Self Care Blend Herbal Tea from Plum Deluxe

self-care-square-477x477Tea Information:

Leaf Type: Honeybush/Herbal

Where to Buy: Plum Deluxe

Tea Description:

One of the things we just love about tea is how luxurious a simple cup of tea can feel. We want you to feel like a millionbillion bucks at a moment’s notice, which was exactly what our intention was when making the Self Care Blend.

A curious pairing of elderberry (tart) and apricot (sweet), this all-organic tea has mellow flavors and is packed with nutrients. You’ll love it paired with a hot bath, a good book, or after a nice spa treatment. Elderberry — believed to help us tap into our inner magic — helps expel toxins and helps with colds and viruses, and apricot is believed to be one of the most healing fruits in nature.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This was my sample a few months back from my monthly subscription.  I love my honeybush but sometimes that herb can taste a lot like its cousin the dreaded red rooibos. . .which tastes odd to me and medicinal.  I hadn’t tried this blend yet because of this, but I decided today was the day for me to try it!

Brewed per the instructions with boiled fresh water and steeped for about 5 minutes and I have to say this isn’t my favorite tea that I’ve had from Plum Deluxe, but it isn’t one that I would have a problem drinking again. This is more or less a middle of the road one to me.

This tea is a lovely mix per the description of sweetness and tartness. I didn’t get any of that but I did get a lovely almost woodsy berry like flavor with hints of a jammy sweetness.  Since I only had a sample, I wasn’t able to add more loose leaf in to strengthen the flavor to pull out more of those jammy notes. Those were definitely the best part of the tea.

I would love to experiment with this tea.  I have a feeling it would make a gorgeous cold brew or iced tea.  Or would be a great tea brewed hot with may more loose leaf tea.

If you haven’t checked out Plum Deluxe, do yourself a favor and pick up a few blends.  Plum Deluxe has by far one of the best customer service, friendly, knowledgeable tea blenders/owners that I have ever encountered. I just love them! I’ve been subscribing to them for a while now and have no plans on stopping anytime soon!

 

Himalayan Golden Black tea from Nepali Tea Traders

Himalayan_GoldenTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy: Nepali Tea Traders

Tea Description:

After a short summer season in Nepal, the Himalayan monsoon approaches the foothills with a magnanimous rush. The golden red soil of Sandakphu drinks in this moisture, producing a rare artisan tea that reflects all of nature’s goodness. After plucking, the leaves are 25 percent withered, then rolled in mechanical rollers. The tea is then placed in a shaping machine and further dried, producing uniformly curled leaves. The liquor is a distinctive rich golden color, with a cup that is mild yet flavorful, with a lovely balance of stone fruit and honey.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

On my Epic Sipdown, I came across a sample of this tea from Nepali Tea Traders.  I was quite excited to see if the description matched the flavor of this tea.

I brewed this up in my new Sei Sei Tumbler.  I was really craving those rich stone fruit notes that were described.  Brewed this up like a black tea and wow. This tea has it all.  Rich smooth notes of honey with an almost bread like background and apricot (?) flavors.  So well done.

What I really love about this tea is how smooth it is.  There is almost a silk texture to this tea while you drink it.  This tea is one of those that feels like it needs to be saved for special occasions. But this one is completely affordable for an extra day sort of tea.  I want to try this one as a cold brew for those hot summer days when you need a tea like this.  There is a refreshing quality to it that I’m really enjoying.

The description of this tea was spot on and this is another fantastic tea that has been hiding in my cupboard.  I’m so glad I pulled this one out today.  Loving this fruit malty tea to finish out my day with.

Champagne and Apricot from Mountain Witch Tea Company

ChampagneApricotTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Mountain Witch Tea Company

Tea Description:

This light and fruity blend combines notes of delicate champagne and real pieces of sweet & tart apricots in a base of our finest black tea. Delicious hot or iced.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Who wouldn’t love a Champagne & Apricot tea? The name alone sounds delicious.

I adore Kelly’s blends @Mountain Witch Tea Company.  And this one is no exception.  I think Mountain Witch Tea Company is one of the only companies I would blindly buy 4 oz of tea without hesitation.  I adore her blends that much.

Brewed up like a traditional black tea (212F-3 min), this tea had a pretty high astringent factor.  You could taste a  stonefruit like flavor but the astringency was a bit overwhelming.

Where this tea sparkled and shined was when I cold brewed the tea for a few hours in the fridge.  Yummy Nommy Nom! This tea as a cold brew was bright, refreshing, and down right tasty.  The apricot flavor is vibrant and very distinguishable.  The black tea is smooth and the astringent factor is gone.  I have already been told I need to pick up more of this tea for the upcoming hot days of summer.  This blend cold brew is just that good.

Do yourself a favor, take advantage of Kelly’s 3 for $24 sale on her teas.  You won’t regret it!