Living in the Midwest has spoiled me, you guys. I recently left my full-swing-of-fall homestate for a business trip to Texas, and was shocked when I stepped off the plane and was greeted with a wall of thick humidity the likes of which we hadn’t seen near the Great Lakes for months. You see, the second the first cool breeze and slightly orange-tinged leaf make their first appearances here in September, I’ve busted out my entire (vast– trust me.) collection of scarves, colorful tights, and obviously– autumnal teas 🙂
This limited 
edition autumn blend from Plum Deluxe hit all the necessary checkpoints for a perfect seasonal blend– spicy? Check. Slightly sweet? Yessir. Caramel-y smooth? Done and done. Upon first blend, my cup is evocative of an afternoon in the orchards– the apple notes are present and delightfully smooth. I will say the second steeping loses the apple for me, but the cinnamon remains, and it certai
nly can carry this tea on its own. Whether autumn is in full swing where you are, or you’re sweating it out in the sunshine and greenery, this tea is a great one to carry you through the season!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Plum Deluxe
Description
Nothing says fall flavor better than apples and cinnamon — and we’re taking it to the next level with the addition of fresh spices and a splash of caramel, to create the perfect tea paired for enjoying freshly harvested foods, carving pumpkins, going on a walk in the fresh autumnal air, or savoring your own special fall moments.
Even better, our spiced caramel apple cinnamon tea only has a pinch of organic rooibos tea as a base, making it caffeine-free, so you can enjoy it as an after dinner treat or a lovely bedtime companion.
This is a limited-edition tea available until Dec 31st, or while supplies last.
All Plum Deluxe teas are hand-blended and infused with love in Portland, Oregon. Each 1 oz tea packet makes 15-20 cups. All organic ingredients — no sulfites, no artificial chemicals, non-GMO.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
#FanaticFriday: EquesTEA from Geeky Teas
I’m not a Brony (or PegaSister), but I am a fan of tea, especially sweetly flavored tea, so when I saw this on Geeky Teas’ site, I had a moment of pining. “I hope I get a chance to buy this tea someday when I fall into a pile of money,” I thought, dreamily. I imagined myself swimming through money like Scrooge McDuck. Ah, money.
Because I am writing this review, you may think I won the lottery or otherwise catapulted myself to wealth.
I did, in a sense: I am a SororiTea Guest Sister, and this sample happened to come in the mail for me. I could not have been happier. I may have wailed “SWEET, SWEET PONIES” upon its arrival.
This tea is the bomb. It’s like an apple pie in a cup. Apples, caramel, etc. It’s got a sort of brightness about it that you could describe as “animated.” It’s a well-rounded sweetness balanced out by the black tea. I am talking super, super nice stuff, here.
Plus, there’s caffeine, so you can channel your inner pony enthusiasm. You can romp into the sunset with joy, money or not. (In my case, still not.)
Please enjoy this illustration I have crafted in honor of this tea:
(Original Artwork by Super Starling!)
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Geeky Teas
Description
lemongrass, apple pieces and strawberries
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Caramel Carrot from Tea Shirt
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Tea Shirt
Tea Description:
Flavoured fruit & vegetable tea blend
Ingredients: carrot flakes, apple pieces, pineapple cubes (contains sugar), cocoa peel, cream-caramel pieces (sweetened, skimmed, condensed milk, sugar, glucose, molasses, butter fat, wetting agent, emulsifying agent), flavouring, safflower.
Preparation: Put one heaped teaspoon of loose leaf tea per person into 100°C water for 8-10 minutes.
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Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Caramel Carrot from Tea Shirt has the same feel to it as one of 52Teas’ amazing concoctions! The tea blend immediately called to me. I love the odd teas that are out there and love checking them out. This is one odd tea, that is for sure!
First off, Caramel Carrot has a very unique look. I swear the tea looks like trail mix. Huge chunks of carrots, apple pieces, and what looks to be a caramel cube. Looking at the ingredient list it really makes me wonder what the wetting agent and emulsifying agent are. Two words I can’t say I’ve ever seen in a tea before!
After looking over the package and not really being sure how to steep the tea, I went with what the packaged recommended. 100C and 10 minute steeping time. The dry leaf itself had an unusual sugary like smell to it. One that I wasn’t too keen on but I was going to see this tea thru to the end!
First sip in and I have to say this to is something else. I can’t say I like nor can I say I dislike the tea. There is an unusual sugary caramel flavor that flows thru the sip mixed with a bright carrot flavor. It seems odd to be sipping on a liquid and getting a true carrot flavor, but that is exactly what is happening. I don’t really get any of the apple or pineapple notes. They could just be contributing to the sugary finish.
So all in all, a fun tea to try. Just can’t say that I would enjoy cup after cup of Caramel Carrot from Tea Shirt. It was a fun cuppa while it lasted tho!
On to my next tea adventure!
The Cake Is A Lie! from Geeky Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black, Green, Roiboos, Etc.
Where to Buy: Geeky Teas
Tea Description:
Black tea, natural vanilla flavour, candy sprinkles, natural creme flavour and natural caramel flavour.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I will admit it right off the bat. I have tried to play Portal and I was absolutely awful at it. To the point where my kiddos were like “It’s ok Mommy, you are good at other things.” I used to think I was good at video games, guess that just isn’t the case anymore. In that moment, I knew I was old. (ha!)
Geeky Teas is one of my favorite tea shops. They produce fun unique handed blended teas that scream with personality and of course I love the idea that they are based on fandoms. The Cake Is A Lie blend is a mix of black tea, vanilla flavorings, candy sprinkles, creme flavor, and caramel flavor. Just take a whiff of the dry leaf mix and you can smell each and ever one of those ingredients. The dry leaf smells simply divine. One of those teas that you feel like you are gaining weight just by smelling the tea.
Brewed up with freshly prepped boiling water, I allowed this tea to steep for about 4 minutes. I waited a few moments to let the tea cool and took my first sip. Oh my Goodness! This tea isn’t just good. It’s brilliant! This tea is the king of dessert teas! The black tea is the silent base that is giving the flavors to be the star. The creme and the caramel are the flavors you really get along with a chocolate note here and there. The flavors all combined really doesn’t taste like a chocolate cake. I have tried so many different teas that say they taste like cake, this one really does!
This may be the best tea I have tried yet from Geeky Teas. I see a large pouch of this blend in my future!