If there’s one tea-quest I am always on, it’s finding the perfect creamy vanilla blend.
A few years ago, my absolute favorite apple custard tea was discontinued, and ever since, I’ve been hunting for the perfect creamy, unctuous replacement. So when a tea claims to be “creamy vanilla”, I usually snap it up before you can say “cuppa”.
This offering from David’s claims to be a lightly floral oolong with hints of creamy vanilla. Ding ding ding! The dry leaf smells incredible, like thick and creamy vanilla custard. Brewed, the oolong unfurls beautifully into full leaves, leaving a light liquor and full-bodied cup.
I love this blend most with a hint of cream and a touch of honey, which takes it more from floral-vanilla (as an undoctored cup) to the creamy, custards vanilla that I’m craving. Is this tea a perfect sip-alike for my beloved discontinued tisane?
Unfortunately not. But it’s a delicious cup that I reach for time and time again when I want something light, creamy, and dessert-like with some unusual undertones. The hunt continues, but I’ll keep drinking this one in the meantime.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: David’s Tea
Description
We’re still searching for the secret to eternal bliss, but we’re pretty sure one cup of this blend will get you at least five minutes’ worth. It all starts with the very best leaves: a premium oolong from China’s Fujian Province called Huang Jin Gui. A popular wedding gift in China, Huang Jin Gui is prized for its pretty yellow colour and romantic floral scent. Here we bring out this special leaf’s orchid aroma with a touch of vanilla. The result? A perfectly balanced, subtle cup that’s equal parts rich, creamy and floral. Feeling blissful yet? (MK Kosher).
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Ginger Lily Oolong from Tea Ave. . . . .
Tea Ave has some of the most NATURALLY AMAZING Oolongs I have ever tried. Recently I was luck enough to sample Ginger Lily Oolong by Tea Ave and I knew right away I just HAD to share my thoughts and feelings with you!
Ginger Lily Oolong by Tea Ave features an Alishan Jin Xuan Oolong base with low roasting and oxidation levels. It’s light, sweet, smooth, and somewhat earthy with a subtle ginger finish that gently lingers onto the aftertaste.
My mind was puzzled as I sipped on Ginger Lily Oolong by Tea Ave. How could this flavor happen to such a light oolong? Tea Ave’s Ginger Lily Oolong is prepared using the ancient method, in which the tea absorbs the flower fragrance during the baking progress. It then produces a scented tea that’s aromatic and flavorful without using any additives or chemicals.
It’s mild, soothing, refreshing, FRESH, and almost like experiencing SUMMER in a cup! Because I live in the snow belt area of the east coast of the US I always try to hang on to every bit of summer that I can. Ginger Lily Oolong by Tea Ave certainly helped me do that. Maybe not literally but at least in my dreams while sipping on this lovely tea!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Tea Ave
Description
Our Ginger Lily Oolong is prepared using the ancient method, in which the tea absorbs the flower fragrance during the baking progress, producing a scented tea that’s aromatic and flavorful without using any additives or chemicals. It’s good for you and delicious. Ginger Lily Oolong has a mild, soothing aroma.
Ginger Lily Oolong is sweet and smooth with a light body. Ginger Lily blossoms from Taiwan are blended with high mountain oolong tea (Alishan Jin Xuan) to yield a tea that has an earthy oolong taste with a light, sweet ginger finish with pleasing honey notes. A lovely, approachable, refreshing tea. Call it summer in a cup.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Cui Feng Oolong Tea from Tea From Taiwan
Today I thought I would take a moment and enjoy a tea. Like really enjoy. It seems sometimes life just goes by so fast that the art of taking the time for yourself gets set aside for another day. At least that is how my life seems with a house full of twin teenagers, a pre-teen boy and a 7 year old with a puppy nipping at the heels of all of us. I just feel like sometimes I don’t take the proper time to reflect. So today, that is exactly what I’m going to do.
Traditionally, I don’t find myself drinking straights teas and that is a shame. I always seem to gravitate towards those unusual flavored blends, and there is nothing wrong with that. I just feel that maybe I need to become more of a well rounded tea drinker and that starts with this oolong from Tea from Taiwan.
Oolongs and green teas are my favorite. Especially when they have that particular rich buttery undertone and a hint of a creamy finish. Those are my favorites. I was hoping this Cui Feng Oolong would deliver those notes for me. After my first cup of this brew, I have to say this tea definitely delivers.
The first infusion delivered a fresh slightly floral vegetal notes swirl around your tastebuds with a lingering astringent hint. There was a lovely
creamy finish to end each sip. So many different flavors that really work well.
With the second infusion, I noticed those vegetal notes lessened quite a bit and gave way to a buttery tone that helped make that creamy finish even more prominent. There are hints of a sweetness through each sip. Really lovely and soul warming.
Third infusion was very similar to the second infusion. Lovely buttery notes with a tender sweetness.
All in all, this tea is delicate yet robust at times. I loved the simple yet complex notes that came across with each infusion. Intriguing and extremely interesting. One of those teas that you never seem to set your cup down while you are drinking it.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Tea from Taiwan
Description
Li Shan Cui Feng Oolong Tea
This is an exceptionally smooth, full flavored oolong tea from the Li Shan (Pear Mountain) tea region of Taiwan.
Cui Feng (翠峰) oolong tea is grown at an altitude of 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) in cool, moist conditions, producing some of the best oolong tea in the world.
Cui Feng brews to a rich, honey-colored liquor, highly fragrant and with a smooth, robust flavor, full in the mouth.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Creamy Toasted Coconut from Simpson & Vail
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Tea Description:
A perfect tea for afternoon enjoyment! This delightfully light tea brews to an ecru color and has the taste of baked goodies with an undertone of an earthy oolong. The rich, exotic aroma is accompanied by the smooth, delicious taste of coconut macaroon with vanilla accents. Great hot or cold.
Ingredients: Oolong tea, cacao nibs organic, vanilla beans, organic coconut pieces, flavorings and blue cornflower petals.
Brew tea at 195º – steep for 4 minutes.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The other day I came home to an incredibly considerate package from Simpson & Vail. I just love this company and recommend them all the time. They have an amazing story, customer service, and a line of tea that just makes you drool.
This oolong has been one that I instantly grabbed out of the box and have been drinking ever since. I had just finished up my a delicious flavored oolong from Handmade Teas and was wanting another one. This one is completely satisfied that craving!
I scooped a few spoonfuls into my tea pot and prepared my water to 195. The lovely tea blend had a rich bright coconut aroma. I couldn’t wait to try it. I allowed the tea to steep for about 4 minutes and poured myself a huge cuppa. Sat down and took my first sip.
You ever have a day where you need a cuppa tea just to soothe your soul after a rough day? This tea is the answer! A lovely dose of roasted toasted coconut and oolong with a sweet creamy vanilla undertone and a very very slight chocolate note. Wow, this tea is one of those teas that reminds me why I drink tea. I can’t get enough of it. I’m typically not a fan of tea blends that feature coconut as the spotlight but this one has the perfect amount of coconut that mixes so well with the oolong. The flavors just go together perfectly. I’m literally on my fourth cuppa of the same infusion and I can’t get enough.
If you haven’t tried Simpson & Vail, I highly recommend taking a second and checking out their offerings. You’ll be glad you did! I’m off to brew up another cup!
Bananas Foster from Handmade Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Handmade Tea
Tea Description:
Handmade Tea is a once a month tea subscription company. Each month you receive a high quality tea that is unique and fantastic!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Bananas Foster is a dessert that I just can’t pass up. I love bananas and when you add in caramel and other goodies. . .I’m in! And when tea blends are created with this idea in mind to make a Bananas Foster tea, I just get giddy.
This tea is an oolong based tea with banana slices, butterscotch chips and cinnamon, along with a few other spices. The tea smells amazing and I couldn’t wait to dive into the tea and check it out. I eagerly steeped up the tea. I couldn’t wait to try this. I’m always on the look out for an amazing banana tea.
Brewed with water at about 190 degrees and allowed the tea to steep for about 4 minutes. Once the tea was poured into my cup, I allowed the tea to cool off for a few before trying it. First sip in, I was very pleased by the flavors I was getting. Now I will say, I still haven’t experienced any banana flavor in this tea. I can see the banana chips in the blend but I just am not picking up those notes. What I do get is this amazing silky smooth vegetal flavor with a caramel sweetness that just makes you smile. Every now again I pick up a honey note and butterscotch flavors. I wish I picked up more of that butterscotch and obviously the banana but having an oolong that is sweet and vegetal all in the same, that works for me! The tea is still delicious and I will have no problem finishing it. I had recently cancelled my subscription to Handmade Tea just because of the amount of tea I currently have, but I have to say, I don’t think I can quit them! I can’t miss any of these fun flavors!