I actually came across this brand on Instagram. However, it was a UK brand. Thankfully, I did some digging and found out that they had a Canadian arm, so I reached out to buy some samples. Paul, one of the brothers, was kind enough to send me some teas and some tea filters!
Paul actually sent me 5 samples, but two of them had cinnamon, so I am unable to review those since I have a sensitivity to that particular ingredient. That being said, there is still a nice range – a green tea, black tea and a black tea blend.
Now that that is out of the way, let’s go!
Tropical Green
Description: “Try quiet contemplation with this blend of refreshing Sencha green tea with tropical fruits and a hint of ginger.”
Review: This blend came in a beautiful silver little tin, which I am definitely going to keep. When I popped off the lid, I didn’t have to lean in order to smell a bright, tropical, and sweet aroma. I have to say that it lived up to its name! I found the aroma very uplifting. The wet leaves were sweet and pineapple-ish and had some fruity flavours.
The yellow liquor had a nice sencha flavour, which was mildly roasted. The pineapples were not as strong as in the aroma and took awhile to kick in. I found that despite the very strong aroma, the liquor was more on the subtle side. The grassiness from the sencha does overpower the other flavours, so if you want a delicate blend that has a hint of tropical flavours, this would be a nice one to try (3/5 rating).
- Type: Green tea
- Origin: Unknown
- Caffeine: Unknown
- Ingredients: Green Tea, ginger, flavouring (peach and pineapple), marigold flower petals
- Company: Shibui Tea
English Breakfast
Description: “Invigorate your day with this robust and flavoursome tea.”
Review: Since the brand originated from the UK, I was happy to see English Breakfast as one of the teas! This was a blend of Assam, Ceylon and Tanzanian black teas and the aroma was malty and toasty. The leaves were mostly a dark black colour, but some of the tips were reddish and others were yellow. After steeping, it had a nice, warm, and sweet aroma, which reminded me of other English Breakfasts.
The blend had a nice classic taste. I found it very comforting. The liquor was a dark reddish brown and was slightly cloudy. There was a hint of bitterness, but it quickly dissipated and became more earthy. It is a very robust blend but I didn’t find it overpoweringly so.
I’ve never had Tanzania black tea before, that I could taste between the Assam and the Ceylon. The flavour was nice and brisk and the flavour grew on me the more I drank it (3.5/5 rating).
- Type: Black tea
- Origin: Unknown
- Caffeine: Unkown
- Ingredients: Black tea
- Other: Great Taste 2016 winner
- Company: Shibui Tea
Imperial Yunnan Organic
Description: “A speciality from the highland region of Yunnan. Large, golden-brown leaf and golden tips yield a copper-brown infusion with a well-balanced taste.”
Review: I actually rather enjoy black teas from China, so this was another tea that caught my eye. The leaves were dark with golden yellow tips and had a sweet, earthy and cocoa aroma. After steeping, the liquor and the wet leaves had a warm malty and bread-like aroma.
The liquor was a dark brown and it gave me a nostalgic vibe because it reminded me of going to dim-sum as a child. The liquor was warm, earthy, and smoky, there was a hint of charcoal that lingered. I expected a more malty tasting tea. However, this smokier taste works for me as well! This would be nice for someone who is looking for more an earthy and smoky tea (3.5/5 rating).
- Type: Black tea
- Origin: China
- Caffeine: Uknown
- Ingredients: Chinese black tea
- Other: Organic
- Company: Shibui Tea
Final Thoughts
I have to say, I am pretty happy with what I got from Shibui Tea! The teas were lovely and something I could see myself reaching for again. The package also came very quickly – I recall that I received it the day after they shipped it!
Shibui Tea has a pretty big selection, but the teas seem to be only sold in a range from 100 grams to 250 grams. That being said, they are still quite affordable. My only wish is that they sold sample sizes because there are so many teas I want to try!
When you buy teas, what sizes do you like buying?
