Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Mount Wuyi, in Fujian China is primarily known for oolongs, but this rare black tea is harvested only a short time each year. It is naturally low in tannins, giving it an exquisitely smooth finish which, combined with its natural chocolate notes, earned it the nickname “Black Silk”. We’ve upped the ante by adding some organic chocolate and marshmallow flavors, cacao nibs and marshmallow root.
Learn more about this tea here.
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Taster’s Review:
When I read my SororiTea Sister Nichole’s review of this Black Silk Chocolate Milk Qui Hao from 52Teas, I was eager to try the tea out for myself! If you’re a frequent reader of our little blog here, you may have picked up on the fact that I’m a little bit of a chocolate freak! So this tea is right up my alley!
Mmm! The Qui Hao black tea is a delightful choice for the base of this tea. It is a rich, satisfying, well-rounded tea and it compliments the flavor of the chocolate notes. There is a creaminess from the marshmallow but it seems a little subtle. But that’s alright, because for me, this tea is about the chocolate.
The combination of the rich, malty Qui Hao and the chocolate flavors creates a dark chocolate type of flavor and the hint of marshmallow enhances the overall sweetness of it. I don’t usually add milk to my teas these days, but after sipping on this for a while, I decided I’d see how it tasted with a splash of milk.
I have to say that I think that this is even better with the addition of dairy. It brings the marshmallow notes forward a little bit without obscuring the chocolate notes. It adds just a hint of the milk chocolate flavors that I think that this particular tea needed because I wasn’t really getting “chocolate milk” until I added the dairy. The milk just brought it all together very nicely.
Overall, a really pleasing chocolate tea. If you’re a chocoholic tea lover – you should definitely give this one a try!
Organic Silk Dragon Jasmine Green Tea from David’s Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: David’s Tea
Tea Description:
Made from premium green tea, our Silk Dragon is a limited-edition treasure. To create it, night-blooming jasmine is gathered in the morning and kept cool all day. In the evening, when the flowers burst open and release their scent, they are placed with the tea until midnight. This is repeated with fresh flowers over the course of five nights, infusing the tea with a most magical flavour.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Ahh, Jasmine. The last jasmine tea I had (a day or two ago) was made using a jasmine scented oil … and I know I’ve told you how much I detest that kind of jasmine tea. This Jasmine tea though … this Organic Silk Dragon Jasmine Green Tea from David’s Tea – it was scented properly. And when I have a jasmine tea that was properly scented like this one on the heels of a jasmine tea that has been flavored with jasmine oil … it makes me appreciate the efforts that go in to a properly scented jasmine tea all the more.
The jasmine here is sweet and soft … and absolutely LOVELY!
The green tea is earthy, sweet, and has a nice vegetative tone to it. It tastes slightly more on the “earthy” side than on the vegetative side … which is a bit unusual for green teas, but, I’m not finding it to be too earthy for me. It is smooth and has a very silky texture. It isn’t bitter, and there is very little astringency.
The jasmine is really pleasant. It isn’t an overly strong jasmine – those of you who don’t like an overly strong jasmine flavor would probably find this jasmine to be right up your alley. The jasmine notes are evident but not overwhelming.
This tea isn’t anything fancy … but then … sometimes, there’s nothing quite like a pleasant, simple cup of tea and that’s what I’m liking about this tea. It’s jasmine … and it’s a very enjoyable cuppa. I also like that this is an organic and fair trade certified tea. It’s good hot or cold, but, since the weather has been warm lately, I’ve really been liking this one iced!
Silk Dragon from The Tea Merchant
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: The Tea Merchant
Tea Description:
A unique blend that is exotic, balanced and complex it will engage you from the second you open the bag with its intoxicating creamy vanilla aroma to your first sip. Creates a smooth, rich flavor with hints of cream, vanilla and a stimulating citrus finish.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Wow! This is so good.
As you know, I do enjoy quite a few different flavored teas, but when it comes to Oolong, I find that the ones that I favor tend to be pure, unadulterated Oolong teas. Sure, I enjoy the flavored ones too, but, if given a choice between pure Oolong and flavored, I’ll choose the pure every time.
However, I am finding this flavored Oolong to be extraordinary … one of the best flavored Oolong teas I’ve encountered in a while. The vanilla flavor is in perfect step with the natural creaminess of the Oolong for a very luxurious, creamy experience. It’s so silky and creamy and delicious.
The lemon myrtle gives just the right touch of citrus. It is not a strong tangy note – nothing that interrupts the sweet, creamy goodness of the vanilla – but it offers just a hint of citrus-y taste toward the finish so that the vanilla cream does not overwhelm the palate.
And with all this talk of the amazing vanilla taste and hints of citrus, you may have thought that the flavor of the Oolong is lost somewhere. It isn’t. It adds a hint of earthiness and a touch of flower (orchid? Yes, there are distinct orchid notes), and just a hint of peach-like undertones.
If you like vanilla – you really should try this Silk Dragon from The Tea Merchant. It takes vanilla to a whole other level. I don’t think I’ve experienced vanilla in a tea quite like this before. It’s really amazing.