This yummy papaya-and-raspberry blend was inspired by the Brontë sisters’ orchard. It’s a thick, rich berry-and-black combo. It’s very, for lack of a less icky word, juicy. Like biting into a real piece of fruit. I’m not sure I’ve ever bitten into a real papaya, but I have a vivid imagination. This is the real McCoy.
The description for the tea mentions that the ladies had an orchard. The tea is supposed to include “pear, apple, and gooseberry flavors,” but doesn’t include any of those ingredients. It doesn’t matter, however. It’s still an orchard — it’s simply a more warm-climate sort of orchard.
This tea is also giving me an identity crisis. Or, rather, the Brontë sisters are. Did you realize that the oldest-lived Brontë was 38 upon passing? They did ALL THAT WRITING before 38.
Do you realize I am 32 and have only succeeded at NaNoWriMo once? What. am. I. doing. with. my. life?!
I’m drinking this tea, that’s what I’m doing. It’s a good start.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Flavored Tea
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Description
The Bronte sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne, lived and wrote in Yorkshire, England. Born in 1816, 1818 and 1820, respectively, the sisters lived very short lives, with Charlotte living the longest at 38. During their unfortunately short lifetimes, each sister produced novels that would become cornerstones of western literature and inspire studies for generations. Emily’s Wuthering Heights, Charlotte’s Jane Eyre, and Anne’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall each found an audience and acclaim that continues to this day. With their novels, the sisters introduced the world to a starkly honest portrayal of English womanhood that didn’t hide the ugliness and intrigue many novels of the time shied away from. Although tame by today’s standards, their inclusion of independent female characters, alcoholism, and abuse meant that the Bronte’s novels faced their share of controversy.
The Bronte family kept an orchard and garden where the sisters spent much of their time exploring, drawing, and writing. Charlotte was more inclined to draw the flowers and the plants than to stop and smell them, but Anne and Emily were happy to get their hands dirty with a little gardening. Emily especially, who was known to be a bit of a recluse, could often be found taking long walks and enjoying nature. Our Bronte Sisters tea blend combines pear, apple, and gooseberry flavors to make a sweet and fragrant blend that’s reminiscent of an orchard stroll. The flavors in this blend meld together in perfect harmony and the taste lingers deliciously on the palate.
Ingredients: Black teas, papaya pieces (papayas and sugar), flavorings, raspberry pieces, alfalfa leaves and marigold petals.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
#FanaticFriday: Emily Dickinson’s Jasmine Tea Blend from Simpson and Vail
We at SororiTea Sisters adore our friends at Simpson & Vail so that is why we thought we would dedicate today’s posts to all things Simpson & Vail! We hope you enjoy our reviews and find some goodies to try for yourself! ~The SororiTea Sisters
I was a bit hesitant about jumping right in to Emily Dickinson’s Jasmine Tea Blend from Simpson & Vail Tea. Not because I don’t like Jasmine – it’s just not something I get overly excited and have to run right out and buy. I was torn, too, because I am a HUGE Emily Dickinson fan! Always have been! And I know I should judge a tea by its name but I would be lying if I said a little bit of that didn’t go on here. I knew I HAD to try it!
Emily Dickinson’s Jasmine Tea Blend from Simpson & Vail Tea was more than just Jasmine. This blend of ingredients and flavors also included rose petals, jasmine blossoms, marigold petals, and blue cornflower petals. That’s a LOT of petals! It did look pretty in the bag – I must say. It also had a delicate and ‘pretty’ aroma, too! I’m thankful it wasn’t an overpowering Jasmine aroma!
It brewed to a color of many green tea looking infusions would…a cloudy, pale grey-green. Emily Dickinson’s Jasmine Tea Blend from Simpson & Vail Tea surprised me with a creamier sort of Jasmine flavor. It wasn’t bitter but it wasn’t sweet, really, either. Honestly…the only word that comes to mind while describing this Jasmine is creamy. I don’t know if I have ever tasted a Creamy Jasmine before. As I continue to sip I realize just how much I enjoy this! I’m very surprised! This is a GOOD thing!
As far as Emily Dickinson’s Jasmine Tea Blend from Simpson & Vail Tea being a literary tea and tribute tea this all makes sense. Emily Dickinson often incorporated nature into her poems that is probably one of the many reasons I enjoyed her poetry. Emily spent years away from society and during those years she cultivated an extensive garden. It was said that she grew jasmine flowers, cornflowers, roses, and many other flowers, plants and herbs. I appreciate the research, selection, and effort that went into this tea. It was a pleasant surprise that I will remember for quite a while!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Description
Emily Dickinson was born on December 10th, 1830 and lived in a home that was central to Amherst political society thanks to her father and brothers. Growing up around powerful men prepared Dickinson for a life of the same, but society dictated that, as a woman, she was relegated to seemingly less meaningful ventures. Her anger at this slight comes across in her poetry and letters where she explored complex ideas of meaning and self while examining the smallest details of the world around her. She withdrew herself from society and lived in relative solitude until her death. Only a few of her poems were made public during her lifetime, but four years after her demise, a collection of poems was published and met with popular and critical acclaim. Her poems reveal a complicated mind that examined itself with as much attention to detail as it examined the world. Dickinson’s defiance of categorization and simplification make her a popular poet to study even today.
In the years she spent away from society, Emily Dickinson cultivated an extensive garden. In it, she grew jasmine flowers, cornflowers, roses, and many other flowers, plants and herbs. These flowers appear repeatedly in her poetry so our blend had to be floral. We created a delightful combination of jasmine tea and rose petals that brews to a light ecru cup with long green leaves and rose petal accents. This delicate tea hits you with a strong jasmine taste that’s sweetened and mellowed with the subtle flavors of the rose petals.
Ingredients: Jasmine tea, rose petals, jasmine blossoms, marigold petals and blue cornflower petals.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
