Shanti Tea

I gave it two solid go-arounds, and this tea is just better suited for someone else. Something in the floral aspect of this tea makes my chest feel tight and labored, so I dumped it after a couple of sips. Sorry, tea. I know you were sent to me by CelebriTEA with the best of intentions, and I hope the next person who gets the last little bit enjoys it infinitely more.

From a gift via CelebriTEA. Thank you so much!

I’ll put this out there right now: I’m rarely a fan of florals in my tea, unless perhaps it’s a French tea. They seem to understand how to do them properly, at least to my palate. So, when I smelled this and saw the rose petals, I was… concerned.

So. It smells like oranges and it tastes like orange rose petals. Which could be lovely if you’re into that sort of thing? I’m going to pass.

sipdown! today is a random drinking tea sort of day. mostly, whatever grabs my fancy when i happen to be standing near the kettle. :) MissB was kind enough to send a little of this one my way, for which i am thankful! this is one that i’ve been wanting to try for a while now but keep putting off because i HATE shanti’s website. i hate having to sign in to add things to a cart…i hate that you don’t know whether the tea is in stock or not until you click through to the tea – and they often have a lot of teas not in stock…it’s just not a pleasant experience combines with shipping prices that aren’t great.

Which of course makes me sad because i like supporting Canadian tea shops. So the tea..it’s…kinda bland. There’s a coffee taste hanging out in the background of the cup, but the brew isn’t a smooth blend. I don’t want to say it’s bitter because it wasn’t really but it was slightly dark. The caramel taste is slightly present but not enough for me to say wow. I hope this isn’t what justjames tastes when he drinks caramel flavoured teas lol
Still though, i’m happy to have tried it! thanks missb!

Backlog:

Well, it would seem that Shanti no longer has this tea available on their website.

It was quite lovely, it smells amazing! Lavender and rose made for an extraordinarily fragrant floral tea that was as enjoyable to smell as it was to sip.

Sweet, delicate white tea that was not overpowered by the flowers. Hay-like notes. Not overly floral – a really nice balance of tastes.

Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2013/09/02/mamma-mia-white-tea-blend-shanti-tea/

Backlog:

A really good Earl Grey variation. There is a good balance between raspberry and bergamot flavors. The raspberry is very distinct and strong but it doesn’t attempt to overpower the bergamot, which is also distinct.

Really good iced!

Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2013/08/24/raspberry-earl-grey-black-tea-from-shanti-tea/

Backlog:

Back when looseTman told me about this blend, I knew I had to try this. So, I contacted Shanti Tea right away (and thank you to Shanti Tea for sending me some!) Because … I had to try it. Yeah, I know I said that already. But it’s a strong Earl Grey … so you know I had to try it.

This is a remarkable Earl Grey … and after having recently found out that one of my favorite Earl Grey teas is no longer available (Superior Earl Grey from Tealicious Tea Company), I think that this may be the Earl Grey to replace it because it is AWESOME!

The bergamot is strong as the name might suggest, it has a lot of citrus TANG to it, but it doesn’t taste perfume-y. None of that icky soap-y taste. Just delicious bergamot. The kind of deliciousness that makes my toes curl as I sip. Just remembering it … is making my toes curl. I want more of this tea.

The black tea is malty and rich and this is an excellent Earl Grey! Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2013/07/28/strong-earl-grey-tea-from-shanti-tea/

Backlog:

YUM! Chocolate Covered Strawberries. Did I already say YUM? Because this tea is YUM!

The chocolate … well, if you know me, you know I always want more chocolate flavor. And that is true here. I want more chocolate. But, it’s a nice representation of chocolate flavor in this blend.

The strawberry is sweet and has a hint of tartness. It is a flavorful strawberry flavor that tastes authentic.

Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2013/07/13/strawberry-seduction-black-tea-from-shanti-tea/

Backlog:

Thank you TeaEqualsBliss for sending me some of this tea to try. I love Maple, and this is an AWESOME Maple tea. I’m used to maple black teas, and this might be the first one I’ve tried with a white tea base. I think that the white tea base is a brilliant base to use because it really allows the maple notes to come out fully … whereas a black tea base tends to obscure some of the more subtle tones of the maple. This is a great way to fully enjoy one’s love of maple … and I love me some maple!

This is really excellent.

The aroma is delightful, a mellow blend of tea mixed with rich chocolate and coffee and a sweet yet slightly tangy kick of strawberry. The smell reminded me instantly of the Strawberry Chocolate covered Espresso beans I used to munch on.

The taste is hard to explain, it certainly tastes like all the ingredients but since they are ingredients I have never thought about mixing it was surprising. It is a perfect cup for a cool rainy day or for snuggling up with a good book…or if you want to be decadent and enjoy chocolate covered strawberries without the eating part.

Per: https://www.shantitea.ca/sthome/product/strong-earl-grey:
Origin: India / Serving: 2.8 grams per cup / Temp. 100*C / Steeping Time 2-5 Min.
“2 min without milk, 5+ min with milk”

“Using a GBOP grade of black tea for this earl grey, and blending it with extra bergamot essence makes creates an infusion especially well suited for london fogs or for those seeking a strong bergamot flavor in their tea. Much stronger than the classic, malty notes, and a lively cup.”

“Ingredients: Tea (Camelia Sinensis), safflower, orange peel, bergamot”
Canada Organic – Biologique Canada: http://www.organicbiologique.ca/en/

Technique: Tea mug with Finum brew basket. 8-oz water with total dissolved solids (TDS) of 26 ppm, heated to 212*F. 2.8 grams – verified by My Weigh Durascale D2 660. No sweeteners, milk or cream were added.

Introduction: The typical Earl Grey tea has a 100% Ceylon base. Some Ceylon teas used in E.G. can be quite astringent. This E.G. is exceptional in that it has an Indian tea base.

Also, most Earl Grey teas are light- to medium-bodied. While my wife loves the aroma and flavor of a well-balanced EG, she typically does not find them to be strong enough. To compensate, she will increase the amount of tea leaves and/or the brewing time. However, you can only increase those two parameters so much. Thus, we were very interested to taste Shanti’s Strong Earl Grey.

Fragrance: This black tea has a strong floral-type bergamot and fresh orange fragrance.
Dry leaf – Dark brown leaves with obvious bits of orange peel.
Liquor – red / brown hue

2-min.: The Aroma follows the strong dry leaf fragrance. The flavor definitely follows both the fragrance and aroma. The strong floral-like bergamot and fresh orange ingredients somewhat overshadows the malty Indian base tea. There was zero hint of tartness, bitterness or astringency – quite an accomplishment!

Impression: This is a very unique, refreshing, full-bodied Earl Grey with a very strong floral-like bergamot and a fresh orange fragrance & aroma that somewhat overshadows the extremely smooth Indian base tea.

My wife, who has a very keen sense of smell, didn’t find this tea to be “The EG” she’s been seeking. While she enjoyed the full-bodied stimulating breakfast base tea, she’d prefer it to have an equally strong Classic EG aroma and flavor.

Suggestion: We’d like to suggest a second version – a “Classic Strong Earl Grey.” This extremely smooth malty Strong Earl Grey would be an excellent match with Southern Italian natural Bergamot citrus.

Thanks to Safiya Motala and Shanti Teas for kindly providing this generous free sample.

Per: https://www.shantitea.ca/sthome/product/Irish-Breakfast:
Origin: China / Serving: 2.8 grams per cup / Temp. 100*C / Steeping Time 2-5 Min.

“What a whiskey will not cure, there’s no cure for!” Same goes for this Irish-strength black tea blend.
A very strong and bold black tea blend, with pronounced earthiness and maltiness. Recommended at a long steep, with milk and sugar to bring out the flavors, this is a real winner in the mornings. The smaller leaf grades allow for greater caffeine infusion into the water. A good coffee replacement."

“Directions: 2 min without milk, 5+ min with milk”
“Ingredients: Tea (Camelia Sinensis)”
Canada Organic – Biologique Canada: http://www.organicbiologique.ca/en/

Technique: Tea mug with Finum brew basket. 8-oz water with total dissolved solids (TDS) of 26 ppm, heated to 212*F. 2.8 grams (My Weigh Durascale D2 660) No sweeteners, milk or cream were added.

Fragrance: Fruity
Dry leaf: Small granular-shaped pieces moderately dark brown and reddish-brown leaves
Infused Leaf: Dark Amber

2-min.: A full-bodied tea with a fruity aroma and malty undertones. I can see why only 2 min. infusion w/o milk is recommended. At the end of the sip there is a bit of bitterness that briefly lingers on the tongue. This is a strong tea. You may not wish to drink it on an empty stomach.

2-min Re-steep: Same flavor & character as the first cup w/o the bitterness.

2nd Cup: same as above except: 2.8 g/ 8 oz. / *185*F* / 2 min
This is now a full-bodied tea with a fruity aroma and malty undertones without any obvious bitterness. “Now we’re talking!”

Impression: A full-bodied, invigorating, organic breakfast tea. “Not for the faint of heart.”

Thanks to Safiya Motala and Shanti Teas for kindly providing this generous free sample.

Per: https://www.shantitea.ca/sthome/product/ancient-forest-black:
Origin: China / Serving: 2.5 grams per cup / Temp. 100*C / Steeping Time 2-5 Min.

“A full bodied, earthy infusion typical of high quality Yunnan black teas. Cultivated from the ancient protected tea tree forests of Yunnan Province, China, this rare and exquisite black tea makes a full-bodied and earthy infusion with a rich and penetrating aroma heavy with age and collective wisdom. The flavor of this deep amber infusion is unlike any other black tea available. Truly exceptional.”

“Directions: 2 min without milk, 5+ min with milk”
“Ingredients: Tea (Camelia Sinensis)”
Canada Organic – Biologique Canada: http://www.organicbiologique.ca/en/

Technique:
Tea mug with Finum brew basket. 8-oz water with total dissolved solids (TDS) of 26 ppm, heated to 212*F. 2.5 grams (My Weigh Durascale D2 660). No sweeteners, milk or cream were added.

Fragrance: Earthy / hints of sweet tobacco
Dry leaf: Moderately dark brown leaves with some gold tips
Infused Leaf – Deep Amber

2-min. Initial observation: Not yet strong enough will step another min.
3-min.: Rich and full-bodied with a pleasing earthy aroma and not a hint of bitterness or astringency. My cup was empty before I knew it – Excellent!!

4-min Re-steep: Not yet strong enough.
5-min Re-steep: Improving
6-min Re-steep: Just as enjoyable as the first cup.

Impression: A smooth, rich, mellow, relaxing, and very satisfying cup of organic tea! An excellent weekend morning experience not to be rushed, and not to be missed!

Thanks to Safiya Motala and Shanti Teas for kindly providing this generous free sample.

Per: https://www.shantitea.ca/sthome/product/strong-assam:
Origin: India / Serving: 2.7 grams per cup / Temp. 100*C / Steeping Time 2-5 Min.
“2 min without milk, 5+ min with milk”
“Ingredients: Tea (Camelia Sinensis)”
Canada Organic – Biologique Canada: http://www.organicbiologique.ca/en/

Technique:
8-oz water with total dissolved solids (TDS) of 26 ppm, heated to 212*F.

2.7 grams verified by My Weigh Durascale D2 660. No sweeteners, milk or cream were added.

Fragrance: This black tea has a fresh earthy moderately strong fragrance.

Dry leaf – Short broken moderately dark brown leaves

Infused Leaf – Clear & coppery

3-min.: Initial observation: Not yet strong enough will step another min.

4-min.: Mild, pleasant, earthy aroma. A strong, malty character, however there was noticeable bitterness and a very dry finish.

Next I tried: 8 oz. / 2.7 grams / 195*F (verified w/DAVIDsTEA digital thermometer):
3-min: Not yet strong enough.
4-min.: A smooth, strong, malty character, without any bitterness or astringency.

5-min Resteep: Just as enjoyable as the previous cup.

Impression: A smooth, strong, malty, invigorating organic breakfast tea when brewed at 195*F.

Thanks to Safiya Motala and Shanti Teas for kindly providing this free sample.

Correction due to new scale: What I thought was 2.7 grams was actually 27 grains. I was in the incorrect weight mode due to the very small font used for the grain abbreviation (gn). Using a Grains-to-Grams conversion, the actual weight was 1.75 grams.

I just brewed another cup: 8 oz. / 2.7 g / 3-min. / 195*F.
With the proper weight in grams three minutes was sufficient for a very enjoyable full-bodied cup of tea. At 195*F there was no hint of bitterness or astringency.

Backlog:

I had this tea a few days ago. I think I made it a tad too strong, because the flavor was very strong and astringent and concentrated. Like it needed to be diluted.

It was not a bad tea … but, Shanti has many other teas that I prefer over this one. Not bad, not great … and this one is not on Shanti’s website any longer, so either it’s sold out, or they agree with my thoughts on it.

But because I may have made the tea too strong, I’m not going to rate it numerically, as it may have been taster’s error and not the fault of the tea.

Aww, oversteeped my last cup! I even used a timer… and then forgot to follow through and actually take the leaves out. #winner

Had a big pot of this for games & Kelly this afternoon. Played Crazy Eights, a Harry Potter trading card game (oh yes), Lexigo and Crib. FUN. I always forget how much I enjoy games and usually have be dragged into them… what a dummy :P :P

Anyway, this tea is a great tea! Simple and yum.

Whoops, forgot I was steeping something again. This tea smells so wonderful. I’ve been running all over the house today and am now having a kickass procrastination computer break. WITH TEA.

I brew this one really strong. I like that it’s not a sweet tea. It’s easing the pressure in my chest, augh. At least I am not boogers-sick.

With my apple crisp! Tried this tea again to make sure it was boring and yep, still very little maple flavour.

Can’t taste the maple at all, but it smells nice. I waaay oversteeped this so I’m not going to rate it until I try again.

My experience with the first steep of this yesterday was not really pleasant. To me it tasted salty, soapy, & hinted of bleach. Bleckckck

I’m giving it a 2nd steeping, & there is more flavor, but it still isn’t something appealing to me.

I gotta go run around all day. Maybe I’ll try one more this afternoon.

Thank you, Ms Bonnie, for this interesting sample!

First, I don’t know what brand this is, but when I entered blue unicorn, Shanti Tea came up, & the picture looks right, so I’m just going to go with it.

It’s a cool looking tea! I love the ‘horns’, they remind me of those catapillar crysallis thingies that I used to see when I was a kid in California. They didn’t smell like anything to me dry.

I had 2 horns, so I put them in my little glass teapot & added hot water. They took turns floating up & down & releasing little air bubbles. I’m sipping the first steeping now, really just killing time before I meet 2 of my kids & my Man for lunch.

This is Ceylon tea, which in my mind means not particularly exciting. I get that Ceylon is the Champagne of teas, & is suppose to have a light & bright flavor. Call me unsophisticated if you must, but I tend to lose interest quickly.

The taste? I’m only on the first steeping, which honestly has kind of a salty & soapy vibe. When I get home I’ll run it through a few more steepings, as the horns have only barely started to open. For now, I’d rather drink water.