This is a tea shop I would love to visit in person someday! The website promises that new visitors to the shop are greeted with a curtsy and a twirl, and I could really use that kind of enthusiasm right now!
Ginger Peach Snowcone is a blend of White Monkey Chinese tea, sunflower blossom, and natural flavors.
It has only been two days since I bemoaned to a friend that almost all peach teas add ginger, which is fine in small amounts but too hot for this gal in any significant amounts unless I add lots of sweetener. I really love straight peach flavor or peach and vanilla.
Sniffing the dry blend, I detected no ginger and figured I was home free. Sniffing the steeped tea I detected no ginger. Sipping the tea…no ginger.
Now, this is really great in my book, but if you were looking for a punch of ginger you won’t be happy.
The funny thing, even the peach is incredibly light and what I taste is the white monkey base, a nice dose of floral taste from the sunflower, and the lightest hint of peach, making this a truly delicate and refreshing blend. I tried it hot and unsweetened and as an iced sweet tea.
What is this reminding me of? Come on, think!
I’ve got it!
Suddenly the scent transported me back to my childhood, going to the beauty shop with my mother every Saturday morning, and smelling the sweet smells of all the shampoos and hairsprays and colognes. Something there smelled just like this tea and it just makes me feel so girly that I want to put on some cute low pumps, a sweet skirt, a little pearl necklace, and paint my nails pink.
Thanks for a lovely trip down memory lane! If I ever get to visit T by Daniel, I will return the curtsy and twirl!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: T by Daniel
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Chestnut/Adagio Teas -Ashmanra-
I have recently been introduced to LOTS of tea by Adagio, and honestly I had no idea that they had such a huge selection.
I decided to share this pot of tea with someone who has actually had chestnuts since I never have so I would be able to tell you how authentic the taste is!
My impression of the tea is that it tastes exactly like the company description – black tea with a pleasant dryness. It is nutty, but the company says their teas are safe for people with nut allergies. The facility is also gluten free.
I took it plain but it definitely could take milk and sugar if you prefer. It had that raspy dry feel on the tongue that many Keemun teas give, a cocoa powder vibe without chocolate. It reminded of the feeling when a wee bit of the “bitter” from inside a pecan or walnut shell gets in your mouth. That may sound bad but as they said – it is a pleasant bitterness.
So what about the person who has had actual chestnuts? She said it was so authentic that she was transported back to Eastern Europe at Christmastime, buying roasted chestnuts from vendors in the street. She was quite nostalgic and I am pretty sure she would be pleased to find a box of this tea in her stocking this year!
This also gave a decent resteep. Many thanks to the Sisters for sharing this one with me!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Cherry Almond Black Tea/Stash Tea- Ashmanra-
Cherry and almond are almost inseparable flavors, and immediately bring sweet, decadent desserts to mind for me. I knew I would like this tea before I ever opened the pouch.
The smell of the leaves confirms it. This is going to be delicious! There is so much sweet cherry aroma here! And the almond is just as strong.
Steeped up and served with biscuits – the Southern US kind – made for a delightful tea time.
The black tea base is pretty brisk, and as usual I don’t notice this much while eating but the final cup sipped by itself has a building drying effect on the tongue.
It occurred to me that this would probably be fabulous as a refreshing sweet tea for summer! Off to the kitchen to fill the kettle again.
Iced tea tastes best after it has mellowed in the refrigerator for a bit. My mother insisted on overnight, but sometimes we can’t wait that long! I have done cold steeped tea (really great for unsweet tea) and I have done flash chill, and they work but it isn’t the same. I want to do this tea justice, so I am patient and put it in the fridge without tasting it yet.
One day later: the tea has had plenty of time for the flavors to meld. Time to try it!
This is delicious. I am loving the cherry. To be honest, I could do without the almond part as it lends a cozy warmth that throws me off in iced tea. But…I still love it. I will definitely ice this again.
And now that I have visited their website and seen PEACH black tea, guess what I am ordering to ice next?
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Stash Tea
Description
For our delicious Cherry Almond dessert tea, we combine the sweet flavor of plump red cherries and rich natural almond oil with select black teas. The result is a smooth, cordial-like tea that is rich in flavor and aroma. This tea may be enjoyed any time of the day, but it is especially pleasant in the evening with a touch of sugar.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
French Vanilla Marshmallow Assam Black Tea/52Teas – Ashmanra –
A good vanilla black tea is a shelf staple in my opinion. Sometimes you need black tea but you want something to soften it, or make it a little bit pampering or luxurious.
French Vanilla Marshmallow Assam is a blend of first and second flush Assam leaves. They are strong, malty, and brisk. While the tea is piping hot you don’t notice the briskness as much, but as it cools it becomes increasingly more drying.
I am loving it as a morning cup, but I could definitely see it as an afternoon pick-me-up as well. The vanilla softens the Assam a little and blooms roundly after the swallow. That’s when the briskness kicks in and makes you pick up your cup for another sip.
I take my tea plain, but this could definitely handle both milk and sugar if you like your tea that way. In fact, I can see this being turned into a decadent dessert drink as a sweet latte or with the addition of vanilla creamer.
As for me, I will continue to enjoy it just as it is! And since it is so good with snacks, I think it is time to grab a cookie or two!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
No. 12, Le Hammeau/Bellocq Tea Atelier -Ashmanra-
I have purchased a few herbal tisanes in the past year for those nights when I want to avoid caffeine. I wanted something that isn’t thin and pale beside my beloved tea but is also delicious without resorting to fake tasting additives or sweeteners. This offering is all organic.
First, the aroma really knocked my socks off. It is so lemony and sweet smelling. And then the taste holds up to the aroma! It’s a miracle! The texture is rich and broth-like.
The lemon flavor is coming from lemongrass and lemon verbena, and since the last ingredient listed is natural essence, I am guessing it may be lemon oil, but I could be wrong.
I grew lemongrass last year and I made a tisane from it, but it had a much thinner body than this, and since it was lemongrass alone, there were no layers of flavor as we have here.
Lemon is at the forefront in aroma and taste, but mint comes in midway and then lingers for quite a while. The rose is adding sweetness with the peppery rose notes and also is surely the source of the rich, creamy body that fairly coats the tongue.
I offered a cup to a family member standing by and promptly had to make another pot. Fortunately, this tisane resteeps well so I can enjoy it with abandon as often as I like.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Bellocq
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!