Category: Review

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Necessitea’s Mojito

Mojito by Necessitea
Black Tea / Flavoured
$6.00USD for 2oz

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Necessitea has provided me with Mojito for the purposes of providing an honest review.

First Impressions

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Mojito came to me from Necessitea in a resealable package. When I first opened the package, I first smelled the mint, and then the black tea base. I definitely smell the orange pekoe and the mint. Holly of Necessitea had included a letter with the package and described this blend as being inspired by the mojito drink, to give the option of a virgin tea version of the alcoholic drink (and could be mixed as well). I love the smell of the mint.

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Mojito is a black tea blend made up of orange pekoe black tea, mint, and lime. The lime is a bit harder to pick out of the tea, but I can definitely smell the mint in there.

Preparation

There were no steeping instructions on the packaging or the Necessitea website, but I did an initial steep at 100°C (212°F) for 4 minutes.

First Taste

Mojito steeps to a beautiful golden orange. The aroma that comes from this tea is richly of mint, with the fragrances of a strong orange pekoe. The tea base comes through and the mint isn’t too overwhelming. I found the lime present in the steeped tea, it just adds a touch of freshness in this tea and it primarily shines through at the beginning of tea sip. The tea has a slight sweetness to it, but I found it benefited from the addition of a bit of honey (I used a locally harvested clover honey), which helped to amplify the flavours of lime and mint.

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A Second Cup?

I resteeped Mojito a couple of times. I found the first resteep to be fairly similar to the initial steep, while I found the second resteep to be quite a bit watery. I would say that Mojito would be good for just one more steep.

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My Overall Impression

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I liked Necessitea’s Mojito. I really enjoyed the mint flavours in this black tea blend, and the freshness that the mint leaves added to the tea. I wish that the lime was stronger, because I feel like it would have highlighted the mojito experience. I really liked this black tea with a touch of honey, and I think it would make an excellent iced tea if it had been hotter weather. If you like black teas with mint, I think you’ll really enjoy this black tea blend.

Curious about the cup rating system? Click here to learn more.

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Golden Tea Leaf’s Iris Orchid Oolong

Iris Orchid Oolong by Golden Tea Leaf
Oolong Tea / Straight
$15.00 for 50g

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Golden Tea Leaf has provided me with Iris Orchid Oolong for the purposes of providing an honest review.

First Impressions

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Iris Orchid Oolong came to me from Golden Tea Leaf in a black sample packet. The tea leaves are dark, almost a purple-black with a light twist. The aroma that wafts up from the tea leaves is primarily floral that reminds me a lot of orchids, although I don’t really smell anything that reminds me of irises.

According to Golden Tea Leaf, Iris Orchid Oolong is a oolong from the Guangdong Province in China. This is a straight oolong tea. There was some tiny tea leaf fragments in the sample packet.

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Preparation

There were no preparation recommends on the packet of Iris Orchid Oolong, or on the product page. However, Golden Tea Leaf has a page all about their teas (Everything About Oolong Tea).

Golden Tea Leaf recommends steeping oolongs at 95°C (203°F) water for a first steep for 2 minutes or less, a second and third  steep for 2 to 5 minutes, and for any steeps beyond that for 2 to 5 minutes. My initial steep was for 2 minutes.

First Taste

Iris Orchid Oolong steeps to a beautiful pale yellow after a two minute steep. The aroma that comes up from the steeped oolong, and the fragrance is so deeply floral. This oolong is smooth, with a touch of floral creaminess. I found the tea to have a slight sweetness. Iris Orchid Oolong does taste a lot like the way it smells – very floral and enjoyable. I found that the flavour to be enticing because the floral notes are so inviting.

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A Second Cup?

I resteeped Iris Orchid Oolong according to Golden Tea Leaf’s recommended steeping instructions. I opted to add an additional 30 seconds per subsequent resteep. I found that Iris Orchid Oolong became a darker yellow with each steep until it became a bright golden yellow. The flavour became creamier, with a hint of butter, all the while retaining the bright floral flavours and fragrance. I resteeped Iris Orchid Oolong a total of eight times before it started to lose too much of the flavour.

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My Overall Impression

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I loved Golden Tea Leaf’s Iris Orchid Oolong. I found that the tea was perfectly floral, with a really nice creaminess to the steeped tea that got better with each steep. The floral notes were sweet, and not overwhelming to the senses while being inviting. I found that the tea was smooth and tasty. Iris Orchid Oolong resteeps so well, I would definitely recommend having this one over and over again. The floral sweetness is enough that this tea doesn’t need anything added to it at all. I quite appreciated Golden Tea Leaf’s recommended steeping times for each steep and enjoyed the tea that I got out of these oolong tea leaves.

Curious about the cup rating system? Click here to learn more.

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Tea Experience: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Vancouver, BC
Notch8 Restaurant & Bar
Afternoon Tea $65 for Adults, $23.50 for Children (≤12)

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A very lovely friend treated me to afternoon tea at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on West Georgia Street in Vancouver. Shortly after arrival, we were whisked away to our table – we walked past people having brunch and the amazing buffet selection with everything in matching Le Creuset pans.

The table settings were beautiful, with the white cloth napkins folded so lovely like a tree. It was my first time having afternoon tea at the Fairmont, so I’m not sure if it was their usual design or if they change it up for their themes. When we were leaving, we were told that the January theme was Hollywood. Continue reading “Tea Experience: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver”