Today was the day that I finally decided I would go through my many teas that I have received from Sipsby. If you aren’t familiar with Sipsby, I encourage you to take a moment and check out their service. For $15 a month, you are sent a curated box of teas from a variety of tea companies based on your flavor profile. Each month the teas vary and I’ve discovered and rediscovered tea companies that I adore.
Silver Needle has always been a favorite of mine and as soon as I saw the Silver Needle from Teabook in my stash, I knew today was the day for this tea.
I brewed this tea with water at 180F and infused in my Wall Infuser Mug, the perfect combo!
After I allowed the water to cool for a moment and I instantly picked up notes of fresh stone fruits like peaches and a delightful contrast of hay. Each sip is as satisfying as the last- I really enjoy the two flavors playing off each other and after having a cold for a few weeks now, I’m glad I can taste both flavors.
This tea maybe simple but the flavors are spot on and quite enjoyable, just what my afternoon needed.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Teabook
Description
This tea does not appear to be on the website but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Strawberry Shortcake from The NecessiTeas. . . .
I want to start by saying that CuppaGeek sent me this sample a long time ago and I stupidly let it get lost in my stash. Though my teas are kept away from Sunlight in a cool and dry place, this was only stored in a single ziploc bag and might have had some flavor deterioration due to improper storage. As a result, my review should be considered with that in mind…
When I looked up the NecessiTeas’ Strawberry Shortcake on their website, it was suggested to try it hot or poured over ice. I decided to try it both ways since the sample I was sent was quite generous. I brewed both the hot and iced tea for 3 minutes in 185F degree water, my standard temperature for brewing white teas.
The hot tea is very subtly flavored but pleasantly so. Again the subtlety of the flavoring could be due to flavor deterioration from age and improper storage but then again a Strawberry Shortcake is a lighter and more gently flavored cake so that could also be intentional. Subtle as it is, there is still all the components of its namesake in the flavor. The white tea makes this buttery, like an angel food cake, while there is a smooth creaminess to the tea as a whole. The strawberry sneaks up on you but really fills out the aftertaste. It is good and now I am kicking myself for not trying it sooner because I want more strawberry and more cream but perhaps there was more when the tea first arrived. I guess I will never know.
The iced tea I don’t like as much. That creaminess that is portrayed in the hot cup is entirely lost here. Instead it is a whole lot of white tea flavors with a touch of strawberry tucked in. No cream. No cake. More sweet hay notes and that little bit of fruit. It is also just the slightest bit soapy from the base.
All in all, this tea is middle of the pack for me. Granted I might have felt differently if I’d try this sooner but I also might not have. There are other teas that have been stored in a similar fashion for an equal amount of time that still pack a flavor punch. This is just too subtle and since I don’t love white teas, I find myself seeking more flavor. It is pleasant enough but one I feel I might forget as I continue on my tea journey.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: The NecessiTeas
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for white tea blends that are!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
White Cap Chai from Beach House Teas
White teas have not always been my favorite kind of tea, but they have grown on me with every new flavor I try. Since I already like chai teas, I was predisposed to enjoy White Cap Chai from Beach House teas.
This is a wonderful take on the lighter side of chai. The white tea is earthy and smooth, and gently floral. It makes for a vegetal chai without being grassy like green tea. I was thrilled to find a new low caffeine option for chai that isn’t based in rooibos teas.
I adore the mix of spices in this tea, especially the addition of fennel. Fennel occupies that space between sweet spice and savory herb, and brings a new layer to the expected spices like cinnamon or ginger. Added peppercorns also play into the more savory earthiness of the flavors.
Despite some big chai spice players like cloves, anise, and cardamom, the spices themselves are gentle enough to still allow you to taste the white tea and more understated peony flavors. This kind of balance with a spicy tea really shows that the blenders at Beach House Teas know their stuff.
I will have to stock up on White Cap Chai to help balance out all the other black tea or rooibos chais I’ve got in my cupboard. White Cap Chai is versatile and unexpected, perfect for the changing of seasons or for my ever-changing palette for tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Beach House Tea Co.
Description:
White Cap Chai is a lighter version of the traditional chai making it delicate and unique. This beautiful chai is made with 100% organic white peony tea leaves and organic spices. It’s a modern twist on a sweet and spicy classic. The chai gives you a smooth, mellow taste with subtle layers of flavor.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
White Peony from Swallowtail Tea. . . .
Whenever a tea company offers a sample pack, it’s a great chance to try out teas that you aren’t sure you’ll like. Recently I tried a sample pack of several different teas from Swallowtail Tea company and White Peony tea was a lovely new find.
I’m not always in the mood for white teas. They have a unique smooth, earthiness that is different than pu erh, black, or green teas. In the right blend, this is a winning flavor, in the wrong blend it ends up tasting strange. White Peony from Swallowtail tea was absolutely a winning white tea.
This tea is lightly flavored, mainly allowing the white tea itself to fill out the flavor profile. The tea brews up deep and golden with the buttery and earthy tones I expect from white tea. The floral peony is gentle but present, not at all like perfume, but instead much more natural like crushed dried flowers, or getting a whiff of blooming flowers from a garden as you walk past.
White Peony is a great spring and summertime tea. It is refreshing without being too vegetal or too sweet, and bright and floral without giving you hayfever. A perfect balance of butter and blossoms, suitable for a hot or iced mug on a sunny day.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Swallowtail Tea
Description:
This least processed of all our teas has a shimmering golden liquor with a delicate floral fragrance.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Day 24 of Plum Deluxe’s Tea Advent Calendar- Spoilers
Day 24. . .we are almost there to the end and I have to say, this has been a tea adventure for sure. Today’s tea had me giddy as soon as I saw the title. . . Snow Covered Blueberry White Tea! Squee!! I am not a black tea girl at heart and a good chunk of the teas in this advent calendar have been black tea based. So I’m beyond excited with the idea of this white tea.
White Tea, blueberries, and peppermint are not a flavor combo I’ve had before but I’m happy to give this tea a try. I prep my water up to the recommended 175F and allow the tea to brew for 4 minutes and cool for 2 more. Take my first sip and I am delighted.
Blueberries, white tea, and peppermint are all present flavors and not one flavor is more prominent than the other. I will say that I wish the peppermint flavor was a bit more highlighted just to elevate this tea a bit more on the festive level, but that is just me. Beyond that wish, this tea is delightful. The flavors are more on the lighter side so I can’t say that it wowed me away, but it definitely is a solid cuppa and one I won’t have a problem having another serving of. Just a delightful ditty to enjoy on this cold blustery afternoon.
I can see this blend being a great one to share with friends and families that may not necessarily be tea drinkers because it does have a lighter touch. A great tea to have on hand when you are looking for a lighter tea to carry you away!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Plum Deluxe
Description
This tea is part of the tea advent calendar offered by Plum Deluxe.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
