Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Product Description:
Black tea with rum-soaked raisins. Sweet rum flavor perfectly goes well with milk.
Taster’s Review:
OK, so you’re probably wondering about the featured photo, right? Well, Lupicia only had a tiny thumbnail of this photo available on their website, so I chose to improvise a little bit … and since the name of this tea made me think of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow (“Why is the rum gone?”) I decided that I should post a photo of him in character. I suppose I could have taken a photo of the tea itself, but, personally, I’d rather look at Captain Jack Sparrow (I mean, really, is there a better pirate?)
This is a remarkably smooth and well-balanced black tea. The base is robust and bright flavored without being overly assertive. The flavors of rum and raisin lend a pleasing sweet flavor to the cup without being overwhelming.
I like how this tea plays upon the palate. It is full-bodied and has a delightful flavor. It reminds me a lot of bread pudding – sans the custard and cake-y bread flavor. To heighten the flavors, I suggest adding a small amount of sweetener. It brings out some of the sweeter qualities of both the rum and the raisin, as well as highlight some of the caramel-y undertones of the black tea.
A splash of milk or cream will give this tea a creaminess that is similar to the custard-creamy taste of bread pudding. Pair the tea latte with a shortbread cookie, and you’ll have a yummy, deconstructed bread pudding!
