Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: The Rabbit Hole
Tea Description:
Transport yourself back to the days when an apple on a stick, smothered in toffee was nothing to be ashamed of. Here’s a tea to remind you of times when visits to the Dentist weren’t so expensive.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I was really excited to try this tea. The dry leaf smells incredible – it really smells just like the toffee apple cart at the carnival! YUM!
At first, the flavor was a bit ambiguous, I could taste hints of Oolong and hints of apple and a sweetness that might be toffee-like, but, it wasn’t really coming together for me the way I thought it should. Mostly it just tasted like a sweet, warm liquid with a creamy mouthfeel.
It took a couple of sips before the flavors began to come into focus, and after about the third or fourth sip, I could really taste the toffee apple flavor as well as the Oolong notes. And then, suddenly, my eyes seemed to pop open and I exclaimed (out loud, even):
WOW! This is really good.
It’s a good thing that no body was around at the time, as I’m often given a good jesting for my enthusiasm for tea, and I know that if someone were around to hear my exclamation, I wouldn’t hear the end of it.
The flavors all seem to get along well here. The sip starts with hints of flavor from the Oolong – buttery and smooth, with floral tones and even a soft vegetal note. A light touch of spice – like warm cinnamon – approaches the palate next, followed immediately by the apple notes. Just before the finish I notice the toffee flavors come through, tasting very much like that sticky candied coating of a candied apple. There is very little astringency, making for a smooth taste from start to finish, followed by an aftertaste with its distinct apple-y flav0r and a kiss of autumnal spice.
This is one seriously tasty apple tea. All that’s missing is a Ferris wheel – because this tea is like a carnival in a teacup!
English Toffee from Simpson & Vail
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Product Description:
English Toffee is a sweet made with sugar and butter. This decadent tea has a sweet, creamy taste with no calories! Blended with black teas from China and Sri Lanka, our English Toffee tea brews to a deep amber cup with a light butterscotch taste.
Ingredients: black teas, flavoring, and marigold petals.
Taster’s Review:
I’m liking this one a lot. I have to admit that there was some initial disappointment because the chocoholic in me wanted some chocolate flavor in with the English Toffee flavors (when I think of English Toffee, I think of the candy bars like Heath or Scor, or even the decadent gourmet toffees from Cary’s of Oregon, all of which are enrobed in chocolate). That chocoholic sometimes forgets that “English Toffee” is that yummy, buttery, caramel-y crunchy candy under the chocolate coating!
And, this is indeed yummy, buttery and caramel-y rich. All that’s missing is the crunchy texture. There is a bit of a burnt sugar – I almost want to say bitterness, but I mean it in the most delicious way possible – taste to it, reminding me of the days when I was in my early 20s and I actually had time to make confections such as English Toffee (I used to make my own toffee, break it into tiny bits, and then mix it to cookie dough with chocolate chips to make my own homemade toffee cookies. YUM!)
This English Toffee tea has all the flavor that I’d experience with my homemade English Toffee, plus the delicious taste of black tea. The black tea base lends a solid background of flavor and a bit of astringency to this cup without overwhelming the buttery sweet flavor of the toffee. I would categorize this black tea as a somewhat mild black tea – it is strong but not overbearing – and it makes a delightful base for the flavors of toffee.
A delightful autumnal blend that would be delicious to serve any time of year!
Toffee Delight from Element Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Element Tea
Product Description:
With real toffee bits, this is a decadent dessert tea with a tantalizing taste! Surprise guests with this delicious alternative to coffee.
Taster’s Review:
Yum! This is so good!
As some of you know, once upon a time, I used to blend/flavor my own line of teas. I have since closed that business because I came to realize that while I loved the artistic aspect of the business, I didn’t like the business aspect. I’m an artist, and I find myself much more suited to drinking tea and writing about it than trying to sell it.
But I digress.
I mentioned my previous business only because during those days, I created a blend called “Sweet Caramel O’Mine” (yes, I’m a huge Guns N’ Roses fan). I have had several people ask me since then about suitable replacements for this blend, and at that point, I really didn’t have an answer for them. I blended that blend because I couldn’t find a caramel flavored tea that was caramel-y enough while still maintaining the tea flavor. So I created one.
However, I think I have finally found a caramel flavored tea that I could suggest as a suitable replacement for that coveted blend.
And … this is it.
Yep. Now, I can’t say that this is as good as my Sweet Caramel O’Mine (because there is just a wee bit of bias there, that was one of my babies, you understand). But this is the first caramel flavored tea that I’ve tried that tastes so good that I would recommend it as a substitute for those who are missing my Sweet Caramel O’Mine.
Really, I can think of no higher praise for a tea than to recommend it as a replacement for one of my now retired blends.
The black tea is rich and delicious. The caramel/toffee flavor is sweet and creamy. Together they create an amazingly decadent delight.
Well done, Element Tea. Well done!
Rooibos Toffee Tide from Drink T
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Drink T
Company Description:
Rooibos was popularized by South Africans, who have been making herbal tea from this little red bush for generations. Rooibos comes from the Dutch word rooibosche, which means “red bush”. It is most often enjoyed on ice with a slice of lemon and some sugar or honey.
Our Rooibos Toffee Tide gives you the sweet, slightly nutty flavor of this African “bush” tea blended with hazelnuts and creamy milk cacao to satisfy any sweet tooth. Great hot or cold.
Taster’s Review:
YUM! This is one of the most delicious rooibos blends I have ever tasted. But, beware: this tea can become addictive!
I have tasted a lot of very good rooibos blends lately, but this one is really flavored very well. The sweet flavor of buttery toffee marries very well with the naturally sweet, woodsy flavor of the rooibos to create a delicious and comforting treat that is ideal for any time of the day. Kids are sure to love this one too!
The flavor of this tisane is so sweet and satisfying, and would make an excellent dessert replacement. Even if you choose to sweeten it (it really doesn’t need additional sweetener because it is quite sweet on its own) this rooibos tisane will be much friendlier to the waistline than a piece of candy! This tea lets you have your candy and eat it (well, drink it) too!