Tea Runners Review July 2017
Tea Runners is the world’s finest tea club. Every month their members receive a curated collection of four of the world’s best loose leaf teas, along with tasting notes and brewing instructions. Each box contains enough tea for 30-50 cups. Tea Runners brings the undiscovered world of small batch loose leaf tea to your door. They receive dozens of samples every month, taste them all, and select only the best. They kindly sent us this box for review.
July 2017
Las month we attended the World Tea Expo in Las Vegas and tasted dozens of the best teas on the planet. Among many greats, one of them, a 2nd flush Darjeeling black tea, was the best tea we’ve ever tasted. Well, so far.
We also had the pleasure of tasting the winner in the extremely competitive Black Tea category (in other words, literally the best black tea in the world). It was outstanding! And Luckily, we got our hands on enough to bring it to you this fall, fellow tea lover!
This month we bring you Black Gold Biluochun (SO good), and also a refreshing green/white blend that’s great on ice, the relaxing Mystic Mint, and– in time for the Game of Thrones season premiere– the Dragon Claw Oolong.. Sip carefully, for this tea is dark and full of terror.
I receive quite a few tea boxes each month, but the presentation of Tea Runners alone puts them at the top of my list! From the box to the gold bags, to the descriptions of the tea on the bags, to the variety of tea they bring and the exclusive flavours, Tea Runners really is an outstanding box!
The leaves that make up this special tea are as fresh as it gets, harvested just last spring in Simao to form a malt black Yunnan pure tea. These little pellets benefit from short-term aging to make a smooth but sturdy cup to waken the senses and boost energy levels, while the palate is left with hints of chocolate and flowers. Enjoy multiple steepings to get the most out of your leaves, or try it iced as a refreshing summer sip.
Wow! This sounds delicious! I love the sound of chocolate and flowers. I often will steep leaves a couple times, especially if I’m at work, so I like that this is actually a recommendation on this one.
This sharp and lingering Oolong is aptly named, because as the tea leaves open, they resemble claws unfurling. These leaves are plucked at the beginning of the harvest after summer when the leaves are dark green, but the cup steeps to a beautiful amber colour with a nutty toasted finish and the sweet tartness of apricot. We’re huge fans of Oolong in general, but this one is just spectacular.
Ok, I think it’s finally time I explored the Oolong world! I have not done this yet, as this tea is just so unknown to me, but considering this one has been called spectacular, I should give it a try!
An organic blend of green a white teas with dragon fruit and pomegranate, the fruitiness of this tea is balanced perfectly with a grassy lemon tartness. While light and breezy, this tea packs a sophisticated punch that leaves you wanting more. We love this tea hot as well as iced, especially with tropical fruit such as pineapple or mango added to your cup to deepen the exotic flavours of this worldly beauty.
Wow! Sounds amazing. I think I will try this one cold. I wonder if some frozen pineapple would be a good way to add in that taste. Will have to try.
This seemingly simple blend of peppermint, cardamom, and licorice root combine to form a deep and uplifting complexity to refresh your spirits. Savour the sweet notes of basil with a slight hint of clove as you relax and digest after a meal, or as an un-caffeinated night cap to settle the body for sleep. If you think you don’t like caffeine-free teas, mystic mint may change your tune.
I am a huge mint girl! Love me some mint tea! It’s actually the first tea I would brew cold and then just drink all day long. Loved it. I’m really liking the sound of basil in this. I’m so curious.
Tea Runners July 2017 – Final Thoughts
I’m so impressed, once again. When a box keeps knocking it out of the park I feel like I run out of things to say! How can I keep singing the praises of Tea Runners?? I love the amount of tea you get here. You really get more than a taste, you get a few pots worth or quite a few cups worth. This really gives you the chance to find out if these are flavours you would like to have stick around in your collection. Often when I get a tea sample and find out I love it I get stuck with where to get more. Tea Runners provides enough of each sample to sip now and later if you want! I love that. They do such a great job of sourcing their teas as well. Did you see they went to the World Tea Expo in Las Vegas?! How awesome is that. They also mentioned they were able to get their hands on some of the best black tea in the world for their fall boxes! Now’s the time to subscribe.
-Shonah