Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
I’m having a glass of this week’s Tea of the Week as we speak. I think this is probably going to be a great comforting hot tea, but to anyone who knows me, I almost always drink my teas iced. The brandy flavor is the most prominent, with the buttery, cakey goodness coming through in the aftertaste. It’s a very unique and soothing flavor pallete. It seems well-suited to cold nights indoors under an afghan or (if you are lucky enough to have a fireplace) in front of a roaring fire.
In the interests of full disclosure, I’ve never had butter brandy cake. In fact, I was thinking that we have butterscotch and butter rum, why not butter-brandy, but when I went to Google it to see if such a confection existed, what I found was butter brandy cake and here we are. I hope you enjoy it as much as I am. My big tumbler is empty now.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is not my first cup of this tea, I have been drinking it about every other day for about a week now. However, I did have a bit of a head cold over the past week, so, I felt my taste buds weren’t quite up to snuff … at least, not enough to offer an adequate tea review on this tea.
The first time I tasted it, I wasn’t exactly sure what I thought of it. I didn’t even rate it numerically on Steepster, because I wasn’t sure about it. I knew I liked it, but, it was just so different from anything that I’d tasted before. I don’t know if that has anything to do with the fact that I’ve never tasted Butter Brandy Cake, I just knew it was delicious, I was enjoying it … but it was … different!
The first flavor that I notice is the brandy, it has a strong, fruity/sweet/almost-wine-y kind of taste to it. Then I notice a caramel-y undertone … a sweet, luscious, buttery caramel-y taste. Toward mid-sip, a buttery, freshly-baked cake-y kind of flavor comes through. Throughout the sip, the black tea base is present, it isn’t a strong, overwhelming presence, but it is there enough so that you know you’re drinking tea and not some weird, space-age, liquid cake that’s been doused with brandy. (Note: In this case “weird” is good … definitely good!)
In the past, 52Teas’ black tea blends had a problem with astringency, that is to say it was really quite astringent to the point of coming across as bitter. Since that time, Frank at 52Teas changed its black tea base to a smoother, more satisfying black tea blend … and I don’t think I’ve noticed much astringency in any of the black tea blends that 52Teas has offered until now. Somehow the flavors here bring out the astringency … but I don’t find it off-putting. Instead, the astringency works well with the flavors … it seems to complete the brandy notes quite nicely.
This is a very compelling blend by 52Teas … I like it quite a bit! It also makes a remarkably tasty latte!
Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Honeybush from 52Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tisane Description:
There are some blends I create that actually make me feel like an evil genius. This is one of those blends.
I’m really tempted to just say: Muah – ha – ha! and leave it at that.
Here’s our caffeine-free African honeybush with organic cacao nibs, marigold petals and natural and organic flavors. If this doesn’t cure your sweet-tooth, I’m not sure I can help you.
Learn more about this flavored honeybush here.
Taster’s Review:
There was a time when I absolutely refused to try peanut butter flavored teas. I can’t explain exactly what it was about them that made me so squeamish, but, the thought of a peanut butter flavored tea just … well, it just didn’t do it for me. And, just as I can’t really explain why I didn’t want to try a peanut butter flavored tea back then, I can’t really explain why I got over it. And the only explanation I have is pretty … well, it’s weird.
See, I tried a Salted Peanut taffy. And this taffy was the best taffy I had ever tasted. And somehow, from that experience, I put together in my head that I would enjoy peanut butter teas too.
I know, I told you it was a weird explanation. Sometimes, I think that I share a brain with Zaphod Beeblebrox.
Anyway, one thing that my brain did get right is that I would enjoy a peanut butter tea … because I AM enjoying this Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake flavored Honeybush. It’s actually really yummy.
I can taste the peanut butter and the chocolate. It doesn’t taste weird or thick the way that real peanut butter tastes, and I think that is what may have turned me off on peanut butter flavored teas in the past. I think I must have thought that the texture would be weird … but it isn’t. It has an ordinary tisane-ish texture … it’s light and smooth.
The cheesecake flavor is well-defined. It tastes creamy and tangy tasting, and it is such a wonderful contrast to the sweet peanut butter cup notes. I even taste the honeybush here, and the natural nutty flavor of the honeybush goes together very well with these flavors. As the tisane cools, I notice a bit of the buttery crust come through … just a bit of it though.
I really like the way the flavors come together here. And now that I’ve actually TRIED a peanut butter tea, I feel just a wee bit sad for what I’ve been missing out on with Frank’s other Peanut Butter blends!
Gooey Butter Cake from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where To Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Thanks to Azzrian for the idea for this blend. I actually think my wife is a little upset she didn’t think of it first. She makes an awesome gooey butter cake.
My wife is fond of telling people that she has no idea how I manage to make such amazing teas since my cooking skills are more or less limited to ramen noodles and microwave popcorn. Likewise, I have no idea what sort of magic she employs in creating a gooey butter cake. Yes, I could look at one of several recipes for gooey butter cake, but I prefer to believe it is magic, because a gooey butter cake (for those of you who have never had one), is one of those beautiful things that shouldn’t be discussed in such muggle terms as a recipe. It’s way better to have someone make one for you and assume they possess magical gifts.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh. My. Goodness.
This is so good.
I love Gooey Butter Cake. It is one of my guilty pleasures. On the occasions when I shop at WalMart, I always go to the bakery section, and look for Paula Deen’s baked goods, and hope that they will have her Lemon Gooey Butter Cake. They are similar to lemon bars (you know those incredible bar cookies that have a shortbread crust, and a sweet and tangy lemon-curd like filling? Yeah, those), only the Lemon Gooey Butter Cake is better because it is not only lemon-y like the lemon bars, but it is rich with buttery goodness, and has a gooey consistency that can only be compared to the joy of licking out the cake batter bowl.
I’m fairly certain that these Gooey Butter Cakes are not considered healthy. But what they lack in nutritional value they make up for in pure culinary happiness.
So when 52Teas announced Gooey Butter Cake flavored black tea as their tea of the week for September 17, I did the happy dance. I could have my gooey butter cake and have tea too? And without all the fat and calories of the gooey butter cake? This sounds almost too good to be true.
When I opened the pouch, I couldn’t believe my nose! It smelled so incredible. It smelled buttery and sweet, with hints of lemon. At that point, I could hardly wait for my Breville One-Touch to brew the tea … and this thing brews tea fast! I stood over the tea maker, waiting for it to finally finish. It seemed much longer than the three or so minutes.
The brewed tea smells very much like the dry leaf, it smells sweet and buttery, like freshly baked cake, with hints of lemon. And that’s exactly what I taste, too! I don’t know that this tastes EXACTLY like Gooey Butter Cake, but, it is probably as close to the real thing that tea is ever going to get.
The black tea base is rich and smooth, and it’s the perfect base for the flavors of freshly baked gooey butter cake. There is a kiss of lemon flavor in there, just enough to brighten the flavors. This is sinful indulgence in a teacup. The only thing that might make it better is chocolate. But, to be honest, I’ve tried Paula Deen’s Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake, and I wasn’t all that impressed. So… maybe chocolate wouldn’t make this better after all. Maybe it’s perfectly magical, just the way it is.
Brandied Apricot Upside Down Cake Honeybush from 52Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tisane Description:
Buttery yellow cake, sweet brandied apricots in caramelized brown sugar, all in a caffeine-free calorie-free African honeybush. Is this a dessert or a tea? Maybe it’s both. Only 52teas could bring you such a delicious and decadent treat.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
I was excited to try this honeybush blend from 52Teas. As I’ve mentioned once or twice before, Frank (the chief Zoomdweebie at 52Teas) has a way with honeybush that’s quite unlike any other tea artisan that I’ve come across, and I’m always pretty impressed with his honeybush blends.
And let’s face it, the idea of a Brandied Apricot Upside Down Cake sounds pretty incredible, does it not?
This is really very good. The apricot flavor tastes does not taste fake to me, it has a very authentic flavor, and what I’m tasting is what I’d imagine fresh apricots, simmered in brandy, and then caramelized in butter and brown sugar might taste like. Now, I imagine that decadent flavor spread into a cake pan and topped with cake batter and baked until golden brown and delicious. Yeah… that’s what’s in my cup right now!
I taste all those notes that are suggested in the name of this tea: I taste the brandy … but it doesn’t taste too strongly of brandy. I taste the apricots, this flavor lends a bright, fresh taste to the cup. I taste brown sugar that’s been caramelized in butter, and a sweet, bake-y, cake-y taste. I even taste just a hint of nutty flavor from the honeybush. These flavors all come together in a very delicious way, tasting very dessert-y without tasting too sweet or cloying.
As I write this, I see that there eleven more pouches of this tea available. That may seem like a plentiful amount, but given how quickly 52Teas can sell out of delicious blends like this one, I wouldn’t put off ordering one for too long if I were you. And this one is worth splurging on … it’s a delicious, decadent, naturally caffeine free treat!
Butterbeer from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas (there’s still a few of these in stock, as Frank recently reblended it!)
Tea Description:
I got my recipe directly from The Three Broomsticks: Premium black teas blended with a bit of essence of rootbeer, a bit of butter vapors, some licorice root, chichory root and a touch of magic. Our Butterbeer tea is the beverage of choice for wizards of all ages, and if you have no idea what I’m referring to, please go on about your muggle life, this blend is for Harry Potter fans only. Well, okay, I guess muggles could enjoy it too. It is truly unique and delicious. A blend worthy of the 52teas brand of creative flavored teas. Enjoy!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
My friends, I have a confession to make. I am a Harry Potter fanatic. I read all seven books (several times each), and own each of the movies and am slowly developing my “ultimate” blu ray dvd collection of them. When the books first came out, I would keep reading and wouldn’t put the book down until I finished it – taking only those types of breaks that would not wait (aka bathroom breaks).
Yeah, I guess I’m a nerd.
But, there are times that my nerdiness is advantageous. Consider a recent email conversation with Frank (aka the Chief Zoomdweebie from 52Teas … aka the Willy Wonka of Teas). I suggested that he make a Butterbeer tea. I suggested using the flavoring that was used for his Pot o’ Gold tea and then adding some root beer flavoring or perhaps some sarsaparilla, and some anise to give it a touch of licorice … not a heavy note, but, I just felt like a touch of licorice needed to be in there to give it a hint of magic.
This Butterbeer blend is what he came up with … which is not exactly the way I had suggested, but, it ended up being even more delicious than I anticipated. Frank, you did good!
The black tea base is good and strong (this is Frank’s new black tea base, and it’s a winner! I enjoyed the previous base, but it sometimes proved to be a bit too harsh, this one is so smooth and delicious – not at all bitter or harsh!) and it is enhanced with the addition of chicory which doesn’t really add a strong flavor … instead what it seems to do is help fill-in the background, giving it a very round, pleasing flavor and just a hint of coffee-like taste.
Imagine root beer that’s been magically improved by wizard folk. What would it taste like? I think it would have a basic foundation of classic root beer flavor, with a touch of creamy butter (butter makes it better!) which gives it a hint of butterscotch-y taste. Maybe add a drop of coffee to it for a touch of that rich, bold, roasty-toasty warmth and to help offset the sweetness of the butterscotch taste. Perhaps … one of those licorice snaps just happens to bounce its way into the brew. Now add the goodness of black tea, and you have yourself one winner of a tea … this tea.
It’s awesome! Frank managed to exceed my expectations of what Butterbeer should taste like. I still won’t try Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans (I’ll stick to the muggle Jelly Bellys, thank you), but, this is fabulous. Everyone – muggle and wizards alike – should try this tea!