What is a crostata? Apparently, it is a type of tart or pie, or it might even include a crumble-like dessert. Either way, imagine buttery crust, sugar and spice, and plenty of fruit. This tea blend looks to capture the the essence of a peach crostata, with sweet stone fruit and warm pastry.
The tea leaves are yunnan black tea, but they were so tightly rolled I almost mistook them for oolong leaves. Brewing this blend, the tea is dark and rich and brews up quickly. Both the dry leaves and the hot tea are very fragrant with natural peach flavor.
When taking my first sip, my nose is full of fruity peach, but the brew is much more robust. The taste of the tea has more roasty, caramel notes than it does fruit, and its boldness overshadows the peach. The tea is smooth at first, finishing with a tart, mineral dryness in the aftertaste. It’s possible the boldness of the tea has to do with my brewing techniques, so I would brew this a little cooler and shorter next time. I found that adding milk helped make the brew more gentle, which brought out the best of the peach notes.
Even if this wasn’t my favorite tea lately, I’ve had other blend from a Quarter to Tea that I absolutely loved, like their Carrot Cake or Peeps Krispies genmai cha teas. Give any of their flavors a try for a quality brew.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: A Quarter to Tea
Description:
A take on a late medieval version of a peach crostata, with warming spices and a rich peach flavor.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Kumquat Cheesecake from 52Teas. . . . . .
One can always count on 52 teas for their unique blends.
This is a winner and needs to actually be made into cheesecake as it would be delicious. They did a wonderful job of capturing the kumquat flavor without any of the bitterness that can be found in the rind. Fruity with hints of citrus and cream.
The honey bush blends perfectly with the aforementioned flavors like a selfish ninja. You know it’s there but it won’t truly show. The liquid is a beautiful color.
When you brew be sure to use something clear. The rose color is quite a delight.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Smores from Citizen Tea. . . .
I have had this tea for quite sometime and though I had it before and enjoyed it, I kept looking over it when trying to pick something to drink. Well today I decided that it was about time I get to drinking this and I am certainly glad I did.
I had just enough leaf left to make a small latte. I steeped the tea for 3 minutes at 200F as per the recommendations on the package. I topped that with frothed milk and the end result is one tasty treat.
First and foremost is the gooey marshmallow flavor that takes over, boosted by the creaminess of the latte preparation. It could be in my head but I swear there is a wisp of smoke dancing on top of the marshmallow. Lingering at the bottom, and nearing the end of the sip is just a touch of chocolate nuttiness which brings back memories of the chocolate and graham crackers one would expect in a smores tea. If I had a complaint, it would be I want a bit more of the other smore components but as this is, it hits marshmallow right on the head.
I am not sure why I ignored this for so long. It certainly is a good tea, especially when prepared as a latte. I would call it more a marshmallow tea than a smores tea but there isn’t necessarily anything wrong with that, at least not in my books.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black/White/Oolong
Where to Buy: Citizen Tea
Description
Nothing triggers our nostalgia more than Smores! Our favourite nighttime treat and the smoky smell of campfire are sure to bring back the fondest of childhood memories (like that time you flung a flaming marshmallow at the back of Uncle Bob’s head. No? Just us?) A black tea with sweet chocolate drops and toasted marshmallow make for the perfect campfire favourite. Take a walk down memory lane with our Smores blend.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Red Wine Apple Cake from A Quarter To Tea. . . .
Friends, there’s no question that we here at SororiTea Sisters love us some A Quarter to Tea. (I feel like I can speak for us all. I may be speaking out of turn, but… have you *seen* our AQTT archives? I rest my case.) I’ve recently renewed my AQTT subscription box to be a monthly thing, and not just a “whenever I feel like it”, because I have to say– I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a bad blend from the brilliant minds in AQTT’s blending room.
Now– when this particular blend (red wine apple cake? Who’d even heard of such a thing?!) showed up at my doorstep last month, I wavered a little bit. Would this be the blend that steered me wrong? I’m not typically a white tea drinker, and it takes a LOT for me to be impressed by a white blend. I shouldn’t have worried, though, you guys. Even on sniff alone, this tea is impressive. Big chunks of apple are strewn throughout the bountiful white leaves, boasting deep apple-and-grape-y notes that translate just beautifully to the brewed cup. This one is heartier than most white teas, and that’s probably why I love it so. The only thing I can’t quite pick out are the “cake” notes– which, let’s be real: when someone tells me there’s cake (in my tea, at work, on my birthday/any random tuesday), I want CAKE. This one’s a bit lighter, and lacking on the pastry notes I’ve usually come to know well from AQTT’s blends. That said, I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing– in fact, I think cakey, pastry flavors may have overwhelmed the beautifully fruity notes otherwise present in this blend.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
This tea is currently not available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Heavenly Cream from Sloane. . .
One sip of this tea and you’ll know why they named it heavenly cream.
It’s like drinking a cloud; if clouds had flavors.
Boy wouldn’t that make for interesting rain? Ha! Anyway, this tea has a subtle black base which is complemented very well with the bits of bergamot flavors and the incontestable cream and vanilla impressions.
For those of you who like Earl Grey but would prefer a stronger creamy presence this is the one for you.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Sloane Fine Tea Merchants
Description
A divine tea, full of creamy richness and velvety smoothness- heavenly in every way. A beautiful long leaf Ceylon is blended with balanced notes of bergamot and creamy vanilla.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!