Osmanthus is one of my favorite florals and makes an excellent spring tea. If you’re not expecting it and are accustomed to mild florals, it’s little overwhelming. Osmanthus is really sweet and usually doesn’t need any kind of sweetener! (Some milder variants go well with honey but this one, in particular, is on the sweeter side.) Stick to the 3-minute steep time—it doesn’t need anymore. If it’s too sweet, you might enjoy a second steep.
The first steep is very sweet, fruity, and almost overpoweringly floral. It’s not as tangy as Ceylon normally is, so you’re left with this smooth, mild sweetness reminiscent of apricots. It also kind of reminds me of honeysuckle, but slightly less of a woody flavor.
The second steep is a little better and has a more rounded flavor. You get a bit more of the tangy flavor typical of Ceylon, slightly bitter, with hints of apricot and a light floral taste. It’s definitely one of those teas I would share with a friend who has a sweet tooth. Pour the first cup for them and hold the second for yourself!
I like this one in moderation. It was a bit too sweet for me to enjoy in any frequency, but the second steep definitely won me over. I’d recommend this to anyone who is a fan of sweet and floral teas.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Zesta Tea
Description
Native to Asia, Osmanthus flowers are famous in China for their flavour and scent. This tea combines handpicked flowers with fine Chinese black tea to brew a cup which is fragrant yet pleasantly light with a slightly fruity taste.
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Rose Petals from The Tea Can Company
Rose Petals, both the name of this tea and, of course, a key ingredient. Rose petals, ceylon teas, and natural flavors. Basically this tea took a floral base and added a floral flavoring.With no recommended steeping I followed my heart and steeped this for 3 minutes in 190F water.
The end result is…surprise…floral. A little bit sweet from the rose but also a little perfumey and dry from the ceylon base. Think potpurri sprinkled with sugar. Granted I am probably not this teas intended audience since I don’t like floral or ceylons to begin with but sometimes teas with these ingredients have won me over. Alas, that is not the case here.
This tea claims to taste of sweet romance but this is not the relationship I am looking.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Tea Can Company
Description
Description: The taste of sweet romance. Delicate, fragrant and soft as a flower, this rose tea is smooth perfection. Enjoy love in a cup, and the glow of good health delivered by abundant antioxidants. Relaxing rose tea can also relieve cramps.
Ingredients: An Aromatic Blend of Ceylon Teas, Rose Petals and Natural Flavoring, Contains Caffeine
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Jasmine Tea Blend from Simpson and Vail. . . . .
I haven’t quite made up my mind on whether I like jasmine or not. When I think I do, I try something else that includes jasmine and then I wonder if I actually don’t. I was hesitant to try this Jasmine Tea Blend by Simpson and Vail because of this. However, I persevered and decided to go ahead and try anyways.
Jasmine smells really sweet and tastes that way too. I did not even add sweetener to the steeped cup. I do like this, but being 100% honest I feel like I need another component here. Like, maybe, apple jasmine…or vanilla jasmine…or maybe like a jasmine tangerine or something. But, just plain jasmine tea isn’t really doing it for me. That said, this is definitely a rich jasmine flavor. Its sweet, its floral, and its smooth.
I think that this would be a great cup to drink if I want to unwind in the evening after a nice bath. The smell of jasmine is definitely relaxing. I just don’t know if i’m all for straight floral tea. Like I said, I am longing for a second component. I do think that this is yummy, though, and I think that someone who enjoys floral teas or jasmine teas would really love this. Even if you aren’t sure whether you like floral tea, this would definitely be a tea to try it out. It is authentic and yummy. I have had great luck with Simpson and Vail and I really always enjoy their blends.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Description
The process of producing Jasmine tea started in China sometime during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) using tea blended with Jasmine blossoms. Jasmine teas are created using different types of tea: white, oolong and green predominantly. The base teas used are picked, depending on the type of tea, from March to June, but the Jasmine blossoms do not bloom until the summer. So the teas are picked, processed and stored until the fresh blossoms can be added. The blossoms are picked in the morning when the dew has dried off the closed buds. The buds are then kept cool during the day and then in the evening, when the buds begin to open, they are mixed into the tea. After at least 4 hours, when the tea has absorbed the jasmine scent, the blossoms are removed and fresh buds are added. For standard grade jasmine teas, the blossoms are added 2 or 3 times. For premium grade jasmine teas, this process may be repeated up to 8 times. Once the blenders are satisfied that the tea has the appropriate amount of aroma, the tea is re-fired to remove the moisture that was introduced to the tea by the fresh jasmine blossoms. Jasmine tea destined to remain in China usually has the spent blossoms removed from the finished product, but with teas that are exported, jasmine blossoms are sometimes left in the finished tea for their appearance.
Historically the aroma of Jasmine blossoms was recommended for stress relief, depression and relaxation. For us, the aroma of Jasmine infused teas does have a profound ability to calm and relax!
This Jasmine tea, from the Fujian Province in China, is a scented oolong tea with a delicious jasmine flavor. The medium size tea leaves brew to a pale ecru cup with a strong jasmine bouquet.
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Sacrd SynchroniciTEA from Cup of Love. . . .
Sacred SynchroniciTEA from Cup of Love is a lovely blend of black tea and green tea for the base with added flower petals and vanilla. The black tea is actually flavored with the vanilla, specifically, and according to their website.
I sometimes have a hard time with floral flavored teas because I find that they ‘get stale’ quicker or ‘tend to turn bitter’ easier than others. With Sacred SynchroniciTEA from Cup of Love that is NOT the case. This flavored black and green blend is done nicely. It’s fresh, flavorful, floral, and creamy. It’s a tad sweet, too! The vanilla really takes it to the next level!
I also find that it can be difficult to accomplish an even flavor profile when blending black tea and green tea. Cup of Love – was once again – able to do this successfully! I could taste both the black tea and the green tea, evenly. Neither was over powering the other. It made for a solid, blended base. When you taste the floral and vanilla flavors they work in harmony with the base – and again are not too overpowering. I really like the flavor and appreciate the quality of Sacred SynchroniciTEA from Cup of Love.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black/Green Tea Blend
Where to Buy: Cup of Love
Description
A unique and original flavor blended from the Sacred SynchroniciTEA of mixing the floral majesty of a rich, China Jasmine Green Tea and the decadent, lusciousness of an English Vanilla Black Tea.
A one of a kind taste with floral, nutty notes.
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Focus from BlendBee
Blendbee has some of the most amazing smelling teas! Focus from BlendBee is one of those teas! Upon opening the package I could smell lemon-orange-chocolate! The second sniff is when I noticed the gently roasted, savory, and floral notes. Usually I would think all of these conflicting aromas would be weird together but they seemed to fit here. I could get over the amazing aroma!
The original reason I reached for this tea today was because I was having a hard time focusing. I’m not going to make any claims or anything here BUT once I smelled this tea I know I couldn’t FOCUS on anything other that how awesome it smelled! I knew I had to take the next step, tho! I added the water and waited 3 or 4 minutes before sipping. Once the tea was infused it was harder to identify each of those ingredients with a single sniff but it still smelled YUMMY.
Focus from BlendBee ‘brewed’ dark brown and I could taste a combo of Yerba Mate, Black Tea, Lemon, and Orange, mostly. In follow up sips I could taste the chicory and it was done perfectly! It was hanging out in the background and wasn’t over powering! The rose and chocolaty notes were more on the end sip and aftertaste and were lovely, too! This is a Yerba Mate/Black Tea blend I could see myself drinking often! YUM!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black/Yerba Mate
Where to Buy: BlendBee
Description
Sharpen your mind & stay focused.
This invigorating black tea & yerba mate blend was specifically designed for a tea lover whose favorite tea was discontinued. We recreated it for her, and to our delight, we loved this blend and decided to whole world should have it. It definitely helps you to stay focused and has a great energy. Enjoy!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!