If I am being honest, this is probably the tea in April’s tea box that I was least excited about. I blame the Rose Water for that. When I think Rose Water, I think of sickly sweet desserts like baklava and gulab jamun. I don’t mean any offense as I know these are loved by many but they just aren’t for me and I thought the same might be said for this tea. Add to that the fact that I don’t really love white teas and you might get my hesitation here.
However, this tea came in the monthly box which means someone took the time to carefully craft this tea, testing it and perfecting it until they felt it was worthy enough to be sold. When a friend once commented at a restaurant how weird a dish on the menu sounded and questioned why anyone would eat it, my father said that chefs don’t just put things on their menus willy nilly but rather they partake in trial and error until they think they came up with something that is worth serving in their restaurant and if nothing else, it is worth a try. That stuck with me and I think about it whenever I’m at a restaurant but also I think that applies here. So even though these aren’t flavors I love, I know that Lauren at A Quarter to Tea would not be sending a tea she didn’t think was awesomely delicious so the least I could do is give it a taste.
Lucky for me I had enough sense not to try and pass this along without sampling it because as soon as I cut open the package I knew I was in for a treat. The smell of the dry leaf just filled the air!
This is one tasty, TASTY tea!! It’s like a rich and buttery graham cracker or maybe a shortbread with a slight cinnamon sugar glaze. Sweet but no where near sickly. Just smooth. Sugary. Baked goods. Deliciousness. It took me by surprise but now that I have tried it, I can say with confidence I will be having this again.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
Sweetly floral white tea with vanilla, butter and a touch of cinnamon.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Gathering Berries from 52Teas. . . .
52 Teas has done a few houjicha/white tea blends, all of which I have enjoyed. I was particularly interested in this one because of the mulberries. If you have never seen mulberries, google them. They are cool looking. I have never eaten them or elderberries before. So I was definitely interested in trying this.
I always enjoy houjicha. It adds a warmth and toasty-ness to the cup. The white tea that Anne (mad tea artist at 52 Teas) adds usually rounds out the toasty-ness and gives it a fuzzy sweetness and maybe even a tad bit of floral flavor. Once steeped, this blend smelled fruity but I could also smell the toasty houjicha. Just like all the other houjicha/white tea blends from 52 teas, I really enjoyed this one. I can not speak to the specifics of how realistic the flavors of the berries were because aside from drinking this tea, I have never had them! What I can say, though, is that this tea was so good. I really like the fact that these berries are actually really sweet, and not tart (like raspberries or blackberries can be). I am actually now wanting to try elderberries and golden mulberries on their own to see if I like eating them. These ingredients are so different, and they really blend well with the tea leaves. I like that the houjicha/white tea brings this toasty warmth and the berries bring a sweet warmth.
Together they make a very enjoyable cup of tea!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green/White Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
Tea Description: One of my fellow tea blenders gave me the idea of blending Shou Mei (white tea) with Houjicha (roasted green tea) to create a base that’s mildly toasty. And I gotta tell you, I really like the result! The Shou Mei softens the rich toasty flavor of the Houjicha a little bit and creates a flavor that evokes thoughts of walking through the forest when the autumn leaves have fallen. (You’ll just have to try this to understand what I mean!)
The idea of walking through a forest after the autumn leaves have fallen brought thoughts of gathering berries to mind so I decided to turn that imagery into a tea! To the base of Shou Mei and Houjicha, I added some dried ‘wild’ berries: black currants, elderberries, blueberries and golden mulberries.
This is the kind of tea you want to brew a great big mug of and curl up in a warm, cozy blanket with a good book and that great big mug of this tea. It’s delightfully sweet and tart with a really lovely toasty tone. Deliciously different!
organic ingredients: white tea, roasted green tea, black currants, elderberries, blueberries, golden mulberries and natural flavors.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
White Pina Colada from Tea and Tins. . . .
I have kind of been on a roll here, trying all sorts of pina colada and coconut flavored teas. I have said it before and ill say it again, they both really are my favorite flavors in the summertime. I can honestly say, with 100% certainty, that thus far this White Pina Colada tea is hands down the best i’ve tried. I am SO GLAD I bought two ounces of it.
irst off it smells like pina colada mix, so right off the bat it is realistic and giving me visions of me laying on an island beach in a bikini catchin’ some rays. Second off, when it comes to taste- I swear my taste buds are dancing. The white tea is fluffy and creamy, the coconut is nutty and sweet, and the pineapple is subtle and fruity. Altogether, it forms the most amazing pina colada tea. The taste lingers long after the sip is gone, and it leaves me wanting more. This hot cup is so fragrant and enticing. I literally could close my eyes and pretend I was laying poolside sipping a pina colada! I guarantee this blend would be ahhh-mazing iced in the middle of summer. I also have the bright idea that with a splash of milk, this would be an awesome frozen tea-pop. This is definitely a must try, everyone.
The perfect summer beverage!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Tea and Tins
Description
Ingredients: Bai Mudan white tea, shredded coconut, pineapple bits, coconut and pineapple flavor.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
White Peach Iced Tea from Story of My Tea. . . .
Story of My Tea has been one company that has peaked my interest several times. Between their social campaigns and reading the thoughts of fellow tea bloggers, Story of My Tea appears to be one that we should take note of.
Especially with their new iced tea offerings.
I’m one of those tea drinkers who is extremely picky about their peach tea flavorings. It seems that artificial peach flavors are a dime a dozen, but teas that have that fresh crisp peach tea are ones that you have to search for. So to say I was skeptical of Story of My Tea’s White Peach Iced Tea is a fair statement.
Since there are a few of us at the office who adore iced tea, I thought I’d share and brew up a pitcher for all to enjoy. Story of My Tea’s White Peach Iced Tea is already in a convenient tea bag that is perfect for just throwing in a pitcher, fill the pitcher with cold water, and you are all set. Refrigerate for a few hours and you are greeted with iced tea.
I poured a few glasses full and delivered the tea to my co-workers. The feedback I received was pretty unanimous. This was the best peach tea that had ever had. Smooth, sweet, with a delicious peach undertone that was fresh and perfect for the upcoming summer months. I took my first sip and I have to agree with them.
This iced tea is one of the better ones I’ve had. Overall, the flavors were crisp, fresh, and full of peachy goodness. Lush, silky, juicy peach notes swirl and mingle in every sip. White Peach Iced Tea is one that demands attention in a very subtle way. And since this tea is packed in an iced tea bag that you can keep adding in fresh cold water to keep the brew going all day.
If you are looking for a great tea to share, I highly recommend this one. It is a crowd pleaser for sure! In just a few days, the Kickstarter Campaign for this iced tea and the rest of the iced tea collection will be going live. I have a feeling I’ll be supporting this one!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Story of My Tea
Description
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All natural specialty iced teas.
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Picked to taste great when cold brewed.
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Pre-packed into filter pouches using a special algorithm to deliver a spot on flavor.
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Makes 1 quart of cold steeped iced tea.
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No Equipment or hot water necessary.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Candied Chestnut from The Tea Spot. . . .
This tea tastes like a baby shower for a child of unknown gender. Try to imagine the scene: comfortable, lighthearted, full of pastel yellows, whites, and light green gifts. Everyone’s in a good mood. It’s sweet and exciting and soft.
Boom. That’s this tea. It’s a smooth, buttery light flavor that is sweet. It tastes like nuts. It tastes like sugar. It tastes like calories.
The Tea Spot likens this tea’s flavor to a wedding cake, which I hadn’t realized until after I started this review’s “baby shower motif.” But you can see that I was spot on with their intentions!
This synchronicity is because I’m very, very tapped into the collective unconscious, you guys. Basically at one with the Universe.
I say that sarcastically, but when I was a kid, my grandmother totally had me believing I was psychic. She thought SHE was, and it had “skipped a generation” down to me. AS THOSE SORTS OF THINGS DO. She told me it was possible to hug trees and pick up their vibes. I always sensed that the trees were calm. (In retrospect: what would a rage-tree FEEL like?)
If only she knew about this “I can tell the intent of the flavor-maker” thing.
She’d be like “you can feel the intent of the tea-makers THROUGH THE TEA. My god, you are SO GIFTED. You are a CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK.”
I wish you could all meet this woman. You guys would love her. She is very gauche about her tea, but oh god she’s a character. (She buys the cheapest grocery store bags and uses them over and over again. It makes me want to cry when she does it. My mother has to shake her head at me so I don’t say anything.) She’d probably tell you all about your inner workings.
And tell you to have children. She would nag you to give her a great-grandchild.
If you succeed, I promise to serve this at your baby shower.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: The Tea Spot
Description
This full leaf white tea will indulge your senses and make you dream of sweet sugarplums. Adorned with beautiful white flowers, this tea has sweet, light chestnut notes and a smooth buttery finish that lasts through multiple infusions. The Bai Yun tea leaves impart a great body & flavor which lasts over multiple infusions. Sipping this dessert tea is like indulging in a slice of decadent wedding cake… without the calories!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!