Don’t you love discovering treasures in unexpected places? I know I do, and that’s exactly what happened to me while walking around a local flea market one day.

Probably second only to books, when I hear the word tea, my ears instantly perk up. So, when I heard the owner of Rusted Leaf Tea Company talking about the loose-leaf blends he creates, I made a beeline for his table.

Allow me to paint a picture for you. Imagine a husky, bearded gentleman wearing what I believe was a Celtic-patterned t-shirt, sporting longish hair, and displaying a passion for tea that lit up his face. I try not to stereotype people, but I must admit, he wasn’t what I expected in a tea seller. And I feel just terrible that I didn’t get his name, so I’ll blame it on my own enthusiasm.

My excitement heightened as he described the ingredients in his proprietary blends and, thrill of thrills, allowed me to enjoy their aroma. He had a little tin with a clear top for each tea so one could see the mixtures and inhale the scent of each delicious concoction. It was difficult to decide, but I settled on Black Knight, and I’ll admit it was in part because the name is just so cool.

Black tea, raspberry leaf, and tarragon make up the ingredients, and in the bag, they smell sweet, fresh, and mildly minty. This last detail is from the tarragon which I love as a seasoning in beef dishes but came to adore in my hot tea. I learned a long time ago that mint teas are not my thing, but tarragon is obviously mint’s close cousin with a sweeter, less bitter personality. I was in love with the flavor that didn’t overpower but left my palate with that cool, minty sensation. Also, Black Knight didn’t require any sweetener or cream, but if you try it that way, let me know how it worked for you.

Make sure your water is quite hot for brewing this beauty. One teaspoon of the blend is perfect for a twelve-ounce serving. I found a four-minute steep with an additional minute to swirl my tea ball around the cup delivers a bright, bracing beverage that is perfect any time of the day. The tea is deep mahogany in color and tapers to a lovely green/gold near the edges. The aroma when brewed is that of a freshly mown field with stacks of moist grasses drying in the sun.

Prior to using, a quick fluffing with a fork will keep the settled ingredients well blended in the bag. I suspect Black Knight would make a delicious s iced tea, so if you try it, let me know in the comments how you enjoyed it.

Rusted Leaf Tea Company strikes me as a fledgling company since they are on social media but, as of this posting, do not have a website. Still, Rusted Leaf has much to offer, and I wish the company well and encourage you to seek them out.