I usually reserve my smokier teas for cool or cold weather since I find them very comforting, but cloudy, rainy days spent gazing out the window qualify, too!
Tea Queens sells through consultants, and you can host a tea break or a tea party to learn about tea and to taste some of their offerings. If there is no consultant in your area, the website instructs you to call customer service, so I assume you can order directly from them.
This Russian Caravan is a blend of Assam, Keemun with lychee, and Lapsang Souchong. There are no steeping instructions on the website so I went with 200F and four minutes just to pamper the Assam a bit.
The resulting tea is so light I thought perhaps I had made a mistake, but I have another Lapsang blend that comes out a similar color.
This went very well with our breakfast of blueberry scones. The company sells scone mix, too, by the way! And teapot cookie cutters and colorful decorating sugars.
There is a touch of briskness from the Assam, and it is nicely smokey. I like smoke, and a few Russian Caravan blends have disappointed me by being a bit too tame, but this one was just right. I really don’t taste much lychee, even the cups I drank after the scone was long gone. I think mainly I pick up a general fruitiness from the the Assam and lychee together.
I have made a lot of new friends by having people over who want to learn about tea, where it is grown, how it is processed, how to prepare it, why to drink. I think the idea of hosting a party where an expert comes to conduct your own personal tea flight is marvelous! Especially since it gives you a discount on your tea, and real teaheads know how outrageous the tea budget can get!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea Queens
Description
A blend of Assam and Keemun with Chinese lychee tea imparts a wonderful fruitiness. Lapsang Souchong adds a gentle touch of smokiness to this one of a kind blend.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Nilgiri / Tea Queens . . . .
There are three main tea growing areas; Assam, Darjeeling, and the lesser known Nilgiri. These teas come from the Southern portion of India. This is the first time I’ve tried a plain black from the region and I’m amazed at how different all three are. While Assam tends to be known for their stronger bodied teas with a punch in the face, and Darjeeling known for their muscatel and delicate flavors, Nilgiri on the other hand is somewhat a mix of both. Woodsy flavors mix with very subtle fruity notes to form a light bodied brew. It’s smooth without any astringency. This is the type of tea that is best consumed on it’s own. Food in general is not a good pairing because the flavors are so light and delicate.
Just as a side note I wanted to mentioned how impressed I am with the company that produces this tea. Burnside estates located in Kotagiri Taluk in the “Blue Mountains” of the Nilgiris in South India. They are a sustainable company focused not only on good tea but also on making sure their employees are properly cared for and the eco-friendliness of this company is superb. If you have time please go to their website and give them a look!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea Queens
Description:
A smooth, gentle and mellow black tea from the Burnside Estate in Southern India. This classic and elegant tea is rich with a slightly woody and fruity flavor.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
