When prepping breakfast, I learned that I can’t use my toaster oven and kettle at the same time. That was an interesting discovery that made for a two-step breakfast: bagel first (since the toaster oven was already on) and tea second.
Another discovery: Nepali Breakfast by Nepal Tea is not a straight black tea like I thought it was. When I opened the package, I immediately got a big whiff of masala spices which surprised me. Upon closer inspection of the package, it turns out the package says black tea + spices so I guess this confusion is just on me. Oops.
Anyways, when brewing this up, I did so according to the company suggestion on the package which is to steep the tea in boiling water for 5 minutes. That is against my usual steeping parameters but hopefully Nepal Tea knows best.
After steeping the tea I brought up the Nepali Breakfast page on the Nepal Tea website only to notice that the site says to use not quite boiling water for 4-5 minutes. I also noticed on the Nepal Tea website they recommend steeping this with milk and/or sugar. Again, I did not see this until after I steeped the tea so I did not do this.
Trying the tea, the first thing I noticed is how much sugar probably would have helped this tea. I normally don’t add anything to my tea (unless I am having a latte or smoothie, etc.) but this tea is more bland than the scent of the dry leaf would have you expect. I think perhaps sugar might coax out those spices nicely since nothing really stands out. With that said, despite the fairly harsh steeping parameters, there is no bitterness or astringency here. Mostly just some cinnamon, a touch of clove, maybe a little pepper and a smooth black tea that doesn’t really impart much flavor.
I think this tea has potential but for me it fell short. The smell of the tea really had me thinking I was in store for a punch of spice but barely got a tap on the shoulder.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Nepal Tea
Description
Start the day the Nepalese way with our unique Masala Chiyah.
A blend of Orthodox, CTC teas and our special masala spice mix. Experience the color of CTC, flavors of Orthodox with the ‘zing’ of the home-made spice mix.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Biron Herbal Teas – Pink Pepper Citron Black Tea
Typically I am not the first one to grab a black tea-especially a black flavored tea that could possibly be on the spicier side but I’m trying hard to stay out of my comfort zone with teas lately.
Biron Herbal Teas, based out of Georgia, offers a variety of herbal blends and teas with an adorable tea fairy as their logo. They mainly carry herbal blends but there are a few flavored and unflavored tea options as well in both tea sachet and loose leaf form.
For some reason, Pink Pepper Citron Black Tea caught my eye and before I knew it I had prepared freshly boiled water, grabbed my favorite mug, and I was steeping this tea. The citrus aroma wasn’t super strong but I could definitely tell there was ginger in the blend. I could also occasionally sniff a cinnamon note here and there. Because I’m super nuts about my black teas, I was very conservative with my steeping time. The first infusion I only steeped the tea for 3 minutes before I took my first sip.
Sip, I should probably say gulp. Once this tea hit my taste buds, I was in for an adventure. This tea is unique but in a uniquely delicious way. Not being a fan of chai I was surprised how much I enjoyed the peppery flavor this tea omits. Generous spicy notes of pepper and ginger mingle lovingly with this smooth malty black tea base. I was worried that the cardamom might overpower the blend but that isn’t the case at all. To compliment the spiced flavors there is also this subtle sweet citrus flavor. Really lovely and exactly what I needed to get my day started.
For being my first go with Biron Herbal Teas, I’m pretty happy with this selection and am thinking that I might even need to get more of this blend and try it as a cold brew. Especially with spring right around the corner. The flavors are just a fun creative mix that I think know I need more of.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Biron Herbal Teas
Description
With just enough spice provided by ginger, cardamom, and pink pepper, this black tea explodes with flavor. Lemongrass and orange peel even out the blend nicely, leaving a refreshing aftertaste on the palate.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Arabian Kismet from Swallowtail Tea. . . .
I love black tea with unusual combinations of spices, so I was very excited to try Arabian Kismet from Swallowtail Tea. This is a blend based around orange pekoe special Assam black tea with added sage and cardamom.
The full flavors of the black tea itself pair perfectly with the fresh and earthy sage, and the sweet and mellow cardamom. This is one of those teas that will work for any occasion. It has classic black tea for those staunch pekoe drinkers and a little bit of spice for chai lovers. But without the classic chai spices like cinnamon and ginger, this tea is much more versatile and unexpected.
Sage always makes me think of Thanksgiving, so this feels very much like a fall tea to me. The cardamom helps that image, bringing up spicy visions of the upcoming winter spice cookies. This tea smells like a classic kitchen or herb garden, but its flavor combination in a tea blend is a new and exciting change of pace for me. Great for breakfast or afternoon, or anytime you want to feel a little cozy and a little dreamy.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Swallowtail Tea
Description:
This delightful blend of Assam, sage, and cardamom might make you believe in Kismet after all.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
