Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
I blended our premium shou mei white tea with freeze-dried pineapple and organic flavors to create a soothing cuppa yummy. The pineapple is a very strong scent when you smell the dry tea, but tasting it, you definitely get the flavor of soft, vanilla, spongy angel food cake underlying the sweet pineapple. All it’s missing is the ability to chew it, and for me, the flavor is so spot on, it makes me want to start chewing to feel that soft, chewy, spongy cake. I have a feeling this one is going to be very popular.
Learn more about this blend here.
Learn more about 52Teas Kickstarter Initiative for new equipment to enhance his business (specifically, his iced tea business: Southern Boy Teas) here.
Taster’s Review:
There was a time when you would ask me what my favorite kind of cake was, and my answer would be angel food cake. In fact, every year as a youngster, my gramma would make me an angel food cake as my birthday cake. But not just any angel food cake … she made this incredible chocolate frosting … it was so perfectly, deliciously chocolate-y that there were even chunks of milk chocolate bar in the frosting. My mouth is watering right now, thinking about that cake. It was so good.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had that cake … or any angel food cake for that matter. I’m not big on baking. So, when 52Teas announced this Pineapple Angel Food Cake Shou Mei White Tea as their tea of the week for the week of October 7th, I was excited! I could not wait to try it!
The dry leaf smells delicious! The aroma of the brewed tea is not nearly as strong as the dry leaf, but it still smells yummy. I smell the pineapple, and the crisp, vegetal scent of the white tea. I don’t smell a strong baked cake sort of smell here … I’m hoping that I’ll taste it though.
When right-from-the-teapot hot, the flavors are a little bit muddled. I taste the pineapple, and I taste a sweet creaminess. I taste the white tea notes. But, allow the tea to cool a few minutes and the flavors begin to emerge!
Now, I taste the delicate vanilla notes that reflect a sort of “angel food cake” sort of taste. These meld very nicely with the softness of the white tea, which is airy and slightly earthy. In keeping with the overall “delicateness” of this tea, the pineapple is not an aggressive, in your face flavor. It’s all a very soft, sweet experience – sort of like what you’d get if you were to be eating a slice of angel food cake topped with a pineapple sauce. The flavors continue to improve as the tea cools, telling me that this would be excellent as an iced tea.
And speaking of iced tea … the newest fundraising initiative that 52Teas has “kickstarted” is for equipment for their iced tea brand: Southern Boy Teas. I’ve reviewed quite a few of these teas, and there have been a few new ones recently announced. (I am eagerly awaiting my delivery of these teas, which I will receive as a gift for supporting the kickstarter fundraising campaign. When I get them … I’ll review them!) Please consider contributing to this fundraiser, because I really want to see Frank dance the jig!
Weeping Angel Tea from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
So, I’m sure you are wondering, what exactly is a Weeping Angel tea? Well, what else could it be, but a tea flavored like my favorite Dr. Who snack? It’s a buttered toffee caramel corn flavored black tea, and it’s heavenly–amazing enough to make a weeping angel smile.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I am not a Dr. Who fan … and I am sure that this is only because I’ve not taken the time to become one. But I am a fan of 52Teas, as many of you are probably well aware, and I’ve really enjoyed his popcorn flavored teas of the past. This Weeping Angel Tea from 52Teas, which promises a buttered toffee caramel corn flavor … well, I was pretty sure that this tea was going to earn a solid YUM from me.
And … oh man! I was right. This is seriously YUMMY!
This is one of those teas that I take a little sip of and as the flavors wash over my palate, my eyes roll back in delight. My first few sips, I enjoyed plain – with no additions – and it was absolutely sumptuous. Sweet and toffee-caramel-y delicious. But, I found myself missing something … where was the popcorn taste? Then I added about half a pinch of salt and the popcorn flavors emerged. Yeah, I know the idea of adding salt to tea may sound weird to some of you, but, with this tea, you’ve got to try it! As I said, I added about half a pinch, and this is enough salt to give it a hint salty-sweet taste and accentuate the popcorn notes without overwhelming the cup with salt. I have a large mug, I’d recommend even less than half a pinch if your teacup is smaller than 12 ounces.
The black tea is prominent – as it should be! – and it offers a pleasingly smooth flavor with hints of earthiness. I like the way the richness of the black tea complements the buttery rich toffee and caramel notes. The popcorn comes through nicely now that I’ve added the aforementioned salt, and it adds an interesting contrast to the sweetness of the toffee and caramel. It is a very enjoyable savory element.
But the real stars of this cup are the sweet toffee and caramel … I taste creamy butter and burnt sugar. It is sweet and very palate pleasing!
Yep … it’s a solid YUM from me on this one.