Oregon Red Reserve

RESERVE SERIES BLACK TEA

Our Head Teamaker, Ravi Kroesen has turned to our own “backyard” in the Pacific Northwest to continue his hunt for the extraordinary. We are proud to showcase this domestic tea grown right here in Northwest that has never been available to the public until this moment. It will come as no surprise that North American teamakers are pushing the envelope on traditional tea cultivation techniques.

This tea breaks all the rules. Grown in the lush farmlands of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Minto Island is producing teas with a character unto their own. Made using a variety of tea cultivars, Ms. Merkel has handcrafted this delightful black tea that can stand up to the best red – or black – teas China can offer.

Origin: Salem, Oregon
Elevation: 150 Feet
Teamaker: Kacie Merkel
Harvest: Summer, 2022
Hand-packed by our head Teamaker, Ravi Kroesen: October 17th, 2022

Click here to read more about this exceptional offering and click here to read our interview with teamaker Kacie Merkel.

Tasting Notes:

Apple pie, hyacinth, Gorgonzola

Quantity

$35.00

Customer Reviews

4.5 Based on 12 Reviews

5 ★

83%

4 ★

3 ★

2 ★

1 ★

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flavor
sweetness
Merkel
varietals
cross
oolong
black
Kudos
body
idea

05/25/2021

Thomas S.

United States

Well above aveerage

this tea has a very complex flavor and far exceeds most of the varietals that I have tried. Highly recommended.

Oregon Red Reserve

05/15/2021

Jacob W.

United States

YES OH YES

This is a spectacular tea that is so complex and somehow delicate and robust at the same time. I’m in love with this! And it’s from my home state how cool is that?! Yeah it it knocks those other light black teas outta the park!

Oregon Red Reserve

12/13/2020

Kelly L.

United States

Interesting, but a tad bland.

This tea definitely tasted like nothing else I've had, with a unique aroma and flavor profile... but BOY was it subtle. My first sip didn't taste like much of anything. I tend to prefer stronger black teas, be them malty assams or brisk darjeelings, and the first sip of this almost doesn't taste like anything to me. It was a fun and unique experience to try a domestic tea, though, and I'm curious to see what green tea - which I tend to enjoy more subtle - from this farm is like!

Oregon Red Reserve

12/14/2020

Smith Teamaker

We are sorry to hear our Oregon Red Reserve was not to your taste. Please email us at customersuccess@smithtea.com. We are happy to help you find something you will love!

11/17/2020

Carolyn M.

United States

Oregon Red

I had know idea that OR produced tea. A pleasant surprise. A smooth tea with just a bit of sweetness.

Oregon Red Reserve

11/02/2020

Tonia H.

United States

Oregon Red

I'm quite enjoying this tea; it is light in body and has both a slight fruity and floral scent/taste to it. I think this would be a good afternoon drink with shortbread and perhaps a light tea sandwich.

Oregon Red Reserve

Ingredients

Spring Harvested Full Leaf Oregon Black Tea

Blend Numerology

Reserve No. 203: The third tea in our 2nd Reserve Series. Also, our second-ever domestic tea release.

Preparation

For Western brewing, this tea can be brewed for single infusions using 3.5 grams or 1 heaping Tablespoon per 8 ounces of 195 degree water and steeped for five minutes.

For gaiwan brewing, place 7 grams of tea leaves into 150 ml (5 ounce) gaiwan. Bring spring or freshly drawn filtered water to a boil (212 degrees). Fill your gaiwan to the top and let the leaves steep for 10-20 seconds. Set the strainer on top of the decanter and pour the tea out of the gaiwan with the lid slightly askew, without allowing the tea leaves to escape. Serve into small cups and repeat this process at least 4-5 times and notice how the tea leaves change in flavor over each infusion. Learn more about gaiwan service here.