Here are two little-known facts about me, friends: I don’t really drink much alcohol if at all (hashtag my bounce-back time is not what it used to be and all that jazz, hashtag old), and I am SO VERY PICKY about chocolate teas. So clearly, when this whisky chocolate truffle tea arrived on my front door step… well, it already had the odds stacked against it, to say the least.
But y’all: I am nothing if not continually amazed at the tea-magic that Lauren at AQTT is able to create in her flavors on a regular basis. This malty black tea is the perfect vessel for both the slight hint of whiskey, balanced by the not-at-all-fakey bittersweet chocolate notes. I’ve had many, many bad chocolate teas in my life– but consistently, AQTT’s chocolate teas are not among them. Rather than tasting like weird, weak hot chocolate, this brew is almost a touch bread-y and a hint savory while still feeling like a decadent, velvety chocolate treat. A splash of cream really takes this one to the next level, and I feel like I’m in college again, with not a care in the world (and the hangover resilience of a 21-year-old).
Almost 30-year-old Mary, though? She’ll stick to her whiskey non-alcoholic, in a tea latte, please and thanks.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
This tea was part of the subscription plan, click below to find out more!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Bates’ Brambleberry Black Tea from Republic of Tea. . .
This isn’t the first time this surprising little treat has found its way into my tea sample pile, and frankly, I am elated every time a new bag shows up. Beyond my affinity for all things British (and most things Downton Abbey), this tea is a pleasant surprise for your standard pre-bagged tea, serving up a hearty black tea in a seemingly ho-hum round filterbag. Balancing out the base are beautiful berry notes– but nothing artificial, this feels as if Bates himself freshly squeezed some berries into his morning cuppa. (Side note: fellow Downton fans, do we really feel like Bates would be the one to take the time to slip berries into his tea? He seems like more of a straight-English-breakfast man to me. But I digress.) Perfect to toss in your bag when you need some tea from your emergency stash, or a great, un-finnicky brew to keep at your desk: this one can handle varying temps and lack of elaborate home brewing setup.
Perhaps the flavor doesn’t scream Bates to me, but its no-fuss-no-muss simplicity and tastiness certain seem right on par with everyone’s favorite unassuming valet. Now if you’ll excuse me: I’ll be heading to the downstairs for tea with the rest of the service crew.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Republic of Tea
Description
This tea is no longer on the website but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Super Nettle from Republic of Tea. . .
So, let’s talk about what I know about nettle. (It’s not much, but bear with me here.) 1. It’s an herb (shocking, I know) 2. It’s chock full of minerals. 3. It’s great for when you need hydration. Annnnd 4. It’s kinda bitter.
(Quick disclosure: I’m not a doctor. Of herby things or otherwise. Over and out.)
So you’ll imagine my surprise when I brewed up this cup and found it to be… buttery? Smooth, a little sweet. Not bitter in the slightest. Upon some further research, I found that this brew is blended with some peppermint and vanilla, perfectly rounding out any herbal-ness that could have been too… herbally. Dare I even say it tastes a little bit like a treat? Nothing added, and it’s the perfect dessert-y nightcap that’s actually good for you!
This pleasant surprise of a cup is a great way to get more yummy herbal teas in your diet without them being (well, let’s face it)– icky. Nicely done, Republic of Tea!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Republic of Tea
Description
Nettle leaves have been known to support the body in a variety of ways. Studies have shown that it can help reduce joint inflammation and can help support kidney function.* Nettle tea has also been popular as a tonic for centuries to help women through all phases of life, from menstruation, through pregnancy and breastfeeding, to menopause.* A touch of mint and vanilla makes this tea a joy to sip.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Aronia Plumberry from St. Fiacres Farm. . . .
This tea is like the tastiest, plumiest, most perfectly-spiced fruit jam you ever did taste. Now, I could sit here and regale you with how my tastes have been changing to stray away from my heavy, wintry, black tea favorites lately (they have), or how all I want lately is fruity and fresh and bright and vegetal (I have)– but really, all I want to do is tell you how yummy this herbal infusion is.
I couldn’t find much about this tea on St. Fiacre’s website, but let me tell you– the dry leaf here can speak for itself. Big, bright berries pepper this dry leaf, and some of my favorite spices are large, in charge, and immediately visible– spicy cardamom pods, sweet licorice root, fragrant anise seeds– the gang’s all here!
And this blend takes all those unique ingredients and perfectly blends them together. Heavily fruity, but not overly-sweet– the warming spices bring a nice balance to the otherwise sweet herbal blend, hitting all those notes of lightly spiced jam that I just can’t get enough of. Now, if some enterprising tea-drinker would only *actually* turn this tea into a jam for me, we’d be in business. Crumpets, anyone?
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: St. Fiacres Farm
Description
TEA CLUB OVERSTOCK! Missed out on the Aronia Plum Berry from our VIP Tea Blend in December? We have a little bit left that you can try or stock up on more if you loved it. A spin off the traditional sugar plum which is a candy that has a hard outer coating of sugar… think along the lines of the Jordan almond or an M&M type candy. A sweeter tea thanks to the licorice root, almond extract and vanilla. This tea also features Oregon grown aronia berries, plums and cornflowers
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Coconut Peach Turmeric from Spice and Tea Exchange. . . .
Count me in with the legions of humans who have been recently flocking to turmeric in everything, friends– I love its slightly bitter spiciness, I love how well it translates in everything from sweet to savory, I love its inherent anti-inflammatory goodness… I love it all. I recently participated in a tea swap with a fellow Sororitea Sister, and when she asked what kinds of teas I’d like to try, I requested anything that would be tasty iced. (that IS my summer tea drinking M.O., clearly.) While I usually reach for a very specific few kinds of teas to ice (greens, fruity herbals, fruity blacks, nothing nutty/savory/decadent), it was fun to see someone else’s choices of ice-able teas and push myself outside of my comfort zone!
Now, while this tea TOTALLY fits within those guidelines, I think the ‘turmeric’ in there would have typically swayed me away from trying this one iced, and that would have been a shame. Hot, this tea is tasty– but iced is totally where it shines. The bitterness of the turmeric is perfectly offset by the sweet peach and creamy coconut, and where these flavors could potentially veer into saccharine or dull territory, they’re perfectly accented by the spice of the turmeric. I’m so glad I gave this one a try, and I’m now totally motivated to expand my ice-able comfort zone to teas I normally wouldn’t try. Thanks, fellow sister!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Spice and Tea Exchange
Description
This tea is not currently on the website but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!