Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: You can create your own custom blend at Ovation Teas
About My Custom Blend:
Nuttier than a Fruitcake – White tea blended with nutmeg, sunflower petals, almonds & pecans with apricot and vanilla flavoring.
Taster’s Review:
Not long ago, Ovation Teas made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Well, not just me, but to the first 100 customers who placed an order for a custom blend. The offer: 4 ounces of their very own, custom blend – FREE – just pay shipping and handling. Well, like I said, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse, so I placed my order immediately.
But the hard part for me was coming up with something unique. Something I couldn’t find elsewhere. Then, I recall tasting a fantastic “Wedding Cake” lollipop that I wanted to try to duplicate in tea form. I started with a white tea base (this appears to be a Bai Mu Dan, based upon the look of the leaves), then chose to add apricot and vanilla flavoring, almonds and pecans and finally some nutmeg. Then I added some sunflower petals to make it pretty as well as add some defining sharpness to the tea.
I decided to call this blend of mine “Nuttier Than a Fruitcake” because I was often told in my younger years that I was, indeed, nuttier than a fruitcake. And given the inspiration and the ingredients I chose, I felt it was a suitable name.
The outcome: A tea that … while doesn’t taste exactly like the fruitcake lollipop that I remember, still tastes pretty amazing. The white tea base tastes light but doesn’t allow itself to become overpowered by the other flavors. The nuts (pecans & almonds) are not a particularly strong flavor, but then, I didn’t really expect them to be. As is generally the rule with flavored/blended teas, it is the flavoring oil that is used to flavor a tea that really gives the tea it’s POP flavor … fruit and nut additions don’t generally contribute a lot of flavor.
The apricot and vanilla flavors are pretty evenly matched … sometimes I’ll taste a little more apricot, while others I taste a little more vanilla. It is smooth and creamy and sweet. As I had hoped, the sunflower does add some sharp tones to the cup … just enough to keep it lively.
But the real star of this blend is the NUTMEG! Every time I brew this tea, the scent of the nutmeg is delightfully strong. As it brews in the kitchen, I can smell it in the next room! The flavor of the nutmeg is equally as strong, and it lends a rustic, nutty, and deliciously warm flavor to the cup.
I am really thrilled with my custom blend from Ovation Teas, and even though they aren’t currently offering the free custom blend that inspired me to place this order, I am happy enough with this custom blend that I will order another custom blend sometime in the future (whenever the inspiration hits!) It is well worth the price, in my opinion, if for no other reason, than to enjoy something truly unique.
Wise Man’s Caravan from Indie Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Indie Tea
Product Description:
Wisdom May Be The Road Less Traveled, But It Beats The Road That Leads To The Unexpected Swamp Filled With Hungry Alligators.
Organic and Fair Trade Ingredients: Organic Assam Black Tea, Organic Cloves, Organic Orange Peel, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Cardamom, Organic White Peppercorn, Organic Allspice, Organic Ginger, Organic Nutmeg, Organic Myrrh, Organic Frankincense.
Taster’s Review:
I must admit that Frankincense and Myrrh are two ingredients with which I have very little (read: none) experience. I wouldn’t be able to readily identify either if I were given something that had been spiced with them. I might have tried something with one or both of the ingredients in it before trying this tea, but, if so, it apparently was memorable.
But that is certainly not the case with this chai! This is really a delicious and unique chai – and it is indeed memorable. The black tea base is robust enough to stand out and be noticed amongst these spices without overwhelming them. It has a pleasant flavor with a nice malty note.
The spices are strong, but they don’t hit you upside the head. The cloves, cinnamon and cardamom come through most distinctly. I do like the addition of the allspice and nutmeg, it gives the tea a very solid warmth and pleasant nutty/woody flavor. The spices come through with very little heat though… this is what I would call a well-seasoned spiced tea rather than a spicy tea. It’s rustic and unusual.
While I do enjoy ginger, I like that here it is a little subdued. It doesn’t come on too strong or peppery – it kind of sits back in the background and lets the other spices come out and play. I also like the hint of orange here. It isn’t strong, but, it is a nice citrus-y sweetness that lightens up what might otherwise be a very spice-laden cup.
This is a very unusual chai – unusual, but very enjoyable. Different is good!
Autumn Melody from Sanctuary T
Tea Type: Black Tea
Where To Buy: Sanctuary T
Product Description:
Feel golden even on a cold and rainy day with this week’s Autumn Melody, a blend of ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg and black assam tea leaves!
Tasters Review:
When I saw the dry mix and the list of ingredients the first thought I had was…that’s a whole-lotta-cardamom!
BUT…I still tried it! I’m a tough cookie!
One thing I will say…I’m glad this didn’t have cinnamon in it!
The aroma isn’t very intense…mostly nutmeg and black tea and I was OK with that!
The color is a nice medium brown.
The Cardamom and Cloves are just about neck and neck taste-wise and the nutmeg is LOVELY! For me…I think this NOT having Cinnamon and the fact the nutmeg really shined thru is what I LOVED about it!
This one surprised me and in a good way! The Nutmeg was perfect for this! I was very glad I could taste it with the rest of the ingredients that were present! The Cardamom wasn’t overpowering – which was a surprise – too – based on the amount my eyes saw in the dry blend! I’m not complaining – this is just an observation…I ended up REALLY liking this Autumn Melody from Sanctuary T!
Caramel Sutra Chai from Domo
Tea Type: Chai
Where To Buy: Domo
Product Description:
Caramel Sutra Chai Tea
Chai has been the drink of choice in India for hundreds of years – a delicate, aromatic blend of freshly ground spices like ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and cloves which calls to mind all the adventure and mystique of ancient India. Now Domo has captured the spirit of the Indian sub-continent: Domo Flavour-Enhanced Chai is a fresh blend of spices with natural cane sugar and premium black tea, designed to seduce you with its sweet aroma and rich, sensual flavour. It’s a temptation you’ll love giving in to.
Contents: Caramel Sutra Chai Tea, 1lb resealable pack
Dimensions:
$20.99 CDN
Tasters Review:
Have you ever had a friend – whether it be in High School, College, the Work Place, or just thru an association or another friend that is just so different…so unique that you are just drawn to their personality and enjoy being around them because they are so VERY interesting and unlike another else you have ever met or been around?
Well, Caramel Sutra Chai from Domo is just like that friend.
This is truly unique! I’ve NEVER tasted ANYTHING like it before. It was truly a surprise on several levels! It seems to be perfect for the time of year…FALL. It’s very much reminiscent of Fall flavors and scents!
Prior to whisking I could smell wonderful Fall Spices along with the chai aroma, sugary-sweet caramel, and almost a hot chocolate type smell as well! Very wonderful, indeed! During and After whisking it was a very flavorful Fall-like-chai type aroma. I could still pick up on the Caramel smell as well.
The taste is out of this world! It’s brilliant that I can pick up on the sugar AND the caramel tastes as well as the chai! As it cools I can taste more Chai than Sugary-Sweet-ness…but the aftertaste is a lingering caramel and very nice!
YUM. This is very different, very satisfying, and I seem to be drawn to it because how unique yet flavorful it is. This is a Chai Product you MUST check out!
Renaissance from Design A Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Design a Tea
Company Description:
A whimsical touch of Blueberry and woodsy Nutmeg flavoring mixed with an ORGANIC Oolong earthy base from Taiwan.
Taster’s Review:
Renaissance is one of the “Signature Blends” offered by Design A Tea. And it is delightful! The complexity of the Oolong tea and the sweet-tart flavor of the blueberry, together with a dash of nutmeg creates a uniquely wonderful taste.
The base is a Formosa Oolong base – which is one of my particular favorite types of Oolong tea. It has a pleasant mouthfeel – silky but not too thick. I love the fuzzy peach-like tones of a Formosa Oolong, and that fruity character blends well with the blueberry and the earthy, nutty taste of the nutmeg.
The blueberry tastes fresh and sweet – it’s a very authentic blueberry taste. There is a berry-ish tingle that hits the tip of the tongue – a little tart… but not too much. But it is the nutmeg is what really makes this tea unique. The nutmeg isn’t strong at first, but the flavor develops as I continue to drink the tea.
This has to be one of the best blueberry blends I’ve ever tasted. I love the addition of the nutmeg, and as I continue to sip, I find myself adoring it even more. It adds such a beautiful depth of flavor, and it reminds me a little bit of a baked blueberry confection – blueberry cobbler, perhaps? This is especially true when this tea is served hot with just a sprinkling of sugar (brown sugar would be especially nice to expound on that cobbler taste).
However you choose to serve this tea, I have to say that the yum factor is extremely high here. Yummy, yummy, yummy!