By A.C. Cargill

The Subject: Borengajuli Estate Tea

Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F
Steeping time: 5 minutes (actually, 3 minutes might be better)

Tea type: Black
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Nothing added
Aroma, dry: Fresh, planty tea smell, fragrant
Aroma in the cup, plain: Planty tea smell
Taste, plain: Strong, somewhat bitter,
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Milk and sweetener added. Woodsy, toasty, roasted, mellow, no bitterness
Taste, enhanced: Woodsy, toasty, roasted, mellow, no bitterness

2nd Infusion: Lighter, milder, not bitter (try steeping only 3 minutes for first infusion, and this one might be stronger)

Chilled: Didn’t try, but imagine would be great

Comments:
Another surprisingly tasty tea. As someone who spent most of her tea-drinking years dunking a teadust-filled bag (with its string and tag attached) into a mug of hot water, I am having the time of my life trying teas like this. Hubby is along for the ride and enjoying every drop, for the most part.

This tea has a wonderful fragrance when dry, so before steeping spend a moment taking in a big whiff. That planty, fresh fragrance will lift your spirits and portend a great taste experience to come. The tea leaf pieces are a good size and have not been scented or flavored, letting the natural tea goodness come through. Teas vary so much in part because of how the leaves are processed after harvesting. For example, Lapsang Souchong is smoky due to the pine smoke used during the withering (drying) stage.] For this tea, the leaves must have been sung to sleep at night while they were drying. That’s how gentle the taste is. (Just kidding about the singing, but not about the taste.)

Even after some had cooled from sitting on the counter for an hour or so and then reheated, there was no hint of bitterness and the tea retained that woodsy-toasty-roasty flavor.

Disclaimer: This tea was provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are always strictly objective.

Read more great tea on A.C.’s blog, Little Yellow Teapot Tea Reviews!