Chocolate Rose Truffle Black Tea from 52Teas

by Sensiblyscript

I was looking for something strong today so I settled on this wonderful chocolatey blend from 52 Teas! I steeped 1 heaping teaspoon in about 12 ounces of hot water for 2.5 minutes, as recommended (although I admit I totally failed to do the recommended “wait 10 minutes after steeping for best flavor” thing. I get a little impatient for my tea, lol).

Once it’s steeped, the tea is a medium darkness, not really red or orange but more amber-ish or cedar-colored. It has a few teeny oil droplets on top, which tends to happen when you put chocolate chips in your tea, lol. I can definitely smell both the black tea and the chocolate flavors as well as the rose.

When tasting, the first flavor that stands out is the chocolate (good news!). I also catch a tannic hint of the black tea’s astringency. The rose is, at this point, more of a floral aftertaste than a very present flavor. The tea itself is sweet, as expected (those chocolate chips you know), and the chocolate and black tea flavors are blending quite elegantly.

One thing that puzzles me about this tea is that I was sure I saw a white chocolate chip among the tea leaves, but I can’t taste it at all. Where did the flavor go? I know white chocolate isn’t really a dominant sort of flavor though, so maybe it was intended to just add to the general creaminess without actually showing up distinctly in the flavor profile.  If that’s the case, then it was a success. The flavor is quite rich and truffle-ish. Since the tea has plenty of sweetness already, I didn’t put sugar in, but I did experiment with adding milk. I then became unable to taste the rose flavor, which is unexpected. It still tastes nicely of chocolate and tea, though.

Regarding the disappearance of the rose flavor, it is possible that I failed to evenly distribute the ingredients before measuring out my tea leaves. I did turn the sample bag upside down and shake it in an attempt to ensure even distribution of ingredients, but my efforts may have been ineffective. Or perhaps this particular sample is just less packed with rose petals than normal. I know that when I had a sample of this tea once before, the rose flavor was much more present and was certainly detectable through milk. It was also strong enough to make the white chocolate chips taste sickeningly of rose, which I know because I ate one instead of putting it in my tea.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas

52teas3_1430856114__73092Description:

 Blend is no longer available but check out the black teas that are here!

Sensiblyscript

Hi! My name is Tabitha and I'm an uprooted PNW native living in the South with my husband and my cocker spaniel. My favorite teas are usually dark and strong and go well with milk and sugar. I like to combine tea-drinking with all of my favorite activities, such as listening to music, reading YA fiction, knitting, and writing blog and website content for businesses. Because I'm a well-rounded person, I also have other interests, such as wearing mismatched socks and pretending to be ambidextrous.

This post was posted in 52Teas, Black Tea

Organic Masala Chai from Hope and Glory

by Sensiblyscript

We’ve been having some tropical weather lately, so today was much cooler and rainier than usual for this time of year. I do appreciate cool weather when I can get it, especially because after a few days/weeks/months of summer I get tired of not being able to have any hot tea after 8AM without overheating and getting a migraine. So to celebrate the great rainy weather, I decided to have a big mug of milky chai right in the middle of the day; and fortunately for me, I was lucky enough to have a sample of Hope & Glory’s organic masala chai on hand!

The back of the sample packet said to simmer the tea with milk and water for 5-10 minutes, so that’s what I did. (I know this means my review won’t be much use to people who can’t drink milk, and I apologize. I once tried to make my lactose-intolerant brother a chai latte but I was unprepared to adapt to using soymilk and to make a long story short, he probably still dislikes spiced chai. But I digress.) I then strained it into my tall latte mug and added a few teaspoons of sugar and a little cream.

After taking a few sips I concluded that it’s everything you could hope for in a chai. The spice blend is harmonious and contrasts well with the creaminess of the milk, just as it should. It blends well enough that no one spice flavor jumps out at me, which is great. Some chais try to make up for any deficiencies with an overwhelming amount of cinnamon (I mean, cinnamon is great, but so are the other spices!), so I’m glad this one is so well-balanced. They’re strong spices too, and of course I mean that in the best way. There’s a warmth that lingers after each sip, past the milky aftertaste, until I give in and take another sip. Fortunately, the next sip is just as amazing, so the cycle of happiness tends to self-perpetuate and everything is great (until you run out of tea!).
Overall, I find this tea to be unequivocally awesome and would gladly drink any amount of it. Also, being organic and fair-trade, it naturally has an ecological advantage (as well as a sociological advantage and a health advantage) over other similar teas.

 

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Hope and Glory

login-logo_sans-sunDescription

A full-bodied blend of organic Ceylon black tea and spices, Masala Chai derives from the Hindi literally meaning ‘mixed-spice tea’. Spices such as cardamom and cinnamon have been expertly blended to give a warming, rich blend of flavours and a sweet aroma.

 

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Sensiblyscript

Hi! My name is Tabitha and I'm an uprooted PNW native living in the South with my husband and my cocker spaniel. My favorite teas are usually dark and strong and go well with milk and sugar. I like to combine tea-drinking with all of my favorite activities, such as listening to music, reading YA fiction, knitting, and writing blog and website content for businesses. Because I'm a well-rounded person, I also have other interests, such as wearing mismatched socks and pretending to be ambidextrous.

This post was posted in Black Tea, Hope and Glory

Organic Earl Grey from Hope and Glory

by Sensiblyscript
The leaves of this tea have a lovely refreshing fragrance even before steeping. I steeped it just after boiling, as per the steeping info. I used about 5 grams for about 10 oz. of water.
I steeped it in one of my wire mesh ball infusers, but next time I’d plan to use my fine-weave steeping basket because some of the leaves are fine enough that a few leaf particles escaped through the mesh. (I’m not sure if this is normal for this tea or if my sample just got squished in the mail, though.) I really enjoyed the balanced blend here; the bergamot was strong, but not strong enough to mask the scent of the black tea. Once sipped, the bergamot stood out more, but it’s still a very enjoyable blend. The bergamot offers bright, clean notes to contrast with the smooth black-tea flavor.
 I like experimenting with how sugar and milk affect my tea, so I tried adding a little sugar. This brought out the friendly citrusy side of the bergamot (rather than the tangy acidic side), which I liked. I then added a little milk, which brought out the flavor of the black tea more. The aftertaste was nice as well–quite clean and refreshing.
Overall, I’d say that it’s definitely strong enough for a breakfast tea (for me, anyway) and that the familiar combination of black tea and bergamot is well-done here. The bergamot is strong enough to keep things interesting but doesn’t completely edge out the tea flavor. Also, it’s organic and fair trade, so you can feel great about yourself while drinking it! That’s always fun.

 

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Hope and Glory
login-logo_sans-sunDescription

A scented black tea which may be taken with or without milk. Our Earl Grey is scented with natural Bergamot oil; a hybrid of the sweet lime which gives this blend a distinct citrus character.

 

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Sensiblyscript

Hi! My name is Tabitha and I'm an uprooted PNW native living in the South with my husband and my cocker spaniel. My favorite teas are usually dark and strong and go well with milk and sugar. I like to combine tea-drinking with all of my favorite activities, such as listening to music, reading YA fiction, knitting, and writing blog and website content for businesses. Because I'm a well-rounded person, I also have other interests, such as wearing mismatched socks and pretending to be ambidextrous.

This post was posted in Black Tea, Hope and Glory

Organic Vanilla Almond Sachet from Boston Tea Company

by Sensiblyscript

This morning my tea infusers are all full of teas that I plan to re-steep but don’t currently feel like drinking, so I decided that now is the perfect time to try this tea, which comes in a handy and elegant pyramid-shaped sachet. I steeped it for five minutes, which I spent wondering if it would taste like a baked good. I mean, vanilla and almond flavoring are two of the most common flavorings for cookies and stuff, right?

Upon tasting it, I found the flavor pleasantly sweet even before I added milk and sugar. I found that because of its natural sweetness it didn’t require very much sugar. I think the flavor goes perfectly with milk, though, and the aroma and aftertaste are just as nice as the actual taste, which is a big plus. I was happy that it didn’t leave an odd aftertaste like some teas do. Instead, my mouth felt fresh and almondy after each sip.
The steeping recommendations said to steep this tea for 3-5 minutes. I allowed the relatively light color to fool me into thinking it needed to be steeped for longer, so I opted for 5 minutes rather than 3. I think this was a mistake because I couldn’t easily the vanilla through the almond. It still tasted great, but if you’re hoping to taste the vanilla you might want to not steep it quite so long. I tried a second steeping and it came out a bit more balanced after 3.5 minutes. So it seems you can adjust the steeping times based on how strong you like your almond flavoring and what flavor balance you prefer.
All in all, this was a sweet, pleasant, friendly tea. I enjoyed it as a breakfast tea and I think it would be great as a dessert tea as well.

 

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Boston Tea Company

Description

As you open the envelope of this certified organic tea, the luscious scents of vanilla will surround you. A silken sachet filled with our premium organic blend of Chinese and Inidan black teas, slices of organic almonds and vanilla. This tea will soothe your soul with every sip. CONTAINS 15 Silk Sachet Pyramid Tea Bags Individually Wrapped in Envelopes to Preserve Freshness HEALTH Rich in anti-oxidants, including favonoids, ie: catechins and polyphenols, these substances in tea provide many health benefits, such as preventing tooth decay, lowering cholesterol, and assisting in the prevention of heart attacks. Boston Tea’s Loose Leaf Tea reflects the passion projected in our company’s motto: “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Tea”. Our Full Leaf Tea embodies natural beauty, rich aromas, and the finest quality that our worldly Master Tea Blenders ardently seek. Found in the lush planataions of Sri Lanka and South Africa to the mountainous regions of China and India, Boston Tea blends its tea to create the heartiest, strongest, and most flavorful cup. Double your tea-drinking pleasure; try and of these flavors hot or iced! Gluten Free Yes Kosher Orthodox Union (OU) Ingredients Premium Blend of Organic Chinese and Indian Black Tea, Almond Slices, Marigold Petals, Vanilla Flavor Tea Bag Count 15

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Sensiblyscript

Hi! My name is Tabitha and I'm an uprooted PNW native living in the South with my husband and my cocker spaniel. My favorite teas are usually dark and strong and go well with milk and sugar. I like to combine tea-drinking with all of my favorite activities, such as listening to music, reading YA fiction, knitting, and writing blog and website content for businesses. Because I'm a well-rounded person, I also have other interests, such as wearing mismatched socks and pretending to be ambidextrous.

This post was posted in Black Tea, Boston Tea Company, Uncategorized

Yun Nan Dian Hong Golden Tip Black Tea from Teavivre

by Sensiblyscript

The dry leaves of this tea are beautiful and aromatic, which I noticed as I opened the sample. The gold tips are distinctly visible before steeping. Since it’s a delicate tea with a recommended steeping temperature of 176 degrees, I allowed the water to cool for a couple of minutes after boiling before I lowered the infuser in. For the first steeping I allowed three minutes in about 8 ounces of water. It came out not exactly reddish but not super dark either, more of a dusky amberish. Quite a nice color. The scent was sweetly fragrant and a little bit floral. When I took a sip I discovered a surprisingly light, sweet flavor. It’s relatively smooth and not bitter, with just a bit of astringency, mostly in the aftertaste. The aftertaste was also quite pleasantly floral, which I liked.

After taking stock of the fragrance and the initial flavor of the tea, I noticed that it would probably be great with milk and sugar. Which, in fact, it was; it still had quite a heady taste, which was slightly mellowed from the milk. I could still taste the distinct floral overtones at the top of the mouth and a hint of astringency at the back of the mouth and at the end of each sip.
I like to get the most out of my teas, so I tried steeping it a second and a third time as well. For some reason I liked the second steeping even better than the first! I caught hints of sweet-potato flavor in the second and third steepings, which were either new or else were something I just missed the first time around.  It took three steepings before the leaves were spent, which is great for a delicate tea like this one. I’d definitely consider buying this tea with my next order!

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Teavivre

teavivreDescription

Dian Hong black tea, also known as Yunnan black tea, is one of China’s most famous black teas.  This is the highest grade Dian Hong generally available in China – called Golden Tip Dian Hong.  It has lots of orange pekoe in the dried tea, and brews into an absolutely great tasting, golden coloured tea, with very rich taste and aroma.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Sensiblyscript

Hi! My name is Tabitha and I'm an uprooted PNW native living in the South with my husband and my cocker spaniel. My favorite teas are usually dark and strong and go well with milk and sugar. I like to combine tea-drinking with all of my favorite activities, such as listening to music, reading YA fiction, knitting, and writing blog and website content for businesses. Because I'm a well-rounded person, I also have other interests, such as wearing mismatched socks and pretending to be ambidextrous.

This post was posted in Uncategorized