I’m not entirely certain what it is about peppermint that makes it so imbibable. It could be the invigorating tingling we feel on our tongue when we drink it. It could be the exciting clarity to the nostrils it brings. Maybe it’s the relaxing lull after it’s been consumed. Or maybe it’s some combination of all those things.

All I can say for sure is that we use peppermint in all kinds of teas, tisanes and drinks. It’s amazingly flexible and accomodating.

This Ceylon (Sri Lankan) black tea blended with peppermint and ginger root blend together for for a palate inspiring brew!

The leaves are a dark combination of brow-black tea leaves roughly 1/16 an inch in length (BOP) blended with bright green mint leaves and occasional small white ginger root pieces. The dry aroma is minty and fresh with just a hint of ginger zing. There’s no real sense of the ‘tea’ in this mixture.

Once brewed the liquor turns out a honeyed red-orange. The aroma becomes almost equal parts tea and peppermint. It’s not nearly as minty as when the leaves were dry, but equally sweet smelling and a touch of something extra, I presume to be the ginger.

The flavor is very well balanced as well. The peppermint is clearly there, but not as forceful as I’d expected. The black teas’ puckery astringency somes through nicely but subdued just enough. The ginger comes through in the finish, but still only lightly. The menagerie of flavorful textures is very well done.

I would recommend this tea to any fan of peppermint teas. Also, fans of hot chocolate, mocha coffee drinks, malty Assam teas and muscatel Darjeelings may enjoy this brew.

Please Support This Advertiser

While I personally feel a tour of a tea facility would be almost equally as exciting… there’s no way I would turn down $1500 just for buying tea I like anyway!

I’ve reviewed a number of Tavalon’s teas including their NYC Breakfast and more recently their Indian Mint. All were very good.

This promotion is exciting and I sincerely recommend taking part. Unlike Wonka Bars, tea is pretty much universally healthy for you… So even if you don’t win the cash prize… you still get some good tea!

From the Tavalon Release:

October 5, 2009 – One lucky tea drinker will be extra happy this holiday season when they open their package of Tavalon Tea and find a Golden Tea Ticket inside the box – worth $1,500. You too can be a winner, just by referring your readers.

By placing an order on the Tavalon website, www.tavalon.com, consumers are automatically entered to win the Golden Tea Ticket. All purchases must be made before October 28, 2009.

In addition, if the winning contestant is referred to Tavalon’s site by a blogger or other website, that blogger also receives $1,500. To be eligible, the blogger has to provide a link to the contest’s web address and/or add the contest’s banner to their web page directing their readers to www.tavalon.com.

Winners will be chosen by Tavalon and announced during the first week of December. Visit www.tavalon.com/goldenticket.aspx for more information on Tavalon’s Golden Tea Ticket contest.

Tavalon Tea is a premium international loose-leaf tea company headquartered in Brooklyn, New York with offices in Brooklyn, NY and Seoul, South Korea. The founders of Tavalon have used their passion and expertise in tea to develop a company for both tea connoisseurs and newcomers to the tea world while providing premium teas and accessories to a mainstream audience. Tavalon aims to educate the general public about teas many health benefits with a fresh new tea experience. Tavalon’s unique and exciting blends bring a high quality to the tea world that is unparalleled. Tavalon’s teas can be found at various cafes, gourmet markets and department stores across the country, as well as on www.tavalon.com. Tavalon welcomes you to experience the future of tea.

That’s right kiddies… by referring you to a tea company with product I already think you’ll enjoy… I could also get $1500 to pay for some great improvements I’ve been wanting to do for this blog!

Help a good cause: CharityWater.org

Friday is Black Tea, Floral Tea, Fruit Tea, Chai and Pu’erh Review Day!

I’ve been looking for a new morning “Pick me up,” and I believe I’ve found just the thing! This American take on a traditional breakfast tea is nothing if not brisk.

My daily routine has been getting rougher and rougher as of late as I wake earlier than I used to and somehow end up with less time than I used to have.

To help me make the most of this everyday ritual I almost always seek the assistance of a nice, strong black tea. It used to be I’d brak out an Irish or English Breakfast. Then it moved to a subtler Earl Grey. Eventually I closed on using a revolving door to keep my palate interested in what different teas had to say.

The latest in this hit parade of wake-up brews is Tavalon’s NYC Breakfast. A delightful blend of Indian, Sri Lankan (Ceylon) and Indonesian black teas.

This blend’s dry leaves are a very dark brown, almost black. The aroma come across smooth and soft. It’s deffinitely an Assam based tea, and I’d venture to guess the Sri Lankan part of this blend comes from the Lover’s Leap estate.

Once brewed the tea provides a color of deep amber. Imagine a dark caramel and you’d be pretty close. With the amber coloring comes a smooth aroma. Similar to English or Irish Breakfast teas, the presentation of smell with this tea is refined, but subtler than most. A most welcome accomplishment.

The flavor from NYC Breakfast is a bit puckery and astringent, meaning it causes the lips to purse. I noted subdued notes of honey and sweet nectar in the taste. Fans of strong Assam teas won’t be disappointed however. I had to concentrate to find these hidden notes.

This tea is good for a little honey or maybe two Lumps and a splash of milk. I’d recommend this highly for those who like a good strong cuppa tea, or need an extra pick me up in the morning!