Today I have some more Young Mountain Tea. I’ve encountered them often at my local tea festivals and enjoyed the quality of their tea. A while back, I reviewed their Kumaon White, which is an excellent white tea that I have squirreled away to age. I also have some of their black teas in my stash.
Young Mountain Tea has come out with a line of organic tea bags for easy drinking. I dislike the waste of teabags, however, Young Mountain Tea packages everything in cardboard and the packets and teabag are made out of biodegradable sugarcane. I’m trying their black teas today, so let’s get drinking.
All these teas are steeped in boiling water.
Golden Black from Young Mountain Tea
Golden Black is impressively bittersweet and milk chocolate, walnut wood, with swirls of clover honey and vanilla. It’s a richly flavored, milky texture with an aftertaste of sweet honey and dried dark Turkish apricots. This a robust tea to wake you up in the morning, and likely can take a spot of milk.
I am impressed by how strong Golden Black is despite it being in a tea bag.
Admittedly, I didn’t take the tea bag out and it continued to get stronger dark chocolate and brisk, but only slightly bitter. I started off strong as this was my favorite out of all the teas.
Darjeeling Tea bag from Young Mountain Tea
I am not a Darjeeling fan, but let’s give this a go. This tea sips in a distinct floral grape over a light caramel and overall a light, sweet vibe. It’s got an interesting mandarin orange aroma without the zest. As the aroma builds I cannot tell if I’m tasting of smelling that mandarin orange or if it just infiltrated through my sinuses. Young Mountain Tea’s Darjeeling resteeps brisk and astringent, but the first infusion is good.
Indian Breakfast from Young Mountain Tea
This tea is malty, brisk, bit of bittersweet chocolate, with plenty of dark raisins flavor. There is an underlying tart note and wood. Either way, this tea is dark, burly, and needs a splash of milk to make a perfect afternoon tea session. The fruity notes would pair well with sweets. Young Mountain Tea’s Indian Breakfast is a more complex take on breakfast teas.
Earl Grey from Young Mountain Tea
Young Mountain Tea’s Earl Grey is zesty crisp citrus from the bergamot with dark caramel and tart citrus. It is rich and sharp citrus tasting, immediately slapping me awake. This tea is brisk and a bit astringent, drying the gums of my teeth. Overall, a heavy bergamot flavor, but is clean and distinct. If you love high bergamot earl grey with a good quality tea base, this one fits the bill. This would also be a good one iced or cold brewed for a refreshing citrus black tea.
(tea provided for review)
