Mary’s recent tasting of Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel inspired me. I figured if she could have a Chanukah tea in May, there was no reason I couldn’t have a Christmas tea. So, here I am, sipping on Lupicia’s Jingle Bells, a black tea scented with fresh grapes and fruity champagne (different than their old Jingle Bells tea which was citrus and yogurt from my understanding).
Grape is not a flavor you find too often in teas. I mean it does show up here and there but more times than not fruitier teas tend to lean more towards citrus, berries, stone fruit, orchard delights, or even tropical offerings. Grapes are just far less common, though each Christmas Lupicia brings out this blend and it is delightful.
While other companies focus on more traditional Christmas flavors like orange and spice or cranberries and spice or peppermint blends, Lupicia serves up something unique.
To me, this blend tastes like grape juice mixed with a bit of black tea. Very strong on the artificial grape flavor but with a bit of briskness/astringency from the base. Interestingly enough, that astringency actually works here as it promotes the champagne quality, adding a little bit of a citrus note without being overly citrus in flavor. For me, this reminds me of when I was younger and my mom would give me grape juice or sparkling grape cider on the holidays and let me pretend it was wine/champagne.
This tea is hard to describe but accurately named. It is something unique during the holidays that provides a welcome change to the more prevalent holiday flavors.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Jingle Bells from Lupicia
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Product Description:
A winter holiday black tea blend with yogurt and citrus fruit flavors.
Taster’s Review:
Lupicia is one of my favorite tea companies. Why? Well, put simply, they have great teas at reasonable prices, the packages arrive astonishingly fast, and I receive a free monthly “Fresh Tea Magazine” which includes a sample of their tea of the month. (For the record, you too can receive a 1-year subscription to their Fresh Tea Magazine when you place an order of $30. or more)
Another thing that I like about Lupicia – they march to the beat of their own drummer. When other tea companies are rolling out their holiday teas comprised of spices, cranberries and pumpkin, Lupicia has their own idea of what holiday teas should be. The “Carol” tea is strawberry, vanilla and coconut. The “Joyeux Noel” is chocolate and apricot. You get the idea, right?
And this… their “Jingle Bells” tea, which is also part of their holiday collection, is black tea blended with the flavors of citrus and yogurt, giving me a creamy, delicious dessert in my teacup!
The black tea base is fairly mellow and very delicious. It has a rich, smooth character but it doesn’t attempt to protrude onto the flavors of the citrus and yogurt.
The citrus tastes mostly like orange to me. It is sweet with just enough tartness to keep it interesting without making me pucker. The yogurt gives it a creamy flavor and texture. What this tastes like to me is a creamsicle that’s been melted in a cup of Ceylon tea! Not a bad taste at all!
I like this hot, and perhaps that’s just the cold weather talking (because this time of year, I prefer just about every tea hot), but I find it to be very comforting and relaxing – which is somewhat remarkable to me since this is a black tea. A really nice tea to sip inside (roaring fire in the fireplace is optional) while it’s cold and wet (or snowy!) outside.
