Capital Teas
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See All 147 TeasRecent Tasting Notes
So if you didn’t already know I am reviewing 9 teas I received from Capital Teas on my blog www.MyTeasandMore.com and am giving people an opportunity to purchase a sample set of all 9 of the teas to try, review, and perhaps compare notes. I thought would be a nice way to do a tea tasting from any where we all may be. This tea is number 3 of 9 for me. I found didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped I would. Way to cinnamon and not enough roll. Check out my blog www.MyTeasandMore.com for a more complete review, purchase information can be found there too if interested.
Preparation
Sweet but not tart. I liked this because the blueberry tasted authentic. For a full review…
Preparation
I tried this tea again last week. I enjoyed it much more than the first time I tried it – I think cleaning the Breville helped a lot. I tried different temperatures ranging from 195 to 212, but tended to like the below boiling temps better. I got several (4-6?) infusions from this and enjoyed all but the last one. I’d increase this rating from my previous 77, but still wouldn’t put it as high as my most favorit teas.
Preparation
I’ve had the second and third infusions of this tea. I increased the steep time by thirty seconds for the second infusion and another thirty seconds for the third infusion. I preferred the second of the three, but it wasn’t a “knock your socks off” tea. It was very good, but not something that I have to eventually have in what I foresee as less than ten teas in my cupboard – especially at the higher price of this tea.
Preparation
As you may know, Darjeeling has been a prized black tea, known by many as the “champagne” of teas. When properly brewed, Darjeelings yield a thin-bodied, light-colored tea with a floral aroma. and a musky spiciness referred to as “muscatel.” Note that Darjeelings are not 100% oxidized (typically 90%), so they are not fully black teas and have oolong characteristics – and are not as bold as other blacks.
The Margaret’s Hope Darjeeling comes from a tea estate that gets its name from a memorable story. A tea planter was visiting his estate in India the early 1900s with his daughter Margaret. She fell in love with the tea gardens hoped to return one day and spend the rest of her life there. However, on the voyage home, she tragically died at sea. Her grieving father named the estate Margaret’s Hope in memory of his daughter and her dream.
The Darjeeling from Margaret’s Hope has also been reported to age well, developing a welcoming sweetness with a more subdued Darjeeling scent over two to five years. This particular leaf is graded FTGFOP, Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe, a very high grade of tea leaf sought by tea connoisseurs`. Hence, it’s higher than average price.
For a bolder-tasting Darjeeling, you might consider our Organic Darjeeling, which has a much strong flavor profile.
Peter Martino, CEO
Capital Teas, LLC
Thanks for your input, Peter. I use a Breville tea maker, so I expect that my teas generally should be “properly brewed.” I did make the effort to clean my tea maker well yesterday and today, so I’ll try the Mararet’s Hope again soon.
I noticed that one of my green teas was a little brown in color, especially after the second infusion. So, I’m hopeful that I"m back to a better cup of tea now. I’ll post more comments later in the week.
I’ll also consider the Organic Darjelling. Thanks again for your information.
This is very good, but at 3 minutes I think it was understeeped. It did not have the up front tannins that I associate with Darjeeling teas, but I did experience some of the “normal” dryness I associate with the tannins in tea. This is a wonderful tea – I’m looking forward to a second infusion later.
Preparation
I just reviewed this little jem on my blog. Check it out for a full detailed review…
Preparation
I’ve had a smoky russian tea before, and didn’t like it, but after hearing about trying it with jam, I was curious. When we stopped in Capital Teas we did get a chance to talk to a lady originally from Russia and she recommended that we try raspberry and black currant in the tea.
So. I’ve been nervous about trying it, since I’ve tried it before and didn’t like it, but this morning I blithely told my husband to pick whatever he wanted. That’s what he picked.
Well, he seems to like it (but he put a LOT of jam in his cup – about 6 to 8 oz of tea and 2 heaping spoons of jam).
I took one sip and gagged. It’s a unique flavor. The jam mellows the smoke, but the smoke is still there and I don’t like the smoke and fruit flavors at the same time. It’s just too weird for me.
Anyway, I tried it!
Interesting about the jam in tea—I read about that on Samovar’s description. I’m curious about it too. Thanks for documenting your experience!
denisend: I’m sorry that this tea didn’t work for you, but, in a small way I’m glad to read that someone else has a problem with the smoky teas too. I don’t mind just a little bit of smoke, in fact, it adds to the character of the tea a bit, but too much is just TOO much… I feel like a minority here on Steepster though. LOL
I wouldn’t feel bad about not liking it if I were you. If you don’t care much for smoke in teas, I don’t think any amount of jam could save it for you.
I’m super-proud that you gave it a try!!! :) But sorry that it was still an icky experience :(
It’s okay, I lived! Thanks for the condolences! :-)
The first few sips just tasted like a regular black tea, but the longer I let it linger in my mouth the more the unique flavors of it come out. It’s a little malty, but not unpleasantly so (I don’t like malt!). It’s just a hint of malt.
This is a unique experiment for me (I usually either drink breakfast blacks or flavored) and it’s interesting. I don’t like it enough to buy it (it was a free sample), but I’m glad I tried it.
