Valley Mint – the name just sounds so inviting! This week, I’m reviewing another of Tea Musketeers’ blends. This one is called Valley Mint and it’s a blend of black Darjeeling tea and Oregon-grown mint. I’m reviewing it hot (as I do all my teas) but I’ve also been advised that this tea tastes amazing iced!
Make sure you’re following me on Instagram for updates when I try this tea iced or cold brewed as well.
In this review you’ll find what this tea is all about, how best to brew it, and what to expect when you drink it. Don’t forget to check out all the tea at Tea Musketeers – they have an awesome range of blends available inspired by Oregon.
Tea Musketeers Valley Mint Tea at a Glance
- Blend: Loose leaf Darjeeling black tea with Oregon peppermint
- Flavour: Smooth, sweet peppermint with delicate black tea
A lovely blend. The smooth, delicate Darjeeling tea provides body and complexity to this simple peppermint tea. It’s understated and simple – but that’s the charm of it.
Full Review – Valley Mint Oregon Tea
- Type: Loose leaf
- Tea: Darjeeling black tea
- Additives: Oregon peppermint leaves
- Flavour Notes: Smooth, earthy, peppermint, sweet, menthol
- Aroma: Peppermint, candy cane, fresh, tannins
- Milk or Lemon: Honey, when iced
- Where to Buy: Tea Musketeers Official Website (US Only)
I am so impressed with this tea. It’s masterfully blended even though it only contains two ingredients. To start, the initial aroma is really strong. The menthol peppermint aroma overpowers the dry leaf so you cannot detect the Darjeeling black tea.
But that all changes once you’ve brewed it into a crystal clear, amber brown tea. The Darjeeling tea peaks through and creates a delicious tannin note in the steam of the tea.
As for the flavour, it’s subtle and understated. The peppermint provides high notes. It’s sweet, light and refreshing on your tongue. On the other hand, the Darjeeling provides warmth and body. You won’t be able to pick out distinct tea notes, like you can with single origin Darjeeling, but it does add this complexity and depth to the peppermint.
Peppermint and Darjeeling is a match made in heaven. I thoroughly enjoyed Tea Musketeers Valley Mint!
How to Brew Peppermint Black Tea
My experiences with Darjeeling tea in the past have told me that lowering the water temperature just a little will really help this tea. So, pour your hot water into your cup before you add the leaf (instead of the other way around).
I use 2g of leaf for a small teacup. If you’re brewing a large mug with hot water, try 3g instead. That’s roughly 1.5 teaspoons.
To turn this into an iced tea, just pour it over ice and garnish with a little fresh mint or lemon slices.
If you want to cold brew this tea, the general rule is to double the tea leaf. So use 4g per small teacup of water, and let it brew in the fridge for 8 to 12 hours.
Why Tea Musketeers?
The wonderful thing about Tea Musketeers Valley Mint is that it has a little story behind it. There’s inspiration behind every single blend created by Tea Musketeers and I really love that.
Valley Mint is made from Indian Darjeeling black tea and peppermint leaves. It’s a light and refreshing tea blend that’s inspired by mint farms in the Willamette Valley. You can clearly see the Darjeeling and mint leaf pieces in my photos. No need for additional flavourings or sweeteners in this one!
Another great thing about this brand is their values. They want to provide high-quality, luxury tea blends. Each and every ingredient is carefully selected and purposefully blended, tried and tested.
Summary
Tea Musketeers Valley Mint is a really delicious and high-quality tea that I have no qualms recommending to all of my readers. It’s simple yet shows how choosing the right ingredients in the right quantities is all you really need to make a fantastic tea.
Tea Recommendation
I’ve had a lovely time reviewing a range of Tea Musketeers’ blends that were sent to me. You can find all of them catalogued in my Tea Review Index, along with all the other teas that have been reviewed on the Immortal Wordsmith blog.