Tiekla Tea is an Australian Tea Company that focuses on organic, small-batch tea that is ethically sourced and can be traced back to its origin. The vision to start Tielka was born in 2008, and Rebecca (the co-founder) was dedicated to providing people with high quality and handcrafted tea. The company launched in 2009 as “Australia’s first specialty certified Fairtrade organic loose leaf tea collection”. They sent me four teas: Rose Moscato, Limonada Rosa, Tielka Breakfast, and Earl Royale. Here were my thoughts:
Analyzation of the Teas:
Rose Moscato Green Tea: Wow. Wow. Wow. I am thoroughly impressed by this company. They really have expertly blended their tea blends. This tea has quite a beautiful flavor, with an aroma that does remind me a lot of a Moscato or even a rosé. The taste is quite subtle at first, really developing in my mouth over time. On the first sip, I taste the Schisandra Berries and than further dove into the taste of the Wulu Green tea. But I definitely sensed the rose and hibiscus combination, as rose has quite an interesting effect on hibiscus. It also tames down the taste. The tea does have a mild drying effect, which tells me that there is some astringency. But that really plays into the Moscato theme as usually Moscotos also have a drying effect. I could see me drinking this in a brunch setting, or as I did when drinking it, watching an online church service.
Ingredients: Wulu Green Tea, Schisandra Berries, Hibiscus, Rose Petals
Origin: Hubei Province, China
Harvest: April – May
Earl Royale Black Tea: This tea is very much for those who do not like a heavy bergamot taste in their earl grey tea. I had to brew this tea a few times before I realized that this was just a lighter tea and not how I was brewing it (I had a weird streak of brewing weak tea, and I was convinced that I was the issue). The aroma was quite lovely with the orange and bergamot aromas really showing off. However, somewhere between the dry leaves and the hot tea, that strong aroma did not resonate with a strong taste. The brewed leaves revealed a lovely orangy amber color with a faint citrus aroma. The taste was still quite pleasant but I could taste the black tea a bit more than a normal earl grey. If anything, I think it showcased the black tea more than I expected, and tasted a bit like the breakfast tea from this company (see next tea). After a bit of research, I found out that the owner originally mixed the bergamot oil with the breakfast tea to create her own earl grey tea which is a fun backstory. I think this tea would be big for people who are not always into earl grey but really appreciate the taste of the tea. All the elements of a normal earl grey are there, but the Dianhong black tea is showcased a bit more than normal.
Ingredients: Dianhong Black Tea, Sweet Orange Peel, Cornflower Petals, Bergamot Oil
Origin: Yunnan Province, China
Harvest: May – August
Tielka Breakfast Black Tea: After having this a few times, this is definitely a milder breakfast tea. I have had a couple before that was quite strong and I would add almond milk to just tone it down a bit, but this tea already had a layer of creaminess in it. The tea had a calmness to it as well, which really was a nice way to gently let the caffeine get into my body. There was a gentle bit of sweetness in the tea, which really embraced my tastebuds at the end of each sip. I liked that it was a milder and less strong cup of black tea, as it really showcased a variety of flavors that normally are more difficult to sense when drinking. There were times that I tasted a bit of nuttiness along with the creaminess which was quite a treat. It was interesting because it took on a completely different character when combined in the Earl Royale, but alone it is quite complex.
Ingredients: Dianhong Black Tea
Origin: Yunnan Province, China
Harvest: May – August
Limonada Rosa Herbal Infusion: This tea tastes exactly like the name, and I am absolutely obsessed with it. The lemongrass in this tea is showcased and there are so many words I want to use when describing this tea. I made a cup for me and for my mom, and we both basked in the lemony goodness. I think the part that impressed me most was the absence of natural flavors; this tea is actual proof that companies do not have to resort to natural flavors to achieve really intense and amazing flavors. I have made this tea so many times since receiving it, it is just going to be one of my favorites for a while (until I run out, which will be soon). I also brewed this tea and iced it, which was quite a treat. The lemon flavor is obviously the most prominent flavor but there is a hint of hibiscus sweetness in there with a mild sensation of the rose petals. Hibiscus and rose have already been established as an amazing combination in my books.
Ingredients: Lemon Myrtle, Lemongrass, Hibiscus, Rose Petals
Origin: Queensland, Australia
Harvest: All Year
Analyzation of the Packaging:
The packaging was so pretty, I was obsessed. The boxes the tea came in were shades of light green or pink. The teabags are industrially compostable, with the plastic-free tea bag fabric being sourced from a sustainable, bio-renewable vendor, and are sealed together by ultrasound instead of glue. The aluminum packaging that the tea came in was not resealable, but it was quite lengthy and could be rolled quite a few times to make it more airtight.
Analyzation of the Price:
For the Limonada Rosa, Earl Royale, and Rose Moscato, the price was $10 for 12 individual tea sachets. The loose leaf Tielka Breakfast, it was $13 for 33 servings. I think these prices are quite reasonable and with free worldwide shipping for over $30, quite worth it. Additional ways this tea is worth it is due to the traceability of the tea and the quality of the ingredients.
When sipping on these teas, I had the thought, “If I was to open up my own fancy restaurant or hotel, I would totally buy through this company.” Honestly, that is probably the greatest compliment to give, because I honestly still think it to this day. I was quite blown away with the quality and blends of these teas. I hope you enjoyed this review, I truly did as well. Happy Brewing!
-Danielle