Just outside of Toronto is a chocolate shop called Chocolats Favoris. With a name like that, you know it has French origins and that’s because it actually comes from Quebec. They are a chocolate shop through and through and though they offer everything from chocolate bars to truffles to fondue cans, they are actually known for their chocolate dipped ice cream cones, which are ah. may. zing! So, having indulged in their chocolate dipped ice cream cones a few times and loving them, I knew I wanted some of their awesome chocolate to take home. I picked out a few and this Chai Latte bar certainly caught my eye.
This is a milk chocolate bar made with black tea, spices, and natural flavor. They do not specify which spices exactly in the ingredients list but some flavors clearly shine through the creamy milk chocolate base. Cinnamon blends with the chocolate beautifully to give more flavor without creating competition. The ginger, on the other hand, stands out in each bite. Cardamom coats the tongue slowly but surely the more you eat which makes for a fuller chai flavor while clove pops up every now and again. All the while, the black tea provides a nice texture variant by giving a bit of crunch to the otherwise smooth bar.
This is one flavorful chocolate bar. Like everything else offered at Chocolats Favoris, the chocolate is sweet but delicious. The spices create a welcome contrast to the base and as a whole, this treat is certainly reminiscent of its namesake. If you’re looking for a tea treat to satisfy your sweet tooth, look no further than this Chai Latte milk chocolate bar.
Here’s the scoop!
Where to Buy: Chocolats Favoris
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Day 11: Maple Marshmallow Treat Genmaicha . . .Counting Down to Christmas with 52Teas!
On the 11th Day of Christmas 52 Teas gave to me…..Maple Marshmallow Treat Genmaicha Green Tea!!! (cue my happy dance) Just like the original Marshmallow Treat Genmaich Green Tea, this version is very near and dear to my heart. I believe it was a part of my first order from 52 Teas along with the original Marshmallow Treat that I previously said was actually the tea that led me to discover 52 Teas altogether!
A few days ago when I reviewed the Banana Marshmallow Treat Genmaicha that was a part of this box, I thought that it was absolutely fantastic….but I had forgotten about this maple version. After making a cup of the maple marshmallow one I am now super conflicted as to which I like better. First off, as soon as you open the pouch the smell is all maple. It literally smells like a plate of pancakes drizzled with fresh maple syrup. Once brewed, that delicious maple is still there but now there’s just a small underlying scent of vanilla marshmallow. And the taste? It’s so scrumptious!! It’s like Vermont maple syrup and fluff along with that classic toasted rice flavor of Genmaicha. It’s sweet and creamy and divine! It is a complete toss up as to which I like more- the banana marshmallow treat or the maple marshmallow treat. Oh my…a thought just came to me….what if we combined all three flavors and made a Banana Maple Marshmallow Treat Genmaicha? Well, that would just be my version of Nirvana!
Merry Christmas Eve! I hope you all enjoyed this tea as much as I do. Tomorrow is Christmas and I have a feeling our last tea in this box is going to be an exciting one…a real treat for us all on Christmas morning! So be sure to check back amidst all the present-unwrapping and Christmas festivities to hear my thoughts on Day 12’s blend
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea is not available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Day 9: Caramel Cheesecake Black Tea. . . .The 52Teas Countdown to Christmas!
On the 9th Day of Christmas 52 Teas gave to me… Caramel Cheesecake Black Tea! This lovely black tea blend smells exactly the way it sounds, like creamy cheesecake drizzled in caramel sauce. If I hadn’t read the name before smelling the leaf, I definitely would have been able to pick out the flavors just on smell alone. I love any tea that has cheesecake essence in it, as cheesecake is actually one of my favorite desserts. I used to live right across the street from a Cheesecake Factory restaurant…I’m sure you can imagine, that was pretty dang dangerous!
I may no longer live near a good place to get a slice of cheesecake, but if and when a craving strikes, this tea would surely suffice! It’s creamy and has an almost “fluffy” flavor that’s light and sweet. It also has a slight tang and underlying flavor of cheesecake that definitely comes through on the aftertaste. It’s interesting because when I first saw the name of this tea I kind of wished that there was another component like maybe “caramel apple cheesecake” or something a little more, but after trying this I really believe it is perfect just as it is and I think that something else would definitely have overpowered the awesome flavor combo of caramel and cheesecake. It’s so realistic and yummy, I definitely recommend trying it if you have the chance!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea is not currently available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
On the 6th Day of Christmas, 52Teas sent to me. . .
On the 6th Day of Christmas 52 Teas gave to me…. Brownie Batter with Nut Butter Swirl Black Tea! I have a feeling this one will get a lot of swoons from you readers! The name is pretty irresistible, and so is the smell of the dry leaf. Even I did a little happy dance when I smelled it. In fact, I’m pretty sure over the next week I’ll be googling a recipe for brownies with a nut butter swirl because it sounds pretty amazing.
I had my baby shower a few weeks ago and my mom made my cake. It is this secret recipe for a from-scratch chocolate cake that actually has a brownie-batter frosting in between the layers. It is divine…seriously. I don’t know how she did it, she won’t even give me the recipe! I could eat that cake every single day, but that would be really bad for my health. Thankfully, we have companies like 52 Teas that can take our favorite desserts and put them into the form of tea….and, it is virtually calorie-free! Yay!
This one smells like brownies and almonds to me. Two of my favorite things! On taste, the chocolate is light and not syrupy or artificial. Ie: it doesn’t taste like watery hot cocoa, which is how some chocolate teas end up tasting. No, this one is really well done! It has an underlying flavor of buttery almond and maybe a little pecan…definitely a “nut” flavor. The combo of brownie batter and nut butter really is so, so good! I now must find a recipe to combine the two into an actual dessert. Great idea for a hostess gift at your Christmas party. :)Enjoy!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea is not available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Peanut Butter Cup from The NecessiTeas. . . .
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, a true gift to the world. My brother-in-law is deathly allergic to peanut butter but we are a peanut butter family and peanut butter cups are at the top of the list of best ways to eat peanut butter. In fact, we have had fights over which peanut butter cups are the best. My brother is a purist who goes for the original cups. I am a bit of a chocolate fiend who loves the minis. And my sister, well my sister will take her peanut butter cups anyway she can get them on the days her husband is working at the Firehall. Those are the days she gets her peanut butter fix without worrying about killing her husband. Oh and one thing we all agree on is that Reese’s Pieces just don’t measure up to a peanut butter cup.
This tea smells just like a peanut butter cup. A promising start. However, with this tea being made up of apple, cocoa, almonds, caramel pieces, and natural flavors, I am hoping the taste of this tea reflects the smell as opposed to tasting like Forever Nuts by DAVIDsTEA, which has a similar listing of ingredients.
I made this as both a hot tea and a latte, each steeped for 5 minutes in 200 degree water. I worried the caramel pieces might make for a murky brew but this is as clear as day and a rich golden brown-yellow. The hot tea is surprisingly light for the ingredients but still delivers a great deal of nutty flavor. I don’t get much in the way of chocolate despite the generous cocoa husks in the filter, so I wouldn’t go as far as to say this accurately captures the flavor of a peanut butter cup. Instead it reminds me more of all-natural peanut butter, with no sugar added. I’m not one for sweetening my teas but I could see a bit of sugar going a long way here to really pull the flavors together.
Now, I may not sweeten my teas but I’m all for lattes. With this tea, it not only adds a much needed creaminess to the blend but it also does make everything just a bit sweeter. I think it takes the cocoa husks from the earthy nuttiness they had in the hot cup and brings them closer to a milk chocolate note, though there is still a ways to go in that regard so I still don’t think we’ve hit peanut butter cup yet. This is definitely closer to its namesake though. Now instead of just natural peanut butter, this is more akin to the peanut butter found inside a Reese’s. I just wish there was more to the chocolatey coating.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Favored Tisane
Where to Buy: The NecessiTeas
Description
This blend is seriously addicting, over the top yummy and double-delicious. It’s quite amazing and tastes just like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup! To sweeten the deal, this chocolate peanut butter bliss is completely guilt-free!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!