The tea’s name, “The Cake Is A Lie,” is a “Portal” reference. It’s a PlayStation game in which you use your wits to survive through a corrupt company’s testing facility. You’re told at the beginning that cake will be served at the end of your testing, but spray painted messages begin to pop up saying “the cake is a lie.” And it is. The company expects you to die, so why would it prepare a cake?
So it’s kind of fitting that I don’t think this tea quite tastes like cake. (A LIE. Though I think they meant it to taste like cake.)
I think it tastes like that delicious crunchy sugar-cream glaze one finds on cinnamon buns, danish, or glazed donuts. Which is ALSO delicious.
I don’t know if I oversteeped, but I also detected a sort of coffee tang here. Coffee is not one of the ingredients. It might be a note in the underlying black tea. Or it might just be in my head.
Because when I think donuts, I think donut shops. I think about how, when we were in elementary school, when it was your birthday, your mom typically purchased enough donuts or cupcakes for the whole class. They got distributed at lunch.
I’d always follow Mom into the coffee shop to procure those donuts. And it always reeked of coffee and cigarettes.
Yes, it used to be legal to smoke inside eating establishments. And some places were way worse than others.
Bars and donut shops were the absolute worst. Bars because the smell would mix with skunked beer. Donut shops because the old guys who sat around drinking coffee at the counter would smoke really low-end cigarettes which have a distinct smell.
Smelling vaguely like coffee and cheap cigarettes all day didn’t deter me from birthday joy, though. I’d have that donut with lunch, and cake with dinner.
So really, I guess the donuts and the cake aren’t that different. Was the cake a lie, after all?
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Geeky Teas
Description
Black tea, natural vanilla flavour, candy sprinkles, natural creme flavour and natural caramel flavour.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
The Brew Is Out There from Geeky Teas. . . . .
This green tea is just the right thing for a person with Election Recovery jitters. I spent the night of the United States’ election getting progressively sicker as the tides turned against my candidate of choice. I mean literally sick. Like, throwing up. I have “no chill,” as the kids these days say. No poker face. My body betrays my true feelings every time.
I am a tender, fragile flower.
This tea is the perfect flavor and softness for such faint-of-heart, delicate creatures as myself. It’s a light vanilla citrus (orange/lemon) taste on a springy green base.
The flavor is savory without being over-the-top. It’s a gentle tea for a quiet and thoughtful day.
I would liken this tea to a favorite blanket fresh out of the dryer. Soft, warm, aromatic, and comforting.
This tea is named “The Brew Is Out There,” which is an X-Files reference.
I don’t associate this tea with the X-Files. Unless you count the fact that I’m sort of hoping to be abducted by aliens before our new president comes into power
What does one do to encourage an abduction? Stand in the middle of a farm and wait?
Come for me, aliens. I’m ready.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Teas
Where to Buy: Geeky Teas
Description
Green tea with vanilla, orange peels, natural lemon and orange flavor and sunflower petals, goes great with honey from hybridized bees. Brews up a lovely green color.
I want to believe
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Check this out! Earl Grey, Hot from Geeky Teas
Earl Grey, Hot from Geeky Teas was a tea that another sister has already reviewed here at SororiTea Sisters but I enjoy a sturdy cuppa EG so I thought I would also throw my 2 cents worth in!
Earl Grey is one of the most recognizable flavored teas the world has seen and Geeky Teas came up with their own take on it with Earl Grey, Hot. For those of you who are Star Trek fans you may remember Picard and his famous quote and Earl Grey, Hot from Geeky Teas is a nod to that.
As for the flavor of Earl Grey, Hot from Geeky Teas…it’s what I would expect in terms of your ‘given’ Earl Grey Flavor but it is a hefty one. Geeky Teas didn’t skimp on the EG flavor that is for sure! And much appreciated! Sometimes I really just want a STRONG Earl, ya know!? Earl Grey, Hot from Geeky Teas did the trick!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Flavored Black Tea
Where to Buy: Geeky Teas
Description
Black tea, orange peels, natural bergamot flavor and blue cornflowers.
Not easily replicated.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Irish Whiskey Cream from Tea & Absinthe – The Other Irish Breakfast
As the weather gets colder, I get a craving for sweeter, more dessert-like teas. So when it was the first real, cold and blustery day of the season, I was excited to taste Irish Whiskey Cream from Tea & Absinthe. The dry leaf smells mild but sweet, like black tea with a hint of caramel. When brewed, this blend smells amazing, as rich and decadent as crème brûlée. I take my tea without milk or sugar, and the dessert flavors were still very forward and enjoyable.
While there is “cream” in the name, the sweetness in this tea is less like vanilla frosting and much more like salted caramel or burnt brown sugar, with just a bit of vanilla underneath. Cocoa bits are listed in the ingredients, but any chocolate flavor gets buried under the more caramel and toffee notes. I’m sure the “whiskey” in the name is a recommended brewing partner for this tea on those evenings when you need a little bit more warmth and merriment. The tea itself doesn’t have any overtly whiskey tones, nothing smoky, but the roasted-sugar flavors do remind me of certain amber libations.
I was careful not to over steep this blend, as the Irish breakfast Assam black tea base could get strong very fast. Keeping an eye on my brew times, I’ve had no bitterness and all creaminess. I could definitely see myself brewing up a cup of Irish Whiskey Cream from Tea & Absinthe and topping it with whipped cream on a snowy day.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea & Absinthe
Description:
“The Other Irish Breakfast” – Black tea Assam, cocoa bits, flavor.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
The Brew Is Out There by Geeky Teas
Hello Tea Friends!
I’m guilty of sometimes picking a tea for it’s name and that pretty much describes why I’ve gone for this blend. In the 90’s I was a huge X Files fan and I would faithfully watch every episode when it aired. It was one of the only tv shows that me and my mother both liked so we would spend the time together watching it and I have some wonderful memories. Not to mention some of the gripping, jaw dropping story lines in the show that left me awe inspired. When you’re young the likes of camouflage monsters and brain eating aliens are enough to cause playground chatter. If you’re not an X Files fan or have no idea what this tea has to do with it then let me clarify – The Truth Is Out There was a common slogan used on the show. That same slogan has since been featured on UFO posters and various other merchandise.
This tea is a blend of Green tea with vanilla, orange peel, natural lemon and orange flavour and sunflower petals. At least that is what the website says. So as I open my sample and give it a sniff I can smell an uplifting lemongrass, citrus scent with a creamy vanilla undertone. Looking at the blend it’s loosely chopped with some fine pieces of green tea and notable sunflower petals. In my sample I cannot find any orange pieces that are shown in the picture on the website but I must stress this is a small sample so that’s probably why.
Steeping Parameters: 4g loose leaf, 600ml teapot, 80C water temperature for 2 minutes. Ps. Also using my Ghostbusters mug.
Once steeped the resulting tea liquid is honey in colour and bares a sweet and creamy citrus scent.
The first few sips reveal a toasted grass base with a wave of creamy vanilla and a burst of fragrant lemongrass and citrus. It’s like a fire, once lit it burns brightly and gets more intense until it finally dies out. That is pretty much the strength and character of this blend at first. The tea plants the green tea base before becoming creamy and stronger which leads to a refreshing citrus before it all dies down into a distant memory. I like the combination of citrus and vanilla, it sounds rather odd but it does go very well together. Instead of the citrus being too sharp or sour the vanilla softens and sweetens it, to create a very relaxing blend. I also like that the green tea (which I believe to be Chinese Sencha from it’s appearance) comes through in the blend so that the flavours don’t dominate it completely. It’s also not too strong considering the small, broken down leaf pieces from the green tea (which is why I gave it a 2 minute steep ie smaller leaves usually means shorter steep).
Half way down the mug (with memories of Mulder *swoon* and the X Files theme tune in my head) the citrus has become a little stronger, which could be because it’s also cooled slightly; to a more waxy taste. Also the vanilla has become more neutral whilst the green tea leaves a slight dryness on the tongue with each additional sip. But my mouth is perfumed with the melody of citrus.
I enjoyed this blend. The mix of citrus and vanilla actually match Mulder and Scully in the show. Mulder is vanilla with his sweet yet smooth charm and Scully is citrus with it’s powerful, refreshing and clear essence. The two work well together and each balance the other, citrus stops vanilla from being too sweet and vanilla stops citrus from being too sour. The green tea adds depth and the overall blend leaves a wonderful, perfumed, I said it was perfumed which is because of the dryness and it’s overall strength, but in reality it tasted natural rather than synthetic. I also want to add that this has given me a little energy boost as well.
It’s inspired me to have a re-watch after all of these years, I will have to break out the X Files box sets. For now at least I can have faith, for The Brew Is Out There!
Until next time, Happy Steeping!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea Blend
Where to Buy: Geeky Teas
Description:
Green tea with vanilla, orange peels, natural lemon and orange flavor and sunflower petals, goes great with honey from hybridized bees. Brews up a lovely green color.
I want to believe!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
