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La Perse Saffron Teas

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So, when I think of a luxury tea I think of a really old pu’er cake or a taiwanese oolong blended by an old school tea master. What about luxury tea blends? Off the top of my head, teas with mulberries run pricey. How about teas with saffron in it, saffron being a very expensive spice? La Perse, UK tea seller, sells a saffron tea collection! I met this tea seller at the World Tea Expo. From what I read on the website, their teas are fair trade. I have the whole collection here: Black Ceylon Tea, Chamomile Flowers, Royal… Continue reading, hoot!

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2014 4th Annual Los Angeles International Tea Festival

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As much as I miss living in Canada, living in the Los Angeles area has its perks with lots of festivals in town. I was stocked to go to this years Los Angeles International Tea Festival to say hi to fellow tea lovers I met last year and the World Tea Expo, attend the tea workshops and most importantly – drink all the samples! As with last year’s Los Angeles International Tea Festival, the festival was held at the Japanese American National Museum, August 16th and 17th. The location seemed tighter this year as there were a few more vendors this year, way… Continue reading, hoot!

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Organic Medium Oolong from Arum Tea – Tea Review

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Organic Medium Oolong is a 50% oxidized oolong sold by Arum Tea. This oolong is grown in a single estate tea plantation located in Halimun Mountain, West Java Indonesia. This is another tea I got from the World Tea Expo! Indonesian teas are very good, and I got pretty crazy over this medium roast oolong, as with the name sake of Oolong Owl, I love a good dark oolong. Arum Tea also has a light roast oolong, black and green tea – I’ll review those at another time. Dry Leaf These oolong wads are huge! Organic Medium Oolong has a bread crust toasty scent. Steeping… Continue reading, hoot!

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Aloha Girl Tea from Tea Xotics – Oolong Owl Tea Review

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I was introduced to Tea Xotics at the World Tea Expo this year.  Tea Xotics is an online tea seller (and Tea House) based in Shingle Springs, California. I love the packing their teas – the graphics are pretty and there is something about white packaging on tea that makes it inviting, clean and a change of pace. Tea Xotics has many really cool tea blends in their tea line up. The tea we’ll be checking out today is Aloha Girl Tea, a rooibos and honeybush tea blend with island fruits such as pineapple and ginger. Yes, another Hawaii themed tea! Dry Leaf I wish I had more information on… Continue reading, hoot!

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Nonpareil Cha Wang Tai Ping Hou Kui Green Tea from Teavive – Tea Review

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Nonpareil Cha Wang Tai Ping Hou Kui Green Tea is an April 2014 harvest green tea from Huangshan Mountain, Anhui Province, China. This handmade tea is sold by Teavivre, online tea seller based in China. Tai Ping Hou Kui green teas seem to of slipped under my radar – I’ve seen this green tea sold at various tea sellers, but in the photographs I thought it was a dragonwell and skipped it. Tai Ping Hou Kui green teas in photos really need to show the scale of the leaf – I didn’t know how impressive this tea was until seeing it in person… Continue reading, hoot!

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August Simple Loose Leaf Selection Club – Tea Review

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It’s August! For me August means as busy month as I will be overwhelmed with pomegranates from my tree and my tea hating husband’s birthday! Also, with a new month I get another Simple Loose Leaf Selection Tea Club box! I got to say, Simple Loose Leaf has great timing on shipments as I tend to get my box on the first or second business day of the month! If you are new to Simple Loose Leaf, Each month you get to choose from a selection of 5 teas. You may also select the option of sampling all 5 teas, or… Continue reading, hoot!

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Zen Tea Traders – Oolong Owl Tea Review

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One of the first booths I encountered at the World Tea Expo 2014 was Zen Tea Traders, who were super nice. Zen Tea Traders has some interesting blends, as well as some solid classic unflavored teas. Today I have Earl Grey Tahitian Blend and Peachy Peony. The teas I’m sampling came in tea bags, but Zen Tea Traders sells the tea in loose leaf. We also have a guest Oolong Owl assistant – Amigurumi Critter Fox! Tasting of Zen Tea Traders’ Earl Grey Tahitian Blend Earl Grey Tahitian Blend dry leaf has a bergamont zesty goodness scent and interestingly I can also smell a sweet creamy finish. The steeping instructions… Continue reading, hoot!

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Foxy Roxy’s Banana Walnut Treat Tea from Butiki Teas

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Foxy Roxy’s Banana Walnut Treat Tea is a congou keemun black tea blend with organic walnuts, freeze dried bananas and organic lotus stamens. This tea is blended and sold by Butiki Teas, online tea seller based in New Jersey, USA. Bananas and walnuts are a staple at my house, so whenever I feel like it I can whip up a banana bread or making my husband’s favorite banana pancakes. Banana flavored things are more often misses with me, especially if it has that gross artificial taste. I was the kid who’d give all their banana runts to my dad. I’ve… Continue reading, hoot!

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Sampling Jaksul Cha, Korean Green Teas from Hankook Tea

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I’ve been really wanting to try Korean Green Teas. DESPERATELY! Korean teas, at least here in North America, seem to be harder to find and pricey. Plus, if I do find a korean green tea it be only one – how do I know it’s good? I still need to comb through Los Angeles K-town, but I frequent Korean grocery stores often and they usually carry barley/corn/bean teas, genmaicha and nothing in high quality loose leaf. To add some premise to my spazing of wanting Korean teas – it started with me trying Korean food and falling in love, as I love… Continue reading, hoot!

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Hawaiian Mamaki Tea from Mama-kii – Oolong Owl Tea Review

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Yes, Hawaiian Tea Time! Well, technically caffeine free tisane time. Let’s try out a Hawaiian Mamaki Tea sold by Mama-kii! I ran into Mama-kii at the World Tea Expo this year and this is where I first learned about mamaki tea. I love trying new teas! Mamaki is native to Hawaii and has been consumed for centuries by Hawaiians. Mama-kii‘s mamaki tea is grown on a state certified mamaki plantation. The growing conditions for mamaki is amazing with fertile volcanic soil, rainfall water and high elevation of 2,000 to 6,000 feet. The leaves are gigantic too! WHOA! Dry leaf Mama-kii‘s Hawaiian Mamaki Tea is… Continue reading, hoot!