Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White Tea
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Tea Description:
Located 6000 feet above sea level, in the misty hills of Pashupatinagar, Ilam, is this family owned Organic (EU) and ISO certified garden. The teas grown here are some of the most interesting and spectacular teas that will tempt your taste buds into new levels of enjoyment. This garden is the first one in Nepal to use the technology, machinery and expertise available from Japan. The Aarubotay tea bushes are a combination of Japanese, Chinese and clonal varieties that produce the best of Nepalese teas. Try some today and, from the first smell of the dry leaf to the taste of the brewed tea, you will be convinced that this family has achieved success!
These over 1 inch long, pale white, downy tipped gray-green leaves brew to a pure white liquor and a sweet, delicate apricot cup. It truly is unlike any other white tea that we’ve tasted!
Brew: 2- 4 minutes @ 158-167ºF. Multiple infusions are possible.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have always been a fan of Simpson & Vail. Their customer service is top notch and their teas are fresh and delicious. A great company to pick up a few blends from for sure!
This particular tea sounded amazing from the description and I couldn’t wait to try it. I brewed it up per the instructions above and couldn’t wait to try this tea.
I will admit, I had to allow this tea to cool but I think that just deepened the flavors. I will admit the flavors of this tea remind me of a black tea. There are definite similar notes with a slight maltiness but in that maltiness is a sweet yet floral flavor that sings. A crisp white flavor that really hits that note that gives you that warming feeling inside. Really lovely and one that you could sip on each and every day and not get tired of it.
This tea gives you the best of all worlds. The richness notes that give black tea that umph with a delicate side as well. This may be my new to go tea in the morning! I could see this being pretty fabulous for my commute into the office.
Nepal Oolong from Simpson & Vail
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Tea Description:
Located 6000 feet above sea level, in the misty hills of Pashupatinagar, Ilam, is this family owned Organic (EU) and ISO certified garden. The teas grown here are of some of the most interesting and spectacular teas that will tempt your taste buds into new levels of enjoyment. This garden is the first one in Nepal to use the technology, machinery and expertise available from Japan. The Aarubotay tea bushes are a combination of Japanese, Chinese and clonal varieties that produce the best of Nepalese teas. Try some today and, from the first smell of the dry leaf to the taste of the brewed tea, you will be convinced that this family has achieved success!
An enchanting Oolong experience! The dark brown, twisted, tippy leaves brew into a pale amber cup with mild, mellow, well-balanced flavors and delicate peach/apricot undertones. (Note: This crop was picked earlier in the year and is lighter tasting than the 2014 Oolong.)
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I am a huge fan of Simpson & Vail. Their teas are delicious, fresh, and always ones that you can rely on. I had never tried any oolongs from them so I was excited to check out their oolong offerings.
This oolong was nothing less than exceptional. I brewed this up with fresh water at about 190 degrees or so for about 4 minutes. I sat and watched the gorgeous leaves swirl around in my steeper. I couldn’t wait to for the tea to finish brewing. The dry leaf had such a nice and refreshing note about them with a slight touch of being roasted.
And that is exactly what this tea tasted like! A slightly vegetal amazingly light and refreshing slightly roasted oolong. So many gorgeous flavors in each and every sip. There was a stonefruit sweetness that I could pick up here and there, but it wasn’t a solid note throughout the tea. So well balanced and such a great tea to keep you company all day. I’m on my third infusion and am devouring this tea like crazy.
Such a great tea from such a great company. If you haven’t checked out Simpson & Vail, I would encourage you too. They are wonderful to shop with. I just love a tea company that provides amazing teas and amazing customer service!
Winter Wonderland from Simpson & Vail
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green Rooibos
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Tea Description:
“Sleigh bells ring, are you listening
In the lane snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland…”A wonderful blend of green rooibos with cacao and cinnamon and flavored with Bavarian chocolate, cinnamon and hazelnuts. When we sampled this in our store we heard “Best rooibos ever!”, “A new favorite”, “Great everyday tea”. It brews to a golden cup with the delicious aroma and taste of cinnamon baked goodies (we were reminded of apple fritters). Smooth and warming, this blend has the more pronounced taste of cinnamon and hazelnuts, while the Bavarian chocolate is an underlying taste that rounds out the other flavors. Delicious in every season!
Ingredients: Organic green rooibos, organic cacao nibs, organic cinnamon pieces, flavoring, white and blue cornflower petals
Learn more about this tea here.
Tea Description:
I adore and love green rooibos blends. I have considered red rooibos my arch enemy for some time but there is something fresh, soothing, and delightful in green rooibos blends. I’ve had several Simpson & Vail blends but I have had my eye on their holiday blends for some time. So when they offered a chance for me to review them, I jumped all over the opportunity!
This particular blend is a green rooibos base with chocolate, cinnamon, and hazelnut. Um. . .sign me up!
I brewed this up at work and shared a cuppa with a fellow co-worker. 5 minutes later, we were each enjoying this treat.
First sip in and I was looking up and trying to justify buying more of this tea. For 2 oz at $4.25- this tea is a steal!
This flavor profile for this tea is this lush amazing decadent dessert tea that keeps you wanting more and more. My co-worker said it reminded her of apple pie. Me-it reminded me of a slightly honey cinnamon sweetness with hints of the hazelnut and chocolate towards the end of each sip. The more the tea cools the more hazelnut and chocolate become pronounced. There are subtle hints of a coconut goodness as well. Such a great mix of flavors. And just so good. This would be great to share and enjoy a cuppa with family and friends over the holidays. Another fantastic tea from Simpson & Vail. I really don’t think they have a bad tea to offer! Off to get another cuppa. This is going to be one I need to have on hand regardless of the time of year! Looks like I’m going to have to stock up on this delight!
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.
American Breakfast Blend from Simpson & Vail
Tea Type:
Black Tea
Where To Buy:
Simpson & Vail
Product Description:
One of Mr. Vail’s 15 original tea blends.
Traditional English and Irish Breakfast teas are generally quite robust blends. This version, for standard American tastes, is comprised of teas from India, Sri Lanka, China and Formosa. It is full-bodied and malty with a bright amber cup, but unlike our English and Irish teas, it has a delightful flowery bouquet. It can be enjoyed as is or is excellent with milk, lemon or sweetener. American Breakfast is a blend that is a perfect choice for your first cup of the day.
Brew tea at 212º – steep for 3 minutes.
Tasters Review:
I was so excited I was able to drink one of Mr. Vail’s original blends (one of the first 15, even!) I’m also really excited they made mention of both English and Irish Breakfasts in the product description as well as mentioning the black tea blended base is made up of teas from India, China, Sri Lanka, and Formosa. With all this in mind I can’t help but think of what America is made of…immigrants – we all are! People from all over the world make up America so it puts a smile on my face that all of this also goes into this American Breakfast Blend of a tea.
My Father’s Mom’s Family was 100% Irish! Happy Saint Patrick’s Day, by the way! I nice day for everyone to be a little Irish, eh!?
I can taste the English and Irish Breakfast comparisons, here, but I can pick up on the floral notes, sweet-woodsy notes, a bit of smoke, and even hints of citrus – naturally speaking.
This is super tasty! Much of what I look for in a Breakfast/Black Tea with a little extra something! I really like this blend of teas from S&V!
