Warm Apple Pie from sTEAp Shoppe

Tea Information:

Leaf Type: Black and White Blend

Where to Buy:  sTEAp Shoppe

Tea Description:

Warm Apple Pie is the experience of biting into that wonderful pie with the cinnamon and apples baked together wrapped in a flaky crust, without the guilt. Loose leaf Bai Mudan white tea & Assam flowery Orange Pekoe Black tea combined with Naturally Dried Apples and Organic Maple syrup crystals giving that rich apple pie taste. Local fresh pressed apple cider is infused in the dried apples to enhance the apple experience in this tea.

Bai Mudan White Tea, Assam Flowery Black Tea, Naturally Dried Apple, Fresh pressed Apple Cider, Organic Maple Syrup Crystals, Cinnamon, Allspice

Naturally Caffeinated

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

When I opened the package my eyes rolled back in my head and I emoted some primal “yummmmmm” sound. My mother made the most delicious apple crumble for Thanksgiving and this tea was spot on for that amazing aroma!

From the scent alone, my mouth was watering at the ripe juicy smell of apple! Now you may or may not know but sTEAp Shoppe uses all natural flavoring in their teas and Janet of sTEAp Shoppe works painstakingly to perfect her blends without going the easy route of artificial flavors! Her dedication to using natural ingredients is something I applaud.

First sip … Lord have mercy! This is so very very good. To me, its more of a tisane than a tea because it is something I would reach for in the evening when I need my sweet tooth appeased. The tea bases themselves are not what is front and center here but sometimes I just don’t care if I can taste the tea in a blend. I can’t say I am shocked by this either because in dry form the tea is not what is front and center either. More so oodles and oodles of apple pieces. Now of course there is tea present both in dry form and in the flavor of the tea itself but truly what stands out here is an all natural very fresh decedent flavor of apple cider, warm pie, maple, and a very delicious cobbler like flavor. Pie, cobbler, tort, whatever … its soooo good!

We have many apple orchards near my residence, luckily I have been exposed to many wonderful apples in my days, and I have to say that this tea brings back memories of growing up by an apple orchard, or the Apple Festival we have every year, or the historic park not too far from me where this dear old man runs a cider mill on weekends. Not to mention memories of that amazing apple pie my mother made for Thanksgiving recently.

This tea is on the sweeter side, the longer it sits and cools the sweeter it becomes. Yet with the all natural ingredients it offers so many health benefits it takes away the guilt of enjoying such a delicious decedent dessert, or um, I mean tea.

Gourmet Dark Chocolate Tea from sTEAp Shoppe

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Steap Shoppe

Tea Description:

Organic Kukicha Japanese Black Tea and Kosher Niligri Black Tea combined with Organic Cocoa Nibs.  Kukicha loose twig black tea has a rich coffee aroma that helps enhance the chocolate flavor of the cocoa nibs.  Giving depth to this loose leaf and twig tea we added Niligri black tea, the flavor and aroma create complexities on your palate. When you think of delicious dark chocolate you can’t go without the added benefit of organic vanilla which embraces the experience of your indulgence in this spectacular cup of tea. 

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I’ve tasted a lot of chocolate tea over the past several years, and I think that this tea may be the most unique and unusual one that I’ve tried yet.

The base of teas is a blend of Nilgiri black tea and Kukicha black tea which in itself is rather unusual to me, because I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a black Kukicha.  Most Kukicha that I’ve tried has been green Kukicha.  I have tried the oxidized Kukicha, but, I don’t think I’ve ever had it referred to as black Kukicha.

Regardless, the addition of the Kukicha is what makes this tea really unique!  It adds a slightly smoky element to the taste, a somewhat toasty note that is quite delightful combined with the chocolate notes.  It also lightens the body a little bit, giving this a silkier taste rather than a richer, heavier taste.

The vanilla here adds a nice dimension as well.  It doesn’t taste overly “vanilla” or anything … nor does it add a tremendous creaminess to the cup, instead, I think it enhances some of the malty tones of the Nilgiri which melds with the chocolate tones to make for a very smooth, decadent chocolate flavor.

My only complaint, really, is that I’d like there to be more chocolate.  But then, when is that ever not a complaint from me?  I am a chocoholic, and more chocolate is better.  As it is though, I find this to have a pleasant level of chocolate, and I like the way the flavors all come together in this cup.  It’s a little smoky and roasty-toasty, warm, smooth, chocolate deliciousness!

Truly a unique chocolate blend – the more I sip it, the more I like it!

Cranapple Oolong Tea from sTEAp Shoppe

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  sTEAp Shoppe

Tea Description:

A fruity Oolong loose leaf tea that will delight your tastebuds with it’s floral fruity presence. This colorful tea would make a spectacular Fruity Iced Tea.  Apples and Cranberries are a classic fruit combination that give the floral bouguet of loose leaf Oolong tea a burst of sweet and tart to make a well rounded full bodied tea.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This tea is one of those that is just perfect for this time of year, but delicious enough that you’ll want to enjoy it all year long!

The Oolong base is a darker Oolong, and it tastes a bit more fruity than floral.  The floral notes are there too, but they are faint, allowing the fruit notes to accent the flavors of cranberry and apple.

I like that the flavors are not overwhelming or artificial tasting.  This tastes like a very natural cranberry taste – it doesn’t taste unnaturally sweet.  The same is true of the apple notes.  It doesn’t taste like an overly sweet apple note, but I do notice that the sweeter notes of the apple and Oolong seem to curb the tartness of the cranberry.  The result is a cup that is a little bit tart and a little bit sweet.  It’s nicely balanced.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable cup.  I like it hot, but I think I like it even better iced.  The flavors pop a little more as the tea cools.

So far, I’ve been very impressed with the teas that I’ve tried from this company!  This is another hit!

Organic Caramel Apple Tea from sTEAp Shoppe

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  sTEAp Shoppe

Tea Description:

Caramel Apple Tea is a 100% Organic Tea. Organic Assam Loose Leaf Black Tea Combined with Organic Cocoa Nibs, Caramelized Organic Pure Sugar Cane and Organic dried Apples. A Delight to the taste Buds.  This loose leaf tea is one that will have you reminiscing of those carefree days of celebration while biting down on a caramel apple.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Yum!  What a delightful tea to sip on this chilly autumn day.

The taste reminds me very much of one of those gourmet candied apples you might find in one of those chocolate shops in the mall.  You know which one’s I’m talking about, right?  The huge, crisp green apples that have been smothered in caramel and chocolate?  Yeah… that’s what I’m tasting right now!

The black tea base is a delicious, organic Assam tea.  It offers a rich, satisfying background of flavor that is a little bit malty which plays to the caramel nicely, and a little bit fruity, which accents the apple tones very well, and just a hint of floral tones that add an intriguing dimension of flavor to the overall cup.

The apple flavor is a little light at the start … it takes a couple of sips to really begin to notice the apple notes.  The caramel and chocolate are more pronounced, and this is a sweet, luscious flavor combination.  The chocolate is a dark, rich chocolate flavor, while the caramel has a creaminess to it that melds so nicely with the creamy notes of the malty Assam.

Once the apple flavors start to come through, it becomes a very decadent treat – and this time of year I actually crave caramel apples.  I think that’s because in the neighborhood where I grew up, one of our trusted neighbors always made caramel apples for the trick-or-treaters and they were SO delicious … absolutely my favorite house to visit on Halloween!  I miss those caramel apples, and the caramel apples that are available in the grocery store just don’t measure up.  (Although there are some gourmet apples out there that DO measure up, but they also are quite spendy!)

This tea though – this tea brings me back, allowing me to remember those flavors and even experience them without worrying about the calories!  The way I see it, that’s a WIN WIN!

White Chocolate from sTEAp Shoppe

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  White Tea

Where to Buy:  sTEAp Shoppe

Tea Description:

Delicate White tea leaves with Raw Organic Cocoa Nibs, Organic Vanilla Bean and Rose hips make a delightful cup of tea.

This tea will make you Remember the first time you tasted white chocolate. Rich and creamy from the cocoa butter with the forward unmistakable flavor of Vanilla encasing your tongue. White tea’s delicate embrace allows the cocoa and vanilla flavors to shine by giving them a solid platform to perform on that brings them together like the perfect play.

White Chocolate loose leaf white tea is subtle yet Decadent on the palate with a taste that will keep you coming back for more. Loose leaf white tea has a much more delicate floral flavor than the more oxidized version which makes the cocoa flavor stand out. With the addition or organic vanilla to further enrich the cocoa flavor this tea is a wonderful delight.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Such a delight! I love white chocolate, my grandmother prefers white chocolate. I plan to have this tea with her! sTEAp Shoppe is one of those companies that really listens to their customers to perfect their blends, not just to their liking but to the liking of the consumer! I respect the company and the owner Janet is a true sweetheart!

I received this sample from Janet recently as she is doing her second virtual tea tasting on steepster.

She is always reaching out to us, the consumer for our opinions which is excellent! In my opinion nothing about this tea needs tweaked or changed! It is blissful, decedent, and creamy.

The tea has a full mouthfeel and is sweet but not at all cloying! The white chocolate absolutely stands out and is distinguishable as a white chocolate. All her ingredients are naturally flavored and she takes great care and time in learning about each and every ingredient she puts into her blends.

As the tea cools even more of the white chocolate flavor comes out and I imagine it would be wonderful iced! While it is excellent as a dessert tea this would also be a great tea for the younger folk in your life, a tea party, or an afternoon tea.

The rose hips provide just a slight floral note without making it come over as a floral tea.

Now this is not the most complex tea in the world but it is what it says it is – and tastes as one would expect and hope it to taste! Sometimes that is all I am wanting in a tea – a straight forward “it is what it is” flavor without the guesswork!

I needed this today! In one word: YUMMY!!