With few exceptions (see my review of Ginger Turmeric herbal...blecch), TJs consistently offers a surprisingly high-quality selection of store-brand teas—better so far in my experience than any other grocery chain, and than a nontrivial number of name-brand bagged teas. This one fits the bill. Of course it's not to the echelon of the couple of top-caliber, loose-leaf English Breakfast brands I've tried, but for TJ's typically very reasonable price, you get a solid, dependable product.

This is an unpretentious tea—decidedly plain, but also strong and rich, good kick just the way I like, obviously buttressed on the Assam component. If you're looking for notes and subtleties, I can't help you there...didn't detect any. Perhaps more-talented tea tasters will tease those out. Regardless, I enjoyed this offering start to finish, since it's just robust enough to suit my demands of a black tea, with no excess bitterness or weird aftertastes.

[EDIT 8 Feb. 2020] I'm chugging this tea again, having gotten a plastic-wrapped 10-pack of it, included in a wooden Trader Joes gift box with three other teas (which I'm in the process of trying/reviewing as well). My impressions of it are mostly good and haven't changed from before, except to note that it indeed is an Assam. The outer labeling of the gift box describes this tea as follows: "...consists of tightly rolled whole tea leaves from the fertile plains of the Assam region of northeast India."

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Comments:

Plowboy wrote: on September 19th, 2017

TO, I appreciate your reviews of the "off" brand teas. Can't say I've ever liked any Trader Joe's tea, but maybe I'll try this one again.

Tchuggin' Okie wrote: on October 29th, 2017

Thanks! Their quality varies, but when you find a TJ's tea you do like, the price/value can't be beaten.

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