Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Ovation Teas
Tea Description:
Blend of Assam and Ceylon loose leaf black teas with bing cherries, sliced almonds, and coconut pieces with cherry, almond, and coconut flavoring.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve had this tea twice now, and interestingly enough, the flavor was a little different each time. The first time I tried it, the coconut came out strong from the very first sip. The cherry was there, but, it sort of lingered in the background. The almond was the most subtle flavor of the three.
One thing that remained consistent with both cups is that the tea was the prominent flavor of both cups. I was happily surprised by this, because a tea with so many flavors could have easily been overwhelmed by them. The flavor of the tea is rich and a little malty, with hints of earth and even a sweet biscuit kind of quality to it.
I found the cherry flavor to be a stronger flavor in this second cup. It is a sweet cherry flavor, reminding me of my summers as a child when my family and I would take a days drive down to Cherry Valley in California. We’d spend the day picking cherries off the tree, and then bringing them home to enjoy. Over the course of the next few weeks, our days would be filled with cherry goodness, eating cherries by the bowlful, and having cherry cobbler for dessert. (By the way, try freezing Bing cherries … they’re so yummy and refreshing, one of my favorite treats as a kid!) I love how this tea tastes so distinctly like Bing Cherry that it brings those memories to life for me.
By the time I’ve consumed about half of this second cup of tea, the almond and coconut begin to assert themselves, although never in a very aggressive way. The coconut is smooth and creamy note to the cup that might otherwise taste TOO cherry which might end up giving it too much of a cough medicine-y taste. But the coconut brings it back into the dessert tea realm.
Of the three flavors (and in both cups!), I find the almond to be the most subtle, providing more of a delicious, nutty hint of sweetness to the cup rather than a distinct almond flavor. But, I love the way the three flavors come together – cherry, coconut and almond – it is creamy, sweet, and juicy, and absolutely YUMMY!
I really love this tea, and I enjoy how it offers a different adventure every time you brew it!
Brown Sugar Fig Black Tea from Ovation Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Ovation Teas
Tea Description:
Blend of Assam and Ceylon loose leaf black teas with diced figs and brown sugar flavoring.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The aroma of the dry leaf is delightful – very fig-y! As I’m sure I’ve shared on this blog before, I have a great fondness for figs, so, when I saw this tea in Ovation Teas’ collection of teas, I knew it was one I had to try.
Unfortunately, the flavor of the fig is not as strong as the scent lead me to believe. Sure, the fig flavor is there, but, it just isn’t as dominate a flavor as it is a fragrance. A little disappointing, as I was looking forward to a strong fig presence; however, it is still a tasty tea.
The brown sugar is quite nice in this, and the combination of black teas, brown sugar and fig flavors create a sort of fig toffee kind of flavor. Very delicious, and even though it is a brown sugar flavored tea, I am not finding this to be too sweet.
The base of the tea is a blend of Assam and Ceylon black teas, and the Assam has a bite to it, so I do recommend a shorter steep time than you would normally allow for a flavored black tea. I steeped my first pot in my Breville for 2 1/2 minutes and found that this was a bit too long as there was some bitterness to the cup. However, after a few minutes of cool time, the bitterness did subside, and the flavors of brown sugar and fig became more apparent. The second time I steeped the tea, I steeped for 2 minutes in my Breville, and this was much better. The black tea was strong, and as the tea cooled slightly, the flavors began to pop.
If you like fig, you should really try this tea. I don’t know that it is my favorite fig flavored tea (Ha! I say that as if there are a bunch out there to choose from!) but, I am finding it quite enjoyable.
Nuttier Than a Fruitcake (Custom Blend) from Ovation Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: You can create your own custom blend at Ovation Teas
About My Custom Blend:
Nuttier than a Fruitcake – White tea blended with nutmeg, sunflower petals, almonds & pecans with apricot and vanilla flavoring.
Taster’s Review:
Not long ago, Ovation Teas made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Well, not just me, but to the first 100 customers who placed an order for a custom blend. The offer: 4 ounces of their very own, custom blend – FREE – just pay shipping and handling. Well, like I said, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse, so I placed my order immediately.
But the hard part for me was coming up with something unique. Something I couldn’t find elsewhere. Then, I recall tasting a fantastic “Wedding Cake” lollipop that I wanted to try to duplicate in tea form. I started with a white tea base (this appears to be a Bai Mu Dan, based upon the look of the leaves), then chose to add apricot and vanilla flavoring, almonds and pecans and finally some nutmeg. Then I added some sunflower petals to make it pretty as well as add some defining sharpness to the tea.
I decided to call this blend of mine “Nuttier Than a Fruitcake” because I was often told in my younger years that I was, indeed, nuttier than a fruitcake. And given the inspiration and the ingredients I chose, I felt it was a suitable name.
The outcome: A tea that … while doesn’t taste exactly like the fruitcake lollipop that I remember, still tastes pretty amazing. The white tea base tastes light but doesn’t allow itself to become overpowered by the other flavors. The nuts (pecans & almonds) are not a particularly strong flavor, but then, I didn’t really expect them to be. As is generally the rule with flavored/blended teas, it is the flavoring oil that is used to flavor a tea that really gives the tea it’s POP flavor … fruit and nut additions don’t generally contribute a lot of flavor.
The apricot and vanilla flavors are pretty evenly matched … sometimes I’ll taste a little more apricot, while others I taste a little more vanilla. It is smooth and creamy and sweet. As I had hoped, the sunflower does add some sharp tones to the cup … just enough to keep it lively.
But the real star of this blend is the NUTMEG! Every time I brew this tea, the scent of the nutmeg is delightfully strong. As it brews in the kitchen, I can smell it in the next room! The flavor of the nutmeg is equally as strong, and it lends a rustic, nutty, and deliciously warm flavor to the cup.
I am really thrilled with my custom blend from Ovation Teas, and even though they aren’t currently offering the free custom blend that inspired me to place this order, I am happy enough with this custom blend that I will order another custom blend sometime in the future (whenever the inspiration hits!) It is well worth the price, in my opinion, if for no other reason, than to enjoy something truly unique.
Jasmine Citrus Blossom Tea from Ovation Tea
Tea Type: Green Tea
Where To Buy: Ovation Teas
Be sure to check out Daily Gourmet’s Special Offer on this tea!
Product Description:
Green tea blended with jasmine pearls, orange peel, jasmine blossoms, and marigolds, with tangerine flavoring.
Tasters Review:
I’m somewhat hot and cold on Jasmine Teas but I really enjoy them if they are stand-alone but exceptional OR if they are flavored in a way where they really set themselves up to stand apart from the rest. Jasmine Citrus Blossom Tea from Ovation did just that…this is in a category all of it’s own!
The tangerine is awesome, the jasmine is just my speed, the green tea is de-lish! These flavors are great together!
Ovation Teas really have some wonderful flavors available and the tea quality is darn-tootin’ special, too!
REMEMBER:
Now through the 28th of August, Daily Gourmet is offering of 50% savings on the Ovation Teas Summer Set of Teas. This collection includes this thirst-quenching tea – as well as four other spectacular teas! Don’t miss out on this special offer!
Blueberry Earl Grey Tea from Ovation Teas
Tea Type: Black Tea
Where To Buy: Ovation Teas
Also check out this amazing offer at Daily Gourmet!
Product Description:
Blend of Assam and Ceylon loose leaf black teas with blueberries, orange peel, marigold petals, and cornflowers with blueberry and bergamot flavoring.
Tasters Review:
Blueberry Earl Grey from Ovation Teas is fin-NOM-i-null!
The aroma is INTENSE and I love that about this offering! This is a party for the senses!
The ingredients are plump and visually-FUN!
The taste is awesome! The Assam and Ceylon is D-Lish! I LOVE that they blended these two black teas together in this! The Orange Peel and Blueberries are my favorite! It’s Citrusy and Berry yet the Earl Grey flavors thrown in and they are all jammin’ well together!
I did three infusions with this.
The 2nd infusion was a tad more orange than berry with the EG still present. The 3rd infusion there was more blueberry but the berry was more soothing and mellow than before. The Citrus and EG flavors fell in the background and were subtle but a nice addition to the Blueberry! There aren’t that many Blueberry EG’s out there…but after tasting this…I’m convinced there SHOULD be…but…be ware…Ovations will be hard to top!
And now through the 28th of August, Daily Gourmet is offering of 50% savings on the Ovation Teas Summer Set of Teas. This collection includes this thirst-quenching tea – as well as four other spectacular teas! Don’t miss out on this special offer!