We at SororITea Sisters adore our friends at Simpson & Vail so that is why we thought we would dedicate today’s posts to all things Simpson & Vail! We hope you enjoy our reviews and find some goodies to try for yourself! ~The SororiTea Sisters
Louisa May Alcott’s Green Tea Blend from Simpson & Vail Tea smells AMAZING. I mean A….MAZE…ing! Right away the aroma reminded me of strawberry Jolly Ranchers. This was even BEFORE I infused the tea! Once I did that it wasn’t as powerful aroma-wise but it still smelled like candy. This time around maybe more like Mike and Ikes. Regardless it was an impressive sniff!
The ingredients of Louisa May Alcott’s Green Tea Blend from Simpson & Vail Tea are as follows…Green tea, apple pieces, flavoring, strawberry pieces and rose petals. The strawberry flavor is prominent but the apple gives it a nice evening effect much like a teeter-tatter. The green tea base is medium in strength but it works perfectly with this flavored tea. The rose petals give it a bit of floral flavor especially at the end of the sip on to the after taste.
This tea is part of the Literary Tea Collection at S&V. Louisa May Alcott’s Green Tea Blend from Simpson & Vail Tea shows off Alcott’s appreciation of flowers much like many of her works seemed to include. There was also a nod to strawberries in Little Women where this tribute of a tea seemed to stem from. I really enjoyed this flavored green tea. The aroma really sucked me in – I have to say! I played along for the taste and ended up LOVING it! YUM!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Description
Early in Little Women, while visiting a sick Laurie, Jo says that her sister Meg’s blancmange is made “very nicely.” Later, her own attempt turns out “lumpy” and accompanied by strawberries that were “not as ripe as they looked.” Our blend follows Meg’s example and is almost, as Laurie says, “too pretty to [drink].” Combining almond and strawberry flavors, this blend brews to a delicious tea that is fruity and aromatic. It manages to be both sweet and light thanks to the Chunmee green tea base and the gentle floral notes added by the rose petals.
Ingredients: Green tea, apple pieces, flavoring, strawberry pieces and rose petals.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
William Shakespeare’s Black Tea Blend from Simpson and Vail
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Tea Description:
Possibly the most well-known name in western literature, William Shakespeare began his life as a tanner’s son in Stratford-Upon-Avon in the spring of 1564. After a seven year period following the birth of his children in which no reliable records of his life can be found, Shakespeare reappeared in London where he began writing and acting in plays.
Initially, his name was relegated to the corners of playbills, but as his productions grew in popularity, theaters began using “written by William Shakespeare” as their main selling point. The plays and poems he produced during the thirty year period when he was writing have endured the test of time and are studied and read across the world. He pioneered many styles and structures that have set the foundations for some of western literature’s greatest achievements. Shakespeare is even credited with inventing over 1700 words in the English language.
Gardens, herbs, and flowers appear in many of Shakespeare’s plays and oftentimes play a critical role in his stories. Our William Shakespeare tea blend is a combination of a few of the many herbs he references: lavender, roses, rosemary. The wit and playfulness of his verse means that Shakespeare’s plays can still be enjoyed today, ideally with a warm cup of tea.
This black tea and floral blend brews to an amber cup with a sweet, floral taste. The slightly earthy and woody notes are rounded out with the citrus taste of bergamot and sweet rose petals.
Ingredients: Rose Congou black tea, lavender petals, rose petals, rosemary and bergamot oil.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is the first of many new teas (from Simpson & Vail) that we will be reviewing here at Sororitea Sisters – William Shakespeare’s Black Tea Blend from Simpson and Vail – that is! I’ve always been a fan of poetry but this specific name and tea go beyond my love for writing! Whether or not it’s TRUE or a case of mistaken identity – I ‘may’ be distantly related to William Shakespeare. The family rumor is that I am related to a ‘John Hall’ from Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. There was a John Hall that was a Doctor there in the 1500’s that married William Shakespeare’s Daughter Susanna.
So there were MANY reasons I was excited about this tea! But let’s get to the ACTUAL tea experience – shall we? This William Shakespeare’s Black Tea Blend from Simpson and Vail has a black tea base and is blended with lavender, rose, rosemary, and bergamot oil. After reading the product description and learning about the connection and inspiration of this tea I was blown away at the creativity and artisan-ship!
First and foremost the powerful aroma smacked me in the face as soon as I opened the bag! This is some STURDY stuff! William Shakespeare’s Black Tea Blend from Simpson and Vail is like a special flavored Earl Grey. Not just your standard EG but with a little extra something. But the aroma was magnified that is for sure!
The color of the post-infused tea in the cup was a lighter color of brown that I thought it would be. But that didn’t mean the taste was going to be lacking. The flavor on the tongue was almost as intense as it was on the nose! I could taste the Earl Grey as well as the heavy-duty lavender. The rosemary was subtle but contributed.
I really enjoyed this William Shakespeare’s Black Tea Blend from Simpson and Vail. Sure – the tea was a winner – but – when you have a theme, tribute, or personal story with it – it makes it even better!
St. Nick’s From Simpson & Vail
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Tea Description:
“Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there….”Add St. Nick’s Tea to your holiday wish list because this blend is Nutty & Nice! Black teas are enhanced with the flavors of chocolate and roasted nuts with a hint of maple. The tea brews to an amber cup with a smooth, nutty, slightly sweet taste. It’s the perfect blend to enjoy on winter nights while you’re sitting by the fire. A definite crowd pleaser!
Ingredients: Black teas, almonds, organic cacao nibs, vanilla beans, flavoring and orange blossoms. Contains Tree Nuts.
Brew tea at 212º – steep for 3 minutes. Certified Kosher
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I adore Simpson & Vail. They are a great company. Fantastic customer service and a great line of teas, you really want for nothing when you shop with them. I was fortunate to be able to review some of their holiday teas and this one I’ve been quite excited about. Almonds, chocolate, vanilla bean, orange blossoms. . This tea just sounds like a festive sweet treat!
I brewed this up at work with water I prepped at 212F and allowed the tea to steep for about 3 minutes. This is a black tea and I wasn’t sure how forgiving the tea would be if I oversteeped. I didn’t want to ruin any of this holiday goodness!
After three minutes, my entire desk had this wonderful aroma of chocolate. Yum! I’m not a huge chocolate fan but even this tea was getting my attention. Like all other Simpson & Vail teas, this tea doesn’t disappoint!
In each sip, you can taste all the different flavors. The nuttiness, the citrus twist, the sweet creamy vanilla, and the rich lush chocolate. All in one sip. The flavors mingle so well together and really give you a tea that makes you sit back and saw “Wow”. I think my favorite part of this tea is the black tea base that creates a smoothness that all the other flavors can play off nicely. This tea would for sure make an amazing latte so I’m keeping the remainder of my sample to do just that later tonight.
If you are a fan of chocolate teas, check this one out. It even impressed a non chocolate eater like myself!
Almond Sugar Cookie from Simpson and Vail
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Tea Description:
Heavenly! That’s the best word to describe this black tea blend. You’ll think you’re in a bakery when you open the bag and the aroma of nutty goodness wafts out. The brewed tea is divine – with no calories!
Ingredients: Black teas, almonds, flavoring and safflower blossoms.
Brew tea at 212º – steep for 3 minutes.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I am generally not one who cares for a murky cloudy cup of tea but Almond Sugar Cookie from Simpson and Vail is the exception. When I looked into my cup I thought someone was messing with me and had dipped some cookies in my tea. I have done that myself on occasion. The steeped tea looks like there are little floaties in it but I have determined they are indeed supposed to be there. I was hesitant though because I wanted to be sure I was not sipping from a dirty cup. Now don’t let all of this turn you off because the flavor is outstanding! Sweet, but not cloying, almond, vanilla, which made me think of my favorite Almond Cookie Tisane but I needed to wake up and so a black tea base was in order!
The base in this tea is a good one, I can’t say it is outstanding, but it holds up to the rich flavors within the blend. I get no astringency or bitterness in the sip, and I can taste the black base well. I realize this is considered a dessert tea but some mornings I just want something a little sweet and having tea in place of bad breakfast selections is a great way to start my day. I had this tea with some oat nut bread and it made both the tea and the bread really decadent, they complimented each other beautifully.
There are a multitude of flavored teas out there to try, but this is one that truly does taste exactly the way you would expect it to and I respect that greatly. There also are no nasty artificial after tastes from the flavorings. The mouthfeel of the tea is not really creamy but it is heavier giving you a feeling of fullness upon drinking which is really nice when you are trying to satisfy a sweet tooth!
A really delightful flavored tea.
Strawberry Cupcake from Simpson and Vail
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Tea Description:
When you sip this delectable brew the strawberry taste first hits your tastebuds followed by the rich, creamy, chocolate “cake” taste. Some of our staff like this blend with agave or sugar, but I find it’s delicious (and less caloric) as is! The aroma is as enticing as the taste – sweet, baked strawberry cupcakes. Yum! The cup leaves a lingering creamy taste of fresh fruit that makes it hard to resist another and another and another sip!
Ingredients: Indian black tea, strawberry pieces, strawberry leaf and strawberry cupcake flavoring.
Brew tea at 212ºF – steep for 3 minutes.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Strawberry Cupcake from Simpson and Vail is one of the freshest tasting strawberry teas I have ever sampled. As a dessert tea however I do wish it were a little fuller in the mouthfeel. That is not to say it is thin or watery but I do think that somehow the ripe fresh juiciness almost hurts the thickness in the mouthfeel. I know that does not sound like too bad of a thing now does it? Because it does taste so amazingly fresh almost as if biting into an actual strawberry! I guess I was just anticipating by the decedent aroma and darker colored cup that it would be richer.
Seriously though, I can’t even get past how bursting with juiciness this tea is to focus on the chocolate flavor, or the cakey bakey goodness in the cup.
The after taste of this tea is almost like a fruit flavored beer. There is this flavor of very light delicate hops and a slight wheat essence in the background and it lingers on the palate.
I really rather like this since a lot of teas have a wine like flavor, or even mixed drink type flavor, this is one of the few that have this beer type flavor!
The chocolate in this tea is good, perhaps not outstanding, as I have had better chocolate flavors in tea, but on the other hand it does not turn me off, and a lot of teas with chocolate flavoring do. I would give this chocolate flavor an 8 out of 10 which by my standards is really excellent.
I have been surprised by this tea and am thankful to my Steepster friend who shared it with me. Yup this goes on the wish list and I will order it sometime in the future.