Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Sanctuary T
Company Description:
A delicious carmel-butter aroma hits your nose when you first smell this tea. Nutty overtones become more pronounced the longer the tea is brewed, and it ends with a smooth, buttery finish.
Taste ~ Caramel,buttery, nutty, and sweet
Color ~ Warm reddish yellow
Ingredients ~ Black tea, pistachios, cumin, almond pieces, coriander, peppercorn
Taster’s Review:
This tea is part of the Sanctuary Sampler Kit. These kits are pretty nifty, and I must say that I’m quite jealous that I didn’t think of such a thing myself when I was actively selling tea!
The samplers come in a neat little chipboard portfolio, with the five teas affixed to the inside of the portfolio, and includes printed index cards with a brew chart, tea information, and information about Sanctuary T. Included also are small packages of T-Sacs and small bamboo skewers, making this kit a perfect gift for someone who is new to loose leaf tea.
I am not new to loose leaf tea, so I opted to brew the tea the way I usually brew it, in my Smart Tea Maker. The amount in the sample package is just enough for my Smart Tea Brewer – I like it when things are all convenient like that!
This is a tea unlike any I’ve tasted before (at least, that I can recall!) There is a sweetness to it that is very much like caramel: rich and smooth and creamy-ish! This sweetness is a fantastic contrast to the smoky-spicy note of the cumin (which I love!)
There is also a nutty taste to it from the pistachio, almond and coriander. The coriander also provides a warmth of its own, as well as a whisper of tangy citrus that sits at the very tip of my tongue.
There is not a lot of astringency to the cup, but there is a slight bitterness to it, but it is not distracting, and I found that a little bit of agave nectar went a long way in sweeping away any bitter notes as well as highlighting the caramel-like undertones to the tea.
When I first read these ingredients, my immediate thought was “this is a chai” – although there aren’t any classic chai ingredients to the blend. This is because in my own chai blend, I use coriander, cumin and peppercorns. Because this does have similarities in taste to some chai teas that I’ve tasted, I am going to categorize it as a chai… if for no other reason than that I can!
But I digress! This tea is fantastic, and I am glad that I tried it! The creamy caramel-ness of this tea is accented further when I add milk to the cup, so I recommend doing so.
Vanilla Almond Oolong from Boston Tea Company
Tea Type: Oolong
Where To Buy: Boston Tea Company
Product Description:
Who says Vanilla is so plain? For, if this Tea was made into ice cream, it would be the perfect balance of creamy and crunchy! Sip this sweet blend of Chinese Sechung Oolong Tea flavored with Madagascar Island Vanilla and California Almonds. Nutty and sweet, it’s the perfect afternoon treat!
CONTAINS: 110g (3.8oz) of Finest Grade Oolong Tea
SERVINGS PER CONTAINER: Servings per container approximately 50-60 cups of tea (Note: One serving of Full-Leaf Tea can be brewed multiple times.)
HEALTH: Antioxidants found in tea help to burn body fat! Rich in iron, calcium, & numerous minerals, which contain natural properties that help promote digestive enzymes to break down fat substances in the blood, antioxidants make tea tops toward being healthier!
Boston Tea’s loose leaf tea reflects the passion projected in our company’s motto: ‘Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Tea.’ Our full leaf tea embodies natural beauty, rich aromas and the finest quality that our worldly master tea blenders ardently seek. Found in the lush plantations of Sri Lanka and mountainous regions of India and China, Boston Tea blends its tea to create the heartiest, strongest and most flavorful cup.
Double your tea-drinking pleasure; try any of these flavors hot or iced!
Gluten Free: Yes
Kosher: Star K
Ingredients: Chinese Sechung Oolong Tea, Almonds, Calendula Petals, Natural Vanilla & Almond Flavors.
Tasters Review:
Vanilla Almond Oolong from Boston Tea Company has a very hearty almond taste. It’s on the verge of peanut butter or almond butter. (I have found I really like Almond Butter!) It also has a Lovely Oolong taste…somewhat woodsy…but it’s not the flavor that is in the fore-front. It’s paired with a nice floral-sweet undertone. The creamy vanilla! A delight! This is probably one of the most creamy oolongs I have ever had outside of a milk oolong!
I really REALLY like this tea! It exceeded my expectations!
Classic Phoenix Oolong From Element Tea
Tea Type: Oolong
Where To Buy: Element Tea
Product Description:
Fine, long-twisted, single-stem leaves provide a light amber-yellow cup that carries a highly fragrant aroma of honeysuckle and almond. This Oolong has a smooth, delicate finish that you won’t forget.
Brew Time: 3 – 4 minutes
Ingredients: Chinese Oolong Tea
Tasters Review:
The Product Description for Classic Phoenix Oolong From Element Tea says “Long twisted leaves” and THAT is completely accurate!
It also says this tea is reminiscent of honeysuckle – I also agree! I also think it’s a bitty nutty and smooth – very smooth!
This tea is beautiful all-round! And it was just screaming for a 2nd infusion – so I jumped at the opportunity. The 2nd infusion was also nice! A full oolong taste with a more almond like finish – moreso than the first infusion. I infused over 7 minutes on the 2nd infusion.
I really do LOVE this!
Snowflake from Georgia Tea Company
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Georgia Tea Company
Company Description:
An excellent black tea with coconut, almond and vanilla flavoring. A Christmas favorite. Great with sugar and cream!
Taster’s Review:
YUM! This tea is really tasty!
The black tea base is strong yet smooth. There is a hint of bitterness toward the back end of the sip, but it isn’t an off-putting bitter taste. I think that this faint bitter note may just enhance the overall experience with this tea – giving it some interest and cuts through some of the sweeter notes of the tea.
While the coconut and vanilla are the most prominent in the aroma of the liquor, it is the almond that is the first flavor I detect. As the nutty flavor washes over my palate, it melds into a sweeter flavor … coconut! The vanilla hits the palate at the end with its creamy, sweet presence.
Together, these three elements – coconut, almond and vanilla – along with the black tea base creates a delicious, decadent tea that would make a lovely dessert tea (perhaps with a tray of cookies?) but would also be quite good served at breakfast time with a little milk and honey. I drank my cup without milk and just a drizzle of agave nectar and it was rich and scrumptious. I did taste the tea before adding the sweetener, and it does have a nice sweetness without the agave – but I like how the sweetener brought out some of the flavors.
The more I sip this tea, the more I like it. It’s really good!
