Sinharaja

This may be my favorite unflavored black tea. It’s so freaking delicious! I made some at work with microwaved water and it was still delicious! It tastes like a smooth malty berry tea. I see another order from Golden Moon in my near future; however I’ve got to get through some of my massive cupboard of tea first! I really want to try their keemum! Oh the temptation!

I received a very generous sample of this from bluebelle in our February swap. Thank you!

This is a nice Ceylon. The cup smelled fruity with a sugary smell. This was very nice and smooth. I might try my next cup with a touch of milk and honey. I really enjoy Ceylon’s in the afternoon and this was a nice cup. Thank you for sharing!

This is one of my favorite black teas. When I think of black tea this is what I want simple slightly robust intoxicating smell. Soothes me all over! I can get 2 flavorful steeps easily and the third just doesn’t quite do it for me. I use 1 heaping tsp. for 8 oz steep at 208 for 3 min first infusion and 4 min for second infusion. I have tried making sinharaja in my beloved Breville but it just doesn’t work for me the flavor is just not there.

This tea has almost a peppery, burnt toast flavor that actually tastes quite good with the underlying black tea notes. It is full-bodied tea with a good mouthfeel and low astringency.

Sample. First steep at boiling and 4 minutes was really bitter for me, even with my usual touch of half&half and honey. Dumped it out. But based on other reviews, I decided to steep it again, but this time for 3:30, and that was better. Had plain, then added some sugar, then some half&half. All were fine. To me, just tasted like a mild black tea.

Made a bland tea. When I examined the steeped “leaves”, I noticed that this tea was full of stalks and twigs. Hardly any leaf at all. Bad batch?

Not bad!

Brewed 4 min. 1 Tsp raw sugar. Hot.
I was afraid to try this tea. Usually when my friends say “try this black tea” I start making faces and trying to weasel my way out of having to drink it. I don’t like teas that make your face pucker up with tannins and bitterness. I don’t like that weird malt sensation in my mouth. And I really don’t like teas that call themselves smooth and sweet and then leave the acrid water after taste.
This tea is none of any of that. The first cup is a little toasty for me however, tolerable… But if you re-brew this tea it seems that the second cup might be the sweetest, mellowest tea with an after taste that lingers and doesn’t turn sour.
Second brew is totally awesome.
First brew is perfectly fine for a black tea.