Rishi Tea Golden Assam Review and Organic Tea Giveaway

As I mentioned in my Earl Grey Shortbread post, though I still at times drink black teas that are not organic, if I had my druthers, they would all be. Since I drink tea at least eight times a day, I think it's pretty important that most of it be organic tea.

Trouble is, I prefer loose leaf tea and very few places, none near me, carry organic loose leaf black teas. An online search led me to Rishi Tea, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Rishi Tea can be found at Whole Foods as well as online. If you prefer tea bags, you'll be glad to know they added tea bags to their line in 2013.

The tea I'm drinking today is Rishi Tea's full-bodied, full-flavored Golden Assam organic black tea. I steeped 3 grams of leaves per 8 ounces of water for 5 minutes and found it the perfect strength for drinking without milk. I then made it a bit stronger (4 grams/1 level tablespoon) to stand up to the addition of a little milk, which goes so well with this robust tea with its characteristic assertive malty finish. 

Tea Making Tips

I don't always put milk in my black tea, as my English grandmother did. For instance, I don't put milk in my Darjeeling. But when drinking tea from my other favorite tea region, Assam, I do. Rather than just splashing in the milk, though, I always taste the tea first to make sure it is strong enough to stand up to the addition of milk. The only thing worse than weak tea is weak tea with milk!

The mistake many people make with tea is following the old "rule" of one teaspoon per cup plus one for the pot. All black teas are not alike. Higher grades of tea generally have larger leaves, so a teaspoon of them will weigh a lot less than a teaspoon of small leaves. Of course, not everyone weighs their tea. What to do?

When making a new tea, I will weigh out 3 grams of tea leaves (and see what that measures) or you can just measure 2 level teaspoons or a gently rounded 1/2 tablespoon per 8 ounces of boiling water (unless a lower temperature is recommended) and steep for 5 minutes. 

Then I taste it and decide whether I should adjust the amount of tea either up or down or adjust the steeping time up or down by a minute. After a time or two, you will have it fine-tuned for that particular tea and can make it just the way you like it every time (without getting the scales out -- I'm not that obsessive!).

Rishi Tea Giveaway

Update 08/24/16: The giveaway has closed. The winner has been announced in the comments.

Rishi Tea will send winner: a selection of 12 generous "teasers" to sample Rishi's range of teas, their porcelain Aroma Cup, a bandana and a teapot coaster.

This giveaway is open to continental US residents (Sorry, Alaskan, Hawaiian and international friends!) 18 years of age or older. Leave a comment below (one entry per person, plus see next paragraph for way to get a bonus entry). First comment should be about what kind of teas you like. Please include your email address in the body of your comment. Must enter by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday August 24.

Bonus entry: If you are on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, you may have a bonus entry by following @RishiTea on any of those and leaving an additional comment below with your Twitter, Instagram or Facebook name. 

Winner will be chosen by random drawing and be announced here in the comments before noon Eastern time on Thursday August 25. If I don't hear back from the winner of the random drawing by noon Eastern time Sunday August 28, another drawing will be held and a new winner selected from the original entrants (those who commented before the giveaway deadline). 

Disclosure: Rishi Tea provided product for review purposes and for the giveaway. The views expressed here are entirely my own. I always tell my readers what I really think!