Firewater from Pelican Tea gets its name from the addition of hot habanero peppers to the tea. But hot peppers aren’t the only unusual ingredient, this solid black tea also has toasted brown rice, an ingredient that is usually found in green tea genmai cha teas.
I always like to get a whiff of my tea leaves before I brew them, but I was a little nervous about sticking my nose in the bag this time. Would I get a noseful of hot peppers and run away sneezing like in the cartoons? Well, I got lucky, this tea smells savory and earthy and a bit like baked bread from all the starchy brown rice, but no burning or sneezing.
I let the leaves steep and took in the scent of the brewing tea. Still no bite of spice, just more toasted cereal tones from the rice, and a robust black tea. Taking a sip, I finally get a glimpse of the hot peppers. At the back of each sip there is the slightly smoky, chipotle flavor of habanero peppers, and a warm burn of capsaicin down my throat. It’s not so spicy as to be unpleasant, but it is definitely a distinctive experience. All the forward flavors of the tea focus on the nutty, roasted rice.
This would be a great tea for those who like rice in their tea, like in genmai cha. Or this would be a winner for those of you who like the spicy soup sipping broth products out there. The brown rice and earthy black tea take over most of the flavor palette in this tea, but the passing flame of hot pepper spice with each sip makes this something special.
All in all Firewater is a really unique blend that would be a fun gift for any lover of all things hot and spicy.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Pelican Tea
Description:
The original Pelican Tea, and an instant classic. Habanero-infused Orange Pekoe black tea and toasted brown rice contribute to an unpretentious blend that’s as comforting as it is spicy.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Habanero Black from Pelican Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Pelican Tea
Tea Description:
Pelican Tea’s premier Orange Pekoe black teainfused generously with habanero capsaicin. The pleasant burn and spicy kick make this eye-opener a morning favorite. Though very spicy, the heat doesn’t linger and follows the sip down your throat. Try it in place of coffee– you may be surprised!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Yes, you read that description correctly. This is a habanero infused tea. HABANERO infused tea! I couldn’t resist! I just had to try this really unique and interesting tea.
The description says drink it in place of coffee, I’m not sure about that, but I will say this is one of the most unique teas I’ve ever tried.
First off, do not take a big whiff of the dry leaves. Silly me did and I was coughing for about 10 minutes afterwards. There are definite notes of the habanero pepper. The packaging said to allow the tea to steep for about 5 minutes with boiled water. Usually I wouldn’t steep my black tea for that long, but I thought I would go with the instructions since this is such a unique tea.
Five minutes later I poured my hubby and I a hot cuppa of this blend and sat down to enjoy. We both allowed the tea to cool for a few moments and then took our first sip. I will say this, I don’t know how they did it, but you can not taste tea in this blend at all. The first part of the sip you can feel the tea in your mouth but it isn’t until you start to swallow the tea do you start to notice any taste. It is a really unique experience.
Once you start to tatse the tea, there is no going back. You are tasting nothing but the habanero flavor and it is hot. This tea literally tasted like you bit right into a habanero pepper. Very very spicy!
We both tried a few more sips of this tea, still having the same experience. Never tasting tea just the pepper flavor. As far as a tea goes, I can’t say that I would drink more of this blend. It sounds fun, but I wish the habanero wasn’t so overwhelming so that the tea notes could pop in more. I have find myself wondering if I hadn’t steeped the tea for the five minutes, what the flavor would be but I drank up my whole sample. I also am pondering what this tea would be like cold brewed.
Looking at their site they have a few more interesting teas I want to check out. This tea company is one that has peaked my interest for sure!
