Just when I think I’ve tried all the lovely literary teas from Simpson and Vail I find a new blend. This time it is Louisa May Alcott’s blend.
This tea is made with chunmee green tea, which is new to me. The light and easygoing tones of this fruity green tea blend makes it pleasant and approachable but far from dull. The green tea base is gentle and sweet and pairs perfectly with the abundant apple and strawberry pieces in the blend.
When brewed, this tea feels like late summer with potent real fruit flavors, and grassy green tea tones. The combination evokes images of lush fruit harvests and the last warm summer days with sun-baked grass.
There is a hint of rose petals in the finish of ach sip, adding to the end of summer garden feeling. I really appreciate the green tea being both sweet and buttery, which helps the fruit from being too sweet or simple. This is a great blend for when you are looking for something delicate but memorable. Also a good choice of tea when you want to bring up the feeling of some late summer days.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Description:
Early in Little Women, while visiting a sick Laurie, Jo says that her sister Meg’s blancmange is made “very nicely.” Later, her own attempt turns out “lumpy” and accompanied by strawberries that were “not as ripe as they looked.” Our blend follows Meg’s example and is almost, as Laurie says, “too pretty to [drink].” Combining almond and strawberry flavors, this blend brews to a delicious tea that is fruity and aromatic. It manages to be both sweet and light thanks to the Chunmee green tea base and the gentle floral notes added by the rose petals.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish Green Tea from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
This week’s tea is a revisiting of our very popular (and just re-blended (again)) Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish, this time with a green tea base. We used premium Young Hyson and Chunmee green teas with freeze-dried blueberries and organic flavors to make this delicious tea.
Learn more about this blend here.
Taster’s Review:
I loved 52Teas’ Black Tea version of Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish tea, so, I was pretty sure I’d also enjoy this version with the green tea base from 52Teas. And I am enjoying it!
The first thing I noticed when I opened the pouch (aside from the delicious aroma of blueberries!) is that there are not as many big, plump, freeze-dried blueberries in my pouch this time around. That was one thing that blew me away about the black tea blend … so many blueberries in the blend. Of course, I realize that the freeze-dried fruit additions to teas like this do relatively little to the flavor of the actual brewed tea, I still found myself missing the blueberries.
But, the blueberry flavor is NOT missing in the tea! This is deliciously blueberry! The blueberry is the very first flavor that I notice when I take a sip, and the blueberry flavor remains throughout the sip and the aftertaste has that tart, tingly berry taste. There is no mistaking the blueberry in this tea.
The green tea base offers a lighter, more refreshing background flavor for this blend. I must admit that it has been a while since I’ve tasted the aforementioned Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish black tea blend, but it was a very memorable tea. The black tea gave the tea a good, robust background … here, I notice that the tea tastes crisp and fresh. This is a better tea for the afternoon … while I think that the black tea would be a good choice for a morning tea because it is a heartier tea.
The flavors of the “pastry” and the cream cheese take a little while to reveal themselves. I’m not sure if this is because my first few sips were when the tea was still quite warm and now the tea has cooled slightly (It’s still hot, but no longer piping hot), or if it’s because the flavors just needed a few sips to develop on my palate. Now that I’ve consumed about 1/3rd of the cup, I can taste a light, buttery pastry and a tangy cream cheese as well as the sweet-tart blueberries.
This is a really tasty dessert tea. I do think I preferred the black tea base over this green tea base, but I am still really enjoying this. It satisfies the sweet tooth, and it’s a lot less caloric and fattening than an actual blueberry cream cheese danish – which I would ordinarily turn away from because I don’t need all that. I like that 52Teas gives us tasty alternatives to the sweets that I crave, and this is definitely a crave-able sort of tea!
Precious Eyebrow (Chunmee) from Shanti Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Tea Description:
This Precious Eyebrow tea originates from Anhui Province, China. Also known as Chunmee, it is the most popular green tea in China, consumed by millions every day. Our Precious Eyebrow is the highest grade of ‘eyebrow’ tea available. The eyebrow-shaped leaves yield a pleasantly aromatic and refreshing yellow infusion with a slight astringency and a provocative plum-like aftertaste.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Precious Eyebrow is one of those teas that I don’t often drink, but, when I do finally get around to having a cup, I wish I had made time for it sooner.
This is one of the nicer Chunmee teas I’ve tasted. It has a light vegetal tone to it – not so much “grassy” as it is like steamed spinach, perhaps with a bit of melted butter on top. It has a very mellow, smooth taste to it, with nutty undertones and a delectable fruity note in the background.
There is very little astringency to this tea, and no bitterness. Just a sweet, roasted nut flavor with mild “green” tones and a sweet, juicy finish. The aftertaste is a mellow nutty flavor with hints of smoke.
Chunmee is one of those teas that every green tea drinker should keep on hand for when they want a delicious, easy-going tea. It’s delicious served hot or iced.