Hot Cross Bun from Bluebird Tea Co. . . .

by MrsPremise

I was too chicken to order a full supply of this springtime blend, but I did get a free sample so I got to get a taste risk-free.  Hot Cross Bun is one of the Easter flavors released by Bluebird Tea Company. This is a black tea and rooibos tea blend, though rooibos makes up the majority, so you won’t be overloaded with caffeine.

The scent of this blend was vibrant and noticeable right out of the bag.  Some of the black tea was clearly a smoky lapsang souchong, but the smoked flavor was closely followed by a powerful, sweet vanilla scent.  Quite the flavor duo.

Brewed, this tea continued to open up and show off its delicious ingredients.  The smokiness cooled off, and became more like the suggestion of a fire in the fireplace.  The creamy vanilla was heightened to the decadence of buttercream icing. Both flavors were nicely balanced by sweet and tart orange zest to bring it all together.

This is a great tea for those days that you want a sweet dessert blend, but don’t want to feel too much like a pastry chef.  The whiff of rugged lapsang souchong brings a unique boldness to this brew and makes you appreciate favorite flavors like cream and citrus in a new light.  Don’t be a chicken like me and the next time you can-order a full bag of this springtime tea before it’s gone!

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Black and Rooibos
Where to Buy: Bluebird Tea Co.
Description:

This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

MrsPremise

Growing up, I drank herbal teas like fresh ginger tea during New England's harsh winters and iced blueberry tea during its humid summers. Over time, I was tempted into trying a wider variety of loose leaf teas by the fandom-themed blends available online. I have since gone on to design my own blends, and I greatly enjoy drafting up flavor ideas and drawing tea labels. When I'm not thinking about tea I can be found reading novels and comic books, playing video games, or watching movies; my favorite genres being history, humor, sci-fi, and fantasy. Generally, I prefer bold teas: spicy chais, rich black teas, even smoky lapsang souchong on occasion. But I have also dabbled in herbal rooibos, flavored oolongs, and traditional matcha. I'm glad to be expanding my palette by tasting and reviewing new teas and blends. Find me on Steepster: http://steepster.com/A2shedsjackson Fandom blends: http://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/list.html?userId=292149

This post was posted in Black Tea, Bluebird Tea Co, Rooibos, Smoky Tea

Vanilla Cinnamon Bun from Compass Teas

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Rooibos & Honeybush

Where to Buy:  Compass Teas

Product Description:

Our most popular tea by far!  Exclusively unique to Compass Tea Company.  Slip on your fuzzy robe and slippers and warm up with this yummy tea version of your favorite dessert.  We suggest sweetening it with Amber Sugar Gems.

A great tasting and natural alternative to drinking decaf tea or coffee.  (Could also be used as a low calorie,  fat free alternative to desserts late at night.)  *Naturally  CAFFEINE FREE

Taster’s Review:

When I first opened the package of this tisane, I was blown away with how good it smelled.  The cinnamon was strong, as was the vanilla, and the combination of these two aromas was postively breathtaking!  It really does smell like cinnamon buns!  YUM!

That’s why I was just a little disappointed by the flavor.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s quite tasty!  But, I am sitting here, wishing that the flavor was more like the fragrance.  More cinnamon and vanilla, and a little less in the orange flavor.

The flavor of the red and green rooibos together with the honeybush creates a very pleasant tasting base that is honey-sweet with a nice nutty flavor that lends itself well to a baked kind of taste.  It compliments the cinnamon and vanilla flavors and overall, there is a cinnamon bun flavor going on in this cup.

But… why the orange?  It is as though the orange washes away some of the flavor rather than enhances it.

This is a very tasty blend … and yet, disappointing.  I do like the flavors as they are in this tisane, but… I think this tisane could have been so much more that what it is!  It could be a Vanilla Cinnamon Bun flavored tisane, and instead I have a creamy orange spice tisane.  Tasty, but just not what I expected!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Honeybush, Rooibos