Before I get started on this review, I have to disclose that I designed this Miss-Davenport-from-Space-Cases-themed tea myself. I don’t get any proceeds from it. Those go to a charity I think the character would have supported.
ANYWAY.
Making this tea was an adventure. I don’t know how to design or proportion a good tea. Adagio doesn’t really give guidance; it just lets you jump in there and throw stuff in the pot in whatever ratio you’d like.
I just put some stuff in this blend that felt appropriate to the character. She’s English (Earl Grey) and obsessed with waffles (caramel rooibos) and strawberries (strawberry tisane). This is a low-caffeine tea because the character is stressed out pretty much all the time. The last thing she needs is more zing in her fret.
The result smells like CRACK. You should smell this thing. Creamy and Earl-y and rich with berries.
The taste, however… is okay… but not great. I think that all the strawberry I hurled in there might have too much hibiscus lurking in it.
The flavor is, like, tangy? And not in the best way?
When I swallow, it’s great. But when it’s actively being sipped and in my mouth, it’s both bland and a bit much.
This might actually be good iced. Hot, it’s meh.
I feel like I might have messed this up a little bit, but you live, you learn. Feel free to try it, though, and all of the other Space Cases themed teas I made. Every single one has proceeds that go to charity. I am not taking your money, which is for the best, because I can’t promise any of them are good.
Ah, Adagio. You are the tea world’s Willie Wonka factory, and I appreciate you.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
This tea is a signature blend.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Sleeping Dragon Tea/Adagio Teas
Gunpowder green tea was among the first green teas I’d tried as a kid. It’s a little nostalgic and is now my go-to drink when I’m having a rough day and just need a pick-me-up. It’s also probably responsible for my affinity for smoky-tasting teas and wines.
Sleeping Dragon picks up some of those notes from a good gunpowder tea, especially in the first cup. The first steep is rich, smoky, with subtle hints of fruit. Steep a second time and you get more of a fruity, lightly sweet green with a smoother, well-rounded flavor. (If you don’t like smoky tea, you can steep for 1.5 to 2 minutes and cut back on those flavors.)
This is a tea that’s fun to watch in a glass teapot—pellets slowly unfurl into long, beautiful green leaves that have a wonderful fragrance. If you’re not a fan of really grassy green teas, I highly recommend this one. It’s also a great intro to loose-leaf greens for friends who are new to green teas—it’s a very mild flavor that won’t send curious tea drinkers running the other way.
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Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
Sleeping Dragon green tea is grown at about 3,000 feet in the mountainous Fujian province. The tightly rolled leaves and silvery fuzzy buds give this tea its signature shape and name. In the cup, it delivers a soft, fruity sweetness enfolded by a rich smokey note similar to a gunpowder, but more complex and crisp in the finish. Sleeping Dragon remains a great cup for a green tea novice or those who oppose the grassy character of some varieties.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Fiery Cinnamon Spice/Adagio Teas. . . .
You always hear that smell is one of the most powerful senses as it is connected to your memory.
The Hot Cinnamon Spice blend from Adagio has a nostalgic aroma to me – it reminds me of red hot candies from my childhood when it’s dry, and the aroma makes you think that the flavor will be overpowering.
When brewed, it still keeps that red hot candy aroma, but the flavor is surprisingly mild compared to the aroma. If you try this tea, know that you must like cinnamon in your tea! Also, be sure you drink it hot – when it cools off it taste more like a cinnamon stick.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
Finally, the wait is over! A long-time customer request, Fiery Cinnamon Spice is here to stay! This tea packs the perfect punch of cinnamon flavor, blended with Ceylon tea, orange peels, and cloves for an amped up, kick-in-the-palate cinnamon experience. Perfect to heat you up on a cold day, or just wake up your palate on an early morning. This tea will bring a smile to any cinnamon lovers face.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Cream from Adagio Teas. . .
Just the notion itself of a cream tea (meaning a full tea service, scones + jam + clotted cream, etc.) brings up all the good feels for me, you guys. During my brief study abroad stint in London in college, this was my regular treat-yo-self to myself– a book, cream tea, some quiet.
So while this tea (aptly named “Cream”) from Adagio isn’t making me any specific promises including scones and jam, it certainly has some significant memories to live up to. And live up it does! It’s a lightly sweet, slightly vanilla-ish, mostly sweet-cream flavor that blends beautifully with the Ceylon base.
It, unsurprisngly, takes cream and sugar incredibly well, and is especially delightful on a rainy morning with the windows open and a good book nearby (ask me how I know). The reviews from fellow tea-lovers tell me that this one is an awesome accompaniment to other teas, and bumps up the creamy factor in everything from herbal infusions to Earl Greys. I haven’t tried this yet, but you’d better believe it’s how I’ll be finishing the rest of my stash. Along with scones + jam + clotted cream, of course.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
Which comes first, the cream or the tea? If you’re not sure, don’t worry… neither are the English. However, its unanimously agreed that, whether you prefer your tea first, or cream first, this dairy-free cream flavored Ceylon black tea is a treat for your teacup! Sweet, inviting and warm, with a delicate creamy consistency and aroma of fresh black tea. Pleasantly brisk and very refreshing. Teatime calls…
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
