Chash Tea

I've been a fan of Chash Tea for several years now, ever since a friend introduced me to their Elderflower and Ginger infusion. I've found everything I've tried from them to be expertly blended, and of a quality that really does make you go 'ooh' or 'mmm' when you take that first sip. So I was very happy to be offered the opportunity to test and review several of their teas and infusions.

Shakespeare Tea
As a Shakespeare enthusiast and a former reviewer, I was really keen to try this blend. It has a base of first flush Darjeeling, with the addition of flowers of chamomile and rose, and seeds of fennel, all of which are mentioned by Shakespeare in his plays. I made this using 2 tsp of tea to 12 fl oz water at 100 degrees, and brewed for around five minutes. I'm incredibly impressed at how wel blended and balanced it is. The sweetness of the fennel is set against the lightness and body of the quality Darjeeling, with floral notes dancing in on top. It's sweet but not sugar-sweet; a fascinating and complex blend of flavours. It definitely does the bard justice!

House Creation
This is something of a mystery tea, as it simply says 'house creation' on the label. I can see a rooibos base, with lemongrass, dried orange or lemon peel, berries, cornflowers, and I think mint leaves. Every sip of this infusion imparts a slightly different flavour. I'm getting hints of mint coming through, slight citrus notes, and a warmth that might be from - ginger? This is a really lovely blend, both spicy and floral, like a warming Christmas punch. Looking on the Chash website, I think it might be either the Orange Rooibos or perhaps the Lemon and Ginger Rooibos blend, or perhaps something between the two. Either way, it was a hit!

Harmony
The base for 'Harmony' is Tulsi, or Holy Basil (although I find it to have a more sage-like flavour). It also contains green rooibos, ginger, cinnamon, vervain, chamomile, lavender, and rose. This is an enjoyable herbal brew, somewhat savoury with floral hints. The ginger notes are warming, and the cinnamon lifts it from what otherwise might be bitterness. Beware not to overbrew this one, as lavender requires precision timing!

Lapsang Souchong
There are many poorly produced Lapsang teas out there, and they taste rough and bitter and are often headache-inducing. This however, is the real deal - a proper, good quality Lapsang, that tastes just as it should: full-bodied, rich and smoky, and without any bitterness at all. It even has the merest hint of sweetness about it. If you're trying Lapsang for the first time, this is an excellent place to start.

Snow White
This is a Chinese white tea, a combination of large leaves and pleasantly furred soft buds. There is no detectable scent to the dry leaves, so I was surprised at how fragrant a brew it produced. Its amber liquor is sweetly floral, without earthiness or bitter notes. It also has something of a milky undertone. This is a world away from the white tea in bags, dunked into boiling water that you might have previously experienced. A true delight.

If you're looking for near perfection in your tea experience, or if you're looking to try something new that has flavour and fragrance, then Chash Tea comes highly recommended and is an excellent place to start.