The weather is getting cooler and I’m finally thinking about warmer drinks. I’ve practically been living on iced coffee since about July and just up until last week it was still sweaty enough to justify a cold drink in the morning. Fall has finally decided to show up and I am ready for all things cozy including a hot mug of tea.
While I usually have a cup of coffee in the morning, I sip tea throughout the rest of the day. Usually an herbal tea, but sometimes I like to get fancy and have fancy tea. You know fancy tea, right? The kind you might put out if say the Queen came over? Ok, so the Queen isn’t visiting any time soon, but I can pretend, right?
I didn’t start trying out loose leaf tea—a.k.a. fancy tea—until about 5 or so years ago. Why make tea more work? I could just dunk a bag in hot water and be done with it. No need to worry about a tea strainer and temperature and steeping times. Trust me, if you like tea and have never tried loose leaf, it’s a whole new tea world.
Adagio Teas
I usually get my loose leaf tea from a local tea shop because I like supporting local businesses. But a few years back, Adagio Teas contacted me to try some of their new teas and I got hooked. Luckily for me, they have a shop right near me and I can get their fantastic tea there or online. While I like their whole line of teas, I was extremely excited to learn about their new line of Masters Teas. It really takes their tea to the next level.
What’s special about this tea is that they are all as direct from farm to your mug as you can get. Each of the teas is grown from four different regions and Adagio has worked closely with each of the farmers growing the tea. They have cultivated a close relationship with these farmers so they can learn as much about the tea they sell as possible. When you go to the website, you can see exactly which farmer grew the tea you want and where it came from. You can learn about the farmer as well as the tea you’re about to enjoy including how to brew it and what makes it so special to the farmer.
I got eight different teas to sample and they truly were a level above my regular mug of tea.
I enjoyed:
- tongmu jin jum mei
- jun shan yin zhen
- da fo long jing
- zhang ping shui xian
- shincha genmaicha
- gong ting puerh
- yun wu
- traditional ti kuan yin
While each one was unique and different, I have to say my favorites were the shincha genmaicha and the da fo long jing. The shincha genmaicha tea was a surprise because it had roasted and puffed tea mixed in with the tea leaves. The rice gave the tea a nice roasted flavor and a special change to my tea. I also loved the chestnut notes in the da fo long jing and think it’s a perfect tea to enjoy in the fall.
If you want a chance to try some really great tea, all you have to do is head over to Adagio and start picking out your favorite. I encourage you to really read about the farmers because it was fun to get to learn about the people who make the things I enjoy. Once you’ve picked your tea, start sipping! And make sure you follow those tips from the farmers because it can make a big difference.
Thanks to Adagio for letting me try some fantastic teas and making it simple to learn more about the tea I enjoy!
