Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Fusion Teas
Tea Description:
Red vineyard peach: an incomparable delicacy with a unique taste. Together with the strawberry it awakens the desire to visit the slopes of the beautiful vineyard regions where it is grown!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The sample packet that I have for this tea just says “Red Vineyard” not Red Peach Vineyard, but when I compared the ingredient list on my package to the online ingredient list, they are identical so I think I’m pretty safe in assuming that this tea that I’m sipping right now is indeed Red Peach Vineyard.
This is LOVELY!
I know I probably sound a bit like a broken record when I state that I’m not one to imbibe alcohol, but it’s true, and it always seems like a relevant fact when I encounter teas that are wine inspired. I don’t really care much for the taste of alcohol … every once in a while, I take a sip of something, but, I just don’t care for the taste of it. Even alcoholic beverages that supposedly have no taste, like vodka, I can taste something there, and I’m not fond of it. That doesn’t mean that I’m not tempted to try something every once in a while – I mean when I see something like “caramel flavored vodka” or “Almond Roca Wine,” I’m intrigued. But, I think that is more about my sweet tooth than about the actual alcoholic beverage. And I will on a very rare occasion indulge in a mixed cocktail that taste more of sweet fruit than of fermented spirits, but these occasions are indeed rare, and again, the sweeter they are (and the less like alcohol they taste) the better I like them.
But for whatever reason, I usually enjoy wine inspired or wine infused teas. And I don’t know if this tea is actually wine flavored, or if it’s just inspired by the idea of a California Vineyard (Strawberries make me think of California … peaches don’t, however, peaches do grow quite well in California!) Either way, I do taste a sort of wine-y element to this cup. Like a sweet red wine. Slightly grape-y flavor with a hint of fermentation and the slight astringency to this tea play to the wine-like characters of this tea.
The black tea has a very pleasing quality to it. It is a well-rounded tea, it is strong but not what I’d call “bold,” really, and it has a hint of flowery intonation and an undertone of earthiness that also play to the wine-y character of this tea.
But the real stars of this particular show are the flavors of peach and strawberry. I love this combination, and it is one that I think I’d like to see offered more often in tea blends. The sweet, luscious flavor of the peach complements the sweet berry very well, there is just a twinge of tartness to the cup from the berry, but overall, this is a sweet, fruity tea that is really quite enjoyable.
Another great cuppa from Fusion Teas!
Chocolate Strawberry Saffron from Inspired Leaf
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Inspired Leaf
Tea Description:
Fresh picked, chocolate-dipped with an Eastern twist.
Inspiration No. 22: You are amazing…you deserve great tea!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a very interesting tea.
I’ve had at least one other Chocolate Strawberry Saffron tea, and the two teas very likely came from the same source, but I’m liking this one better … it could all be the result of a better batch, but, I just know that I am finding myself more impressed with this cup of tea than I was with my previous experience with a Chocolate Strawberry Saffron tea.
But, I do think I could be more impressed by this tea, too. I’ll get to that a little later though.
This tea does deliver with what it promises: I taste chocolate, and it is prominent; I taste strawberry, and it is sweet and tart, just like a fresh berry; and I taste the saffron which interacts in a very pleasing way with the chocolate, giving it a semi-sweet, bitter note that I find very enjoyable.
The chocolate in this blend comes from cocoa beans, white chocolate chips and dark chocolate flakes, as well as some flavoring, I’d imagine. The combination of these, together with the saffron, creates a very creamy, rich, chocolate-y flavor that is bittersweet and also has just a hint of vanilla undertone that I really like. It’s a pleasing, complex chocolate note.
The strawberry flavor is emphasized by the addition of currants to the blend, which seem to highlight the tartness of the berry. The result is a strawberry taste that is tingling on my tongue in the aftertaste with that berry tartness. I like this, because it offers a contrast to the sweetness of the chocolate, but I think that if the sweet chocolate notes were not there, I’d probably find this a wee bit too tart for my liking … so it is fortunate that there is some sweetness too.
As I mentioned before, I think that this tea could be improved and take it from something that is good and tasty to something that is rather exceptional. The change would be in the black tea base. I suspect this is a Ceylon, and here, it tastes kinda wimpy. It is very thin in the midst of all these other flavors, and the end result is more of a highly decorated, yet thin hot chocolate rather than a flavored tea. I think that by adding a Nilgiri or an Assam to the base, or perhaps even a Fujian Black tea, that it would give the cup some much needed body and flavor. I wouldn’t want something too aggressive, because I like the flavors the way that they are, but, I just find myself wanting more tea out of it, because as it is … it is just too thin. I don’t like thin hot chocolate, and I don’t like thin tasting tea either … and this seems like it’s stuck somewhere in one (or both) of those confining boxes.
A good tea, but not a great one.
Dreidels & Donuts Tea from Tealish
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tealish
Tea Description:
Who can argue the awesomeness of a holiday where you get to have fun spinning dreidels, winning chocolate coins, and eating jelly doughnuts?! With black tea, creamy chocolate, and luscious strawberries this tea is the perfect partner for those rich Hannukah treats we all love!
Taster’s Review:
NOTE: I wrote this review in Early May, but, I am scheduling it to publish just before the first day of Hanukkah, since it is a holiday/seasonal tea and probably only available during the holiday season.
This tea is so delicious!
The aroma of the dry leaf is so mouthwatering – it smells like jelly doughnuts and chocolate. YUM! Once brewed, the fragrance becomes more subdued, but I can still smell the chocolate and donuts!
The flavor is unbelievably – very much like chocolate and strawberry jelly filled donuts! I get the rich, creamy flavor of chocolate (although, yes, I would like a little more chocolate), the sweet, juicy flavor of strawberry, and even a delicious, baked cake flavor.
And let’s not forget the tea, because I taste that too! It provides a strong background of flavor – robust, malty black tea that mingles well with these tasty dessert flavors.
I’d recommend this tea to everyone – whether they celebrate Hanukkah or not! It is so YUMMY!
Strawberry Cupcake Black Tea from Simpson and Vail
Tea Type:
Black Tea
Where To Buy:
Simpson & Vail
Product Description:
Tasters Review:
I first tried this when I was in MAJOR need of some comfort food and let me tell you this sure did do the trick!
This flavored black tea has a strong black tea base. Followed by a strong Strawberry flavor. There’s also a dark chocolate flavor in there that is just as sturdy as the strawberry! There is a crusty type taste doing the jive in the middle of the sip. This has a slight bitter taste in parts of the sip but in a good way where it contributes to the overall flavor of this flavored black tea. As it cools it does seem to get a bit creamier…like frosting.
Comfort…in a cup…in more ways than one! YUM!
Darling Darjeeling from La Petite Cuillère
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Darjeeling)
As Sold By: Amoda Tea
Also Available at: La Petite Cuillère
Tea Description:
Cherry flavoured teas can often conjure up bad thoughts of cough syrup, so finding this gem was a happy surprise. The base for this tea – Darjeeling black tea, is soft and round and has been matched perfectly with a sweet and subtle cherry flavour. Adding a touch of milk to this brings out an incredible strawberry cream flavour.
This tea was part of the November Tea Tasting Box from Amoda Tea.
Taster’s Review:
This is the second tea from the Amoda Tea Tasting Box for November, and of the three teas, it was the one I was most excited to try for two reasons: first, it is the only one of the three that was an actual TEA and not a tisane. Second, it is a flavored Darjeeling!
Of the many different black tea types, Darjeeling seems to be the one that I see least often to serve as a base for flavored teas or tea blends. So, when I do happen to come across a flavored Darjeeling, I am eager to try it.
This Darling Darjeeling is a strawberry and cherry flavored Darjeeling, and I must say, I am really enjoying it. Sometimes cherry flavoring ends up tasting a bit like cough medicine, but, it doesn’t taste that way with this tea. It is a very pleasant taste: smooth, sweet and well-rounded. There is just enough tartness to it to keep it tasting authentic and not medicinal, and enough sweetness to keep me from puckering with every sip!
The strawberry is very subtle. And by very subtle, I mean almost absent. It does not come through strongly during the sip, although the flavor does develop somewhat as I continue to sip. But, where I notice the strawberry – a strong, delicious strawberry taste – is in the aftertaste. About five seconds after finishing the sip, I find a lovely strawberry taste come through, leaving my mouth tasting as though I had just bitten into a ripe, juicy strawberry. It is sweet and has that characteristic berry tartness. It’s quite enjoyable.
I am so glad that I had this opportunity to try this tea. Thanks, Amoda Tea!