Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black & Green Teas
Where to Buy: Nina’s Tea Store
Tea Description:
Bergamot from Sicily. The smoothness of Keemun (Black Tea) together with the freshness of bergamot. An ancient recipe that was handed down by a high dignitary of China to Earl Charles Grey. A classic that definitely shouldn’t be missed.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I opened my sample of this Earl Grey tea from Nina’s Paris, I’ll admit that I was a little disappointed and skeptical about whether or not I’d like this Earl Grey, because the aroma was very faint. Not just faint, but there was hardly any discernible bergamot fragrance. And when it comes to Earl Grey, I want BERGAMOT!
Now that the tea is brewed, the bergamot scent is a little stronger than it was with the dry leaf. And the flavor doesn’t disappoint! Quite the contrary, this is a superb Earl Grey!
The bold flavor of the Keemun black tea base gives this tea a little added “umph!” that makes a real difference in the overall flavor. I love that rich, smooth flavor of the Keemun together with the tangy-sweet notes of the bergamot. The wine-like notes of the Keemun marry beautifully with the citrus fruit, and creates a very harmonious taste.
And the slight smoky note of the Keemun also adds some interest to the cup without overwhelming it. It’s not a heavy smoky tone, just a little wisp of smoke in there that keeps the taste buds intrigued.
The bergamot is stronger in flavor than the fragrance led me to believe, but it isn’t an overpowering bergamot flavor. Typically, I like a good, strong bergamot essence, but, I like the subtler approach of the bergamot here, because it works to the favor of the complexity of the Keemun, allowing the palate to explore the many different notes within this cup. It’s not all about the bergamot, nor is it all about the Keemun. It’s a really interesting combination of flavors, one that I am enjoying very much.
This is a really good Earl Grey. Definitely worth a try if you’re an Earl Grey enthusiast like me, or even if you are just looking for the “right” Earl Grey for your tea cupboard. You should definitely try this one, it’s different enough from the standard to make it stand out from the pack.
Nina’s Japon Tea Blend from Nina’s Paris
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black & Green Teas
Where to Buy: Nina’s Tea Store
Tea Description:
Black tea, sencha, genmaicha, caramel, vanilla
A marvelous blend of black tea and roasted green tea from Japan. An irresistible dreamy concoction made with crispy rice, vanilla and caramel.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Mmm! This tea is TASTY!
I’ve said before that as a rule, I have my reservations about a tea blend comprised of two different tea types like this one which is composed of both green and black tea leaves. It makes deciding how to brew the tea a little more difficult, because you aren’t entirely sure the best way to proceed in a way to get the most flavor out of the tea. Generally, boiling water is the way to brew black teas for the best flavor, but, green teas require a lower temperature to avoid scorching these tea leaves as they are more delicate.
When I have a blend like this one, I usually opt to go with the lower temperature requirements of the more delicate leaf, because it is possible to achieve flavor from the black tea at a lower temperature, and I’d rather lose a little bit of flavor from the black tea than to possibly scorch the green tea and have bitter flavor. So I used 185°F water and steeped the tea for 3 minutes.
And I’m quite happy with the result.
I taste the rich notes of the black tea, the warm, toasty notes of the genmaicha green and the sweet, fresh notes of the Sencha. And these flavors meld beautifully with the caramel and vanilla notes of this blend. It’s really quite yum!
The sip starts out sweet. The first notes I recognize are the roasty-toasty notes of the genmaicha’s brown rice, and I love how the roasted rice harmoniously marries with the sweet, luscious caramel flavor. These two flavors were made for each other. Then I notice the vanilla, it’s a top note here, but it’s not an intrusive flavor. It sort of gently blankets the flavors with it’s soft, creamy sweetness. Delightful!
The rich, smooth flavor of black tea starts to work its way into the sip shortly after I experience the rice and caramel, and the black tea adds a whole other dimension of sweetness and flavor. It adds a real depth to the flavor that makes this tea special.
The freshness of the green tea notes arrive on the palate at about mid-sip. While Japanese Sencha teas can sometimes taste bittersweet, right now I just notice sweetness. There is a slight bittersweet note that I experience in the aftertaste, and I like that savory element.
A delight to sip, from start to finish!
Thé Aromatisé a la Rose (Rose Petal Tea) from Hediard Paris
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Tea Description:
Since 1854 Hédiard has been a well-known name in Paris, for years the shop has been frequented by many cosmopolitan and noteworthy figures. The flagship store and restaurant are located on Place de Madeleine and the company has grown to oversee distribution to select shops in France and on four continents.
Hediard’s tea blends use the whole tealeaf to minimize the powdery residue sometimes left behind from crushed leaves. Hediard buys only from the greatest tea experts in the topmost estates.
Hediard Rose flavored tea with rose petals has an aromatique and alluring blend of black tea from China, rose petals and rose essential oil. The fragrance and taste are perfect for romance or pampering.
Learn more about Hediard Paris here.
This tea can be found at various locations including Cyber Cucina.
Taster’s Review:
This is really quite nice, and rather unexpected! I was a little unsure about the tea when I read that the tea had been blended using “rose essential oil.” While I realize that most flavored tea blends are flavored with oils, most teas flavored with floral essence tend to be teas that were scented with the flower blossoms and petals themselves by layering the young tea leaves and blossoms and allowing the tea leaves to absorb the flower essence this way. I find that teas that are flavored with floral essential oils tend to taste very perfume-y and sometimes downright soapy.
But, I am glad that my previous experiences with teas flavored with floral essential oils did not cloud my judgement and I still tried this tea, because it is really quite lovely.
The black tea is invigorating without being too bold or assertive, making this a nice tea to enjoy in the afternoon (and would make a perfectly lovely choice for a garden tea party!) There is a very nice balance between black tea flavor (rich and earthy) and sweet rose notes.
The rose is strong but not overwhelming and doesn’t come off as too perfume-y. There is a somewhat perfume-ish taste that arrives on the palate at about mid-sip, but, it is a slight perfume-ish kind of note, and seems to wash over the palate smoothly and quickly, so it doesn’t end up becoming off-putting. Instead it is what I’d call feminine and romantic, tasting more of rose water than of perfume or soap.
The rose here is not as strong or as sharp as a typical rose tea (I’m thinking of most of the rose congou teas I’ve tried), it is more of a sweet, dainty, delicate kind of flavor, kind of what I’d expect a rose tea from Paris to be … kind of like a windswept romantic kind of taste … very daydream-y, just like Paris is to me.
A Raspberry in Paris Rooibos from Bernideen’s
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Bernideen’s
Tisane Description:
Spritely notes of raspberry come to the fore with light overtones of rooibos. Perfect raspberry jam finish.
Taster’s Review:
Another tea (or, in this case, tisane!) from the lovely Bernideen in Colorado City!
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t really looking forward to trying this tisane. I’m not big on rooibos, as I’ve professed many times. But, again, to be honest, lately it would seem that I find more rooibos blends that I enjoy than those that I do not. And this is one that I’m really enjoying!
But what makes this so enjoyable is not the rooibos, but the raspberry. This IS raspberry! I don’t think I’ve tasted a tea or tisane that has been more true to the fruit than this. This tastes like I just bit into a fresh, ripe raspberry. All that’s missing is the seeds (which I don’t like anyway, so I’m not missing them at all!)
That’s not to say that the rooibos is not at all present in this cup, because I do taste a light woody tone of the rooibos. But what makes this tisane work so well, I think, is that the raspberry flavoring seems to have brought out some of the subtle fruit notes of the rooibos which are often missed in other rooibos blends.
This tastes sweet with just a hint of that berry tartness, and the sip seems to sparkle on the tongue, reminiscent of homemade raspberry jam! YUM!
Paris Breakfast from Talbott Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Talbott Teas
Company Description:
Elegant and delighting malty breakfast blend of the finest organic black tea leaves to awake and captivate the senses. The ultimate wake-up tea. Enjoy plain or with a splash of milk.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve tried a few Paris Breakfast / French Breakfast blends now, and I must say that this is my favorite thus far. The other French breakfast blends tended to be flavored – not that I dislike flavored teas! I quite like them – with vanilla or caramel or a combination of vanilla and caramel. This one is unflavored and I think that this is what gives it an edge over the other French Breakfast blends I’ve tasted.
Normally, my preference would probably be for the flavored blend, but, I really like how well rounded and full flavored this tea is! It is robust! It is full-bodied and bursting with so much natural flavor that it really doesn’t need additional flavorings!
The Assam lends a very rich flavor to this tea, and a malty note that is quite enchanting. It possesses a very pleasant baked flavor with a chewy texture. It is a tea that I would LOVE to wake up each and every morning.
It has a hearty enough taste to it that this tea would take well to the addition of milk and honey, if you wish to add it. I actually didn’t do that because I found that I was perfectly content with the flavor as is – with no additions. It did not possess a bitter or rough edge to it that I generally find in Assam and wish to smooth out with a splash of milk and drizzle of honey. It is just pleasantly smooth, strong… but not edgy. Perfect!
But here’s the rub. I can’t find this tea on Talbott Teas’ website. What’s up with that? I hope that this gets remedied soon, because this is a tea that is definitely high on top of my tea shopping list! I love it!
Edited to add: According to Steven Nakisher from Talbott Teas, this tea is currently only available in the restaurants and cafes that offer Talbott Teas – so keep an eye out for them! You’ll be glad you did!