A few years back, my sister and I went on vacation. A Disney vacation. We went on the Disney Fantasy cruise for a week and then spent a week at Disney World. However, since we were already in Orlando, I insisted that we hit up the Harry Potter theme park at Universal Studios. In fact, I told my sister I would not go on the trip at all unless she promised me that a visit to Hogwarts was in my future.
I had many plans for our day at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, one of which was to try frozen butter beer. Of course the day we went to the park it was pouring rain but I was not going to let that come between me and my goal. Apparently others felt the same way because there was a long line of people willing to get drenched in the rain just to get a taste of the little bit less-sickly butterscotch concoction. We waited for 10 minutes until finally it was our turn to place our order at the tiny cart outside.
With frozen butter beers in hand, we decided to head into the Three Broomsticks to take shelter from the rain and get a nice hearty meal to warm us up. Well, I hate to tell you the look of pure hatred I got from my soaking wet sister when she saw “Butterbeer” and “Frozen Butterbeer” displayed prominently on the menu. Oops.
Sipping on this tea now, I am brought back to that moment. This tea is like a memory of that frozen deliciousness I had so many years ago, a bit more subtle and slightly less sweet but still amazing. It’s got a root beer thing going on that is in contrast to the more cream soda-like flavor I recall in the butterbeer I had at the park and yet a hint of butterscotch lingers and I find the two flavors are meshing very well. I also like that the base is present in the flavor but more as a malt that provides body and heft to drink as a whole.
Is it the same as the frozen butterbeer? No. Is that a bad thing? No. This inspires less of a toothache since its not as sweet and with much fewer calories, it can be enjoyed much more often and without the guilt. Plus, when a drink is inspired by a book, whose to say which take on the flavor is right?
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
I was really excited when this tea was voted to be the tea of the week for October’s Retro Monday because 1) I loved the original blend of this tea, and; 2) I was the one (or at least, one of the ones) who bugged Frank to create a Butter Beer tea! So I was excited to try blending this one myself.
This is how Frank described the original blend:
I got my recipe directly from The Three Broomsticks: Premium black teas blended with a bit of essence of rootbeer, a bit of butter vapors, some licorice root, chichory root and a touch of magic. Our Butterbeer tea is the beverage of choice for wizards of all ages, and if you have no idea what I’m referring to, please go on about your muggle life, this blend is for Harry Potter fans only. Well, okay, I guess muggles could enjoy it too. It is truly unique and delicious. A blend worthy of the 52teas brand of creative flavored teas. Enjoy!
I started with a base of organic black teas from China and India and added roasted chicory, licorice root, sarsaparilla root and vanilla bean (the original didn’t have sarsaparilla or vanilla bean but I decided that it should have it). Then I added some calendula petals (to make it pretty) and some special magic ingredients (aka organic, natural flavors).
The result is absolute tea drinker bliss!
Taster size is approximately 15g.
organic ingredients: black teas, licorice root, chicory root, sarsaparilla root, vanilla bean, calendula petals and natural flavors.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
A Dark Night Orange Spice Pu’erh from Plum Deluxe. . . .
I’ve always been a black-tea-with-milk-and-sugar kinda girl (thanks, semester abroad in London!). Now, as the years have passed, my tastes have matured, and I’ll happily venture out to less traditional teas and more traditional preparations, but there’s something about a bold black tea paired with creamy + sweet that gets me right in my cozy, nostalgic heart.
So you can imagine my bummer when I was recently put on an allergy test for to be without my beloved coconut milk (the only “milk” left that I could tolerate) for thirty days. SOB. As there’s a silver lining to every cloud, this has (finally!) opened up a category of teas that I all-too-often avoid: black teas that taste best SANS milk. Gasp! Who am I?
When this tea arrived in my monthly tea subscription from Plum Deluxe, I knew it would perfectly fit this new category in my tea-drinking life. A mellow pu’ehr with notes of orange, cinnamon, ginger, rose and anise, with fruity hibiscus? Yes please. It brews a beautifully robust almost walnut-y brown, with just a hint of pink from the hibiscus. Sweetened with a touch of honey, it’s a cup that is absolutely un-put-downable. Spicy and sweet, fruity and robust– like no other tea I’ve ever had. The only downside I can find is that a re-steep of the same leaves just doesn’t produce the same vibrant cup with similarly complex flavors as the first, but that can be a tall order for such a nuanced dry leaf.
Normally, I finish my tea of the month and move on to the next month’s bag without too much love lost. But with my newfound love (and need) for milk-less black teas, this one will be reordered as a permanent fixture in my tea cabinet.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Pu’erh
Where to Buy: Plum Deluxe
Description
This tea is only available to members of the Plum Deluxe Monthly Subscription Plan. Please click below for the other teas they offer or to learn more about joining their monthly tea membership.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Spiced Orappangele Green Tea from 52Teas. . . . . .
I woke up feeling my throat was an exploded landmine. What did I need, aside from a mountain of cold medicine? A tea. A GREEN tea. That’s HEALTHY, yeah?
Sure. It’s healthy as heck. I’m going to live forever.
I picked around my work tea basket and this one spoke to me.
“Hello,” Spiced Orappangele Green Tea whispered. “You have taken too much Robitussin. You should not operate machinery or respond to my voice aloud.”
“Why can’t I respond to you aloud?” I asked. Everyone in my office looked at me quizzically.
“Ahhhh,” I said, in my head. “I get it now.”
“Try me. I am the thing. I am TOTES the thing,” it said.
And it IS, guys. This is the citrus-sweet-light-spice concoction of your dreams. It’s a throat soother. It’s a taste sensation. It’s tasty enough to break the barrier of cold-tastelessness, but not so strong as to upset my delicate stomach.
(When I get sick, my stomach gets upset. When I am stressed out, my stomach gets upset. When I eat too much unhealthy food, my stomach gets upset. When I work out too hard, my stomach gets upset. My stomach is also upset by: virtual reality, strong smells, the sight of raw meat, flight turbulence, trying to read in the car, crying, fear, and being hungry too long.)
(I am a delicate flower.)
This flavor is juicy, but not fake. It doesn’t have that weird tart Jolly-Rancher thing that a lot of apple flavors do. The cinnamon/nutmeg also take this high-flying sweetness a little bit more down to earth.
I daresay this tea is sugar, and spice, and everything nice.
This tea isn’t available on 52Teas’ site right now, but I recommend keeping an eye out for apple mixes and spice mixes from them in the future. They seem to be nailing these really well lately.
Stay healthy, Sisters!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for what is currently available.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Night Time Tea from Harlow Tea Co. . . . Getting Your ZZZ’s in 2017!
What do Red Rooibos, Orange Peel, Lemongrass, Suma Root, Peppermint, Anise, and Hawthorn Berries have in common? They are all IN Night Time Tea from Harlow Tea Co. that’s what!
And before we get to the aroma and flavor of this Rooibos based tisane perhaps you are wondering what Suma Root is? In case you are interested in different roots, herbs, seeds, etc like I am you might be surprised that Suma Root has many things to offer us!
After doing some research I found that the natives of South America would consume Suma Root daily to increase their physical strength, energy, and stamina. Suma Root promotes balance of the hormones and strengthens the adrenal glands and is a powerful immune system booster. Many people use Suma Root today to treat skin problems, diabetes, tumors, and the symptoms of menopause. Of course I have to state that I am not making any claims for this product but I am just telling you I found this information interesting about this powerful root.
Now on to the aroma and flavor of Night Time Tea from Harlow Tea Co. It is certainly minty-fresh which I LOVE and ADORE but it also has a subtle spice that I am chalking up to the Anise Seed. The sweetness comes from the Red Rooibos and the Lemongrass is always a nice touch. The Hawthorn Berries don’t overly contribute to the overall flavor of this Night Time Tea from Harlow Tea Co much but the ingredient still makes sense and follows suit to the detoxifying theme this herbal seems to stand for. The orange peel is identifiable upfront but mellows out quickly because of the lingering mint and I’m ok with that.
It’s rare if I choose an herbal tisane to be my favorite from a tea company that also sells straight-up teas but I have to say this is among my favorites that I have tried from Harlow Tea Co. so far. Night Time Tea from Harlow Tea Co. might just become a staple in my unwinding process.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Harlow Tea Co.
Description
Red rooibos tea, anise seed, peppermint leaf, orange peel, suma root, lemongrass, and hawthorn berries.
Does not contain caffeine. This night time tea is amazing to relax with, and while doing so allowing your body to recover.
Suma root has been used for centuries for its heath benefits, most notably being its effects on boosting the immune system. Suma root is similar in properties to ginseng. Roughly 14 servings per 1 ounce package. This tea is an amazing “detox” tea. Combine this tea in the p.m. with “The Cleanse” in the a.m. for a complete “detox”.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Eggnog Chai from 52Teas. . . .A Unique Winter Refreshment!
Full disclosure: up until recently, I’d never had eggnog. (Cue GASP).
On a whim, I picked up some coconut milk eggnog from the grocery store pre-Christmas last year– why, even though I’d never had it and was kinda grossed out by the thought? Who knows. But man, am I glad I did– because you guys, (coconut milk) eggnog is DELISH.
Come this year, I’ve been eggnog latte-ifying any tea I can get my hands on. So when I saw this holiday blend from 52 Teas sitting in my latest samples, you can bet your bottom dollar that the first way I brewed it was as a latte.
Right off the bat, this tea is spicy and malty, with notes of vanilla and large, visible spices in the dry leaf. That signature spicy eggnog flavor perfectly translates to the cup, and it’s strong enough to hold up to a significant amount of steamed eggnog poured on top. In the midst of the stereotypical holiday flavors, this blend stands out as a wonderful holiday treat that would still be delightful all year round. I don’t think this one will last me past December this year, however– I’ve got too many more delicious eggnog chai lattes to make!