Tea Name: North Indian Manjhee Valley Premium SFTGFOP1
Tea Type: Black tea
Brand of Tea: TeaGschwendner
Form: Loose leaf
Cost: $8.75 for 50 grams, quantity discounts available
Review: When I talk to people about tea, I often find myself correcting the (quite understandable) misconception that black, green, white, and oolong teas are each made from different plants.
I explain that different types of teas are the result of different processing methods. I also explain that one can't always tell a tea's "type" just by the color of the leaf or the infused liquor: Sometimes "green" teas will appear brown in the cup, just as a "black" tea might look green.
Today's tea is a case in point.
Technically speaking, North Indian Manjhee Valley Premium SFTGFOP1 is a black tea. It is made in the Himalayas, and bears some resemblance to the famous teas of Darjeeling. The dry leaves, however, look for all the world like green tea: They are a dark olive in color, sprinkled liberally with brighter, silvery green tips. The dry nose is pungent: Woody and with a hint of green bell pepper.
The tea infuses to sparkling yellow-gold liquor that maintains its woody/vegetal nose. It is slightly sharp at first sip, is light bodied, and has a refreshing floral backnote along with its more prominent vegetal/woody qualities. My mouth feels a tad tingly after drinking it and the finish lingers for a long time.
I tried this tea on ice, as well, and found that it took on a very different character: The nose practically disappeared (though I expected this to happen), but the tea began to show a crisp mineral tang on the palate that reminded me a bit of Sauvignon Blanc wine. Yummy and very refreshing.
This is a fascinating tea, well-worth trying.
Tips: A little leaf goes a long way. Don't oversteep, and don't use too much leaf. Experiment to see what suits your taste best. Either drink this tea by itself or, perhaps, with some plainly cooked whitefish.
For more info: North Indian Manjhee Valley tea can be purchased at TeaGschwendner's Chicago or Algonquin locations as well as online. Visit TeaGschwendner online at www.teamerchants.com.
Comments
Is this a green tea? Because that's what it sounds like. A black tea that's like a green. Sounds like it bridges the two quite well.
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