Kilinoe: Hawaiian Green Tea (review)
It’s been a long time since I sat down and reviewed a tea, which can largely be blamed on the fact that we’ve been down with some sort of flu for most of August and a good chunk of July. But the sinuses are cleared and the taste buds are active again, so today Bec and I sat down to enjoy a cup of Kilinoe green tea — the first Hawaiian green tea to be sold in the mainland USA, thanks to Narien Teas.
Related posts
Narien describes Kilinoe as “a mildly-sweet and fragrant tea that never over-steeps”. I haven’t tested the last claim, but I can certainly agree with the first two. This is a mild but surprisingly complex tea. Between us, Bec and I picked out a wonderful array of qualities. Bec was struck by the tea’s floral perfume, whereas I picked up a slight tanginess in the aroma, lending it a citrusy quality. I noted a faint sweetness after the first taste. Bec found the taste refreshing and strongly reminiscent of a leafy green vegetable.
Since this was the first tea from Hawaii I’ve ever enjoyed, I tried to pick out similarities between it and others I’ve tried before. Strangely enough, the first tea that came to mind was the Bai Mudan (also known as White Peony) I reviewed earlier this year. The Kilinoe’s savoury character reminded me of the white tea, though I don’t think it was quite as smoky as the Bai Mudan.
Kilinoe green tea is available from Narien Teas for $9 for a sample. There’s limited stock, so if you want to try some fine Hawaiian tea, be quick. Remember to quote “teafinelybrewed” to receive a 10% discount.
Other bloggers’ reviews of Kilinoe:
- Brett reviewed it on Black Dragon Tea Bar
- Lainie reviewed it on Lainie Sips
Jason Witt wrote:
Once again I’m impressed with the success of the efforts the Hawaiian tea farmers have made. I’m pleased to see the tea described as “surprisingly complex” because it shows due diligence was done in areas like finding which tea plant varieties match the terroir of Hawaii. It’s yet another reviewer saying, “Well done!”
recette minceur wrote:
Thanks for the post. I would like to appreciate all the people involved in the farming of tea and Narien Teas as well. I am eagerly waiting for its retail sale in USA in regular bases.
webcam wrote:
I have enjoyed Hawaiian green tea and liked it very much. I like tea having strong smells, dark green and slightly folded leaf as shown in picture. After watching this article, i am excited to try Kilinoe green tea as soon as possible.
Alzheimer's wrote:
I love Hawaiian green tea so much. It has strong aroma. The Kilinoe’s dark green tea is one of the best.