A co-worker recently visited Lancaster, PA, and she brought me a sample of this lovely tea. The town of Lancaster is famous for having a strong Amish community, beautiful farm land, and unique stores offering everything from handmade quilts to shoofly pie (yes, it’s a real thing!). It’s also the home of the Lancaster Tea Company who blend their teas in small batches and have created a winner with their Whispering Angel Tea.
The tea has the creamy, buttery taste of white chocolate and a very slight floral note. I found the white chocolate flavor to be accurate, and even though I’m not a huge white chocolate fan I though it was downright tasty in this tea. Whispering Angel is incredibly flavorful while still having the delicate, sweet flavors that white teas offer. In fact, the tea has enough sweetness on its own that I didn’t find sugar necessary. That said, if you want an excellent dessert tea just add a touch of sugar to your cup. I’d hold off on the cream though. It would drown out the softer flavors of the white tea.
When preparing this tea I used 1 1/2 teaspoons of tea for my 8 oz. cup with 160° F water and steeped the tea for 4 minutes.Once steeped there is an oily film on top of the tea from the oils used to flavor the leaves. This didn’t bother me or distract me fro the tea itself. As I said before, I didn’t sweeten my cup, but I can see how the addition of sugar could make this a knock out dessert tea.
Obviously I am a fan of this tea. I think good flavored white teas are hard to come by, and Lancaster Tea Company has created a gem in White Angel. If you are a fan of dessert teas, chocolate teas, or white teas with a twist then I suggest giving White Angel White Tea a try.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Flavored White Tea
Where to Buy: Lancaster Tea Co.
Description
White chocolate paired with white tea.
Loose tea.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
White Coconut from BlendBee- Calling All Coconut Lovers!!
I’m a fan of coconut any time of year. Whether it’s the hottest days of summer or the dark, snowy depths of winter I find myself in a better mood when I can taste a bit of the tropics. Throw in some lemon – another favorite of mine – and I’m a happy girl. BlendBee took both flavors and mixed them with a delicate white to create White Coconut. Just thinking about the mix of flavors made me want to do a happy dance.
The dry leaves are lovely to look at. There is a mix of tea leaves, coconut flakes, lemon peel, and lemon balm. The smell of the tea is coconut and sweetness. Smelling this made me smile because, honestly, this tea smells like candy.
As I said, I am a fan of both coconut and lemon, so I was looking forward to what this tea had to offer. While I found the scent of the tea delicious and charming I didn’t find the tea itself as impressive. I was thrown off by the sweetness of the stevia leaf while still searching for the combination of coconut and lemon I could smell but not taste. As the tea cooled I noticed more of the coconut flavor, and what I could taste was good. I just wanted a little more. The lemony flavors from the lemon balm and lemon peel eluded me altogether.
I can’t say this is a go-to tea for me, but I can see how tea lovers looking for a flavored tea with softer notes could appreciate it. It also has a good amount of sweetness without added sugar. It might be just the thing satiate a sweet tooth before it gets out of control. So, if you’re looking for a sweet, lightly flavored white tea and you’re a coconut lover then this might be the tea for you!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: BlendBee
Description
White Tea is by far one of the finest teas in the world. Paired with Coconut, Lemon Peel, Lemon Balm and Stevia leaf, it is a dream. Sit back, relax and linger with this beautiful mix.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
A Herbal Tea from the Tea Dude!
There is something so wonderful about knowing a product is homemade. Knowing someone has put time and energy and effort into producing a high quality item and that they want to share that item with the world… well, that’s insanely cool in my book. Maybe that’s why I can’t help but smile every time I open my container of Meegs Tea from the Tea Dude. There’s a simple sticker on the back of the tin that proudly states that the herbal blend is home produced. Don’t be fooled though. This is a rich, flavorful blend that is as good or better than many of those from the Big Name tea companies out there.
The ingredients in Meegs Tea are simple: honeybush, cinnamon, clove, star anis, fennel seed. The mixture of these ingredients is what makes this blend so special. There’s a balance that keeps all of the flavors swirling together without any one ingredient dominating the others. I usually find teas with clove to often have an almost overpowering clove flavor, but that’s not the case with Meegs Tea. Instead, I get a spicy mixture of flavors with a woody note from the honeybush that I find delightful. This blend is wonderful for these late fall days heading into the holiday season. Since there’s no caffeine in this tea is a great way to wind down while still enjoying the flavors of the season.
I will say that the fennel seed in this blend made me a bit wary. I’m not a big fan of fennel in my food because it tends to dominate any other flavors. However, like the clove and other spices, the fennel in this tea has been added with a careful hand so that it doesn’t drown out the other flavors. I actually really like the addition of fennel. It adds an interesting and tasty twist, and it makes me think of drinking a nice chai tea at an upscale spa. That might just be me though.
I’d say give Meegs Tea a try If you’re looking for an herbal tea that’s a bit different from a lot of the other teas out there. It’s great for the end of fall, great for the holidays, and it’s a great any time of day pick-me-up. Plus, you’ll be getting a lovely, high quality, homemade tea. What’s not to love about that?
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Tea Dude
Description
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Fall Blend Alert! Cranberry Autumn from Harney & Sons
Ah, fall. Cooler weather signals the slow switch from iced or cold brewed teas to hot cuppas throughout the day. I find myself excited about teas that are fruity but earthy, deeper but still bright. Happily, Cranberry Autumn from Harvey and Sons perfectly fits that description.
Cranberry Autumn has light, citrusy notes from the orange as well as a good bit of tartness from the cranberry and hibiscus, but the base tea keeps the other flavors grounded. It has a good bit of depth with a slight woody note that works well with the other flavors.
This tea is a fall go-to for me. It’s something I will happily steep in my cup again and again as the days get shorter and my need for something to warm my hands and spirits gets stronger. Cranberry Autumn has earned its place in my tea cabinet.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Flavored Black Tea
Where to Buy: Harney & Sons
Description
Ideally sweet and tart, our Cranberry Autumn is a black tea artfully blended with cranberry and orange flavors. You’ll find it a full bodied brew that is exceptionally smooth and delicious in fall, or anytime if you’re a cranberry fan. Kosher.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Earl Gray From Ahmad Tea
My daughter’s boyfriend spent part of his summer holiday in London. He had a good time, and I’m sure it’s a trip he’ll always remember. When he came home he gave me a lovely set of teas. Have I mentioned my daughter is dating a brilliant young man? He most certainly knows how to make this tea lover smile! Since I’m a fan of Earl Grey I tried this tea first and have enjoyed several cups of it already.
The flavor of the tea is simple but good. The scent of the bergamot is strong. In fact it was so strong that I was expecting the citrus note to overwhelm the tea. However, the bergamot flavor is light and blends nicely with the tea. There is a crispness as well as a tiny bit of dryness at the end of the sip. I didn’t find the slight astringency distracting. In fact, I felt that it added to the overall pleasantness of the cup.
If you are a big fan of bergamot and want a strong hit of citrus with each sip then this might not be the tea for you. For those looking for an Earl Grey that has a nice balance between the bergamot and the base tea then this is a tea with checking out. Personally, I will be reaching for this one again and again.
Maybe… just maybe… I’ll get to make my own trip to England one day to replenish my stash. My inner Anglophile is doing a happy dance at the very thought of it. Until then, cheers!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Ahmad
Description
A special blend of tea with Earl Grey. Specially selected leaves from the hillsides of Sri Lanka and other countries, enhanced with the delightful scent of bergamot. A full-flavored tea, full of personality, and subtly balanced. 100 tagged teabags.