37 Tasting Notes
This is a lovely black tea. It’s different than my favorite Mandala black, Black Gold, but unique to itself. Very malty and fragrant, with hints of subtle sweetness.
Flavors: Apricot, Bread, Caramel, Earth, Malt
Preparation
This is my first Sheng, and I love it! It took me a while to get used to Pu’er tea, as I’m more of a fan of Oolongs and Chinese Black (Red) teas. Very lovely and I’m reaping the health benefits of Pu’er!
Flavors: Bamboo, Cinnamon, Earth, Licorice, Molasses, Nuts, Sweet Potatoes, Yams
Preparation
Still my favorite tea. My current batch is from the fall harvest. There are some unique differences compared to the spring pick. I didn’t realize the time of year could affect the flavor. The fall harvest has more caramel and buttery notes compared to the spring crop. The spring crop is a little more floral.
Flavors: Caramel, Fruit Tree Flowers, Honey, Vanilla, Yams
Preparation
It’s a nice Dragonwell, but I’m relatively inexperience when it comes to this variety. I can only reference Mandala’s Valley Peak. They’re similar, but Mandala’s has more of the buttery flavor that I love. I will have to revisit this tea again and give a more accurate review.
Flavors: Asparagus, Butter
Preparation
I purchased this tea because I wanted to know more about Indian teas.
This tea has almost the same kick as a cup of coffee. I switched to tea to avoid that supercharged feeling. Oh well.
That being said, it’s still a very nice tea. It’s less fruity and a bit smoother compared to a typical Darjeeling. Slightly bitter, even when steeped at lower temperatures or a time less than recommended.
I would recommend this tea to someone making the switch from coffee. I have to say I now prefer Chinese blacks, but this will do in a pinch. Not a bad tea.
Preparation
I finally ordered a couple ounces of this tea. I first tried it as a sample that came with a previous order from Mandala.
WOW! Blown away from this batch! I had three cups this morning.
The flavor and aroma are unbelievable. Very savory like steamed green veggies with grass fed butter. A nice creamy mouth feel that lingers on the tongue with no astringency. When I drink this tea, I can only imagine it was created by a true tea master. Now I know what real green tea is. I’m in love! I highly recommend this organic tea!
Preparation
I woke up early this morning after working late last night.
First of all, it’s black tea and I needed the caffeine to kick me in the pants. So I steeped up some of this Lapsang from Mandala for the first time this morning.
The description is accurate on Mandala’s website. By the smell of the leaves, I was expecting to drink liquid smoke, but two American style cups in, I can tell you that the smokiness is subtle. It does not overpower the flavor of the leaves, and its very satisfying on its own. I may have committed a cardinal sin, but I added stevia and fresh lemon juice to my second cup as an experiment. This tea can handle both very well. The lemon enhanced the flavor and brought a smile to my face.
Overall, another excellent tea from Mandala! I recommend this tea if you’re looking for something different in a black other than an Assam, Darjeeling, or Keemun.