Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Tea Description:
Do you love chocolate but hate the calories? This tea may be the answer! Made from all organic and natural ingredients, this black tea blend tastes decadent with no residual weight effects. The aroma of this tea reminds me of my grandma’s kitchen when all of us kids were able to coax her into baking us brownies … delicious….
Ingredients: Organic China black tea, organic cocoa nibs, organic cinnamon pieces and natural flavoring.
Brew tea at 212º – steep for 3 minutes.
Certified Kosher
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I received this in a tea trade and was eager to try it because I had yet to try a tea from Simpson and Vail. So far I have been quite pleased with all three of the Simpson and Vail teas I received in this trade!
Having never tried Simpson and Vail before I took a look around their site and was impressed that this is a family run business, the prices are quite fair, and they have an amazing selection of teas, coffee, food, and tea ware. They also have recipes, and all of their information regarding health, shipping, policies, etc are easy to find. I truly enjoy a well laid out website that offers easy to find information, and is user friendly.
Needless to say I will be revisiting the Simpson and Vail site again to place an order of my own!
The base used in this tea is quite bold, which I like. Especially for a morning wake up tea. Sure this is a dessert tea but no one can tell me I can’t have my dessert tea for breakfast.
The cinnamon is a nice touch, but only a touch, and unlike many teas with cinnamon in them, the cinnamon in this tea does not take over. The chocolate is not over the top either but tastes like a darker chocolate to me. Now I am picky when it comes to chocolate flavoring in tea. Usually, in my opinion, the chocolate flavor used in tea often comes over as really cheap tasting. Like the easter chocolate eggs you could find at a local dollar store. Not good. This however, is a nice chocolate flavor and that is because they used real cocoa nibs, organic cocoa nibs at that! A true chocolate taste.
Now I may not be as in love with this tea as my sisters are, but it is a good hearty blend with well balanced flavors that taste the way the name eludes that it will. However it is not quite as “dessert-y” as one may hope for when reaching for a dessert-y tea. On the other hand it is a wonderfully flavored tea for breakfast when one does not want their standard black.
I do notice as the tea cools more of the flavor develops so don’t be in too big of a rush enjoying this tea … give it a chance to show you all it has to offer.
I look forward to trying more from Simpson and Vail.
Organic Breakfast Blend Tea from The Rabbit Hole
Tea Type: Black Tea
Where To Buy: The Rabbit Hole
Product Description:
This classic little black will get those peepers open with its great smooth and hearty flavour.
Loves a splash of milk and a sprinkle of sugar if you’re feeling like some sweetening.
Tasters Review:
Some may say it’s a contradiction being both bold AND smooth but I think it’s PURE genius if this can be accomplished and The Rabbit Hole did just that with their Organic Breakfast Blend!
This tea is really tasty! I’m loved it! It’s bold but not the BOLDEST of BOLD and it’s nice and smooth! It has a wonderful black tea flavor and I could definitely see this being a staple of any black tea fan tea cupboard…including my own! The Rabbit Hole Organic Tea Bar continues to amaze me!
Extra Bold Masala Chai from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Product Information:
I have a confession to make. Early on in my tea career, I did not make my own chai. I just didn’t feel confident enough that I wouldn’t mess it up. Well, I have been making our own chai for a few months now and experimenting with a few things. And I received this message from one of our customers via Facebook:
“I’m dying for a powerful traditional chai blend black tea with all the works – no frills with chocolate or vanilla. Cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, black pepper, anise seed. I need it potent in its flavor. This is not Grandma’s tea. I want an Indian man from India to drink it and when he closes his eyes to be as though transported to his childhood kitchen.”
Well, I have accepted the challenge, and here is the result. We started with a hearty blend of CTC Assam teas (used in our RadioactiviTEA [I was going to call this RadioactiviTEA Chai, but given the recent happenings in Japan, I was afraid this might not sound so appealing]) and freshly minced spices including cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, star anise, clove and black peppercorns. I ran all of the spices through a coffee/spice grinder so they would mingle better with the ctc tea (and to release all of their goodnesss), and I think my office is going to smell like chai for months now (not that I am complaining).
This is the boldest chai you will find anywhere. Spicy, malty, DELICIOUS. You do NOT want to miss out on this.
Taster’s Review:
This blend looks different from a typical 52Teas blend – which is usually large chunks of fruit, spice, and/or flower tossed amongst the tea leaves. This, however, is a very finely ground blend of black tea and spice. So finely ground that I wouldn’t recommend putting this in a mesh ball or other similar infuser basket as it will sift through the mesh. I used my smart tea brewer to steep this, and while it did dispense rather slowly (the fine grind of the tea sort of “clogged” up the nylon mesh that strains the tea), at least there are no bits of tea leaf in my cup.
And this is indeed BOLD! Very strong and stout – this tea has GUSTO! Even if steamed milk is added to make a latte, the bold flavor of the tea and spice are not muted by the addition. (A sign of a very well-blended chai, in my opinion)
The spices are nicely balanced as well. While the ginger and cinnamon are just a little stronger than the other spices, they harmonize well, and no one spice attempts to aggressively overthrow the cup.
I do recommend sweetening it with some honey 0r some turbinado sugar to enhance the spices. The molasses in the turbinado sugar adds an especially nice “homey” kind of feel to the cup.
Overall, this is a wonderful cup of chai and a splash of steamed milk will turn this into a delicious chai latte. For something extra special, try pairing this tea with these Ginger Snapdragons from Liz Lovely! AMAZING!
Indonesian from Mark T. Wendell
Tea Type: Black Tea
Where To Buy: Mark T. Wendell
Product Desription:
An exquisite tea sourced from Indonesia’s Kertasarie Estate, this is a favorite of those who love a strong and stimulating flavor in their cup. Indonesia’s high altitudes, volcanic soil and tropical climate produce a dark and rich tasting tea that is truly unique.
Tasters Review:
I LOVE trying teas from different estates, and, of course, different countries! I LOVE learning about the histories of the estates! When I saw this one from the Indonesia’s Kertasarie Estate I HAD to try it!
The first time I tried this tea my initial thoughts were…a bold brew, slightly malty, and rich. I thought it was ‘good’ for mornings and mid-afternoon lulls. But I have to admit…the more I drank of this wonderful tea the more I liked it…the more I appreciated it. It’s a delicious cup! It’s much more meaningful than I first gave it credit for! Another interesting thing about this tea is it holds up to multiple infusions well – for a black tea. The 2nd infusion seemed to be sweeter and juicier yet still bold and very satisfying!
This could easily be a staple in any black tea lovers tea cabinet!
Kama Sutra Revitalising Tea from The East India Company
Tea Type: Black Tea
Where To Buy: The East India Company
Product Description:
Kama Sutra tea is combination of fine black tea, sensuous blossoms and tantalising spices. Its deep aroma and strong full body brings romance in every sip.
Tasters Review:
Everyone knows TEA has a history! With each tea company comes a story, too, but when it comes to East India Company it truly is THE Story and THE History of Tea!
It all began in 1600 for East India Company and they are wonderful at explaining EVERYTHING on their website! If you do one thing today – make sure you visit their website and spend some time there – you won’t regret it!
As for this specific tea from The East India Company called Kama Sutra Revitalising Tea – I must say I LOVE everything about it!
The aroma is AMAZING! I can smell the rich black tea but the comforting spices and juicy fruit flavors offer a sweet yet semi-tart component to the the overall smell that fills not only your nose but the room! It’s brilliant beauty in a cup!
The color – once infused – is dark brown with orange and red hues. A nice, vibrant color, indeed!
As for the taste…it’s VERY flavorful, bold and rich, hearty and memorable! The fruits all blend together nicely for a unique taste of it’s own. They are semi-sweet yet semi-tart but meet in the middle quite nicely. The spices aren’t like the chai spices you may be thinking of. Instead they are more on the assist but NOT hiding in the background – that is for sure! They also contribute to the overall uniqueness of this flavored tea! With out any one ingredient the aroma and taste would not be the same. It’s slightly reminiscent of Seasonal or Holiday Fruit and Spices but I would be confident that anyone could enjoy this year-round! I could see myself enjoying a cup or two after morning Yoga filled with Sun Salutations.
I agree with the name as it seems to bring me joy and peace but also seems to wake me up and get my going!
This is what I would call an amazingly crafted tea!
As for you history buffs below I am including some info I found on their website but please do visit their site and read much more about their company and offerings!
A little more about The East India Company Heritage and History:
Since its creation in 1600 by The Royal Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I, the influence of The East India Company has been well documented. Without The Company our world would not be as it is today.
It changed the world’s tastes, its thinking, and its people. It created new communities, trading places, cities and shaped countries and commercial routes.
Singapore and Hong Kong were established by The Company and India was shaped and influenced by it. At one point The Company had the largest merchant navy in the world and conducted and controlled 50% of world trade.
With statistics like that it’s easy to forget that at its heart, were real people.
Our heritage is in the spirit of those pioneers. The East India Company’s employees did not set out to change the world. They were people who set sail to establish trade routes, to discover and bring back new goods, and in doing so broke down the barriers of the world.
They were explorers, traders, innovators. They took risks, they broke new ground and they sometimes got it wrong.
They were pioneering; creating many of the means and rules of commerce we use today.
They were individuals, living by the rules of their times – determined, entrepreneurial and human – who were driven by their passion and enthusiasm; the same qualities that drive our team today.