Chocolate Chili Truffle from Spire Tea

by liberteas

spireteaTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Tea Description:

Unveil the sweet and spicy layers in our Chili Truffle tea made with Ceylon black tea; chili, chocolate and peppercorns.

Learn more about Spire Tea on their website.

Taster’s Review:

This tea isn’t technically a “chai” by what we here in the United States have come to call chai, however, the spiciness of this tea is very warming and reminds me of a chai, so I decided to categorize it as such.

I really like this a lot!  Then again, that should not be surprising, given my love for chocolate.  And when I shop for chocolate, I often find myself looking for (and purchasing) chocolates that are chili infused … I love the combination of sweet (or bittersweet) chocolate with spicy foods.  The sweetness of the chocolate tempers the heat from the spice just enough while the notes from the spice cut through some of the sweeter notes of the chocolate to keep it from tasting so sweet.  I love that contrast.

And that contrast has been captured perfectly in this cup of tea.

The black tea is a mellower black tea base – a Ceylon – but, it does its job here well.  It supports the flavors of chocolate and chili very nicely without getting in their way.  It is a strong enough Ceylon to be tasted without overpowering the spicy chocolate notes.

The chocolate – while it could be stronger (I do love my chocolate!) offers a rich, creamy taste that is more like dark chocolate than of milk chocolate … although if you prefer a milk chocolate taste that can be easily remedied by turning this into a latte.  It adds a nice texture to the cup too, it tastes really rich and decadent!

And the chili adds just the right amount of heat.  I would classify it as a mild-to-medium heat, it isn’t super-spicy, even as the heat builds as I continue to sip, I never feel it becoming TOO spicy for my mouth.   Just a really enjoyable, warm heat.

A really lovely tea from Spire … this one might be my favorite yet from them!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Black Tea, Chai

Orange & Dark Chocolate from Spire Tea

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Spire Tea

Tea Description:

The perfect blend of chocolate with the right amount of orange.

Learn more about Spire Tea on their website.

Taster’s Review:

Even though it’s just before Thanksgiving as I sip this tea, I am scheduling the review for about a week before Christmas eve, because this tea reminds me of the joy of Christmas and the Night Before!  You know those chocolate oranges?  Those have become one of my favorite Christmastime treats, and I like them so much that I’ve decided to add them as a “tradition” to my daughter’s stockings every year (other traditions are 2 pieces of fruit and a Lifesavers storybook).  The chocolate orange tastes so much like Christmas to me … and this tea has captured that flavor perfectly!

The chocolate is a dark, rich tasting chocolate and the orange is sweet and juicy.  The orange is slightly lighter than the chocolate, just enough to add a touch of brightness to the cup without overwhelming it.

The black tea base tastes like a high grown Ceylon to me, it is brisk and tastes very pleasant, but it isn’t an overly aggressive tea.  It holds it’s own, and doesn’t allow itself to be overpowered by the flavors, but, it doesn’t attempt to intrude upon the flavors either.  I’m really enjoying the balance of tea and flavor, although, you wouldn’t find me complaining if there was a bit more chocolate in it.  (More chocolate is always better)

A very enjoyable cup of tea – one you WANT to have this time of year to serve to your guests.  It is so delicious and one of those “welcoming” kind of teas – your friends will feel like family when they drink it, and your family will feel all the more special.

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Black Tea

Coconut Almond Cookie from Spire Tea

by liberteas

Tisane Information:

Leaf Type:  Rooibos

Where to Buy:  Spire Tea

Tisane Description:

Do you like cookies? We certainly do and that’s why this sweet and nutty combination of rooibos, coconut and almonds tastes like the real thing!

Learn more about Spire Tea on their website.

Taster’s Review:

Yummmm!  This tisane is definitely all about coconut and almond!  The “cookie” part … well, the nutty, sweet flavor of the rooibos does sort of offer a warm, bake-y sort of flavor so yeah, I sort of get that … but, really, the cookie seems to be more of a flavor that comes with the power of suggestion rather than an actual taste of this tisane.

It’s still really yummy though.  The flavors of coconut and almond go together very well, and they are pretty evenly balanced in this blend.  The almond is strong, sweet, and toasty, while the coconut is also strong, with a smooth, creamy taste.

I think that this tea could use a touch of “buttery” flavor that might propel the tea to another level where the “cookie” would not be such a stretch of the imagination.  As it is, it is tasty … but I think that the enhancement of a real cookie-like flavor would really make this blend amazing.

I do find this to be very enjoyable though.  It has a comforting kind of flavor, the kind of tisane that you want to curl up to while watching television at night.  It will help curb those late night sweet cravings, and because it’s naturally caffeine free, you don’t have to worry about it keeping you up past bedtime.

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Rooibos

Milk Oolong from Spire Tea

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Spire Tea

Tea Description:

This natural oolong tastes like a velvety smooth dessert with a light creaminess and milky aroma from the Wuyi Mountains in China.

Learn more about Spire Tea on their Website.

Taster’s Review:

This is a very pleasing Oolong – sweet and creamy, as one would probably expect from a Milk Oolong, but, without tasting artificial.  The creamy notes are softer than in some other Milk Oolong teas I’ve tried.  It doesn’t taste or feel too creamy, nor does it taste too sweet.  It’s a really nice balance.

There is a slightly sharp floral tone that arrives about mid-sip that seems to balance out the sweetness.  This tastes very lush and fresh, with hints of fresh vegetation in the background.  Often, I find that Milk Oolong teas are so buttery/milky/creamy that it is difficult to experience the vegetal notes of the tea, but this one has a lighter texture that allows the palate to enjoy the floral and vegetative notes.  And an undercurrent of sweetness surrounds it all.  Lovely!

I was to enjoy eight beautifully fragrant, delicious infusions from one measurement of leaves.  The first few infusions are a little creamier than the subsequent infusions, which seem to offer a lighter creamy tone in exchange for a stronger vegetal taste.  With the later infusions, the flavors begin to soften and become remarkably smooth, with very little noticeable astringency and no bitterness.

A wonderful tea, this Milk Oolong from Spire Tea.

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Oolong