Scent is one of the strongest senses tied to memory, and there is something distinct for all of us about the holidays! There are the cinnamon pine cones in every store, you start being able to use you fireplace, and everything smells like apples. Yule Fuel by For Tea’s Sake is hands down the best holiday tea I’ve ever had. It smells like the holidays with cinnamon and cloves immediately confronting your senses. One encounter with the aroma of this tea will make it obvious that it is aptly named.
I brewed this black tea at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (110 degrees Celsius) for five minutes as directed. It brewed into a nice rich color. The cinnamon and cloves which are prominent in the aromatic profile of this tea are reduced to supporting, but important, players when brewed. The flavor that comes out in the brewing process is a lovely vanilla which helps remove the bitter aftertaste that is common for black teas and often puts people off of drinking black teas without sugar or cream. Saying this is a smooth black tea may be an understatement for this blend. This blend needs no assistance from sugars or cream, but I suspect that the addition of either would create a lovely flavor profile as well.
I cannot say enough wonderful things about this blend. From the aroma to the flavor profile that is presented once brewed, this tea is one that you need to have in your collection.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: For Tea’s Sake
Description
This is a holiday blend tea so if interested click below right around the holidays to see if the blend is coming back!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Old Tree Black Tea from Old Ways Tea. . . .
If you want to support a family business, tea from Old Ways Tea offers you an opportunity to do just that. The owner of Old Ways Tea is originally from the Wuyi mountains in China, but lives in the US. The only tea sold is based upon what the family farm in China is able to produce that year. If you watch the site regularly, you can also sign up for the newsletter to provide you updates with harvest season!
Visually, the Old Tree Black Tea looks like your standard black tea with large leaves for brewing. Old Tree tea is picked from trees that are allowed to grow much larger than most tea crops. Since they are so large, their roots extend far into the soil and are able to bring a different layer of minerals and nutrients to the leaves which impact the flavor profile. For Old Ways Tea’s Old Tree tea, the additional minerals have resulted in a nice smooth flavor. It is lighter than most black teas, and it would be great as a starter black tea if you are more of a white or green tea person. My morning cuppa almost always consist of a black tea and I found the Old Tree Black Tea was best with no alteration from sweeteners or cream. Though I did enjoy it with sugar and cream, it tasted best straight from the teapot. For me, this was a tea that was best enjoyed hot.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Old Ways Tea
Description
This is black tea produced from older wild style trees. The trees are allowed to grow as they wish getting much bigger than normal. The trees are different in two distinct ways. First since they are older trees the roots have reached past the upper soil into the rocks below and can access a broader mineral content than young trees; providing additional flavor complexity. Secondly the wild style trees are denser which provides a micro-climate influencing the lichen, leaves, and shading of the tree.
This old tree black tea comes from the village of Masu (麻粟) high in the mountains above Tongmu village, in Wuyishan City, China. The farms are small and located at an elevation of 1250 meters. The soil is very rocky and the clear cold streams fast flowing. The trees are said to be roughly 60 years old; although with matters of age it can be hard to verify the claims. I am satisfied and happy to offer this tea for your enjoyment.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Earl Grey de la Creme from Tiesta Tea. . . .
This tea was available in the bulk section of my local grocery store! I couldn’t believe it. I’d seen tea before available in bulk, but I’d never seen blends so I had to try this blend for myself. The name “Earl Grey de la Crème” made me immediately think of a latte and I wasn’t sure how a tea without crème would accomplish the expectation I had drawn from the name.
The blend is a mix of Earl Grey, cornflower, and other natural flavors. I’ve always found that cornflower with Early Grey truly helps create a milder bergamot aftertaste, and I’ve never found and Earl Grey and cornflower blend that I didn’t like. This particular blend gives a high tea to cornflower ratio so if you are a fan of cornflower, this is an amazing blend. Earl Grey de la Crème is considered an energizer tea from Tiesta Tea which means the blend contains mate and black teas which help deal with fatigue by giving an added mental and physical boost. There is definitely a hint of vanilla in this blend which makes it a perfect tea to drink straight or to turn into that latte that the name lends itself to!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tiesta Tea
Description
A unique addition of vanilla and blue mallow flowers create a richer, creamier version of an old favorite to keep your mind fog-free.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Anji Bai from Teasenz. . . .
In Texas, and the south in general, you can never count on one weather season staying around for too long. One day we’ll have highs in the 80s then we’ll be back to the 40s and 50s.
When I tried the Anji Bai blend, it was one of those weeks where the area couldn’t decide what season it wanted to be in. I was ready for warmth, but at 2:00pm I wanted something a bit lighter than my standard black tea. This brew created a mild color, closer to a true green when compared with the tan that many green teas create in your cup. There was a mild fresh aroma and it was reminiscent of a floral arrangement in the spring.
I’m very glad I selected this particular cuppa because it will be a great tea for when it is hot outside, but you still want a hot cup of tea.
The mild flavor works in this blend’s favor nicely. I was able to enjoy this both with and without a sweetener and I believe you could leave it to your personal preference on how you’d prefer to prepare your cuppa.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Teasenz
Description
Fresh and creamy soft with notes of citrus and nuts. From Anji, the town of dense bamboo forests and tea cultivation, comes this Anji Bai Cha, one of the rarest of all Chinese teas. With long, delicate, vivid green leaves, Anji white tea is beautiful in every sense of the word. A green tea connoisseur’s dream.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Soothing Chamomile from Balcony Teas. . . .
This is one of the only teas in my current review box that came in a sachet, and I’m so glad that it did! The visual presentation of the pyramid sachet with the large floral accents within this blend made this tea a beautiful pre-brew piece of art. This blend has a distinctive chamomile aroma due to the fact that this blend has the full chamomile flower. In addition to the visual of the chamomile flower, you can also see the lime flower that is included in this blend. The sachet that Balcony Tea uses for this blend is an exceptional choice as the smallest tea leaves did not get into my brew, but this particular sachet also allows for an even flow of water to the leaves and provides an option for those of us who need to brew on the go.
I opted for this tea as we’d had a tantrum filled night at my house with a toddler who was still testing the ability to stay up as late as she wanted. Once brewed, I continued to be able to smell both the chamomile as well as the wildflowers included in this blend. I was able to enjoy this blend straight or with a splash of honey. Balcony Tea does suggest that you do not add milk to this blend, and I would agree as I think the milk would mask some of the brilliant (but delicate) flavors in this tea. This was great for both calming my nerves after a rough day and getting me ready to relax in bed. Great chamomile blend!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Balcony Teas
Description
Feel transported to a beautiful evening in the Mediterranean. All is calm and you can smell wild flowers. Perfect for a moment to yourself or to wind down after a busy day.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!