On a rainy day where the wind is blowing and the raindrops are as big as golf balls, tea is perfect to curl up with. Sometimes, if you want a little something more, a latte could be what’s needed to hit the spot.
For me, it was a rainy day in May. I just had a consultation with a surgeon regarding my gallstones and got drenched walking back to the car as it poured outside. I got home, freezing, a little bit soggy, and I needed something more. That meant a Calico & Black Cat skim milk latte.
Having had this tea before, I knew how chocolatey this was and thought that it would pair nicely with a more milky base. And having tried the latte I could say I was right about that. With that said, I do think it is worth noting that though this is chocolatey, it is not a creamy milk chocolate sort of flavor. The chocolate of this tea leans more towards the sort of dusty and more unrefined chocolate of cacao husks which may not be enjoyed by all.
There is also a coconut undertone here that I worried might have been lost in the latte. Luckily, it is not as it provides a foil flavor to contrast to the cacao. Sweet and creamy, the coconut is nicely balanced here.
As this is inspired by the delicious Girl Scout Samoas, I will say the caramel component is lacking both in this latte and previous cups I have had. I imagine it may be drowned out by the other flavors though since the chocolate here is strong. That’s not necessarily bad but I note it so that anyone who gets ahold of this tea (which is currently unavailable but could be reblended in the future) is not disappointed.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for black teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Super Starling Enjoys A Hearty Chai from Choice Organic Teas. . . .
This tea comes in… a bag? A BAG? WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE TAKE ME FOR? A PEASANT?
(Just kidding. Great teas can come in bags.)
This chai has one of the heartiest, butchest bases I’ve ever had. It’s described as a “malty Assam” on Choice’s site, which I think is apt. That phrase is better than anything I would have typed on my own. What I would have typed is:
“This is a rugged-man base tea. Not smoky, like the Marlboro Man. More like Wolverine, after a long day of fighting villainy. He comes home to a dark, crusty bread he just eats whole, without fussy butter or knives.”
Yes, the two manliest men I can conjure up offhand are the Marlboro Man and Wolverine. After that, my brain supplies up John Cena, the Rock, and that hot werewolf from True Blood. (In case you were wondering. Which you most likely were not.)
While the tea’s in your mouth, you’re in Dude Land. As you swallow, the chai spices check in with you to see how your day’s going. This is, technically, a chai (cinnamon in black tea, guys), but I think it’s more of a black tea — with chai elements.
I could see grabbing a box of this and taking it traveling with you. Boxed tea is great on-the-go. I drag along a steeping ball on my vacations, along with a bunch of loose teas, and I worry that some TSA agent is going to think my tea is, well, NOT tea.
And then they’d call in the sniffer-dogs to check, and then — and this is the worst part — they would NOT LET ME PET THE SNIFFER DOG. My hand would reach toward that beagle/lab/Germie and they would be like “NO, YOU TEA PSYCHO. YOU CANNOT PET HIM. HE IS WORKING.”
And I’d cry in the middle of the Pittsburgh airport.
And I am an UGLY CRIER, squad. Pink face. Snot. Puffing up. The whole shebang.
So I guess what I’m TRYING TO SAY HERE is that 1) bagged teas have a time and place, and 2) this is a good example of one that I enjoyed.
See how I tied that digression in? I wasn’t sure it was going to be possible, especially when I got into the airport thing.
Hope you enjoyed this review, and this tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Choice Organic Teas
Description
Spice things up with this bold classic, featuring malty Assam tea from India’s Brahmaputra River Valley. We blend rich, robust black tea with masala spices for a spirited cup that warms your body and soul. It blends perfectly with milk and sweetener for an authentic cha
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Organic Assam Black Tea from Mana Organics. . . .
In the mornings, I typically drink a cup of two of coffee before I leave the house. For my commute to work, I always bring some form of hot tea and my matcha smoothie. But to get me out of bed-which is no small task- coffee is usually what I drink. (My hubby actually brings me my first cup in bed to help me get up. He is such a sweetheart!) But lately, the coffee just hasn’t tasted right. I recently had the flu and I think my stomach is still a bit wonky from that experience because coffee just hasn’t been hitting those notes for me.
So the other night, I set my kettle up to start prepping my tea so that my hubby could bring me a cup of this Assam first thing in the am. And my taste buds are loving this experience!
This black Assam is malty with a gentle sweet note that combines to become the perfect wake me up cuppa. I really adore the brisk malty notes. They bring a lot of character to the tea and make the mouth feel so silky. I’m also picking up a floral hit now and again and a nutty undertone. A perfect combo first thing in the morning.
For me, this is about the perfect morning cuppa. I think I may have to pick up some of the bagged versions of this tea for an added convenience factor. Plus, my hubby can handle brewing me up a cup of this brisk brew in a bagged form much easier than the loose leaf version. And let’s face it, sometimes my mornings just don’t allow for brewing up loose leaf tea with getting the kiddos work, making sure everybody has their lunch, getting the dog set for the day and so on and so forth. . . .
I do have to end this review with a warning, do mind the steeping parameters. I have found that the tea as lovely as it is, can be a bit unforgiving if you forget that you are steeping your morning cuppa like I did the other day. But with a touch of milk and honey,
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Mana Organics
Description
Brisk, bold, and pure, we grew this organic Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe Assam black tea on our family tea estate, Chota Tingrai (27.458869 N, 95.354856 E). This tea is excellent for waking you in the morning or replacing your afternoon cup of coffee.
In this resealable packet, you find no fillers or dust. Instead you meet a blend of long aureate and black leaves. The golden leaves you see are the fabled tips of Assam. Prized for their complexity of scent and flavor, they are a rare find in any tea. The black leaves are the two leaves plucked next to the bud. These provide a sweet background flavor for taste of the golden tips to dance around in. Both these leaves come from the very tiniest leaves at the very tip of the youngest shoots of the tea bush, and are known as Flowery Orange Pekoe.
When you brew the tea, you can watch the long leaves unfurl. Upon brewing, you smell dates, almonds, and parsley as the liquor blooms a dark rosy red. As you take your first sip of the tea, you meet a flawlessly smooth balance of malt and sweet. While you can add milk and sugar, the honey after-taste will try to dissuade you.
As you savor each drop, you can taste the rich, healthy earth of Assam and the warm, happy pride of the women who plucked the leaf. This tea is both certified and actually 100% organic. We know this because we personally oversee the nurturing of every plant with compost made on our estate, and ensure that no staff uses any chemical pesticide in our organic sections.
We love this tea, the land we grew it on, and the people with whom we grew it. We know you will love it too.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Enjoying some Winter Cheer from The Virginia Tea Company
Over the weekend, we received some winter weather. Ice, Sleet, Snow. . .just a good ol fashioned winter storm that makes you want to snuggle down in your favorite pajamas, wrap up in your favorite blanket, and drink insane amounts of tea all day long while binge watching your favorite show.
Well, I wasn’t able to get all of those items knocked off my list today, but I did drink insane amounts of tea. Of this tea to be exact!
If you aren’t familiar with The Virginia Tea Company, take a moment and check out their teas and what they have to offer. I’ve been quite impressed with their hand blended creations that are both delicious, fresh, and quite simply as soul soothing as you can get.
This particular blend, Winter Cheer, is chalk full of all the wonderful holiday spirit. Black tea, peppermint, and cinnamon. And when I say cinnamon and peppermint, I mean huge gorgeous chunks of cinnamon in a bed of black tea leaves and peppermint. This is one of those teas that you find yourself just enjoying the dry leaf aromas so much. At least I did.
After finishing my first cup of this tea, I have to say this tea delivers. Delivers on taste, quality, freshness,. . this tea is Winter Cheer personified in a cup. The black tea notes gorgeously mingle with the sweet cinnamon and the peppermint provides a much welcomed freshness that keeps you drinking this tea. I’m on my third infusion of the same tea leaves and I’m still getting all of the love I got from the first cup. . .just slightly weakened.
What a fabulous way to enjoy the holidays and winter weather we are now experiencing and will continue experiencing. Highly recommend this one to keep you snugly and warm this winter!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Flavored Tea
Where to Buy: The Virginia Company
Description
Sit back and relax with your family this holiday season while sharing this delicious, guilt-free tea.
Ingredients: Organic Black Tea*, Organic Peppermint, Organic Cinnamon
*Fair Trade Certified™ by Fair Trade USA. This product is 66% Fair Trade.
Caffeine: High
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Mighty Organic Earl Grey Black Tea from Tea Leaf Co
This tea really lives up to its name — it’s super-mighty!
I don’t know whether I am using the word “mighty” because I was primed to think it from the label, or whether I would have used the word “mighty” on my own. Packaging and word choice is vital.
“Mighty” is an Earl Grey with a TON of extra flavoring added. It’s like the Kool-Aid Man breaking through walls. “OH YEAH,” he yells. “BERGAMOT.”
“Oh,” he adds. “And caffeine.”
Between the flavor and the caffeine, this is a total wake-up tea. Perfect for getting you moving on Monday mornings, especially. (As I’m writing this.) ZING! GO GO MIGHTY TEA!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea Leaf Co.
Description
A GBOP grade of black tea for this earl grey and blended with extra bergamot essence creates an infusion especially well suited for London fogs or for those seeking a strong bergamot flavor in their tea. Much stronger than the classic, malty notes, and a lively cup.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!