In Toronto, a cafe recently opened up that specializes in creme brulee, Craque Du Creme. This cafe has fifteen different creme brulee flavors. FIFTEEN!! They have flavors such as Ferrero Rocher, Vietnamese Coffee, White Chocolate Rose, London Fog, Lychee Vodka, and even vegan flavors like Blueberry Lavender Coconut and Mango Coconut. What they don’t have is a Pumpkin Brulee.
The mind behind the NecessiTeas may not have fifteen different creme brulee flavors (though with enough time, she may), but she does have this Pumpkin Brulee tea and for that I am thankful. Now that the leaves are turning colors, I think it is the perfect time to give this a try. I got to brewing, steeping this in 200 F water for 5 minutes.
One thing that stands out to me when I drink this tea is that there is a burnt quality that is a necessary component of capturing the brulee aspect of this tea. It is not a bad burnt but one akin to the caramelization on the sugary crust of a creme brulee. More than just the brulee, this has an awesome caramel pumpkin flavor. Sweet and creamy, with a ribbon of vanilla and a comforting dose of spice to make it perfect for those crisp fall evenings that will soon be upon us again.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The NecessiTeas
Description
This tea is not currently available bu click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Peppermint Bark from The Sunshine Cottage. . . .
The name Peppermint Bark evokes memories of the crisp scent of mint with the sweet smell of white chocolate in a certain kitchen goods store I love to visit. I can almost feel the big bar breaking raggedly in my hand as the strong scent of mint stings my nose! Then you carefully gather all those little bits that broke off and pop them in your mouth before taking a big bite, and the white chocolate melts on your fingers.
The scent of this tea hit spot on with that memory. Fresh, sharp mint and rich, creamy white chocolate tickle your nostrils. The white chocolate is less obvious in the scent of the steeped tea but its sweetness is there, keeping this from falling into being a ho-hum plain peppermint.
Even though it is still winter as I drink this, we are already having some spells of hot weather where I live, but that’s okay because nothing refreshes quite like mint when you need to cool off.
A cooling cup it is, too! In winter, a hot cuppa will always warm you, but this is so very minty that I can also drink it hot OR cold on a hot day for refreshment. I have only had it unsweetened, but for those who like sweet tea, I really think this would be amazing that way.
The mint really is the star of the show in this tea, and even though I usually favor spearmint over peppermint by a long margin, the peppermint in this tea had delicious flavor, really sweet and fresh tasting without the edge of bitterness that sometimes creeps in with peppermint.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Sunshine Cottage
Description
Creamy white chocolate and crisp mint make this holiday tea a real treat. Perfect for a toe thawing, pick me up after an afternoon on the slopes, or for sipping by the fire after a wonderful meal!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Bad Wolf Tea from Geeky Teas. . . .
Hello dear readers, I return with a review of a tea that is one of my favorite combinations, black tea, and rose. Now I apologize profusely for the long absence. There has been a lot of real life stuff including a funeral and trying to wrap my brain around several literary theories. So I thought what better way to apologize than to review a tea that was based on two of my favorite things: Doctor Who (the tenth doctor will always have my heart) and of course roses (and of course I love Rose as a companion). A little personal tidbit about myself: I have rose in everything! I have rose serums, micellar water, rose infused witch hazel, perfumes, multiple teas, body butter, lotions, rose candy, shower gel, and face masks. So you can say I am a little obsessed.
So to get started, the thing that I always understand with a tea that is just black tea and rose petals is that it has the tendency to get a bit dry when you have it black. So to alleviate that I usually add a touch of milk and for those you of who are lactose-intolerant or otherwise the same effect can be achieved with a dairy-free creamer. Now this tea, when paired with a creamer, has the odd watery sweet flavor that I have come to love from roses. Paired with the black tea it has a bold finish that seems to give even more flavor to the rose petals. I like to think of it as a tea that soft and florally sweet with a boldness that will wake you up while also relaxing you.
Now on to the price of this tea. I do have a couple of qualms about this tea when it comes to how it is presented on the Geeky Teas website. While there is a close up picture of the tea I would like to know how much I get for the price of $9.95 and if it comes in a bag or a tin. I also wish that there was a sample option for I myself am very picky when it comes to my rose tea and if I didn’t get a sample for being a reviewer I wouldn’t want to drop about $10 on a gamble. Those reasons in mind I, unfortunately, can’t really say if this is a good price for this tea.
In conclusion, I would say that this was a good tea but for the reasons listed in the paragraph about prices I believe I won’t be reaching for it anytime soon. If you do want to try out this rose tea I would say to be cautious with your purchase for I hope that you will at least get an ounce for almost $10.
See you for the next cuppa!
Kara
P.S. I did send an email to the support team on Geeky Teas for the specifics on their Bad Wolf Tea but by the time I wrote this review no one got back to me.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Geeky Teas
Description
Black tea with rose petals
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Cocoa Mint from Steeped Tea. . . .
Girl. Scout. Cookies. (insert hallelujah hands emoji here)
Now, listen up. I have Celiac disease. It has been MANY a year since I’ve had a legit girl scout cookie. But friends, if you’ve ever dreamed of drinking a Thin Mint (tm, I’m sure) in a cup, this tea is for you.
To be fair, I’ve had lots of great (and many so-so) chocolate mint teas over the years, and I’m not here to say that this one blows the rest of them out of the water. But it solidly stood its ground in the better-than-most category, and with a splash of coconut milk and a touch of maple syrup (ooh la la!), this was decadent, fresh and minty, with none of that imposter-chocolate flavor that is so often found in chocolate teas.
I’ll be brewing this one up to sip while I longingly eye the tables of cookies set outside of my grocery store, poised and ready for deliciousness and also destruction of my intestinal tract. Dang you, gluten! Close second, tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Steeped Tea
Description
Ingredients: Black tea, Blackberry leaves, Peppermint leaves, Natural flavors. Naturally contains caffeine.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Birthday from Adagio Teas. . . .
Do you enjoy creamy molasses/caramel flavors against a deep black base? If you do, well, I’ve got just the thing for you (INCLUDING SPRINKLES): Adagio’s Birthday Tea.
If I were to liken it to something — and you guys know I BASICALLY ALWAYS DO — I’d say this is a caramel fudge treat you buy yourself on your way out of an amusement park. You’re sunburned. Your stomach is jumpy from soda and roller coasters. You are holding a prize you’ve won that’s made of oddly slick polyester and crumbly stuffing. Your clothing is still damp from that splash ride. Your hair is fluffing out from your head in a dizzy halo. This treat melts in your mouth and your hand as you try to remember where you parked the car. You wipe your hand off on your shorts and stride off in what you think is the right direction, friends in tow.
It wasn’t the right direction. Where on earth did you put that car, already?
You’ll find it eventually. In the meantime, you’re enjoying the sweetness in your mouth and the streaky, saturated sunset.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
A treat for any day of the year! A tasty blend of vanilla, cream, and a touch of caramel. The inclusion of rainbow sugar sprinkles adds a festive note and makes this tea perfect for celebrating your special day.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
