Apricot Vanilla Creme from Tazo Tea. . . .

by VariaTEA

Apricot Vanilla Creme, a white tea by Tazo, one that I had never seen prior to the arrival of a traveling teabox. My past experiences with Tazo have been nothing special but this particular teabag has me intrigued. I blame the “creme” since that’s one of those trigger words that catches my eye. “Vanilla” is another. So when I saw this, I knew it was a tea I wanted to try.’

I opened the teabag and the smell of stone fruit and vanilla filled the air. As per the recommended steeping parameters on the teabag, I steeped this for 3 minutes at 175 degrees.

This actually is quiet nice. Definitely one of the better Tazo teas I have tried and thankfully it delivers on all that is promised. Apricot? Check. Vanilla? Check. Creme? Check. The base is also present and though I wish it was more muted, it is by no means offensive. It contributes a touch of bitter that slightly distracts from the flavors but is not as invasive as I thought it might have been.

All in all, I am impressed. This is flavorful and given its a teabag, its a no muss, no fuss sort of treat.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  White
Where to Buy:  Tazo Tea
Description

This treat of a white tea delights with hints of fresh apricot & Tahitian vanilla.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

VariaTEA

Hey there! My name is Rachel. I’m a twenty-something from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who loves dogs and has a bit of an obsession with tea. As a child I hated the stuff since all I ever knew was Red Rose (no offense to Red Rose). However, a few years ago that all changed. I was on a diet and desperate for new flavors without adding calories and that’s when I turned to tea. I started off by going to DAVIDsTEA and Teavana for all their dessert-inspired flavors, and since I didn’t know any better, I bought 100 grams each of about twenty-something different teas. This was okay for the teas I liked but for those I didn’t I needed to find some way of getting rid of them. Enter Steepster.com. This is where I met some incredible tea friends, discovered tea swaps, and learned of so many amazing tea companies. My desire to try all the teas grew and since joining three years ago I have tried over a thousand different teas. I have learned what ingredients I love and I have learned what flavors I don’t like. I determined my go-to brewing method is Western-style with no added milk or sweeteners, though I also enjoy cold brewing, iced teas, teapops, lattes, and smoothies. I have yet to brew gong-fu style but I hope to do so just as soon as I get the proper teaware to do it. About a year ago, I actually stopped drinking tea but as my stash of over 200 teas started aging I decided I needed to respark my interest. I chose to take a 365 days of tea challenge on Instagram in which I post a new tea picture every day. So far it has been rather successful as I find myself drinking (and buying) more and more tea each day. Plus it enabled CuppaGeek to find me and invite me here to SororiTea Sisters.

This post was posted in Tazo Tea, White Tea

Bourbon Smoked White Tea – Embrew Teas. . . .

by Karatics

I am not going to lie but I was very wary of this tea for one of my first teas by Embrew, Creamy Honey Oolong, was one of my first negative reviews. But then again I chock that up to not liking honey. This tea surprised me, to say the least. For I haven’t had a close relationship with white teas but I did know that white tea leaves were the ones that lacked the most flavor. But not this tea blend, this tea had a depth and a smokiness that left me wanting cup after cup.

Now as the title suggests, this tea’s base is white tea but it is the sugar that is included in the bag that really makes it stand out. To be specific this tea has bourbon smoked sugar and not being the hugest fan of bourbon I was skeptical. So to my surprise, I found this tea to be light but also to have a bold sweetness that lingered on my tongue. And I was happy to also note that the sugar that is included in the bag was a perfect amount, not too sweet in the slightest. But my favorite part of the tea, other than the taste, had to be the smell. The smell was an amazing blend of oaky sweetness that made me imagine that I was in a study with a roaring fire with a fantasy novel placed in my lap. I swear I need to find this as a candle because when winter rolls around I feel that this will be the perfect scent to fill my house.

Now you are probably wondering how much this will set you back if you want to get a cup. Well, it is a pretty penny and there is only one option for an amount that you can get. Ten tea bags at the asking price of $15.95. So basically $1.60 per tea bag. I honestly wish there was a bigger option, like a 25 pack of tea but it is what it is.

Now, will I buy this tea? I will say yes but this will be a splurge tea. But if I did find this tea being served at my local tea shop I will happily pay $2 for it. I would also buy this tea for someone who doesn’t have a large collection of tea and is always on the go, for they don’t have to worry about the sugar for it is already premixed! But for now this blend is on the horizon and I hope soon that this will be in my tea collection.

See you for the next cuppa!

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  White
Where to Buy:  Embrew Tea
Description

This African white tea comes from the delicate immature leaves of the plant that produce a mild, but sweet fragrance of baked bread and white peach that infuses quickly. The real hero is the Bourbon Smoked Sugar already blended inside the tea bag, which steeps with a subtle charred oak aroma.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Karatics

I am an old soul and a tea lover and my days are even better when I have a nice cuppa and a piece of classic literature. I have an appreciation for most teas but my most favored ones are of the Earl Grey variety, especially Lady Grey. Even though my tea tastes are more of the classical range, I would not turn down something different. P.S. I am also a lover of video games especially ones of the RPG genre.

This post was posted in Embrew

Coconut Lychee from The NecessiTeas. . . .

by VariaTEA

Hello coconut and lychee. Definitely some great summer flavors, all atop a light white base. who wouldn’t love a pop of sunshine in their day? .

I enjoy both coconut and lychee and though I have not seen them together often, I can see them blending really well. Unfortunately, this wasn’t around when I placed my Necessiteas order last fall because I probably would have snatched this up quick. Luckily for me, there was a small sample lingering in a traveling teabox that came my way.

Comprised of white tea, organic coconut, safflower petals, goji berries and natural and organic flavors, the dry leaf not only smells delightfully of fruity coconut but looks quite lovely too. Steeped for 3 minutes at 185 degrees, I am left with a cup of tea radiating the smell of coconut throughout my kitchen.

Given the scent, it is no wonder that coconut is the strongest flavor component here. Thick and creamy and fresh, reminiscent of the white flesh of the nut itself. The base is a bit floral which ties in nicely to the coconut while helping to create the lychee taste. It is very nice but the tea itself is heavier than I anticipated in the sense that the mouthfeel is quite dense for a tea you would expect to be light and summery. I blame the coconut but I also don’t mind so much.

I enjoyed my sample of this blend but I don’t know how often I could reach for it before I grew tired. It certainly is nice every now and then but it’s potent and therefore I think this can get old quick.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  White
Where to Buy:  The NecessiTeas
Description

I have a feeling fresh lychees are near impossible to find for about 99% of us, so…. for all of those who have never tasted a lychee, this tea is for you. Lychees are, however, very tasty. They are sweet and a bit floral, and they pair extremely well with coconut and that’s exactly what I’ve done with this blend. For something extra fun, try this tea iced with a splash of rum.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

VariaTEA

Hey there! My name is Rachel. I’m a twenty-something from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who loves dogs and has a bit of an obsession with tea. As a child I hated the stuff since all I ever knew was Red Rose (no offense to Red Rose). However, a few years ago that all changed. I was on a diet and desperate for new flavors without adding calories and that’s when I turned to tea. I started off by going to DAVIDsTEA and Teavana for all their dessert-inspired flavors, and since I didn’t know any better, I bought 100 grams each of about twenty-something different teas. This was okay for the teas I liked but for those I didn’t I needed to find some way of getting rid of them. Enter Steepster.com. This is where I met some incredible tea friends, discovered tea swaps, and learned of so many amazing tea companies. My desire to try all the teas grew and since joining three years ago I have tried over a thousand different teas. I have learned what ingredients I love and I have learned what flavors I don’t like. I determined my go-to brewing method is Western-style with no added milk or sweeteners, though I also enjoy cold brewing, iced teas, teapops, lattes, and smoothies. I have yet to brew gong-fu style but I hope to do so just as soon as I get the proper teaware to do it. About a year ago, I actually stopped drinking tea but as my stash of over 200 teas started aging I decided I needed to respark my interest. I chose to take a 365 days of tea challenge on Instagram in which I post a new tea picture every day. So far it has been rather successful as I find myself drinking (and buying) more and more tea each day. Plus it enabled CuppaGeek to find me and invite me here to SororiTea Sisters.

This post was posted in The NecessiTeas, White Tea

White Peony by Tea n’ Joy . . . . The Black Tea Drinkers’ White Tea . . .

by Karatics

Hello, fellow tea drinkers!

This week I officially got back my taste buds after being ill and I thought it was wise to partake in my first cup of white tea. So I figured that Tea n’ Joy’s White Peony was the way to go, for based on the description this tea is a perfect starter for black tea drinkers.

As far as white tea goes I didn’t know what I was expecting for my friends have informed me that white tea is usually very bland. Given that impression, I took that first sip and was pleasantly surprised. I will say that when I think of white tea I think of something that is light and cleansing and this brew did deliver that. But in addition to the palette cleansing, I was also greeted with a sweet after taste. It’s hard to put a description on it but the best that I can say is that it has a creamy sweetness. Also, White Peony goes amazing with cookies or biscotti. I myself used an almond chocolate biscotti and I did not regret it!

Now how hard is this tea going to hurt your wallet? Well at 4 oz it is priced at $18, 8 oz is $26, and $42 for 16 oz. So doing the math that is $4.50 an ounce which is normal for most loose leaf tea blends nowadays. Now I did not see an option to buy this tea as a sample outright but if you do make a purchase on their qualifying tea blends (White Peony is a blend that is qualified) you can receive two samples.

Given that this tea did appeal to me as an almost exclusively black tea drinker I will be sure to purchase this blend in the future. This blend has also motivated me to try other blends from Tea n’ Joy, their blend Earl Gray Moon is most definitely catching my eye.

See you for the next cuppa!

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy:  Tea ‘n Joy
Description
White Peony “Pai Mu Tan” is an exceptional white tea grown, harvested and processed in the Fujian region of China.

Also known as “Pai Mu Tan” or “Bai Mu Dan,” White Peony is the second-most famous white tea after Silver Needle (“Bai Hao Yin Zhen”). Its flavor is bolder and deeper than Silver Needle, making it an exceptional choice for new white tea drinkers, especially those who usually prefer black teas. Refreshing and faintly reminiscent of fresh apples with a lovely, lingering flavor.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Karatics

I am an old soul and a tea lover and my days are even better when I have a nice cuppa and a piece of classic literature. I have an appreciation for most teas but my most favored ones are of the Earl Grey variety, especially Lady Grey. Even though my tea tastes are more of the classical range, I would not turn down something different. P.S. I am also a lover of video games especially ones of the RPG genre.

This post was posted in Tea N Joy, White Tea

Kenya Silver Needle White Tea from What-Cha. . . .

by VariaTEA

Time and time again I have shared my preference against white teas, specifically bai mu dan and shou mei teas. I don’t like the floral notes nor the soapy quality they can often have. If I am going to have a white tea, I tend to reach for either a White Rhino because it tends to be more robust like a black tea, or a Silver Needle.

I also have now tried a few What-Cha teas and been pleased with all of them.That is why when I came across this What-Cha Kenya Silver Needle White Tea, I had to give it a try.

Following the recommended steeping parameters, I brewed this for 2 minutes at 175 degrees. I was left with a pale and translucent liquid, typical of a white tea.

This tea boasts sweet notes of corn and it delivers, despite the packaging suggesting that this is best before June 2017. It’s so simple and yet so good. Flavorful without being in your face which means it is a tea that can be reached for again and again without becoming tired or boring.

I don’t reach for white teas often, especially straight white teas but when I come across Silver Needles like this, I am reminded that they can make a pleasant alternative to all the dessert and fruity teas I usually drink.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  White Tea
Where to Buy:  What-Cha
Description

A very sweet and smooth silver needle with notes of melon and sweetcorn without any traces of bitterness or astringency.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

VariaTEA

Hey there! My name is Rachel. I’m a twenty-something from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who loves dogs and has a bit of an obsession with tea. As a child I hated the stuff since all I ever knew was Red Rose (no offense to Red Rose). However, a few years ago that all changed. I was on a diet and desperate for new flavors without adding calories and that’s when I turned to tea. I started off by going to DAVIDsTEA and Teavana for all their dessert-inspired flavors, and since I didn’t know any better, I bought 100 grams each of about twenty-something different teas. This was okay for the teas I liked but for those I didn’t I needed to find some way of getting rid of them. Enter Steepster.com. This is where I met some incredible tea friends, discovered tea swaps, and learned of so many amazing tea companies. My desire to try all the teas grew and since joining three years ago I have tried over a thousand different teas. I have learned what ingredients I love and I have learned what flavors I don’t like. I determined my go-to brewing method is Western-style with no added milk or sweeteners, though I also enjoy cold brewing, iced teas, teapops, lattes, and smoothies. I have yet to brew gong-fu style but I hope to do so just as soon as I get the proper teaware to do it. About a year ago, I actually stopped drinking tea but as my stash of over 200 teas started aging I decided I needed to respark my interest. I chose to take a 365 days of tea challenge on Instagram in which I post a new tea picture every day. So far it has been rather successful as I find myself drinking (and buying) more and more tea each day. Plus it enabled CuppaGeek to find me and invite me here to SororiTea Sisters.

This post was posted in Wha-Cha, White Tea