VAHDAM, Silver Pine Needle White Tea Loose Leaf 50g | Caffeine Free, Gluten Free | Pure Unblended Loose Leaf Tea | Vacuum Sealed | Brew As Hot, Iced Or Kombucha Tea

I've recently acquired a taste for Oolong tea. I also drink a selection of black and herbal teas frequently. This just simply isn't Oolong. perhaps it is cultivated or prepared in some Oolong fashion, but it's not Oolong when all is said and done and it's in your cup. When I smell the dry tea leaves, I don't get much of that Oolong aroma, but I could detect the scent of black tea. It's not a strong as a typical black tea, but that is the dominant fragrance. Also, the tea leaves are in such small pieces. After steeping, it is apparent that they are chopped or torn up pretty badly. One of the signature traits of premium Oolong is that the leaves are kept whole and rolled or "furled" during the drying process. It's this that allows them to often be infused multiple times.Immediately after the steep, there are some subtle Oolong fragrances going, but they fade away fast and all that remains is that of black tea. The taste is not bad at all, but it is just missing the subtle flavors of Oolong and just tastes like a really smooth and clean finished black tea. There is nothing bad about it, but it's simply not Oolong. Not in practice, not in fragrance, and not in taste. Take that how you will. It is, however, a decent quality tea and would be better received if they would just call it Darjeeling and be done with it. I have given it three stars mainly for that reason.Edit and Update: After a few more times to enjoy this tea, I can say that it is quite good. So I guess if this is the Oolong processing methods applied to very good Indian tea and the result is excellent. Maybe not the exact tradition that it was named for, but something great nonetheless. Moving it up to 5 stars as this tea was a gateway to finding some other really good VAHDAM teas.

I’ll begin by saying that I mostly drink black tea and am new to oolongs. My experience with them so far has consisted of a handful of tie guan yins, that dark oolong served in American Chinese restaurants, and a crappy fruit flavoured one. So I’m not an oolong expert. Having said that, I really enjoyed this Darjeeling take on oolong and think it’s a very interesting tea.I don’t agree with the reviews that say it’s more like a black tea than an oolong. The dry leaf is darker leaves mostly but also lighter hues including some that are rather green. I don’t know it’s exact oxidation but it’s clearly less than most black teas. It IS more like some Darjeelings (because it is one…) but it still struck me as different. In particular, I preferred this oolong to both Vahdams spring and summer Darjeeling, though it should be noted I’ve only had the teabag versions of those.Despite the darker dry leaves, Vahdam recommends brewing this tea from 175-194 F and I agree. I felt this tea was boring and muddled when brewed with boiling water and still undistinguished at 205. I’d even say aim for the lower end. I like it best around 185, but also liked it at 175. So treat it more like a green tea than a black tea, or at least like a greener Darjeeling, for the best results.When brewed the aroma is an appealing melange of grass, dried fruit, and cocoa. There are occasional hints of the muscatel notes of some second flush Darjeelings. The flavour is mellow, earthy, and fruity, with hints of fig and a variable level of cocoaness. The lower the brewing temp the more fruity, with more coca and earthiness emerging with higher brewing temps. There is a pleasant light astringency and a bit of citrus in the finish. I don’t recommend adding milk or sweetening as most of the flavours are subtle. The tea resteeps pretty well, particularly when the initial brew is cooler. I found the second steeps to be lighter, more vegetal and grassy but still enjoyable.I liked this tea and would recommend it to black tea drinkers who want to branch out some and to Darjeeling fans. As for serious oolong drinkers, those who know the ins and outs of Wuyi tea or Taiwanese high mountain oolongs, I don’t know. Your art is a strange one I hope to learn. At the least, an Indian oolong is fairly rare and might be worth a look.

As a long time tea lover of all kinds, herbal and caffeinated, I was amazed and happy to find a really great Fair Trade source from India for Earl Grey in white (EG is flavored with a hint of Bergamot, a type of orange, not lavender BTW).I'm now on a very restrictive diet to regain my health eliminating ALL caffeine (sigh) tho due to its low caffeine, anti-oxidant and other health benefits, white teas are allowed. Phew. If you think de-caffeinated tea/coffee is ok for you, try looking up what chemicals are used to do that... ugh! But herb teas just weren't cutting it for the 1st morning brew. And there are VERY few white tea sources (do NOT get me started on Lipton etc with their bland dust fragments in chemical-ridden tea bags). So I was very happy to find Vahdam's many types of white teas, not just Earl Grey.The Earl Grey White from Vahdam is every bit as good as the regular black tea variety I'm used to, maybe better. Lower in caffeine than the black but the taste is fuller, more flavorful. Huh. Who knew?Founder Mr Sarda's integrity and business sense shows when you receive the product. OK maybe the packaging is a bit much for people like me who usually buy bulk but it is awesome : a delivery vacuum-sealed bag, another smaller ziploc to repackage your allotment for the week in to keep it fresh, both of which are lined with that silver food grade material, a coupon, info on the company, etc, all very pretty and elegant. You get 50 gm (that's 1.7+ oz or about; if packed tightly, 4 Tbl or 1/4 cup dry weight tea leaves for we Americans) which doesn't sound like a lot BUT consider that these are the actual tea leaves (go ahead, measure the crumbs and dust from a "regular" tea bag), and these are tips no less, where all the goodness, the taste and the health benefits are concentrated... AND you can re-steep the same big leaves 3+ times and still get the same taste (again, we Americans don't usually know tea as well). So its not so pricey after all, is it?On top of the value you are actually getting for a decent, lovely, aromatic tea that makes you say, Wow that's Nice! vs something that's just hot water, bearable if you add sugar and cream, there's more: The company's founder in India, Mr Bala Sarda, has spent years cultivating the teas, sourcing them and developing his business while treating his workers to a decent wage and living conditions. How many companies can say that? Can say that 1% of your purchase goes to the education of the boys AND GIRLS who are the children of his workers! We take for granted our public education in the US, not available to all in many other countries. So, my hat's off to you Mr Sarda. Thank you.I will definitely re-purchase my Earl Grey White from Vahdam and am looking into the many other varieties of white teas offered as well; then branch out into the other black varieties once I'm well again. I know as I'm sipping this tea it's NOT from the disrespected labor of someone who gets a bowl of rice a day for harvesting it. I challenge you to google the story of this brand, read the dedication to the plantations, the workers and the teas that are named Vahdam. Then taste them. Samplers are available too. You'll be a dedicated convert to this Vahdam brand as I am. Oh, and I did NOT get a free sample to write this review (Tho I wouldn't pass one up-wink!). Entirely a random customer.Highly recommend!

Lots of different flavours for my friend to enjoy. She loved this as a gift. The packaging was nice as well.

Solicité el té por las propiedades del mismo y si hay beneficios. Un poco alto su precio pero es un producto de excelente calidad, sabor presentación y frescura.

Tastes great

Producto de calidad.Te lo recomiendo ampliamente, es de lo mejor.

Great taste. The packaging ensures it will fresh when you get it and while you use it.