Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Product Description:
As for this week’s tea of the week, I’ve been getting requests from a few customers to start creating some fall blends, so here we go. This is our unique blend of Indian black teas blended with marigold petals and natural pumpkin and cheesecake flavors. I have a feeling this is another one that is going to sell out fast, so don’t hesitate or you might miss out.
Taster’s Review:
First, for our readers from the United States:
HAPPY NATIONAL PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE DAY!
Yeah… I didn’t know it was National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day today either, until I was browsing around and stumbled upon an article about it. I hadn’t even planned on trying this tea today, but, after finding that article, I decided that I would tip my teacup to recognize this national holiday.
I guess the more obvious way to celebrate the day would be to bake a pumpkin cheesecake. However, the first time I actually tried to bake a pumpkin cheesecake, it was a disaster. I had all the right ingredients, and I even bought a spring form pan. I mixed it up, baked it, and when I pulled it out of the oven, I dropped it. KER-SPLAT! All over the kitchen floor. I haven’t tried to bake one since. So, yes. I think that this tea is probably a better way to celebrate the day for this clumsy baker …
When I opened the pouch, the aroma of pumpkin and spices greeted me enthusiastically. The brewed liquor loses much of the pumpkin scent, but, the spices are still noticeable, I am especially noticing the fragrance of clove.
This is really yummy! Of course, that’s no big surprise for me, since Frank hasn’t really let me down yet (at least, not to my recollection!) The flavors are very well integrated here, as there is not a flavor that I notice “first” – I taste them all, although they aren’t all equally represented.
The black tea is the strongest note. This is Frank’s “usual” – that is, a blend of Nilgiri and Assam tea. It works well in this blend as it is not overpowering, but it is strong and well-defined. The flavor of spices are also prominent. Specifically, I can taste clove and cinnamon. And while the spices are prominent, I don’t find them to be too overwhelming. I am not finding this to be a spice blend, rather, the spices are a pleasing accent to the pumpkin notes.
There is a really good level of pumpkin flavor. It isn’t as obvious a pumpkin flavor as in some other blends, perhaps, but I like the amount of pumpkin taste I am getting. The cheesecake flavor is there too with just the right amount of cream cheese tang.
Overall, what this tastes like is like someone liquified a slice of pumpkin cheesecake and added it to my black tea, and added a dash of pumpkin pie spice. I prefer this hot (but maybe that’s just because it’s cold outside), and I prefer it with just a little sweetener added . I used a bit of turbinado sugar, and I think that the molasses really played well to the flavors of the tea.
I can think of no better way to celebrate National Pumpkin Cheesecake day than with a cup of this tea, especially if you’re a clumsy baker like me.
