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.
Buttered Cranberry Orange Scone from 52Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tisane Description:
I don’t know why I never thought to combine cranberry and honeybush before, but this blend is (imagine Charlie Sheen here) WINNING! Had a glass of this iced last night, and it was like something you wanted to let slowly melt in your mouth. slightly buttery-, bakey- goodness sweetened with hints of juicy orange and ripe cranberries. This was absolutely like drinking a cranberry orange scone with creamy butter on it. This is a caffeine-free, guilt-free, 100% vegan-friendly blend of African honeybush, orange peel, freeze-dried cranberries, freeze-dried orange sections and natural flavors.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh, goodness! This is yummy!
The honeybush is the perfect base for this blend, it has a slightly nutty, honey-sweet taste that translates very well into the concept of a scone. And together with the buttery flavoring that 52Teas does so well, this becomes a deliciously decadent tea-time treat all on its own.
The fruit flavors evoke thoughts of autumn (and since I love autumn, I don’t mind that a bit). The orange is sweet and tastes just like the fruit: fresh and juicy! The cranberry adds a tart note to the cup, and while tart/sour tastes are not always my thing, I think that the tartness is needed here, because it provides some wonderful contrast to the cup.
I like the way the flavors play together here. With one sip, I taste a little more orange, and then the next, I taste more cranberry. Sometimes the two fruit flavors are evenly matched and it’s the buttery taste that I notice. It’s very much like it might be if I were eating an actual cranberry orange scone – with my first bite, I might bite into a cranberry, with the next, I might taste more orange, and then in the next, I taste the rich, baked goodness of the scone.
Another delicious flavor adventure – courtesy of 52Teas!
On The 1st Day of Christmas, 52Teas sent to me …
Yep, it’s back! The 12 days of Christmas tea box from 52Teas. I’ve been looking forward to this! Even though I’ve probably tasted most of the teas in this box, as I’ve ordered just about every tea that Frank has created this year, I’m still excited to see which teas he has included, as well as excited to revisit some of my favorites!
Yes, I realize that the 12 days of Christmas aren’t supposed to start until after the holiday, but, Frank has started his own tradition of sorts, making the 12 days start on December14, and end on Christmas morning… and I personally like it this way, it makes for a very fun countdown!
For the first day of Christmas, 52Teas sent to me …
BUTTERED POPCORN FLAVORED BLACK TEA
This tea definitely deserves a spot in the 12 days of Christmas package, because it is one of my favorites from the last 12 months or so. Actually, this one was released on the week of November 22, 2010, and my review of this tea was published on December 7, 2010.
Frank, being the “Willy Wonka of Teas” that he is, has managed to capture the flavor of buttered popcorn and add it to his blend of Nilgiri and Assam black teas. And as weird as it may sound, it is actually really delicious.
This tea is best served hot, in my opinion (Cold popcorn is just kind of … meh!) and I recommend adding a tiny pinch of salt to the cup. It doesn’t need sweetener, but, if you want to add it, it’s quite alright. I happen to like to add a little bit of agave nectar to this tea, it gives it a “Kettle Corn” kind of taste. Yummy!
Yep, it is nice to revisit this one … and it tastes as good now as it did back then.
I anxiously await to see what tea tomorrow – the Second Day of Christmas! – brings!
Buttered Rum from David’s Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: David’s Tea
Product Description:
Hot buttered rum is so delicious we want it all day long. Unfortunately, most employers frown on workplace drunkenness, so we came up with this rich and creamy alternative. Toasted coconut and vanilla beans mingle with black tea in a caramelized caress of flavours. Decadent hot or iced, it also blends perfectly with dark rum, brown sugar and a dash of milk – so go ahead and indulge your inner pirate, off the clock.
Taster’s Review:
This tea has been at the top of the Steepster ratings for some time now, so I figured it was high time that I try it! And I’m really glad I did.
This is really good. The rum comes through nicely, especially at the start. As I continue to sip on this cup, I find that some of the other flavors make their way through, although I can still taste the rum notes… they are just not quite as dominate as they were at the beginning. The coconut is one of the nicest additions to this – it gives the cup a delicious sweetness and creaminess, and I like the way it melds with the rum flavor.
The “buttered” aspect is very slight in the beginning, but by about mid-cup, the flavor has developed nicely. In fact, I am finding it to be the dominating presence now, perhaps because it has united with the vanilla and coconut. By the time I’ve finished with the cup, I find that the cup is actually quite heavy in texture, coating the palate with a creamy- buttered presence.
If I were to offer any complaint about this tea at all, it would be that the black tea isn’t a strong presence in this cup. I think that if it were a slightly stronger tea (an Assam, perhaps?) it might have a bit of cleansing astringency which would make the finish a bit cleaner. But, then again, I actually quite enjoy the heavy creaminess of this tea. It is such an indulgent pleasure, but a guiltless one! The best kind!
On the 9th Day of Christmas … from 52Teas
This isn’t the only “12 Days” type of thing that I’ve chosen to become involved with this holiday season. I am also in a 12 Days of Christmas art swap through a Yahoo! art group that I’m in. You can learn more about that swap here and see some of the art pieces that I’ve received in that swap, as well as the art piece that I made for the swap.
Both of these 12 Days “thingies” have been a lot of fun for me … and there is a part of me that is just a little sad that they are both almost over.
But rather than think about when it will end… I think it is much better to focus on the here and now. And right here and now, it is time to unveil the tea of the day for today!
BUTTERED CINNAMON RAISIN TOAST
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Product Description:
So, a raisin flavored tea is pretty unique in and of itself; cinnamon-raisin tea: a bit cooler, but at 52teas, we don’t just push the envelope, we shove. So, I’m happy to present our tea of the week for the week of January 4, 2010: Buttered Cinnamon Raisin Toast flavored black tea.
We started with our premium Indian black teas base, added just a touch of smoked Assam teas for a tiny bit of toastiness, then we added real golden raisins, cinnamon stick bits and natural raisin and cinnamon flavors. We topped it all off with just a hint of natural butter flavoring. The result: Well, you will have to try it to believe it.
Taster’s Review:
I was a little surprised to find this tea in this 12 Teas of Christmas box. Pleasantly surprised, but surprised nonetheless; mostly because this tea is not one of 52Teas permanent collection teas.
However, I think it SHOULD be in their permanent collection, because it is so good. I tried this tea when it was first introduced (and you can read my first review of this tea here), I mean, how could I resist? It just sounded too unusual and interesting to pass up.
One thing that I really like about this tea is that it is a little different each time I brew it. When I first reviewed it, the cinnamon flavor was a little subtle, this time, as I sip it, the cinnamon is front and center. The butter is a little lighter this time around, but still present. The raisin flavor is a little stronger, and I am getting a little more of a smoked/toasty taste too. The overall cup is still sweet, but it is a little more spiced with a stronger cinnamon note.
One thing that I did say in the previous review that remains true today – this is definitely one of 52Teas most interesting blends! I am so happy that I got to revisit it!