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.
Ripe Mango Oolong from Lupicia
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Tea Description:
Quality Taiwanese oolong tea scented with lusciously ripe mangos.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I really love mango, but it is a fruit that I seldom enjoy because – to be perfectly honest – I have no idea how to select a good, ripe mango in the produce section. Sounds silly, I’m sure, but it’s true. So, instead, I rely upon others for my mango intake, usually by way of tea. Hey, maybe I’m unable to spot a good piece of fruit, but, I’m pretty handy when it comes to brewing a cup of tea!
And this is an excellent mango flavored tea. The mango flavor is sweet and nectar-like, and the delicious flavor of the Oolong tea is nicely balanced with the strong fruit essence. The Oolong has a mouthfeel that is soft and thick, and the light vegetal tones of the Oolong meld beautifully with the flavor of ripe mango.
This is delicious hot or iced. I have been drinking it iced over the last two days and found it to be so thirst-quenching, and it cooled the mouth nicely after eating spicy Kung Pao Beef, too! When served hot, I find that the mango flavor is stronger than when iced, but both have a lot of fruit flavor.
If you like mango … you really MUST try this Oolong! It’s amazing!