Makaibari Estate Green Tea - Organic - Fair Trade

Picture of Makaibari Estate Green Tea
Brand:Arbor Teas
Style:Green Tea
Caffeine:Caffeinated
Region:Darjeeling, India
Loose/teabag:Loose
Product page:Makaibari Estate Green Tea

This tea's info last updated: Jan. 8, 2013

Commercial Description

...Biodynamically farmed in India's Darjeeling district, this organic loose leaf tea exhibits many of the same qualities as the black teas of this region, but with an unoxidized leaf. The varying leaf colors (ranging from green to brown to white) produce an easy-to-drink cup. This organic Indian tea also exhibits slight lemony, vegetal, and earthy qualities...

Brewing Instructions: (from Arbor Teas)

1tsp, 180F, 2-3 minutes

Ratings & Reviews

Page 1 of 1 page with 2 reviews

Link Link to This Review
Reviewer pic50 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 2/5 Value: 3/5
(142 reviews) on

I wasn't impressed with this tea and found it quite bitter, which was a bit disappointing since I like so many other teas by Arbor Teas! I don't have any complaints about their pricing or the scent of the tea, which was average, but I didn't like the taste at all. After finding the flavor to be too sour and strong on my first cup, I decided to try a second with fresh leaf and cooler water. The bitter taste was toned down on my second try, but I still wasn't that impressed. I much rather prefer a more subtle green tea.
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Link Link to This Review
Reviewer pic63 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 4/5
(1452 reviews) on

My favorite ever green tea was a long-leaf green from Makaibari estate. This is a very different tea, and alas, I did not enjoy it quite as much, but it was still a very good tea.

I find this tea tastes more like Chinese green teas than most green teas I've tried from India; it reminds me of some Sri Lankan teas made in the style of Chinese green teas.

Brews a quite dark-colored cup, as dark as some lighter Darjeeling first flush. Thick-bodied and somewhat astringent. Complex aroma that is highly herbaceous and somewhat smoky, with tones of celery and parsley, and suggestions of honey and floral qualities, without being strongly floral. Almost suggests nutmeg or mace.

Flavor is quite sour.

I think I would like this tea more if it were less sour and astringent. I found that it was even rather astringent when brewed with water at a low temperature, however.

If I were given a cup of this and told that it were chun mee or gunpowder green tea, I might think this a top-notch example of that style...but compared to other teas I've tried from Makaibari estate (especially their long-leaf green), I am slightly disappointed with the level of astringency and sourness in the cup, and the aroma isn't quite as pleasing as I normally experience their teas to be.

To put my disappointment in perspective though, even if this is my least favorite tea to come out of Makaibari, it's still a good tea.
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Page 1 of 1 page with 2 reviews

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