Hello readers! I am happy to bring you a tea that I have been dying to try, a blooming tea. I have not been able to for I also found them too expensive to buy. I mean I know that this is a tea that is not your normal loose leaf or bag but I always saw the “best selling” flowering teas to be about $10 a bulb. So I am glad that I finally got a chance to try this beautiful tea!
Now, first off this tea was beautiful! And don’t worry I posted a video of it blooming on my Instagram, official_karatics. Now on to the important part, the flavor. Now I can’t tell you what I was expecting it to taste like for I wanted to go into this blind. I would say that the flavor was interesting for it tasted like a combination of Oolong and green tea for I was getting a slightly fermented flavor. It is a very light flavor and has a slightly herbal finish. But I think this mainly has to with the company’s white tea, which is their version of Silver Needle. With all that considered I don’t know whether to put this tea into the relaxing tea category or the everyday tea, so I will just say it is both!
Now I have already touched on the price of flowering tea in the beginning of this review and I will say it is indeed cheaper than most of the brands that I have come across. As of right now, the price is $3 per bulb and $15 for 10, that is 50% of off a pack that should cost $30. I would say that these prices are pretty inexpensive compared to what is on the market nowadays. Not to mention that this or any of the other flowering teas that they have on their site will be perfect for gifts or perfect for use at formal celebrations.
I probably will purchase from this company in the future but probably not the Peri Flower tea or any of the other blooming teas for I don’t really care for the taste of Silver Needle. I will say that they do have one tea in their flowering tea range that has a black tea or Golden Monkey Paw. That tea is called Black Gold and maybe more up my alley, so if you are looking into a flowering tea but are more of a black tea drinker like myself it may be worth a shot.
See you for the next cuppa!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Blooming Flower Tea
Where to Buy: California Tea House
Description
Peri Flower is a beautiful artisan bouquet of Silver Needle a white tea with a multi-level, soft canary Chrysanthemum bloom. Blooming tea, flowering tea, make a perfect tea wedding favor and party gift. Email us for information about private labeling for a personal touch on wedding gift tea blooms.
Bring a pot of mineral water to a boil and pour into a clear pot, vase or large glass. Drop a single handmade blooming tea ball into the hot water and let steep for 4 to 6 minutes until the flower blooms. Once the tea has fully bloomed the tea is ready to drink. These are tasty, floral health bulbs!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Hillary Enjoys A Cuppa Chocolate Chai From California Tea House. . . .
I’ve mentioned at least a million times that I love Chai tea. It’s one of my favorite teas ever. When I saw the words chocolate and chai together, my heart skipped a beat. Chocolate is really the only thing that can make chai better in my opinion.
I could smell the chocolate and spices through the bag and it just made me want a cup right away.
This is an herbal chai, so no caffeine which makes me super happy, and makes this a suitable tea for any time of the day or night. I brewed myself a cup, and the first thing I noticed when the hot water hit the tea is that it smelled like spicy hot chocolate. Yum.
I added a little coconut milk and a little coconut sugar and it was perfect. It tastes rich and chocolate-y with a definite spicy kick. I could really taste the peppercorns and ginger. It’s got both cocoa nibs and white chocolate pieces, so it’s double the chocolate flavor!
Since this is caffeine free, it would be a delicious dessert tea for all the chocolate lovers out there. It’s a great warming tea with all the wonderful spices. This is a really decadent chai and I really love it. It’s like if chai and hot chocolate met, fell in love and had a delicious baby
When you see the tea itself, it’s beautiful, full of chocolate pieces and cardamom pieces that you can actually see. I say it all the time, but this tea is definitely added to my list of favorite Chai teas!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: California Tea House
Description
Do you like Chocolate Tea? This is hot, spicy Chocolate Chai herbal tea… need we say more? Here’s the more: We used USDA Organic cocoa nibs, white chocolate pieces, orange peels, chicory root pieces, cardamom blooms, fresh-cut ginger root, whole cloves and peppercorns. Perfect as is or if you’re really getting frisky, add some milk and sugar. Buy Chocolate Tea with our 100% satisfaction guarantee
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Imperial Gyokuro Genmaicha – California Tea House
Good morning everyone. Before I start geeking out over tea I just wanted to say thank you for letting me join the Sororitea Sisters! I look forward to discovering new teas and making friends with you all.
Genmaicha. Once known as the poor mans drink among the Japanese people. A big thank you to the first monks (supposedly) who created this blend. Personally, this is in my top five favorite teas. If you have not yet given genmaicha a try I highly suggest trying some!
A good tea session with genmaicha should start off with a whiff of the dry leaves. It’s amazing how your nose can pick up some qualities in the tea that you may have not even tasted. Not only that but it can be a good indicator as to what other teas have been laying around with it. If you can’t get a good scent from the dry leaves due to cross contamination from other tea then just give the wet leaves a good snuff. Either way what I like to smell is that amazing rice perfume. Like when you are cooking rice and it blossoms everywhere in your house. A very comforting aroma. The sample I have has been a bit contaminated with other tea smells and thus I’m not picking up much but the wet aroma is great. It has that relaxing rice cooked smell to it.
Most people say the smell and the flavor of the tea is nutty and while that may be the best way currently to describe it I really feel it doesn’t quite do it justice. Rice and the toasted rice flavor are something more unique then just nutty. Saying ricey doesn’t quite cut it either. Using a sticky rice is quite a unique idea on their part for this tea. Though I do feel that it makes the rice flavor a bit more subtle. Generally, I prefer a stronger rice flavor but it works well with the grassy essence from this tea. After reading that they used sticky rice I understand now why I thought this genmaicha looked different from others. The rice is bigger and seems to look different after its toasted. I would love to try a cup of this after the rice has been freshly roasted.
Did you know that even though Genmai means brown rice, the rice used in genmaicha is actually white rice that has been roasted?
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: California Tea House
Description
Genmaicha tea is a traditional Japanese green tea. It is believed that the development of Genmaicha was by monks in using rice as a filler to save money. This tradition quickly caught on as the blend of toasted rice and green tea (typically Sencha or Bancha) has a very soothing, pleasant flavor.
Jump forward a few thousand years and you find California Tea House’s gourmet, Imperial Gyokuro Genmaicha. You’ll find our twist on Genmaicha to be an amazing upgrade to this tradition as we spared no expense in creating the finest Genmaicha on the market. Instead of Sencha we use Imperial Gyokuro green tea to provide a very clean, crisp green tea flavor without the bitterness. Also, we use sticky rice as the base of our toasted rice for a slightly sweet and very flavorful, nutty blend. There’s no turning back to old style Genmaicha after you’ve tried this one! Buy our Imperial Gyokuro Genmaicha with our 100% satisfaction guarantee!
Bring your mineral or filtered water to a boil, then let the water settle back down to around 180oF before steeping about 1 heaping teaspoon of tea per cup. Never steep more than 3 or 4 minutes.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Smooth Roasted Toasted-Genmaicha from California Tea House. . .
The weather is gloomy and my sinus infection is going in full swing! Today calls for a tea that makes you relax and enjoy the moment.
When I first started drinking and experimenting with loose leaf tea, California Tea House was one of the first places I made an order. I can’t remember exactly what I ordered but I can remember being so confused on how to brew each variety and wondering if I would ever learn how to brew loose leaf.
Now 10 years later, I yet again have the opportunity to try their teas. And this time, I do know how to properly steep and enjoy.
California Tea House offers a clear and easy to maneuver site that I just love. If you are looking for a certain tea, it is very easy to locate that variety and see what they have to offer. The pictures are wonderfully laid out and just the overall experience from using their site is great.
Ok, it is time to chat about this tea. Genmaicha teas typically have a smooth buttery feel with a roasted or toasted note. And this offering from California tea House is no different.
A sweet lush buttery smoothness envelopes this tea while there is that welcomed contrast of the toasted note. Well balanced and almost seductive. I love how silky the mouthfeel on this tea is.
A perfect tea to enjoy on this gloomy cloudy day!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: California Tea House
Description
Genmaicha tea is a traditional Japanese green tea. It is believed that the development of Genmaicha was by monks in using rice as a filler to save money. This tradition quickly caught on as the blend of toasted rice and green tea (typically Sencha or Bancha) has a very soothing, pleasant flavor.
Jump forward a few thousand years and you find California Tea House’s gourmet, Imperial Gyokuro Genmaicha. You’ll find our twist on Genmaicha to be an amazing upgrade to this tradition as we spared no expense in creating the finest Genmaicha on the market. Instead of Sencha we use Imperial Gyokuro green tea to provide a very clean, crisp green tea flavor without the bitterness. Also, we use sticky rice as the base of our toasted rice for a slightly sweet and very flavorful, nutty blend. There’s no turning back to old style Genmaicha after you’ve tried this one! Buy our Imperial Gyokuro Genmaicha with our 100% satisfaction guarantee!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Black Gold from California Tea House
Black Gold from California Tea House is a Blooming Tea or a Flowering Tea that is made of a Black Tea Base, Jasmine, and Marigold. Once hot water was added and the ball of tea bloomed it floated around in the tea pot gracefully. It was beautiful.
Like other blooming teas or flowering teas Black Gold from California Tea House took a while to completely come to life.
The first infusion – even after 5 minutes or more – was a very mellow color and flavor. It was floral and tasty but not as dark or powerful as I thought it would be coming from a black tea base.
The second infusion was still lighter in color and but more aromatic and flavorful. It wasn’t overly powerful but the flavor was lovely. I would still consider Black Gold from California Tea House to be delicate and mellow most likely because I enjoy the ‘stronger the better’ in a black tea.
I was able to get 3 or 4 infusions out of this blooming tea/flowering tea. I enjoyed it and it had a nice flavor. I’m still on the search for an over-the-top malty, bakey type black tea based blooming tea/flowering tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: California Tea House
Description
Black Gold Blooming Tea is a beautiful artisan bouquet of Golden Monkey Paw black tea with Jasmine and Marigold for a beautiful and healthy blend. We decided to add a flowering tea made with black tea to our collection for those who like a full flavored tea with their beautiful bloom. Blooming teas make a perfect tea wedding favor and party gift. Email us for information about private labeling for a personal touch on wedding gift tea blooms.
Bring a pot of mineral or filtered water to a boil and pour into a clear pot, vase or large glass. Drop a single hand made blooming tea ball into the hot water and let steep for 4 to 6 minutes until the flower blooms. Once the tea has fully bloomed the tea is ready to drink.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
