about Rishi's teas i...
Breakfast Blend Organic Black Tea from Samovar Tea Lounge
Style: Black Tea – Region: Blend83 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Oct. 20th, 2011
Nice smooth, full bodied, malty, and a light briskness. Reminds me very much of Rishi Tea's Golden Yunnan Organic Black Tea, but a bit lighter on peppery tones. It is a beautiful blend of Dian Hong style tea (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dian_hong_tea) mixing whole leaf top-quality tea and a high content of fine go...
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Ceylon Supreme from Dilmah
Style: Ceylon Black Tea – Region: Sri Lanka / Ceylon83 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Oct. 20th, 2011
I have enjoyed the loose leaf version of this tea for some time, and the tea bag version holds up well at transmitting the flavor, aroma and quality in a convenient form. I miss seeing the teas unfurl, and the color brew up but it is still very satisfying. I wish this tea was more widely available in the US. It is read...
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Ancient Gold Organic Black Tea from Samovar Tea Lounge
Style: Yunnan Gold – Region: Yunnan, China90 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Oct. 15th, 2011
Jingmai Mountain produces some amazing teas, and this one from Samovar is no exception. They are right on the money when they describe the taste and aroma as: "Deep and malty with hints of baked, bittersweet chocolate and raisin sugar. Lightly roasted body with a slightly sweet finish."
Optimal brewing is with sprin...
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