Up to today’s bat is the Earl of Time, a Quarter To Tea blend that blends a black Earl Grey with vanilla and black currant.
I’m not sure why it’s called Earl of Time, but I SUSPECT it’s because Earl Grey got a message from a Time Lord to add these inclusions for a COMPELLING BREW.
Time Lord: “Listen, I’m from 3030, and Skynet just figured out a bangin’ way to make your trademark beverage a little more exciting.” Earl Grey: “My trademark beverage? I just throw a little bit of citrus into my black tea.” Time Lord: “Believe it or not, that’s going to be YOUR THING. You will be known through ALL OF TIME for that one thing.” Earl Grey: “What about my charity work? My metal band? My hand-tatted doilies?” Time Lord: “No.” Earl Grey: “My way with words? The fact that I am an expert cat cuddler?” Time Lord: “None of that makes it to the future.” Earl Grey: “So I’m just… like… a spritz of bergamot?” Time Lord: “And now… some vanilla and black currant. Try it.” Earl Grey: “That’s DELICIOUS! So creamy! That berry flavor, with the slight citrus edge! WOW! I might write a poem about it.” Time Lord: “It’ll be forgotten to the sands of time, but sure, I mean, go ahead.” Earl Grey: “Roses are red / violets are blue / I like this tea / and so might you.”
(illustration by Super Starling herself!)
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
A fun and fruity twist on the classic Earl Grey! This one features black currant, vanilla, with that classical satisfying punch of bergamot.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Downton Abbey Christmas Tea from Republic of Tea. . . .
Downton Abbey Christmas Black Tea is a delicious blend that tastes like chai-meets-mulled-cider. It’s spicy, rich, wine-like, and a little bit fruity.
“Wine like?” you ask anxiously. “If it’s Christmas… I am looking for wine-like.”
Yes! Unfortunately, there is no liquor within it, but it tries. It gets pretty close.
And trust me, folks: I understand the holidays making you want to reach for the booze.
I type this post from my family’s home in Virginia, where I violated a Time of Tea Law. I settled in with a novel and this book at around 7 p.m. after dinner, and was admonished.
“Tea is with dessert,” my mother said. “We have that at 8 p.m.”
“I could make myself another tea… at 8 p.m,” I said, confused.
My father, who came back from walking the dogs, spotted the mug in my hand and said, “TEA? ALREADY?”
And I said “WHY SO MANY LIMITS ON THE TEA AROUND HERE?”
THAT is the kind of family interaction we celebrate at the holidays! Granted, this is Thanksgiving week, but I’m sure there will be similar interactions on my husband’s family’s side at Christmas.
Feel free to drink this whenever you get frustrated with your family and imagine it’s something stronger.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Republic of Tea
Description
This blend is a holiday blend but click below to learn more about all of Downton Abbey Blends that Republic of Tea offers.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Life is Rosey from Simplicity Teas. . . .
My friend signed up for Simplicity Teas’ subscription/blind box, and has begun passing me some of her samples! HIP HIP HOORAY for MORE REVIEWS!
Today’s pick is “Life is Rosey,” a black tea with rose petals & flavoring. It comes in a charming test tube that you can observe here.
My friend gave it to me because she believes that roses taste like soap. She is not, to be fair, entirely wrong on this point. I often also feel like I’m using hand-wash in my mouth if florals aren’t done delicately.
Fortunately, for me, this particular rose is nicely crafted. The rose adds a charming, grandmotherly stateliness without being an overwhelming love-gush from Bath and Body Works. (A great store. But not for eating.) The black base is a very neutral stoic foil for the rose. The duo reminds me of flamenco dancers: The man dons a simple black outfit; and the woman wears a frilly, showy dress.
And did I mention the test tube? It’s the cutest way to receive tea, I’ve decided. The packaging appeals to my inner science nerd; the rose appeals to my inner hopeless romantic. It’s a fusion of joys!
Though you can’t buy this tea specifically on Simplicity Teas’ site, they do have a blind box subscription to which you can subscribe to try other offerings. I am super into blind boxes. They’re a great way to try new things. Your favorite could be just around the corner.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Monthly Tea Subscription Plan
Where to Buy: Simplicity Teas
Description
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Old Tree from Old Ways Tea. . .
As this tea’s blend suggests, this tea is from an old tea tree. According to Old Ways Tea’s site, old trees run rampant and have huge roots that change the mineral content and flavor of the tea. They also are home to little ecosystems that live in their big, dense branches, including lichen and moisture and all sorts of funky goodness* that translates into the leaf’s flavor.
* (Note: The phrase “funky goodness” does not appear in the original description of the tea, to its detriment.)
This tea is indeed mineral-ish, and a little bit spicy/smoked. It almost has a heat to its flavor. Is it possible for tea to have… a natural kick? Because this does.
This is the Southern BBQ of tea. The flavor is kind of rugged. The kind of thing a man’s man would enjoy while turning a spit with a hog on it first thing in the morning. Later in the day, I imagine a man’s man would turn to beer, but this is a good solid push into anyone’s busy day.
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.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Yuzu Berry Sencha Green Tea from Prestogeorge. . . .
I’ve recently begun seriously exploring the world of green teas. They have the best alleged health benefits; they’re springy; they’re tasty. They’re also decidedly not soda, which I have been trying with little success to quit for years.
Greens are not like black teas. One can’t just use the hot water dispenser at work and forget about them and hope they turn out okay twenty minutes later. Green teas require a lower temperature and shorter steep time in order not to singe and taste icky.
I’ve learned the hard way to put an ice cube in the gravity steeper before putting in the water, in order to get an appropriate temperature. I also try to keep an eye on the time in order to only steep for about two minutes instead of, eh, whatever.
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Today’s pick: a sencha! Sencha is the most popular tea in Japan. It has very green leaves that are typically plucked while young and full of nutrients. Japanese Sencha tends to be more grassy/vegetal than greens from China.
This particular blend is mixed with yuzu and safflowers. Yuzu is a Japanese citrus fruit. (Tea has me experiencing all sorts of new fruits/flowers/berries I’d never even heard of before.)
The flavor of this blend is very tangy and grassy. The profound green-ness of the tea is balanced out with the sassy citrus of the yuzu, which is a distinctive sort of citrus. It’s zesty, like a lemon or a Mandarin orange.
I’m not sure I’d recommend this particular blend for a green tea newbie, because it has to be handled very carefully and has a REALLY distinctive flavor that one might not like. However, if you’re looking to expand your palate, this is a distinctive pick you might just love. Give it a whirl!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Prestogeorge
Description
Sencha green tea with safflowers and natural yuzu berry flavor. Yuzu berry is a Japanese citrus fruit similar to mandarin orange. Remarkable flavor.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!