Tag: Black Tea

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Masters Teas’ Rohini First Flush

Rohini First Flush by Masters Teas
Black Tea / Straight
$19.00 for 2oz

Masters Teas has provided me with Rohini First Flush for the purposes of writing an honest review.

First Impressions

When Masters Teas reached out to me and asked if I wanted to try their first flush Darjeeling, the answer was obviously yes. This black tea was harvested in March 2023, so only two months ago! This is a black tea, but has the appearance of a green tea. The tea leaves themselves come in a sealed, resealable pouch. There’s a label across the front with information about the tea that I find helpful. Masters Teas describes Rohini First Flush as having fruit blossom notes.

Rohini First Flush is from Darjeeling, India, and consists only of tea leaves – no other ingredients.

The leaves of Rohini First Flush remind me a lot of a white tea or a green tea – purely in appearance. There’s a mix of bright pops of green and darker green, almost olive in shades of green. There are some twisted leaves, and flat pieces. The aroma of this dry leaf is quite fruity! It also have some heavy floral notes, which I noticed as soon as I opened the pouch before I even lifted it up to my face. It’s a pretty dry leaf to look at, and made me look forward to trying it out.

Preparation

Masters Teas recommends steeping Rohini First Flush in 100oC (212oF) water for 2 to 3 minutes.

I opted to follow the steeping recommendations and did an initial steep for 2 minutes.

First Taste

Rohini First Flush steeps to a light golden yellow. The aroma of the tea is quite floral, with fruity notes throughout. Drinking this tea makes me think of grapes and pears, mixed in with more delicate floral notes in the background – I find myself thinking of jasmine and chrysanthemum when I drink this, even though jasmine and chrysanthemum even though neither are physically present. There’s a slight sweetness to Rohini First Flush that really adds to the fruity nature of this black tea.

A Second Cup?

Rohini First Flush was easy to go down with the initial steep. For subsequent steeps, of which I did three, I added an additional thirty seconds for each steep. The leaves really opened up after the second steep and I found more yellow and brown colours in the leaves, along with the pops of green. The steeps after the first became more fruity, and less floral, but still had that light sweetness throughout that I found endearing. I would recommend steeping Rohini First Flush multiple times for a longer experience with these leaves.

My Overall Impression

I loved Masters Teas’ Rohini First Flush. I’m really happy that I agreed to try out this first flush 2023 tea. The experience of getting to try a brand new spring tea is always a fun time because you get to try something fresh and exciting. The fact that it’s black tea that behaves a bit like a green tea (but isn’t as unforgiving) is purely a bonus. I enjoyed the flavours and aromas from Rohini First flush – especially with the multiple steeps.

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

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Dessert by Deb’s Cream Soda Float

Cream Soda Float by Dessert by Deb
Black Tea / Flavoured
$6.75 for 25g

Cream Soda Float came to me as part of the bimonthly subscription box from Dessert by Deb.

First Impressions

This is actually the last blend from Dessert by Deb that was part of the bimonthly subscription box that I’ve got to review! The last box was received earlier this year and while I’m so sad that it’s no longer being offered, I am looking forward to placing a self-curated box to receive in the mail very soon.

Cream Soda Float comes in a pale pink metallic pouch that’s sealed and resealable. It has the very familiar colourful polka dot label across the front of it.

Cream Soda Float consists of organic: black tea, natural cream flavour, sarsaparilla root, coconut, vanilla, and red cornflower petals. This is an incredibly beautiful blend – just look at it! The aroma is surprisingly strong and it reminds me a lot of cream soda. I’m not sure how that was achieved, but it smells really good and reminds me just like the pop.

Preparation

Dessert by Deb recommends preparing Cream Soda Float in 212°F (100°C) water for 4 to 6 minutes. I opted to do an initial steep for 5 minutes.

Dessert by Deb also recommends preparing Cream Soda Float as a latte or with “a splash of soda”. I opted to have it hot, and then tried it as a latte.

First Taste

Cream Soda Float steeps to an orange-brown colour, and it has a strong cream soda aroma to it. I found the flavour to be curiously very similar to cream soda. There’s some vanilla notes, it’s slightly creamy, and somehow tastes like cream soda. The vanilla notes really lend itself to making me think of a float because of vanilla ice cream (obviously one of the classic choices of ice cream for a float!). It has a nice sweetness to it, which I appreciate because cream soda has plenty of sweetness to it, but it’s not overkill.

Changing this cup of tea to a latte added a nice layer of creaminess on top of the existing vanilla notes, and really sold it to my tastebuds that I was having a float.

A Second Cup?

I attempted to resteep Cream Soda Float once, but found that the flavour just did not compare to the initial steep.

My Overall Impression

I loved Dessert by Deb’s Cream Soda Float. I don’t know how she managed to get this black tea blend to smell and taste like cream soda, but Deb did! Part of the high marks is for that alone, because it’s just a marvel to me. The flavour was on point, the fact that it had those vanilla notes for that vanilla ice cream component of a float really made it all the more delicious. It does well as a latte, so I imagine that Dessert by Deb’s suggestion of preparing Cream Soda Float with a splash of pop would also do the trick as well.

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

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Hong Kong Style Iced Lemon Tea

Iced Lemon Tea is a menu staple when it comes to Hong Kong diners (right up there with the Hong Kong Style Milk Tea, hot or iced).  There’s something blissfully refreshing about this drink in its simplicity, and it’s so good to quench your thirst when it’s hot out – which makes it a perfect drink basically year round in Hong Kong (hello, tropics). But as someone who spends her time in Canada, it’s less of an annual stable and more of a seasonal enjoyment.

Hong Kong Iced Lemon Tea is a great drink to serve at a barbecue, to bring along a picnic, or to enjoy all to yourself while reading a book in a hammock. The real reason why this recipe makes a large volume – so you can always refill your glass.

Hong Kong Style Iced Lemon Tea – Serves 4-5

4 tablespoons black tea¹
1500mL boiling water (100°C/212°F)
2 tablespoons Simple Syrup²
1 lemon, sliced³
Ice

¹ I would recommend choosing Chinese black tea, I opted for an Orange Pekoe from China.
² See recipe below for an easy way to make simple syrup.
³ Wash the outside of the lemon, as the slices will be used in the drink.

Steep the black tea in the boiling water for 5 minutes, remove or strain out tea leaves.
Stir in Simple Syrup – add more to taste if you don’t find it sweet enough to your taste.
Allow tea to cool to room temperature.
Slice lemon, remove the seeds.
Fill glass with lemon slices and ice.
Pour in cooled tea.
Serve with a spoon, this allows the drinker to squeeze the slices at their leisure to add more lemon flavour.

Super Simple Simple Syrup Method

Combine equal parts sugar and boiled water from a kettle in a bowl.
Mix until the sugar is fully dissolved.
Set aside to cool.

If you make this Hong Kong Iced Lemon Tea, I’d love to see your photos! Be sure to tag me on Instagram (@onemoresteep #onemoresteep) or comment below with a link to the photo!