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Rated: 80/100

This chai is rich in flavor and bold in the spice department. The clove is very noticeable and verges on overpowering the other spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger). It has a very aromatherapeutic quality. All in all, I enjoyed this tea, but think that the spices could have been balanced with a more satisfyingly round ratio.

Preparation: steeped for 4.5 minutes at 206 degrees F.
Rating: 75%

First morning in Italy, I woke up to this. Very nice, but simple black bend. Composed of Assam, Ceylon, and Kenyan (similar to Twining’s English Breakfast, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vpqffdeetI), this tea has a distinct flowery, toffee flavor. My guest this morning was going to brew the pyramid bags, but then was slightly concerned that I, as the host of Tea Time Tuesday, would be slightly offended, so he brewed loose tea, contrary to the picture here. I enjoyed it thoroughly. It’s important to note that this is essentially Britain’s version of Lipton, but not quite the lowest quality of standard orange pekoe.

Preparation: 5 minutes at 205 F.
Rating: 87% (4 1/3rd of 5 tea leaves)

As noted in the picture, this tea has a very light yellow liqueur. Suiting, because this tea is very light overall, as is typical with White tea. I am not a huge fan of light teas, but this white tea is quite suiting for the headache I have and the rain outside: very subtlety sweet and refreshing.

It has a light and smooth body. The fruity flavor in this tea lingers. There is negligible but noticeable briskness. The aroma off the nose from both the tea bags and brew is very light.

Rating: 80%
Preparation: water just below boiling, steeped for 60 sec.

You can find my review here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJmz_hta_HM

This goddess is very nice to me. The aroma is light, while the flavor in the tea richer and fuller than that whiff off the leaves. At first sip, this tea is light, but the flavor is strongest in the back of the mouth as it has a distinct bitter nutty-like taste. The savor of this tea lingers in the mouth, which perfectly compliments its smooth finish.

N.B.: very light yellow liqueur.
Preparation: 1.5 tsp. at 4 min. at 205 F

This fine oolong has a medium body with a cleansing finish. The peach and apricot in the blend provide a nice fruitiness to the tea, but it’s hard to pinpoint that is peach and apricot without reading the tea box. It’s mysterious in a way and I quite enjoy that. The safflower boosts the fruitiness while confusing the palate I think. Overall, I enjoyed this oolong and recommend it to whomever wants a soothingly original tea.

Preparation: steeped for 4 min. at 205 degrees.
Rating: 92%

I don’t know what it is about Rooibos teas, but I cannot stand them. This tea has a very distinct overwhelming licorice flavor. It’s too rich so that I can’t taste the “lemon grass tang” two leaves’ description claims (sorry guys). I wonder what other people think about this tea. Perhaps, I just don’t like rooibos.