Vanilla Orchid

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!

Mary

Hi there! I'm Mary, a 27-year-old mental health professional living with my fiancé and our quirky kitten in the Midwest! I've loved tea for as long as I can remember-- in fact, I have vivid memory of being four or five in a tea shop and being mesmerized by all the tea flavors and proclaiming that I "was going to be kind of adult who drank tea, not coffee." A stint living (and tea-drinking my way through) London and twenty-some years later, I'm still channeling that sassy four-year-old and loving my tea habit. When I'm not sipping a cuppa, you'll find me reading, doing yoga, traveling, exploring my own city, planning our wedding and experimenting with different healthful and healing foods in my kitchen.

This post was posted in DAVIDsTEA, Oolong

Vanilla Orchid from David's Tea — Vanilla Orchid from David’s Tea

Tea Information:

Leaf Type: Oolong

Where to Buy: David’s Tea

Tea Description:

A sweet romance.
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?

Ingredients: Huang Jin Gui Oolong from Anxi in Fujian Province, natural vanilla flavouring.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Vanilla Orchid from Davids Tea is in one word – delicious.

Vanilla Orchid has lingering after taste of vanilla when you take a breath almost like a vanilla lip gloss does. Of course if you are a guy, well a guy who does not wear lip gloss anyway, that may be lost on you. The idea though is that this tea is not only a wonderful vanilla flavor but the flavor keeps coming back on the palate reminding you that you must take, can’t resist another sip!

Now it is not all that complex. I feel I could make this – mixing some good vanilla with oolong but with this I don’t have to.

As I said it’s simple – not very complex by any means but still very good.

Anyone who loves vanilla and oolong – plus flavored teas should try it.

The oolong base does do its part. It seems to be a good oolong with a nice base flavor, buttery and nutty which of course work wonderfully with vanilla! Its a light oolong however, and normally I am prone to favor a darker roasted oolong but I still can’t help coming back to this tea, making more.

Now those of you who follow this blog or know me from Steepster, know I am not a huge fan of David’s Teas but now and then one grabs my attention and I must try it. I am glad I gave this one a try. I could easily see this being reordered in the near future.

As for the floral aspect, it does get a little lost but you can taste it now and then. I think if it had a little more of a floral note it would have a better character overall.

The aroma of quality vanilla is nearly overwhelming in the steeped cup but the flavor is a bit more subtle – but then again – it sneaks out, peeks out, and says a big “hello” long after the sip. I appreciate that about this tea. I like a tea that lingers as I go about my day, reminding me “sip some more!”

The leaves are large and gorgeous when steeped, but can really only get 2 infusions before becoming too weak to be re-steep worthy.

The vanilla flavor is that of a really good vanilla bean ice cream or even french vanilla, its really quite creamy and rich. Its a dessert you can have anytime.

At first the cup confused me, I was not sure if I loved it or if I was just so happy to have something vanilla in my stash, as I do love a vanilla tea, but the more I sipped the more I have found myself going back to it, longing for it. Yes I admit, I have found a David’s Tea product that I really love.

Time for a re-steep!

Azzrian

This post was posted in Oolong