Tea Review Tuesday - A Review of Verdant Tea's Laoshan Black Tea

Today's review features a tea, offered by a company that has never before been featured here on Built from Ink and Tea - Verdant Tea. Verdant Tea is a company based in the United States, whose unique practice of sourcing small batch harvests directly from farmers in China allows for better freshness and quality, as well as giving farmers (with whom Verdant Tea has direct contact) the chance to share teas about which they are excited to tell and spread the word. You can read more about Verdant Tea and their philosophy, here on their website. I feel compelled to also share some of the writings on their website, such as this article on transparency in the tea industry and this one on brewing tea with a brew basket. (Verdant Tea uses and sells the Finum Brew Basket, which I highly recommend.)

Today, we will be trying the Laoshan black tea from the He family. This tea has become incredibly popular over the years, and its special flavor profile comes in part from being sun-oxidized for much longer than most teas. Brewing instructions vary, based on preference and vessel, and the Verdant Tea website presents instructions for each of their teas. However, based on the recommendation of a tea chum, I steeped mine for three minutes, using just-boiled water and two tablespoons of loose leaf in twelve ounces of water. From the amber-brown brew, cereal aromas float, though I detect a hint of dark fruit along with them. My first sip surprises me. The body of the tea is strong and creamy, not overly bold and in-your-face, but maintaining strong, consistent flavors throughout. The slight fruity sweetness softens any edges, and there is little to no astringency of which to speak. In the center of the body of the tea lies a bit of smokiness, which pleasantly lingers on the tongue.

Verdant Tea's website suggests additional steepings, corroborating my tea chum's suggestion. A second steeping (this time for four minutes) brings out more honey notes in the flavors. I decide to try a third steeping for five minutes. By now, the flavors have diminished greatly. What remains are some dark fruit and cereal flavors that sit on the back of the palate like a shadow. While one would probably enjoy pairing this tea with food, I almost feel that to do so would an injustice, not allowing the tea to stand on its own, lingering aftertastes and all. On my personal enjoyment scale, I would rate this tea a 93/100.



Photo credit to Built from Ink and Tea.
Verdant Tea's Laoshan Black Tea is available from their website, here.
This review was unsolicited and uncompensated.
Text is copyright 2015, Built from Ink and Tea.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Diamine Majestic Purple Ink

Please pardon the major lack of detail in this week's post. Unfortunately, I was only able to do a minimal amount of testing, while I had this ink available to me. Hopefully, the comparisons will help to give you an idea of the color tones.

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Tea Review Tuesday - A Review of Tea Ave's Magnolia Oolong Tea

This week, we have arrived at the Tea Ave review, which I find most intriguing of this three week series. First, our experience with Taiwanese Tie Kwan Yin expanded my Tie Kwan Yin horizons. Then, last week, we tasted the delicious and familiar flavors of Jasmine Oolong. This third tea from Tea Ave is their Magnolia Oolong. From their website, "Our Magnolia Oolong is prepared using the ancient method, in which the tea absorbs the flower fragrance during the baking progress, producing a scented tea that’s aromatic and flavorful..." And it is here that I must make a confession: I have never before tasted a magnolia-flavored tea, so this review will embody my first impressions of it as a flavor with no bias or comparison (to other magnolia-flavored offerings, at least)!

After preparing the teaware and heating the water (just under boiling!), I rinse the leaves and then begin the first steep, which will be for thirty seconds. In the meantime, I smell the leaves themselves. Green oolong aromas sit in the background, crowned by the magnolia itself. The floral notes are lighter than jasmine, sweeter than jasmine, and less cloying than jasmine. This makes me excited to try the tea itself! In a way, even breathing the leaves aroma is refreshing.

The aromas of the first steep are sweetly floral. (Thankfully, the sweetness is nothing but natural-smelling.) They seem energizing. Yet neither the tea nor the floral are very in-your-face scents. The flavor truly embodies the magnolia. My first sip splashed blossoms of magnolia over my taste buds, seeming to permeate my tongue. And yet, in a moment the insistent flavors are gone, leaving the faintest of floral-sweet aftertastes and a bit of dry mouthfeel. Certainly refreshing.

A second steep of forty-five seconds reveals what was missing in the first steep: much oolong flavor. The leaves had not yet opened very much in the first infusion, but they have now released more fresh, green oolong taste. Whereas the first steep had only the faintest hint in the background, the bold notes now truly uphold the cup. Balanced and smooth, the floral notes seem just on the edge of slight bitterness...but pleasantly never reach that point! Having quickly finished that cup, I steep another for a further forty-five seconds and am treated to the same pleasant flavors and aromas. For my first experience with a magnolia-flavored tea, this truly hits the enjoyable spot. Overall, I would describe it as "light" for an oolong, both in flavor and aroma. This could be quite tasty with a bowl of fruit for breakfast...

After two more steeps (one minute each), I taste the flavors beginning to diminish. It is here that I sit back to reflect on this enjoyable tea session. Much as I enjoy floral teas with jasmine, I think I shall definitely pursue those with magnolia more often. On my personal enjoyment scale, I would rate this tea a 95/100.

Photo credit to Built from Ink and Tea.
Tea Ave's Magnolia Oolong is available from their website, here.
This review was provided in exchange for the tea sample.
Text is copyright 2015, Built from Ink and Tea.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of J. Herbin Diabolo Menthe Ink

I was really disappointed in trying this ink. If anyone has had experience with it and could shed some light on ways in which I might be able to enjoy it, please share! If you have trouble reading parts of this, you can easily imagine how it is in person.

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Tea Review Tuesday - A Review of Tea Ave's Jasmine Oolong

Welcome to another Tea Review Tuesday! Today, we will be tasting another offering from Tea Ave, the folks with a passion for Taiwanese Oolong! Last week, we looked at their Tie Kwan Yin, a unique experience that showcased rich, yet sweet, flavors. Today's Jasmine Oolong, I anticipate, will also be sweet, but far more floral and less fruity.

The tasting begins with preheating my teaware and rinsing the leaves for a few seconds in the gaiwan. As I begin the first steep, I take a breath of the aroma from the dry leaves in the bag. The jasmine, of course, hits my nose foremost and with strength in that almost-cloying manner, typical of jasmine. But then, I can smell some underlying notes of oolong. They are darker, noticeably, than having a green tea base with jasmine. After the first thirty second steep, I decant the tea from gaiwan to pitcher to cups, smelling the aromas from the opening leaves in the gaiwan. Interestingly, the jasmine aroma is much more subtle after just this first steep. The oolong scents are subdued, but the leaves are only just beginning to open. The first sip awaits... The jasmine bursts across the tongue, naturally sweet, yet not cloying, strong but not overwhelming. The tea has a surprisingly-thick mouthfeel. The taste of oolong is very subdued, much like the aroma had been, but I think the next steeping will open it more.

Another thirty second infusion follows. Something that impresses me about this tea is how clean it is. Even with the thick mouthfeel, the tongue is left feeling fresh with only the slightest touch of jasmine and oolong aftertaste. This second infusion brings forward more notes of oolong in the aroma and flavor. The base oolong for this tea seems to be dark and rich, yet it does not overwhelm the jasmine.

For the third infusion, I let the leaves steep for forty-five seconds, resulting in a slightly darker (pale green/yellow) brew. The flavors, this time, are imbued with the richness of the oolong, laced with jasmine. The ratios having shifted slightly in favor of the oolong, it is still delicious, and I love that it seems in some ways like a new (or different) tea. The jasmine is still there, but the oolong leaves have now fully opened and are releasing more of their flavors. The same thick, clean tastes remains.

I go ahead and steep the leaves for a fourth time, letting them infuse for a full minute. This steeping tastes much like the third, delightful and smooth. Truly, Tea Ave's Jasmine Oolong is a delicious tea, well-made and well-balanced. I definitely recommend it, and on my personal enjoyment scale, I would rate it a 94/100.

Photo credit to Built from Ink and Tea.
Tea Ave's Jasmine Oolong is available from their website, here.
This review was provided in exchange for the tea sample.
Text is copyright 2015, Built from Ink and Tea.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of J. Herbin 1670 Ocean Blue Ink

Enjoy another lovely offering from J. Herbin. This ink is a part of their "1670 Anniversary" set, which also includes Stormy Grey, reviewed here.

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Tea Review Tuesday - A Review of Tea Ave's Tie Kwan Yin Oolong Tea

Today, I am happy to present to you my review of the first tea I am trying from Tea Ave, the new company I introduced last Friday in this post. They sent me a sample of this oolong to get my honest thoughts, and I am glad to be writing those, here. On to the review...

Prepping my gaiwan, pitcher, and cups, I start some water boiling and open the package of tea in the meantime. The aroma of the dry leaf surprises me a bit. Previous experience with many tie kwan yin (or ti kwan yin or ti guan yin or several other spellings) had attuned me to a typical green, buttery, creamy, smooth nose with these oolongs, but this one is different. I note that the tea smells darker, stronger, and more intense. Reading more of the background of the tea, I find that this particular tie kwan yin, due to the growing climate and soil conditions, tends toward deeper flavors and richness, "balanced by mellow, fruity notes, with a touch of sweetness." Oolongs tend to be complex teas and this one sounds like it will be equally so.

When the water has been boiled, I let it cool for just a couple of minutes, then rinse all of the teaware to pre-heat it. The leaves I have measured into my gaiwan (about a teaspoon and a half) get a brief rinse to start them awakening. Then, I begin the first steep. A minute passes. I pour the tea from gaiwan to pitcher, straining out any small leaf particles (of which there are very few, which is great). The steeped tea is then pour to the tasting cup and the aroma cup. (This cup set will get its own review, soon, as it too is offered by Tea Ave.) The aroma and flavor are very subtle, as the leaves have yet to fully open and release their full flavors. Yet in the flavor, I taste what had surprised me in the dry leaf aroma - those deep, rich notes. Originally, they had reminded me a bit of a roasted oolong, but I realize at first taste that this is not the same. Natural and flavorful, even not quite yet full, the mouth-coating flavors embody a dark, green sweetness. The very faintest hint of bitterness sits on the tongue in the aftertaste, truly not strong enough to distract from body (and perhaps even contributing a bit).

For the second steep, I suspected I was doing something wrong with the aroma cup, so I researched it briefly. Sure enough, what I did not know was that the tea should be pour first from the pitcher (or gaiwan or teapot) to the aroma cup, which should then be poured into the tasting cup, leaving behind the aroma to be directed to the nose from the tall, narrow body. I started the second infusion and let the leaves steep for a minute and a half.

The time past, I pour tea from the gaiwan to the pitcher to the aroma cup. Then, I decant the aroma cup to the tasting cup and nose the aroma cup. Mellow, fruity, and still dark, the smells of the oolong rise. There is a bit of flatness, and I wonder if the leaves have still not achieved their full potential, so I take a sip. Rich and fruity flavors meet my tongue, and a touch of bitterness rests on the tip. One, two, three small cups are consumed quickly, and the pitcher is empty. This oolong is fantastic. The myriad of natural flavors are like a gift, which keeps giving even after it is gone, for the aftertaste, while not overwhelming, lingers.

Heating some more water, I prepare several more infusions of the tie kwan yin. The third infusion steeps for two full minutes. By now, the leaves are wide awake. The brew is darker in color and flavor, but still it is not too strong. The flavors are simply more intense. A fourth infusion for five minutes or so pulls final, deep flavors and aromas from the leaves.

Had I used more tea in my gaiwan and steeped the leaves for shorter periods of time, I might have gotten more intense flavors per steep, but that will be an experiment for another time. This tea tasting, though, exceeded my expectations and opened my eyes to a type of tea - specifically a type of tie kwan yin - that I had not before experienced. On my personal enjoyment scale, I would rate Tea Ave's Tie Kwan Yin a 97/100. The flavors impart nothing but deliciousness. Just based on this taste, Tea Ave is off to a great start.




Photo credit to Built from Ink and Tea.
Tea Ave's Tie Kwan Yin Oolong is available from their website, here.
This review was provided in exchange for the tea sample.
Text is copyright 2015, Built from Ink and Tea.

Taiwanese Oolongs for All! An Introduction to Tea Ave

The wonderful folks of Tea Ave have a passion for oolong.

On March 1, 2015, Tea Ave announced their official opening of business. In their words, "Our goal at Tea Ave is to help tea lovers everywhere elevate their oolong experience by offering authentic advice, brewing tips, and top-notch oolong teas." They made it their goal to bring the best Taiwanese oolongs to the world.

With a singular focus like Tawainese oolong, Tea Ave has allowed themselves the room necessary to become experts in their chosen discipline. However, do not mistake them for just another company with only a couple of offerings. In seeking after the best oolong that Taiwan has to offer, the folks at Tea Ave have discovered marvelous teas that cover a broad range of flavors, showcasing the depth and variety that can be experienced within a single tea variety from a single region. Pairing with this, they are also offering quality teaware for use in your steeping and enjoyment of oolong and other teas.

Over the next several weeks, I will be sharing my thoughts on some of the delicious offerings by Tea Ave. It is my hope that these will provide good insight to the world of Taiwanese oolongs and the goodness that Tea Ave brings to the tea industry. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, too!

Where should you start? Their website can be found here. I also recommend reading their introductory blog post, found here. Their store is well laid out with clearly-defined sections for straight oolong, scented oolong, and teaware. If you are interested in following them on Twitter, go here.

Photo credit to Tea Ave.
Text is copyright 2015, Built from Ink and Tea.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Organics Studio Accident Blue Ink

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

The Pen Rest - A Kickstarter worthy of your pens

Today, I want to share an in-progress Kickstarter project with you from David Frieslander: The Pen Rest.

At its core, The Pen Rest strives to solve a problem that seems to plague many of us with desks - the pens always seem to get lost, whether in the shuffle of papers or at the bottom of a drawer. Sure, these pens may have their own special place on the desk, but what makes that placement stand-out and avoid being overwhelmed by our work or projects? Enter The Pen Rest. The name speaks to its heart: providing a safe home for your in-use pens or pencils. And yet, it is so much more. From the stackable aspect, allowing you to create a veritable tower of rests, to the sleek top, capping your single or multiple rests with smooth sleekness, The Pen Rest seeks to bring excellent design and class to your desk, verging upon - dare I say - art.

The options are simple: do you want silver rests or gold rests? Do you want a silver top or a gold top? Care for a mix? Not a problem, as all of the rests and tops are interchangeable. You choose what will most fit your decor.

In the final two weeks of their campaign, I want to urge you to share this project and back it yourself, if you feel inclined to do so. They are still working toward their goal, and having spoken with David myself, I know that a lot of design work has gone into these pieces. The Pen Rest brings form and function together in a sturdy and practical model. Click here to learn more!

Photo credit to David Frieslander. Used with permission.
This promotion was uncompensated.
Text is copyright 2015, Built from Ink and Tea.

Tea Review Tuesday - A Review of Utopia Tea's Berkshire Apple & Fig Black Tea

Blending black teas with other varieties has become more and more popular, as tea steps farther into the light of popular culture. In some instances, this blending is done for the artisanal value, such as seeking the perfect blend of black and green teas, crafting a wonderful sensory experience. In other cases, we see blends that were created with an eye on health, such as the combining of oolong and pu'erh teas. Today's tea review falls into the former category.

Berkshire Apple & Fig by Utopia Tea seems to seek out the artisanal combination of tea that would lead to a complex, yet highly enjoyable, cup. On the tea side, black and oolong teas have been blended with rooibos to provide a solid base for the myriad of add-on ingredients. However, I do not mean to be flippant about these additions. They are what take this blend from a combination of teas to a fruitful experience. As might have been expected from the name of the tea, apple pieces and fig pieces are foremost among the ingredients. Along with them, anise, clove, and other natural flavors have been mixed, resulting in a delicious cup.

Utopia Tea recommends the standard black tea brewing procedure for Berkshire Apple & Fig. One teaspoon of tea should be steeped in eight ounces of just-boiled water for three to five minutes. For this cup, I steeped a teaspoon and a half in twelve ounces of water for four minutes. During the steep, I compared aromas. In the dry mixture, the sweetness of the apple is highly off-set by the spicy bite of the clove and sweet spiciness of the anise. The fig lends some underlying aroma, but the non-tea ingredients mostly dominate the smell. From the cup, I can smell the apple, black tea, and rooibos, foremost. The fig and apple really blend together well. Four minutes has finally passed, and the tea has cooled slightly.

First taste impressions: wow, it certainly lives-up to the apple and fig name! I do not mean that in a bad sense. The fruit flavors are by no means overwhelming. The first sip simply carries a lot of them. The small sips that I take of this cup tend to do that. I also note the rooibos hovering behind the apple flavors, emphasizing their juiciness. A larger sip of tea opens more of the body to my taste buds. The black tea sits solidly in the background, lending its depth to the taste. I wish I knew what kind of oolong was used. There is a tea flavor present that I think is the oolong, but knowing the type of oolong would help to identify the flavors more specifically. The clove and anise have not been forgotten. They linger on the tongue, long after the tea has been swallowed, but provide a sweet spiciness to the core of the flavor, as well.

With Berkshire Apple & Fig, I find myself mulling over every sip, savoring the blending of flavors, while trying to identify each of them individually. The overall flavors are dry, yet juicy enough that the cup feels dynamic. I wish that I could urge you to try it, but, unfortunately, Utopia Tea has closed their store. I still highly recommend it, and on my personal enjoyment scale, I would rate this tea a 94/100.

EDIT March 17, 2015: Great news - Utopia Tea is relaunching and their products should be available soon at their site, here.

Photo credit to Built from Ink and Tea.
Utopia Tea is no longer open for business.
This review was unsolicited and uncompensated.
Text is copyright 2015, Built from Ink and Tea.