Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Kusmi Tea
Tea Description:
Those who have a sweet tooth will enjoy this Chinese black tea flavored with Bourbon Vanilla from Madagascar.
We suggest to enjoy this tea during the afternoon.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Bourbon Vanilla Tea from Kusmi Tea is a tasty vanilla flavored black tea – very smooth and sweet and satisfying!
I like that it’s a Chinese black tea used for the base, because it makes for a very solid, rich tasting background of flavor. It is smooth, not overly astringent, and not at all bitter. It has a robust, malty tone to it that melds quite nicely with the sweet, creamy vanilla flavor.
The flavoring is not overly strong here, and while some have commented that this tea is not vanilla enough, I would disagree with that. I like the level of vanilla flavor here – it’s not overwhelming, it’s not hitting me over the head – but then again, this is vanilla and I think it should be a softer, more subtle flavor and should take a more sophisticated approach. It shouldn’t be too strong. It should allow the flavors of the tea to be explored, not coat the palate with a heavily creamy taste.
It is silky and creamy, but, it doesn’t overpower the flavor of the Chinese black tea. I like this, it would make a great afternoon tea (as suggested in the description above), or it would make a nice dessert alternative.
Robert Fortune Blend 41 (Darjeeling-Yunnan) from Upton Tea Imports
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Upton Tea Imports
Tea Description:
Named after Robert Fortune who toured the tea producing regions in the 1840s under the auspices of the East India Company. Darjeeling adds a pleasing brightness; Yunnan lends a dark, honey colored liquor and delicately spicy overtones.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The aroma of dry leaf of this Robert Fortune Blend 41 from Upton Tea Imports – which is a blend of Darjeeling and Yunnan teas – is woody with earthy low notes. The fragrance of the brewed tea is very similar to the dry leaf – woody, earthy, with notes of sweetness (like honey!) and hints of fruit and flower in the distance. It’s a very inviting scent … very autumnal.
This tastes really quite nice. Darjeeling tends to be a lighter, brighter … sort of sparkling taste on the tongue and the Yunnan – which is a more full-bodied tea – seems to fill in the flavor and provide a very well-rounded taste. The deep flavor of the Yunnan is a very compelling complement to the light, crisp taste of the Darjeeling.
There is a distinct woodsy tone to this cup, giving it a definite “masculine” sort of taste. I taste notes of fermented grape, evoking thoughts of a well-aged wine: something that I don’t drink very often (read: never) but, if I were to indulge in such a luxury … these delightful fruit notes are something that I would expect to experience in a well-aged, fine wine.
There is a sweetness to this tea as well … a sweetness that reminds me of honey and caramel. Both honey and caramel are sweet notes that I associate with “heavy” or “thick” flavors, and here, the honey-esque, caramel-y notes are decidedly thinner than teas that I might usually note with a honey tone or a caramel note.
There are floral notes here too, but they are quite distant. Imagine a field of flowers in the distance … you can’t really see the individual flowers but just a field of color … this is what I note here. A taste that is reminiscent of a flowery sweetness but nothing that is too distinct.
What I am enjoying most with this tea is the complexity and the body of the tea. I like that this is not as robust and full as a Yunnan … but not as crisp and light as a Darjeeling … it is skillfully blended to find a happy medium between these two dynamic teas to create a flavor that really excites the palate.
Good Afternoon from Grey’s Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Grey’s Teas
Tea Description:
Our Afternoon blend – Well chosen China and Indian teas are blended to give a light, fragrant liquor with a little smokiness. Once you have tried it you will not drink an average tea during the afternoon ever again! Can be drunk with or without milk.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I first open a package of tea, I do what many of “us” (tea drinkers) do, I inhale deeply to take in the aroma. And when I did just that with this Good Afternoon tea from Grey’s Teas, I noticed a hint of smokiness and a rugged earthiness, evoking thoughts of the smells I might encounter while hiking through the woods.
After brewing, the smell that wafted out of my tea pot and now out of my tea cup is smoky with hints of pepper. I imagine this is what it might smell like if I were to burn a bunch of peppercorns and pine wood in the fireplace.
But the flavor is quite surprising, because it isn’t as smoky tasting as the aroma lead me to believe. Yes, it is smoky, but, it melds quite nicely with the rest of the cup and doesn’t stand out as strongly as the aroma led me to believe it would. I taste the faintest hint of pepper as well. This is a very robust, bold kind of blend – much stronger than I expected for an afternoon blend. Other afternoon blends I’ve tried tend to have a lighter taste, like a Darjeeling. This tastes more like Lapsang Souchong (or possibly a strong Keemun) meets Yunnan and Assam for a power lunch.
All that said, I find this to be quite enjoyable. Different than I expected, but still, I am enjoying it. The smokiness is not overwhelming, it manages to marry well with the other flavors of the blend to become part of the complexity rather than oppressing it to the point where the complexity is lost – if that makes sense.
And as this tea cools, I find that it becomes even more enjoyable. It’s not cold, it’s still hot, it’s just not straight from the tea pot hot. It’s had a chance to cool just slightly and I notice the caramel-y undertones emerging, and an almost creamy note also come forth, which is really quite lovely when it melds with the smoky overtones. It’s really wonderful.
This is a powerful afternoon blend – for those days that you need something stronger than the average pick-me-up!
Nepalese Afternoon Tea from Golden Moon Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Golden Moon Tea
Tea Description:
Nepalese Afternoon Tea is grown at the base of Mount Everest in the remote Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal. The infused nectar of this tea evokes serene notes of lotus, honey and fragrant sandalwood.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I first took a sip of this tea, I was afraid maybe I steeped it wrong or something, because the taste was a little harsh. But then I sat back, and allowed the tea in my cup to cool for a few moments (about three minutes) and took another sip. This time the flavor has mellowed, offering a lovely honey-esque sweetness and beautiful floral tones.
The flavor is vaguely reminiscent of a Darjeeling, but it also possesses some nice malty tones as well, like a fine Assam or Nilgiri. It has a boldness to it, but, like the name of the tea suggests, it isn’t quite as bold as you might want for a morning cup. This makes a much better afternoon tea for those times when you’re feeling the energy levels dip a bit – this tea will perk you right up!
I can’t get over how remarkably smooth it tastes. Especially when I consider how the first sip was really quite harsh. Those few moments of cooling time are essential to this tea – it makes the tea not just “tolerable” but very enjoyable. I also find that as the tea cools, the lotus notes seem to emerge. Very nice, indeed!
Kensington Palace Afternoon Tea from Tealicious Tea Company
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tealicious Tea Company
Tea Description:
Our Kensington Palace Afternoon Tea is a blend of our high quality Ceylon tea mixed with fresh jasmine blossoms, natural bergamot and blue cornflowers. A perfect tea to entertain with.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
How lovely! The first time I tried this tea – a few days ago – I had wrongly compared it to the incredible Earl Grey Excelsior (also from Tealicious Tea Company) which was a little unfair … yes, the Earl Grey Excelsior is amazing but, these are two different teas and should be treated that way.
Now that I’ve have a few days time since my last tasting, I recognize this tea for the delight that it is. The bergamot flavoring here is a softer bergamot. Still quite noticeable, but, not as vibrant as you would find in a standard Earl Grey, but then, this isn’t a standard Earl Grey but an excellent spin-off from that classic.
What makes this Kensington Palace Afternoon Tea so unique to me is the addition of the jasmine blossoms which adds just a hint of floral taste to the cup, not enough to make it taste overtly flowery but just enough to make my taste buds perk up and say “hey … what was that? Take another taste so I can explore that flavor more.” The addition of jasmine not only brings its own lovely floral notes to the party but also highlights some of the natural floral tones of the bergamot.
The black tea here is a smooth, delicious Ceylon tea which gives it an overall mellower flavor, which makes it a perfect choice for the cup, as both the tangy bergamot and jasmine flavors are milder flavors as well. This tea is a wonderful afternoon tea. This is the kind of tea that would be ideal to serve at a luncheon or a afternoon tea party.
Another lovely tea from Tealicious Tea Company … so far, I’ve loved everything I’ve tried from them!