Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Product Description:
All Black Flavors Blend – Blueberry, Vanilla, and Chocolate Chip
Taster’s Review:
This blend was crafted by none other than our own Jennifer Bliss (aka TeaEqualsBliss)! So naturally I was very excited to try it.
The dry leaf aroma is very blueberry with notes of vanilla. The fragrance of chocolate in the background is very tempting. The brewed tea has a slightly different scent, smelling a bit like a blueberry cupcake… with chocolate chips. YUM!
I have often complained about the black tea base from Adagio, as it can sometimes be on the harsh side. I kept that in mind as I brewed the tea, and took care not to steep it more than 3 minutes. With my first couple of sips when this tea was very hot, I found that it was still just a tad harsh, but, as the tea cooled to a drinkable temperature, the harshness had disappeared, and the delectable flavors of blueberry, vanilla and chocolate had developed nicely.
The blueberry is the strongest note, and it has a fruity, sweet taste with a berry tingle that hits the palate near the finish and lingers in the aftertaste. The creamy vanilla tones seem to weave their way in and out throughout the sip. The chocolate arrives about mid-sip. The chocolate is rich and smooth, lending just the right touch of bitterness to this sweet-tasting tea. I like the way the vanilla and chocolate work together.
I like this best served hot (not piping hot, of course, but cooled just enough to a drinkable temperature) with a little bit of agave nectar to bring out some of the more elusive notes of the flavors. It is a very tasty treat – with far fewer calories than a dessert (even with the agave nectar)!
Earl Grey from Adagio Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas (this Earl Grey is part of their Sweet Medley Gourmet Tea Collection)
About Adagio Teas’ Gourmet Tea Collection:
Perfect for any occasion, these gourmet tea collections are a great way to introduce someone to superior teas while still offering the convenience of tea bags. Each gift box includes six different varieties of gourmet tea bags containing the same high quality full-leaf teas we offer loose. Their pyramid shape gives leaves plenty of room to unfurl and fully infuse.
Bags are individually wrapped and are packaged in a lovely display box. Whomever you send it to, they’ll think of you with each delicious cup.
Taster’s Review:
This is a tea that I didn’t find on Adagio Teas’ website as a loose leaf tea (unless this is the Earl Grey Bravo). Rather than assume that it is Earl Grey Bravo, I decided to review it as “Earl Grey” since that’s what it says on the package.
The aroma of the dry leaf is very satisfying to me as an Earl Grey lover. It is the fragrance of the bergamot that captures my attention from the moment I open the pouch, and keeps me smiling as I sip. The scent tapers after brewing, but, the cup is still pleasing to the nose.
After a few early mishaps with Adagio Teas’ black tea base used in their flavored black teas, I have come to the conclusion that their black teas should not be steeped longer than three minutes. Any longer, and the flavor tends to be a bit too harsh for my palate. But even after three minutes, I’m noticing some of the harshness in my cup. Maybe next time I should try steeping at just 2 1/2 minutes.
The black tea is brisk with some bitterness to it. It is this bitterness that I’m referring to in the previous paragraph. It is a little harsh, but not so much that I’m unable to finish the cup. And I find that as I continue to sip, the harshness tends to mellow out a bit.
There is a bit of cleansing astringency to the tea which seems to enhance the citrus-y notes of the bergamot. The bergamot is bright and tangy, although I would like for there to be a bit more of the bergamot flavor.
Is this my favorite Earl Grey? No, but, I will say that it is certainly enjoyable and not something I’d turn down if offered. It is a tasty cup of tea, and makes a good choice for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Golden Yunnan from Adagio Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Product Description:
Black tea from the Yunnan province of China, the birthplace of tea itself. Yunnan black tea is easily identified by its abundance of soft golden tips, and savory cocoa and black pepper flavors. It is a very forgiving tea; will not taste bitter when over-steeped. Our ‘Yunnan Gold’ is milk chocolate creamy and sweet, with pleasant pepper notes. The flavor becomes earthier and more layered as it cools. Soft, rounded cup, silky and perfect. Allowed to take only one tea to a desert island, ‘Yunnan Gold’ would be our clear choice.
Taster’s Review:
I do love a good Yunnan, and this one certainly qualifies as good. Even though it is a “bagged” tea (these are those silky pyramid-shaped pouches), I clearly see that the leaves are whole and beautifully golden. There is plenty of room in these pouches for the tea leaves to expand; allowing the tea to express itself fully and give you a full-flavored cup.
The flavor has a somewhat rustic appeal to it, with earthy notes and it’s peppery tone, and yet it is also remarkably smooth. It has a well-rounded flavor, appealing to the sweet with a honey-like sweetness. As the above description suggests, I can taste hints of cocoa, and there is a certain creaminess associated with it. There is even a note of fruity-sour that hits about mid-sip. Such a pleasant complexity.
A very enjoyable Yunnan, especially nice now that I can have it on-the-go!
A Nice Cup of Shut the Hell Up (Signature Blend) from Adagio Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Product Description:
Very biting tea smoothed over with a caramel smile. Great to wake up to, especially if you are dropping the coffee habit. Great for the early morning attitude enhancement with the added benefit of enabling you to think beofre you speak. Shut the hell up and give it a try.
Created by: Travis Pelt
Taster’s Review:
As some of you may know, I’m not particularly fond of Lapsang Souchong so I generally avoid them whenever possible. I find the strong, smoky character of a typical Lapsang Souchong to be rather off-putting.
However, I am slowly developing an appreciation for strong, smoky teas such as Lapsang Souchong, but, suffice to say that while I am usually willing to try a tea with Lapsang Souchong in it, it is not something I probably would want to try.
But that all went out the window when I saw the name of this signature blend from Adagio Teas (created by Travis Pelt). I knew I had to try it!
And I really am glad I did – this is actually really good. The tea is very strong – ROBUST! But what makes this tea especially good to me is the balance of tastes. It is a smoky tea, but it isn’t too smoky. It is, in fact, one of the most thoughtful blends I have encountered – and by that I mean that the underlying caramel-y notes of the Lapsang Souchong are highlighted with the addition of the caramel flavored black tea. The sweet, creamy notes of the caramel are enhanced by the malty notes of the Assam.
The three types of tea create a very harmonized and yet hefty blend! It is a little chewy and has a nice bake-y taste. It makes a perfect morning tea, but I am actually enjoying it later in the afternoon at the moment – it is the perfect accompaniment to Dulce de Leche cookies from the Girl Scouts! YUM!
Rooibos Jasmine from Adagio Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Company Description:
Rooibos tea from South Africa infused with the delicate scent of the night-blooming jasmine flowers. If you enjoy jasmine tea, we urge you to try the sublime taste of its well-made varieties. This unique flavor produces a sweet, caffeine-free cup with a light and lingering scent of fresh jasmine flowers.
Taster’s Review:
With some teas, they grow on me and I find that as I continue to drink the tea, I like it better and better. With this tea, it’s – sadly – quite the opposite. I liked it the first time I tried it, but now after having had a couple of cups of this tea, I am finding that I like it less.
I had high hopes for it. I ~LOVE~ jasmine, and was really hoping that this would be awesome, and I’m a bit disappointed that it isn’t all I had hoped it would be.
Somehow, the sweet yet sharp jasmine flavor does not meld well with that funky saccharine-y sweet taste of the rooibos. I can taste the woody notes of the rooibos, which is at times pleasant (depending upon the blend), but, here, it just doesn’t work for me. I really wish it did – but it just doesn’t.
Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t a bad tea, but, I just don’t hold it in as high regard as I wanted to. It doesn’t do jasmine justice, and I think that is a shame.
I would really love to hear from our readers that have tried this tisane and enjoyed it. I would love to hear other perspectives on this interesting yet disappointing blend.