Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
As for this week’s tea of the week, we have a delicious (I had some with dinner as an iced tea) blend of our sweet Chinese sencha, dried cranberries, marigold petals and natural grapefruit and cranberry flavors.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
As I’ve mentioned before, 52Teas is my favorite tea company. This is mostly because I love that there’s a new flavor every week, and more often than not, it’s a flavor that you’re not likely to find anywhere else. It is the ability to experience the unexpected that I love so much about this company (not to mention the fact that their prices are pretty darned reasonable especially when you factor in the fact that at least within the US the shipping is free!)
However, every once in a while, this “unexpected” element does leave me feeling a little underwhelmed. I felt that way when this Sea Breeze flavor was announced a few weeks ago. Cranberry and Grapefruit? Hmm. OK … well, I love grapefruit green teas (and I have been on somewhat of a quest to find the greatest grapefruit flavored green tea for a while now), and I don’t dislike cranberry… but the combination of the two had me thinking “whoa … that’s going to be TART!” And… I’m not all that into really tart teas.
But, somehow the combination of cranberry and grapefruit works here. Yes, there is tartness, but it isn’t as tart as I expected it to be. And there is a smoothness that has developed between these two fruits, making this a very enjoyable tea to sip. It might actually be more sweet than it is sour, which is what I find most astonishing.
The Sencha seems to be the real star of this tea. It really seems to come to life in this blend. It doesn’t taste grassy or vegetative … instead, it tastes sweet and creamy. Buttery. But the buttery quality here is different from other flavored green teas from 52Teas because of the way the fruit flavors interact with the buttery flavor. It “infringes” upon the buttery notes, but in a way that is really quite acceptable in the opinion of this taster.
Because sometimes those buttery notes seem to deluge the palate … making it almost seem like I need to wipe the palate to get the butter off my tongue. Here, before they can become too much for the palate, the tangy citrus cuts through the buttery tones, as if to only give me a taste of the butter – an amuse bouche of buttery taste? – before cleansing the palate and letting me enjoy the aftertaste that is both sweet and tangy.
I love the contrasts here and how well they play together. This tea is delicious hot, but I have a feeling it’s going to be even better iced!
Cream Earl Grey from Special-Teas, Etc.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Special-Teas, Etc.
Tea Description:
Black tea, bergamot flavor, cornflower petals. A hint of cream flavor.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
As I’ve stated many times, I love Earl Grey, and I also love many of the spin-off or variations of Earl Grey. I am particularly fond of creamy Earl Grey teas like this one, where the tangy flavor of bergamot is softened by a touch of cream flavor. So, needless to say, when Steepster decided to include this Cream Earl Grey from Special-Teas, Etc. in their March Steepster Select box, I was thrilled!
The description provided for this tea does not indicate that this is a vanilla cream flavor, but, it does taste very vanilla-like. It is also somewhat like caramel. It is very smooth, sweet and indulgent. It melds seamlessly with the bergamot orange flavor. The bergamot and the cream are pretty well-balanced, and in my opinion, there is a bit more than a “hint” of cream flavor in this blend … but I’m not complaining!
I suspect that is because the cream flavor is what I would call a “top note” as it presents itself as the more assertive flavor, but, the assertiveness subsides rather quickly, allowing for the other flavors of this tea to be experienced.
This has allowed the bergamot to assume a mid-to-base note – which is quite a different role for the bergamot to play when considering a typical Earl Grey tea. But then again, a Cream Earl Grey isn’t a typical Earl, is it? The bergamot has a deeper flavor here, it tastes less sharp and does not possess that perfume-y, flowery note that can sometimes be associated with bergamot – probably due to the sweetness of the cream.
The Steepster Select box includes with its selection of teas a “theme card” that explains not only the theme but also gives a brief description of each tea on the back of the card. This month, since the theme is “Perfect Pairs,” the description of each tea has been replaced with a suggestion to complete the “perfect pair.” Here is what Steepster suggests for this Cream Earl Grey:
Pair with: Gin Cocktail. The distinct bergamot flavor makes earl grey an ideal candidate for mixed cocktails. To create an earl grey-infused gin, add 4 tablespoons of tea into a 750 ml bottle of gin, cap and shake it, let it sit at room temperature for 2 hours, then strain. The creaminess of this particular earl grey from Special Teas, Etc, a cozy shop that specializes and excels in tea blend and carries over 100 varieties of loose leaf blends, works splendidly in this Earl Grey MarTEAni recipe: http://bit.ly/ss-marteani
I did not make a MarTEAni, mostly because I am not particularly fond of alcohol, although I must say that I am tempted to try it. Perhaps the next time I’m out and about I might pick up a bottle of Gin and try it.
However, I will say that I really enjoyed this tea … as a tea. It’s one of the nicest Cream Earl Grey teas I’ve yet to taste.
The Cocktail Collection from Tea Forté, Part 1: Silkroad Chai
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea Forté
Product Description:
Infuse the flavor of black tea and exotic chai spices into Spirited Tea™ Rum & Tonics, White Russians, or your favorite concoctions.
Taster’s Review:
This Tea Forté Cocktail Mixology Collection is really cool! The set includes three different teas in the signature Tea Forté silky pyramids: Silkroad Chai, Lavender Citrus & Lemongrass Mint. In addition to the tea, there are two glass “infusion chambers” – perfect for infusing these teas – as well as a little recipe booklet.
Today, I am going to write about the Silkroad Chai.
I tried the Silkroad Chai two different ways. The first, I brewed using the Chai Cooler Mocktail recipe (this recipe was found in the recipe booklet in the Mixology Collection). To make the Chai Cooler, I simply poured chilled ginger ale over the pyramid infuser (which had been placed in the infusion chamber), and allowed it to infuse for about an hour.
The result is a very tasty alternative to iced chai! It is sweet and spicy. I don’t drink a lot of soda, so it is unusual for me to experience carbonation with a chai. There is an earthiness to the cup.
For my second tasting of Silkroad Chai, I steeped the silk pyramid in the infusion chamber for about 20 minutes in chocolate flavored vodka, and then I warmed up a mixture of sweetened condensed milk and 1% milk, frothed it up added the Silkroad Chai infused vodka, and a little bit of agave nectar. I continued frothing to incorporate all the ingredients.
With this cocktail, the solvent flavor of the vodka was pretty overwhelming. But then, I’m not a drinker of alcohol. This was, in fact, my first alcoholic drink in many months. Even though I found the vodka rather strong, I could taste the flavors of the chai. Unlike my aforementioned mocktail, the ginger was not as prevalent, instead, I found myself really tasting the cinnamon. The flavor of the black tea was light, as was the ginger. The cloves were a little stronger than in the mocktail and complimented the spicy tones of the cinnamon very well, and this combination seemed to bring out the chocolate flavor of the vodka quite nicely.
Both experiences with this Silkroad Chai were very enjoyable… now I am wondering how it would taste brewed traditionally!
Sencha Piña Colada from Souvia
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where To Buy: Souvia
Product Description:
You’ll take a mini vacation as this refreshing blend sweeps you off to a tropical isle. Smooth green tea with coconut and pineapple in the the classic concoction.
Ingredients: Green Tea, pineapple pieces, coconut shreds, flavoring
Taster’s Review:
Even though I’m not much of a drinker of alcohol, I’ve quite enjoyed many of the classic cocktail flavored teas – like this one.
The Sencha base tastes refreshingly light and crisp. This is a very smooth tasting Sencha. There is not a strong grassy or vegetal taste to this one. It is not bitter, but there is a little bit of astringency toward the tail end of the sip. The astringency is dry and clears the palate nicely so that I can enjoy the sweet aftertaste of pineapple and coconut.
Even though the tea base is remarkably light, the flavors are still well-defined. The pineapple is sweet and tangy and the coconut is creamy. There is even a hint of rum to this cup. The flavors are very unified… I not tasting one particular note trying to overwhelm the others. In each sip, I can taste the pineapple, the coconut and the rum, as well as the bright flavor of the Sencha tea. The taste is delicate and very refreshing.
I like this one hot, but, I think its even better iced!