So I had this sample of Jane Austen’s Black Tea Blend by Simpson & Vail in my tea stash and I remembered being excited about this tea but I could not remember what was in this blend at all, let alone what I was so excited about. When I was scooping the tea out of the bag, I noticed bits of lavender so there’s that. Also, the steeped tea smells of mint and baked goods (which makes me think vanilla is lurking in this mug). If nothing else, it certainly smells delicious!
Well this is a very smooth and relaxing tea. I want to use the word mellow. Is that weird? It is what I am going with though. The black tea base is just a touch malty but not overly flavorful. Instead it provides more of a subtle foundation for the other flavors. Mint is probably the most prominent flavor and though it tastes of natural spearmint (as opposed to a sweeter peppermint note), it is not harsh or sharp by any means. The lavender is also present but with just a touch of lavender flavor as opposed to the overbearing lavender spiciness that many teas tend to have with this ingredient. Nothing is over-the-top but that works here. There is also a a gentle sweetness that is combining seamlessly with the malt of the base. My guess, again, is vanilla is responsible.
I was curious what it was that I was so excited about and whether I was accurately detecting various ingredients so I investigated on the Simpson and Vail website to see what this tea is made of. The ingredients include: black teas, spearmint, lavender flowers and vanilla flavor. Yay! It would seem my tastebuds are doing a-okay when it comes to tea tasting.
All in all, this is a tea I could see being really nice in the nighttime before bed (for those that can drink black tea before bed). It has enough flavor to keep things interesting without getting you wired or overly stimulated with sweets and treats. It is like a Jane Austen book in that sense actually, there is enough going on that you’re intrigued but it is calm enough that you feel comfortable gently dozing off into the night.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Description
The delicate prose of Jane Austen’s novels is evoked in this blend that combines peppermint with a gentle touch of vanilla. Lavender flowers, which look lovely in both the cup and the gardens around Jane Austen’s estate, add a sweet floral taste that complements the mint and vanilla wonderfully. This blend captures the color and joy of Austen’s characters while taking inspiration from the herbs and flowers she cultivated in her own garden. It brews to a refreshing cup with a cool mint flavor that’s softened by the warm vanilla and the sweet lavender flowers.
Ingredients: Black teas, spearmint, lavender flowers and vanilla flavor.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
