A Mighty Fail

It seemed for a while that bagged tea was becoming passably drinkable. Restaurants were carrying Jasmine Oolong and White Tea in little silk bags with extra room to allow the broken leaves the chance to expand a bit and reveal their true flavors and aromas. For sure, no bagged tea will ever replicate the flavors or aromas of "real" leaf tea, but much like well-made boxed wine, it has its place in the market and, in a pinch, it was finally starting to serve me well.

Then tea got trendy.

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Florida isn't a place I generally like to spend my time, and it's the last place I think of when I imagine sipping on a hot, fresh cup of tea. But when work took me to Orlando, away from my sizeable office stash of loose leaf, I needed a delicious cup despite the heat. The hotel, better than most, stocked Mighty Leaf-brand tea in pounches. Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Mint Verbena, and Orchid Oolong, among others.

Described on the box as being sweet and floral and presented in one of those pretty, roomy silken bags, the tea nearly moved me to sue for false advertising since it tasted more like Australian Shiraz than tea. Oolongs dried with blossoms still retain true tea flavor and usually have a light, natural sweetness and autumn leaf aroma from the flowers. Actual steeped flowers or sweet herbs can have sweetness, but again, there's an inherent natural depth. But this Orchid "Oolong" reeked of bubble gum and tasted like tropical fruit, suntan lotion, and pina colada.

Why ruin a good thing? Keep the silken bags, the overpriced boxes, the fancy packaging, the cheesy name, and the consultant-driven marketing plan. No problem. But why concentrate some quasi-natural orchid flavor and soak an oolong tea in it to the point it's more reminiscent of fruit punch than a quality cup?

The straight black and green teas weren't bad, but whether I'm in a steamy southern state or staying warm in Detroit, I'll be avoiding the Orchid Oolong in the future.