Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Ovation Teas
Tea Description:
Black tea blended with cinnamon chips, cloves, ginger, cardamom, almonds, nutmeg, black pepper, and safflowers with chai flavoring and almond & vanilla extract.
Taster’s Review:
I debated with myself whether or not I should write this review, because I recently learned that Ovation Teas is closing their business. I am very saddened by this news for several reasons. The first, and most obvious to many of you, I’m sure, is the fact that they’re a tea business and I don’t want tea businesses to go out of business! They are a local company, and I love to support the local businesses. But one of the main reasons I’m sad is that Ovation Teas had some pretty spectacular blends … and I barely scratched the surface at trying them all (and yes, I wanted to do that!)
I ordered this particular custom blend just before Christmas as a gift for a recipient in a gift swap in which I was participating. My recipient liked chai, vanilla flavored teas and almond flavored teas, so I asked Ovation teas if they could combine all of the above in one amazing blend! And they did … AND in addition to the full-sized portion that I ordered for my recipient, they were nice enough to send me some of the tea to try too!
It brews up dark and fragrant, smelling of alluring spices with hints of almond and vanilla with a rich backdrop of earthy black tea. And that’s what I taste, too. The black tea has a strong presence here, and I appreciate that because often with chai blends, the black tea tends to take a back seat and is often overwhelmed by the spices. That didn’t happen here, and I’m glad. The spices are very harmonious … the cloves do stand out a bit which kind of surprised me, because usually with chai blends it’s either the cinnamon or the ginger that is prominent. Here, the other spices seem pretty evenly matched, with the cloves coming out as the prominent flavor.
And these flavors are nicely accentuated by the flavors of vanilla and almond which offers a sweet, creamy, nutty note. I like that the nutty tones of the almond are further highlighted by the nutmeg in the chai … a really nice touch (I think that this might have been an addition that I requested, and I think I did right to request it, this blend would not be the same without the nutmeg).
This is a really delicious chai that I’m enjoying served straight with just a little bit of turbinado sugar to emphasize the spices a bit. It doesn’t need a lot of sweetening though, because the sweetness of the vanilla and almond are very satisfying. And because of the creaminess of these two flavors, it doesn’t need milk to make it taste creamy … although this would be very tasty with a drop or two of milk just to enhance the creamy tones.
To Ovation Teas, I lift my tea mug up and toast you, I will miss you!
Chocolate Raspberry Mint from Ovation Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Ovation Teas
Tea Description:
Black tea blended with peppermint leaves, cacao nibs, raspberries, and peppermint candy with chocolate raspberry flavoring.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Just look at the picture! Yes, seriously – that is what this tea looks like! Huge, whole, dried raspberries, large chunks of cacao nibs and bits of peppermint candy and leaves mixed with black tea leaves. This is one of the most appealing looking teas I’ve ever seen!
But really, they had me at Chocolate. All I had to see is Chocolate in the name, and I was immediately interested. Then I saw raspberry and mint, and I knew that this was something I needed to try!
The first few sips while the tea is still piping hot, fresh out of the teapot, I find to be pretty much MINT and not much else. If I really focused on the sip, I noticed hints of raspberry which were particularly noticeable at the finish and in the aftertaste, and a touch of chocolate. But the mint was the main focus of those first few sips.
Once the tea cooled for a couple of minutes, the other flavors began to shine through. The black tea base is noticeable for the first time after a few minutes of cooling, and it tastes rich and full-flavored. There is a hint of astringency toward the tail that sort of melds with the mint and the berry in a way that it becomes difficult to tell which is causing the astringent effect on my tongue: is it the mint? or the raspberry? or is it the tea? I find that the more that I sip, the less noticeable the astringency becomes … and it really wasn’t all that strong to begin with!
The sip begins with the distinct note of peppermint. It tastes cool and fresh and very crisp, like breathing in the fresh, cool air of winter after snowfall. The chocolate is also there – from beginning to finish – and I like that it seems to be ever-present. It is a lighter chocolate taste, and of course the chocoholic in me would like there to be more chocolate, but, the tea drinker in me finds the way the three flavors come together with the taste of the tea.
The raspberry comes in toward the tail of the sip, and lingers into the aftertaste. Also lingering in the aftertaste is a chocolate mint taste, like the aftertaste one would experience after consuming an after-dinner mint.
A very enjoyable collaboration of flavors. I like this very much! With those first few sips, I was a little worried that there was too much going on and that all I’d end up tasting is mint … but everything comes through in a very nice way. Two thumbs up!
Caramel Praline Delight from Ovation Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Ovation Teas
Tea Description:
Black tea with caramel pieces, cacao nibs, and hazelnuts with caramel praline flavoring.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I had been drooling over this tea every time I’d visit the Ovation Teas’ website, so I finally had to break down and order some. I could no longer resist! I had to try it!
And am I ever so glad I finally gave in to my temptation concerning this tea, because it’s spectacular. The first time I brewed it, it was tasty, but I was just a wee bit disappointed by the bitterness I tasted. I suspected that the black tea base had something to do with it so I decided to try it again and steep it for just 2 minutes, to see if that would improve the results.
Unfortunately, with the two minute steep time, I found that the flavors were not as strong as they were at 2 1/2 minutes … but, I have discovered the way to make this tea absolutely perfect!
This tea is one that you should allow to cool slightly before sipping, because the flavors really emerge as the tea begins to cool. Not cold, or even warm or tepid … this is still hot, but it isn’t fresh-from-the-teapot hot. Steep it for the 2 1/2 minutes (in the Breville One-Touch… otherwise, change the brew time to 3 minutes), and then allow it to cool for about five minutes or so before drinking. Perfection!
The black tea base is a hearty black tea, I suspect it is an Assam or a blend containing Assam. I think this because there is a hint of malty taste, as well as the tendency to become bitter with an extended brew time. The base offers a good, solid background of black tea flavor: earthy and rich. It melds together nicely with the flavors of caramel, hazelnut and chocolate.
And … YUM! Caramel? Hazelnut? AND chocolate? Yes please! With my first sip or two, when the tea was still piping-hot, I noticed the caramel most distinctly. Now that the tea has cooled a bit, the three flavors seemed to have merged into a super-flavor, exhibiting notes of each component without interruption. In one sip, I notice notes of sweet, creamy caramel along with the nutty flavors of the hazelnut and the smooth richness of the dark chocolate. The flavors are all there and they work together so well – like a chocolate covered, hazelnut and caramel confection. Imagine that, dropped into a cup of hot tea, and allowing it to melt.
That’s what I taste right now. And it’s so delicious!
Monarch Blend from Ovation Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Ovation Teas
Tea Description:
Black tea blended with lavender, rose petals, mango, peaches, and marigolds with mango & peach flavoring.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This blend seemed to be a very busy blend – it had a lot of flavors and flowers and to be honest that was my attraction to it. I like when I come across a blend with a lot going on, as I like to sort of “test myself” to see if I can taste all the flavors.
This is really GOOD! And, yes, I can taste all the flavors! The mango and peach flavors are well-balanced, and they give a pleasing, nectar-like sweetness to this cup. Very fruity, but what I like is that the hint of rose and lavender in the background cut through some of the fruit notes and give it some contrast.
The black tea is not overwhelmed by all these flavors, either. It is smooth and rich, not what I’d call robust or bold, really, but, mellow and well-rounded. This is a very well-crafted blend by Ovation Teas … I become more impressed with Ovation Teas with every new blend that I try from them.
Pineapple-Blueberry Green Tea from Ovation Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Ovation Teas
Tea Description:
Panfried green tea with a flat leaf from the Fujian province in China blended with diced pineapples, whole blueberries, marigold petals and cornflowers, with pineapple and blueberry flavoring.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I came across this tea on the Ovation Teas website, I knew I wanted to try it. The flavor combination is one that I don’t see often, but I thought it would make a really refreshing and delicious iced tea. I wasn’t wrong!
The flavors are a bit subtle when its served hot, but allow it to cool for a while and you’ll notice the flavors really come to life. When it’s chilled, the flavors are at their best!
The pineapple and blueberry are pretty well-balanced. The pineapple is present throughout the entire sip, from start to finish and lingering well into the aftertaste, although it is somewhat more subtle than the burst of blueberry flavor that hits the palate just after the start, but then begins to subside and disappear by the end of the sip.
The green tea is sweet and flavorful, with hints of vegetation and a crisp, fresh taste that adds a very pleasant flavor to the overall tea. This tea is sweet and tart, but not too tart. It doesn’t need sweetening, but, a little bit of sugar won’t hurt it (but don’t go overboard!) This is a tea I think the whole family will enjoy!