Information:

Dark Chocolate Bar

Where to Buy:  The Meadow and other locations where Dolfin Chocolates are sold.

Chocolate Bar Description:

A perfect mix of contrasts: the refreshing sweetness of the bergamot blends perfectly with the strong taste of the chocolate. For afternoon tea, a chocolate with a British accent.

Learn more about Dolfin here.

Taster’s Review:

Recently, I visited the North Portland location of Little Big Burger, and as I walked toward Little Big Burger, I couldn’t help but notice this little shop called The Meadow.  They sell flowers, an array of finishing salts, bitters and chocolate.  Yes, I said CHOCOLATE!  How could I ignore this little shop?  It begged me to stop in and at least take a look around.

But, of course, if I am around chocolate, I can hardly just “look around.”  I must have chocolate!  They have an entire wall dedicated to high quality chocolates from around the world.  I can feel myself start to drool just thinking about it!

While it was difficult to settle upon just one (or two) chocolate bars, I knew my husband was waiting for me so I needed to hurry!  Finally, I settled upon this Dark Chocolate Bar with Earl Grey Tea!  This is a 52% Belgian dark chocolate bar with crushed Earl Grey Tea leaves.  Not an “infused” chocolate, but, a chocolate bar with real bits of tea leaves.

The first thing I notice about this bar is the packaging.  Very impressive!  The package is a double folded “envelope” that keeps the left over chocolate (it’s quite a large bar!) fresh until you’re ready to eat more.  I really like the package, it is clear that Dolfin is committed to maintaining their product’s integrity even after the package has been opened!

Breaking off a piece of the chocolate, I notice the snap of dark chocolate.  Allowing the flavors to melt on my tongue, I can taste the smooth, rich flavor of bittersweet dark chocolate meld with the tangy citrus notes of bergamot.  As I eat this chocolate, I can feel the tiny bits of tea leaf in the chocolate.  The leaves add a little bit of crunch without feeling gritty and because the tea has been finely ground, it won’t leave leaf particles stuck in between the teeth!

While I don’t taste a lot of black tea flavor (there is some, just not a lot), I definitely taste the bergamot, and when it comes to Earl Grey tea, I want to taste BERGAMOT.  The black tea becomes more distinct as I continue to enjoy the chocolate bar, and it is more prominent when I allow the chocolate to melt on the tongue as opposed to biting into it.

This chocolate bar from Dolfin provides an amazing chocolate experience for the tea lover!  And if your Valentine loves chocolate and Earl Grey … you should consider adding this to their gift.  (How about a Chocolate and Earl Grey Gift Basket?)  They’ll LOVE you for it!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  ESP Emporium

Tea Description:

A tea creation for all “sweet teeth”. Just like licking out a dish with freshly made huller cookie dough with hints of freshly grated orange peel… it must be scooped out to the last drop. Not even adults can say no to this indescribable taste. The unusual, colorful and abundant decoration of savory and spicy ingredients makes your mouth water just by looking at it.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Unexpected!  That’s the word for this tea.  I must admit that when this tea was ordered it was because of the name:  Butter Truffle.  It sounds amazing.  I didn’t really even read the description or check the ingredients.  My sweet tooth did all the decision making when it comes to this tea, and when I read “Butter Truffle” that sweet tooth of mine said:  YES!

So, I guess I need not explain that I had expected something sweeter than what I’m tasting at the moment.  But that is not to say that I dislike what I taste.  This is really delicious – it’s just not quite what I had anticipated.  I like when a tea surprises me this way.

The sweetness is there from the almonds and pistachios as well as a hint of citrus.  It has a very biscuit-y kind of note to it, reminiscent of freshly baked cookies or possibly freshly baked scones.  But this tea also has a savory tone to it, a delightfully savory quality from the spices.  I taste a touch of smokiness from the cumin and a kiss of pepper.  It tastes warm and spicy, but the spices are not overwhelming.  It all works together very harmoniously.

The black tea base is fairly mellow and unassuming, completing the flavor of the cup without overwhelming it.  There is a pleasing balance of tea flavors and spice, while teasing this drinker with hints of sweetness.

A very surprising and rewarding tea from ESP Emporium.

I hope you’ll bear with me as I do something a little different with tonight’s post.

As a subscriber to the Steepster Select program, I receive a box with three different teas.  Each month there is a different theme.  This month’s theme is “The Big Chill.”  The box also includes a postcard size card that offers some insight on the theme, as well as the teas that are chosen.

Here is the description of The Big Chill:

For when winter seeps into the bones and dull skies numb the spirit, we have just the teas to warm you through and through.

A smokey black tea, fire crackling at your feet.
A chai with warming spices, heat spreading from sip to fingertips.
A peppermint-blended green tea, the remembrance of holidays past.

Seasons greetings from Steepster.

This month, I have already reviewed the smoky black tea and the chai with warming spices, but have not yet reviewed the peppermint-blended green tea.  That’s because I already reviewed this tea back in November, and since it was such a short time ago, I didn’t feel the need to review it once again.  My thoughts on this tea haven’t changed:  it still tastes crisp and minty and refreshing. However, I didn’t want to let January close without having mentioned the third tea.

The teas that were chosen for this month’s Steepster Select were all wonderful teas and were perfect for the chosen theme.  The smoky tones of the Lapsang Souchong evokes thoughts of a warm, cozy fire roaring in the fireplace.  The spices in the chai warmed me from the inside out, helping me to stave off winter’s cold.  And this delicious Moroccan Mint from Earthbound Tea is cool and sweet, reflective of the crisp chill in the air.

I can’t wait to discover what next month’s Steepster Select has in store!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Teapots & Treasures

About Teapots & Treasures:

We welcome you to Teapots & Treasures Cafe’ & Curiosities, a “Delightful Place to Exhale”.  You will love relaxing in our cozy tearoom while enjoying our delicious loose teas, homemade lunches, and decadent desserts.

Taster’s Review:

I received this tea as a Christmas gift from a dear friend who lives in Florida.  Teapots & Treasures appears to be a beautiful tea house (or cafe, as they call it); a lovely place to enjoy the pleasures of tea with friends!  If I ever make it to Florida (I’ve an irrational fear of alligators, so it would take a lot to entice me to go there), this is definitely a place I’d like to visit!

The aroma of the dry leaf of this tea is very inviting, smelling strongly of orange with hints of chocolate in the background.  I don’t smell much from the black tea base in the dry leaf, but once it is infused, I can smell the black tea, as well as orange and chocolate.

The flavor is quite nice.  The black tea is a mild-tasting black tea, I suspect it is a Ceylon.  It tastes smooth and is somewhat astringent, which plays to the citrus-y tones quite well.  It isn’t what I would call a particularly strong black tea, but it does its job very well – providing a pleasing base for the flavors of orange and chocolate.

The orange is the dominate flavor, but it is not quite as strong as the aroma of the dry leaf would suggest.  The orange tastes sweet and tangy, very much like a fresh, juicy orange.

The chocolate could be stronger here, but then it should come as no surprise that I’d say such a thing, given my affection for chocolate.  The chocolate flavor is somewhere between dark chocolate and milk chocolate, with hints of the bittersweet flavor of cacao.  The bitter of the chocolate is nicely accented by the tangy flavor of the orange – I am enjoying the way these two flavors interact very much.  As I continue to sip, the flavors really develop into an almost confection-y kind of treat.  YUM!

While this would make a really good dessert tea, I think it would be even better at breakfast time.  Who wouldn’t love to have a decadent chocolatey orange treat for breakfast?

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  52Teas

Tea Description:

Our newest tea of the week was suggested by one of our long-time customers. Here’s our premium black teas blended with freeze-dried strawberries and orange peel. In addition to the sweet strawberry and tangy orange, we’ve infused this blend with the flavor of warm, freshly baked scones. I have a feeling this one is not going to last long.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I had my doubts about this one.  Strawberry and orange?  Sure, I like them separately, but I wasn’t too sure how I felt about them together, and then combined with scone flavors.  If I saw a strawberry and orange scone at a bakery, I’d probably pass on it in favor of a lemon scone or my favorite, a cranberry white chocolate scone.

But it only took one taste of this tea to fall in love with the idea of a strawberry and orange scone.  The orange flavor is prominent, and it lends a sunny sweet yet tangy note to the cup.  There is also some of that bitter orange rind flavor to this – the pith of the orange – something that I probably wouldn’t appreciate in most cases but somehow it works with these other flavors, lending an interesting dimension to the overall cup.

The strawberry comes in just underneath the orange, and it tastes sweet.  It is in the aftertaste where the strawberry becomes more pronounced, offering a sweet yet tart berry flavor that tickles the tongue.

The scone flavor is there too.  It tastes very pastry-like, like a fluffy biscuit.  I think one thing that I find myself missing – and one thing that Frank from 52Teas is quite famous for – is more of a buttery flavor.  The pastry flavor possesses a hint of the buttery element, but when I eat a scone, I usually spread some clotted cream on the scone.  If I happen to be out of clotted cream, I top the scone with butter. So, I find myself missing that additional element to this scone-inclusive tea.  However, this is easily remedied with a splash of milk, and this gives it that clotted cream element that the overall cup is missing – ties it all together, so to speak.

Another spectacular tea from 52Teas – I should not be surprised that I love this as much as I do.  Sadly, this tea has sold out, but who knows, perhaps Frank will re-blend it.  This is one you should watch for in the re-blend updates!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Shanti Tea

Tea Description:

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I am loving this tea!

But I’m not surprised, when I read the name “Kong Fu” I immediately surmised that this would be similar to Fujian teas that I’ve tried and loved.

The description above is pretty much spot on, except that I don’t get the thick earthiness in the flavor.  Instead, I taste a lovely dark chocolate-y, cocoa-y kind of flavor with an undertone of caramel.  It is rich with some earthy tones but not quite as strong as I would think that “thick earthiness” would imply.

There are notes of smoke to this infusion as well, and they marry with the chocolate-y notes quite nicely.  There are also some malty tones to it that complement the caramel sweetness.  Remarkably smooth and robust, this cup possesses very little astringency.

Such an incredibly delicious cup of tea!  This is a cup that I could easily drink every day and never tire of it. It’s that good.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  The Rabbit Hole

Tea Description:

Chilli and chocolate, such strange bedfellows. Throw a black tea in the mix and you’ve got one mind-blowing brew. Perfect for when you need to spice up your life.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

When I shop for snacks and treats, one thing I find myself looking for is flavor contrasts.  My favorites are salty and sweet  – like chocolate and bacon, or salted caramel – and spicy and sweet – like chocolate and chili … as in THIS tea!  I find the palate is much more satiated when I appeal to different taste receptors, and right now, this tea is satisfying a certain “hunger” for flavor by appealing to the spicy and the sweet taste receptors on my tongue.

With the first couple of sips, I didn’t notice much of the chili or the chocolate flavors.  But by the time I was taking my third or fourth sip, I began to notice the spicy-hot sensation on the back of my throat.  This quickly spread to my tongue, and now I am feeling the full effect of the chili pepper in this tea.

The same is true of the chocolate … it wasn’t until about the third or fourth sip that I began to pick up on the cocoa flavors which are more like a dark chocolate-y flavor than a milk chocolate.  It is rich and bittersweet and delicious, and helps to balance the spicy hot chili thing going on in my mouth!  A fantastic contrast, indeed!

Despite the explosion of heat and sweet in my mouth, the flavor of the black tea is not going unnoticed.  It is smooth and richly flavored.  It has a solid kind of flavor that this tea needs for a back drop, something even-tempered and mellow to allow the bold flavors of chili and chocolate to express themselves fully.

Another awesome offering from The Rabbit Hole!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Yogic Chai

Tea Description:

Organic Assam Tea, Organic Green Cardamom, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Cloves & Organic Ginger.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I’m quite sure I’ve said this (or something like this) before, but it bears repeating:  When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing quite as comforting as a cup of chai.  The heat of the masala spices warms you from the inside out.

And Yogic Chai makes some of my favorite chai blends.  And this blend is where it all started!  The blend is a perfectly balanced combination of just four spices:  cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and ginger.  These are the four “usual suspects” when it comes to chai blends, and there are some tea companies that add some other spices, while others may omit one or two of the usual suspects, sometimes in favor of other spices, sometimes not. But really, when it comes to chai, the combination of spices that Yogic Chai uses is classic, but they have blended them masterfully as to create one of a very memorable chai.

Smooth, rich Assam tea makes up the base of this chai.  It is strong enough to offer a distinct flavor contribution, even though it is immersed in some rather spicy surroundings.  It has a malty character and does not taste bitter (although, as with all teas, I recommend not over-steeping as this may produce a bitter taste).

This is my second tea from my Janauary Steepster Select box, and it is a good one.  I’ve tried many teas from Yogic Chai, but this is the first time I’ve tried the Original!  Delicious served straight and it makes an awesome latte too, although I think its best served without the milk, adding just a little turbinado sugar to accent the spices.  This way I get more impact from the spices, as I think that the addition of milk seems to mute the spices just a bit.  This one is yummy any way you choose to serve it!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea

Tea Description:

The Thirsty Elf Blend is a custom blend of black teas. Melt snow until boiling and add leaves. Strain after four minutes and serve piping hot.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I have enjoyed just about every tea offered from Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea, and this one is no exception.  I do find it to be quite similar to the Damn Fine Holiday Blend of 2010, but I think I may actually like this one better (and at the time of its release, I proclaimed the Damn Fine Holiday Blend to be my favorite from Andrews & Dunham!) and interestingly enough, one of the things I like better about this blend is that it is a tad smokier than the Damn Fine Holiday Blend … and I generally do not like smoky teas!

I noticed a creaminess to the Damn Fine Holiday Blend that I don’t notice as much here, but both blends are remarkably smooth with lovely sweet tones that weave their way in and out of the sip.  There are still some creamy tones to this which are more apparent as I make my way to mid-cup.  These creamy tones meld with the sweet flavors to create a somewhat caramel-y note.

This blend has a bit more astringency than the Damn Fine Holiday Blend, I think, and the finish tends to be a bit more dry.  The aftertaste is somewhat smoky with the aforementioned caramel-y undertone.  Very pleasant.

This has a lightness to it – it isn’t a really heavy or “hefty” cup of tea, but, at the same time, I find it to be remarkably energizing, and I can see why it would be an elf’s choice to “restore elf vigor.”

A great afternoon pick-me-up, and would even make a good breakfast tea, even though it is not a heavy cup of tea, it is still strong and is sure to bring a smile to the faces of even those who find mornings unbearable (I’m one of them!)

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Dr. Tea’s Tea Garden

About This Tea:

The story goes that Lapsang Souchong was first created when the Wuyi region’s annual tea drying process was interrupted by army movement. To compensate for the missed drying period, tea farmers hung their tea over pinewood fires, consequently imparting a distinctive smoky flavor and aroma. Our Lapsang Souchong is sourced by Mark Ukra, co-owner of Dr. Tea’s Tea Garden, who comes from a family of Middle Eastern tea merchants dating back 400 years. Drink Lapsang Souchong plain or try it as a spice or rub for cooking.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

January’s Steepster Select box brought teas that to help warm us up from Winter’s Chill.  The first tea that I tried from the box was this Lapsang Souchong, which is a little unusual for me since it’s one of my least favorite teas (well, not this Lapsang Souchong, but Lapsang Souchong in general is one of my least favorite teas).

But this is no ordinary Lapsang Souchong.  This is easily the best that I’ve ever tried.  Now, I can’t say that I’ve tried a lot of Lapsang Souchong teas, as it is one of those teas that I tend to avoid, but I have tried a few, and I’ve even managed to – slowly – get my palate more accustomed to the unique flavor experience of Lapsang Souchong.  While I am slowly gaining an appreciation for this strong, smoky tea, it is still sometimes difficult for me to get past it.

This Lapsang Souchong from Dr. Tea’s Tea Garden has been a real eye-opening experience for me.  I am not just “appreciating” this tea … I’m LOVING it!

The first couple of sips are quite smoky.  But once I get past those first sips, I find wonderful flavors await me.  I can actually taste the pine here, and that is something that I didn’t really experience in previous Lapsang Souchong tastings.  I may have tasted mere hints of pine in the distance, but, mostly what I tasted was smoke and the caramel undertone.  Here, the pine is quite distinct and it is lovely.

The caramel undertones are there as well, giving a very pleasant sweetness to the smoky overtones.  But what I find especially enjoyable is the way that the caramel undertones meld with the pine notes.  The flavors here are deep and intriguing.

A very unique Lapsang Souchong, and I have Steepster Select for bringing it to me!