Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Tea Description:
A winter tradition for Ottawa residents, sugar bush season! The silver lining to the cold winter months and a great introduction to spring. It is a chance to see the production of pure Canadian maple syrup and enjoy the many delicious uses. Possibly the most memerable part of joining in is the taffy in the snow where children (and people of all ages) get some warm maple syrup to pour into the snow and make their own snow maple taffy.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Snow Maple Flavored White Tea from Shanti Tea is AWESOME! I love maple … and it’s been my experience that far too often with maple flavored teas that the maple flavoring just isn’t strong enough to satisfy me. That is not the case with this maple tea! This tea brings the maple, and brings it on loud and proud!
Well, as loud and proud as is appropriate for a white tea, which is, in itself a fairly delicate tasting tea. And the maple flavoring does not overwhelm the tea … but it is strong. This tea is less about the tea and more about the maple, but, I’m not minding that because I’m loving the way the maple is represented here!
It is sweet and deliciously maple-y! The white tea gives notes of earthiness to the cup that I think really accentuate the maple notes deliciously. It tastes warm and delicious – very autumnal! It is a very crisp and delectable maple tea.
If you like maple teas … this is one you MUST try! It’s oh-so-good!
On the Ninth Day of Christmas, Della Terra Teas Sent to Me …
That big day is getting closer! Are you ready for it?
For the first time in quite a few years, I can say that I am ready for it. Usually, we are down to the wire and doing our shopping at the last minute. But this year, we managed to get some of the major shopping (ie: shopping for the kids!) done early, which has helped immensely! I don’t feel stressed or rushed like I usually do this time of year! Yay!
What a unique tea Della Terra Teas sent to me on this Ninth Day of Christmas!
Snow Fairy
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White & Green Teas
Where to Buy: Della Terra Teas
Tea Description:
On your eighth day you may not have ladies dancing, but you do have a Snow Fairy prancing around your tastebuds.
This magical tea will brighten your day, any time of day with it’s fruity flavors of pineapple & apple with creamy vanilla and white tea. Oh, you are in for a treat today!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
A quick glance at the ingredients of this tea, and I found myself wondering why Della Terra Teas chose this as a “holiday” tea … I don’t usually think of pineapple as a holiday flavor. But, the flavor of this tea is so nice, that I don’t really care if it’s especially holidays-y!
The base of this tea is a blend of fluffy Bai Mu Dan white tea leaves and Chinese green tea. By brewing this at a low temperature (170°F) for four minutes, I was able to get a nice balance of both the green and the white tea flavors. I like that I can taste both here, a slightly buttery, vegetative taste from the green tea, and a light, sweet taste from the white tea, and they don’t seem to be competing with one another for the spotlight. This two teas are working together very well in this blend.
The pineapple is sweet and soft … curbed slightly by the vanilla and the apple. I am not trying to say that the flavor of the pineapple is obscured, really, it is just not quite as clear a flavor as it might be without the vanilla and the apple. But I like how these two ingredients soften the flavor – it does give it a somewhat “snowy” kind of flavor … like pineapple ice cream. I also do taste a hint of spice here from the pink peppercorns. It isn’t a strong peppery note (pink peppercorns don’t deliver a strong peppery taste), but it is just enough contrast to the cup to keep the flavors from becoming dull.
Overall, the flavor is gentle and creamy … one of those types of teas you’d like to curl up to while reading a good book.
Snow Buds from Radiance Tea House
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Radiance Tea House
Tea Description:
Like a symphony to the senses, you will discover an ensemble of fragrances that will delight the palette.
Taster’s Review:
This tea – the third and final tea from my March “Perfect Pairs” Steepster Select Box – is full of surprises!
Before opening the pouch, the name of the tea suggests to me that it is a white tea. “Snow Buds” sounds like a white tea, doesn’t it? And when I opened the pouch, I was greeted with large, pale green leaves covered in fluffy silver fuzz that gave it the appearance of a very high quality Bai Mu Dan.
The dry leaf aroma is fruity, reminiscent of fresh peaches, a scent I did not expect. My mouth actually began to water, it smelled so delicious.
The brewed tea is very pale, and again, it appears to be more like a white tea than a green tea. But the truth is in the flavor. And while it doesn’t taste as “green” as some other green teas that I’ve tried, for it lacks much of that grassy/vegetal flavor that green teas possess, it tastes more like a green tea to me than it does a white. Then again, it does have some similarities to a white tea, too.
The flavor is delicate, but not as delicate as a white tea. It has a creaminess to it, and it is remarkably sweet, reminiscent of rock sugar candy. The fruity tones are there too, with background notes of peach and possibly a hint of apricot. It is very smooth and has a broth-y kind of mouthfeel. There is virtually no astringency to this cup, only smooth, rich flavor.
Really, they can call it what they like. Green tea or white tea, this tea is fantastic. I am really glad that this was part of the Steepster Select box, and that I had this opportunity to try it. It is SO good!