Having had 2 black teas for the first two days of this sampler, I was looking forward to having something a little different – perhaps something a little lighter and maybe even a little fruity? Well, apparently Frank (aka the Willy Wonka of Teas) had the same idea, and chose the perfect tea for Day 3.
Speaking of which, don’t you think it would be neat to have a 12 days of Christmas Sampler that was inspired by the song? It would be a bit challenging, of course, to fit teas with some of those days, but, it doesn’t have to be literal … it could be an interpretation. I know that Frank touched on this idea a bit last year with his introduction of the Partridgeberry in a Pear Tea (and I still giggle a bit whenever I type out that name) … but I think it could be a fun idea.
Anyway… I’m babbling, when I should be talking about today’s tea:
STRAWBERRY LEMONADE BAI MU DAN
I was a little surprised to see this one in this sampler, only because it seems like it hasn’t been that long since I tried it and reviewed it. But then, I looked at the date of my review – August! Wow… time flies when you’re having fun I guess.
This tea is a light, crisp and refreshing tea. I am sitting here, enjoying it hot, but it makes an even better iced tea! I enjoyed this several times as the warm days of summer came to a close.
One thing that I’m noticing this time around, though, and I don’t know if it is because this is a whole new batch or what – but this is a less pucker-y tart Strawberry Lemonade. I still get a strong sense of tartness in the finish which lingers into the aftertaste. You know that tingly-tart sensation that sort of tickles the tongue? Yeah, I’m getting that, but, in the actual sip, I notice a sweeter, smoother lemon-y taste than the way I remember it.
I know that 52Teas has begun reviving these teas that are included in the 12 Days of Christmas Sampler, and this is one that I’d recommend stocking up on for iced tea brewing!
On The Second Day of Christmas, 52Teas Sent To Me …
It’s the second day of the Christmas tea “project” and I’m very happy with today’s selection, and judging from the tasting notes for this tea on Steepster, I’d say that others would agree with me.
So, without further ado, I’ll just jump right in with information about today’s tea!
For The Second Day of Christmas, 52Teas Sent to me:
CASHEW TURTLE FLAVORED BLACK TEA
It should really come as no surprise that I love this tea. Caramel, chocolate, cashew and Assam tea? YUM, yum, YUM!
The Assam is strong and bold. It has a nice malty tone to it that accents the caramel notes especially well. The chocolate comes through as a bitter-sweet flavor, with a pleasing nutty dimension. It tastes as though I dropped a candy in a cup of hot Assam tea. Rich, chocolate-y, caramel-y, nutty goodness!
Of course, I did review this one previously, and I see that my thoughts really haven’t changed much on this tea, so I’ll just leave you with a link to my review, so that you can see what I thought of it back when I first tried it.
Can’t wait to see what tomorrow’s tea will be!
On The 1st Day of Christmas, 52Teas sent to me …
Yep, it’s back! The 12 days of Christmas tea box from 52Teas. I’ve been looking forward to this! Even though I’ve probably tasted most of the teas in this box, as I’ve ordered just about every tea that Frank has created this year, I’m still excited to see which teas he has included, as well as excited to revisit some of my favorites!
Yes, I realize that the 12 days of Christmas aren’t supposed to start until after the holiday, but, Frank has started his own tradition of sorts, making the 12 days start on December14, and end on Christmas morning… and I personally like it this way, it makes for a very fun countdown!
For the first day of Christmas, 52Teas sent to me …
BUTTERED POPCORN FLAVORED BLACK TEA
This tea definitely deserves a spot in the 12 days of Christmas package, because it is one of my favorites from the last 12 months or so. Actually, this one was released on the week of November 22, 2010, and my review of this tea was published on December 7, 2010.
Frank, being the “Willy Wonka of Teas” that he is, has managed to capture the flavor of buttered popcorn and add it to his blend of Nilgiri and Assam black teas. And as weird as it may sound, it is actually really delicious.
This tea is best served hot, in my opinion (Cold popcorn is just kind of … meh!) and I recommend adding a tiny pinch of salt to the cup. It doesn’t need sweetener, but, if you want to add it, it’s quite alright. I happen to like to add a little bit of agave nectar to this tea, it gives it a “Kettle Corn” kind of taste. Yummy!
Yep, it is nice to revisit this one … and it tastes as good now as it did back then.
I anxiously await to see what tea tomorrow – the Second Day of Christmas! – brings!
On the 12th Day of Christmas … from 52Teas
Happy Holidays to everyone!
First of all, sorry this will end up posting a little late. I was up LATE last night doing the final preparations for the holiday morning, and I had figured I’d be up earlier than this! My youngest actually slept until about 9 am Pacific Time! I couldn’t believe it!
Anyway… I was especially excited for today’s tea, because it was one that I hadn’t yet tried! This was the one brand new blend from the box, and from what I understand it will soon be featured as a tea of the week.
Without further mumblings from me… The CHRISTMAS Tea of the Day is…
GINGERBREAD CHAI
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Product Description:
Ingredients: Premium black teas, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, pink peppercorns, natural flavors.
Taster’s Review:
Well, as I said before, this was the tea I was most excited about because I knew it was a new blend. Of the other 11 teas, there was only one of them that I hadn’t yet tried, but was definitely on my on-going list of teas to order when finances allow. (The one tea I hadn’t tried being the Chocolate Chai from Day 2)
Anyway, on to this NEW chai! Wow! It’s really tasty! It really tastes like gingerbread and chai married in one teacup! I can taste the baked cake-y taste in the cup, and I must say that in the time that I’ve gotten familiar with 52Teas blends, Frank (the head zoomdweebie at 52Teas) has improved with achieving the pastry and/or cake-y flavor for the tea.
Not surprisingly, the ginger is dominant in this cup. But, it doesn’t taste over-ginger-y either. That is to say, it doesn’t taste like Frank just got really happy with the ginger root. It tastes like gingerbread, not an overpoweringly-ginger-flavored chai.
The other spices are very well balanced and they carry a full-flavored taste that fills the palate with warm spice. The black tea base is a little understated here but not so much that it can’t be tasted. That’s not a complaint! I like that it doesn’t try to intrude upon the other flavors. The tea is there, it just doesn’t overwhelm the cup.
Because what really makes this chai outstanding is the gingerbread flavor! It really is yummy, I love the cake-y taste! It adds such a delightful dimension to the already delicious chai.
When I had originally ordered this sampler box for myself, my initial thought was “great, I can just order the sampler, and since I will have a small sample of the new Christmas blend, that will be one tea from 52Teas that I won’t need to buy because I will have already tried it!” But, as it turns out, this is one tea that I WILL have to order, because of all the chai teas that I’ve tried from 52Teas, this one is the BEST by far! Gee, thanks Frank. My wallet thanks you too. Yeah.
Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope that Santa brought you LOTS of tea to enjoy!
On the 11th Day of Christmas … from 52Teas
Today is Christmas Eve… and I still haven’t finished all the holiday preparations. I still have presents to buy!
Yeah… I’m not the most organized individual you’re likely to meet. That’s putting it mildly!
It may not appear so by just reading these words, but … I’m about to have a panic attack! Good thing I have some tea to help soothe my nerves!
And the tea that I’m enjoying today is …
NEAPOLITAN HONEYBUSH
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Product Description:
Our caffeine-free African Honeybush (If you are still not familiar with honeybush, it is very similar to Rooibos, but a bit sweeter and without the woody aftertaste that rooibos frequently has) blended with organic vanilla beans, organic cacao nibs, freeze-dried strawberry pieces and all natural flavors. This is a real treat hot or iced!
Taster’s Review:
I can’t believe that I haven’t yet written a review for this tea!
Well, no time like the present, eh? This is a tea that I’ve had on hand for some time now. I am not going to say its my favorite tisane from 52Teas, because it isn’t, but, I do like it quite a bit! I think I like it even more now than I did when I first tasted it.
For those of you that have one, I recommend brewing this in a Libre Tea Glass (or similar type vessel). I put the leaf into the main chamber of the glass, screw on the straining lid, and sip the tisane through the strainer. This enables me to keep the honeybush in the liquid as I sip it, and the flavor continues to intensify. This tea just keeps getting better and better the longer it steeps!
After steeping just six minutes, my first few sips were delicious. I could taste a good combination of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, together with the somewhat nutty/honey sweet taste of the honeybush. But now, after continuing to steep some additional 15 or 20 minutes after those first couple of sips, the flavor is even better. The chocolate – RICH! The strawberry – SWEET! The vanilla – CREAMY! I think I actually like this tisane better than the ice cream after which it was created!
The flavor is really smooth and creamy, just like ice cream. The only real difference is the temperature and the slightly nutty taste that comes from the honeybush. I have tasted this tea hot and iced, and it is really tasty either way. I found it to be very refreshing this past summer when I iced it. Right now, I’m finding it to be particularly soothing on the nervous tension I’m experiencing due to my shopping dilemma.
This tea is such a wonderful treat!