We at SororiTea Sisters love all things fall! So today we are fanatic about fall!!
I’m not sure why I jumped into a Chai phase abruptly – perhaps it’s because Fall is finally here – whatever the reasoning I recently busted open a bag of Lapsang Chai from Bluebird Tea Co.
I’m always interested in teas that have that ‘little extra something’ so when I saw that Lapsang Chai from Bluebird Tea Co contained India Assam Tea, Lapsang Souchong Black Tea, and Chai Spice I knew I had to try it! Indian Black Assam AND Lapsang Souchong? Yes, please!
Dry – I could smell the Lapsang right away and then the chai spices. Wet – I could smell less of both but they seemed more even and equal to each other after infusing. Lapsang Chai from Bluebird Tea Co brews to a dark brown – just as I assumed it would.
Lapsang Chai from Bluebird Tea Co is a really nice cuppa! It’s spicy but not overly-so. It oddly has a smoothness it to that I wasn’t expecting but found comforting along side the spices. Pine, smoke, ginger, and clove join hands with the blended black tea base. I really like Bluebird’s twist on this chai! VERY Well Done!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Bluebird Tea Co.
Description
We like to do things a bit differently at Bluebird. Our latest infusion is a thoughtful blend of Lapsang Souchong, malty Assam + aromatic masala chai spices. A BREWtiful blend of tea + culture alike!
Indian Assam tea, lapsang souchong black tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, red peppercorns.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Toasted Apple Green from Bluebird Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Bluebird Tea Co.
Tea Description:
This blend of roasted green tea, popped rice and toasty apples is a bit of a tea Marmite. Some are addicted to its grassy, savoury taste but it’s not for those with a sweet tooth. Don’t worry though, Genmaicha fans will absolutely love Bluebird’s unique twist on the classic Japanese ‘popcorn’ tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Calling this blend ‘tea marmite’ is, I think, a pretty big stretch and probably not the best selling tactic if Bluebird Tea Co. wants to get North Americans buying their blends. I’ve had marmite and I certainly was not a fan, nor are most North Americans; that’s one food from across the ocean that I can’t see catching on here. However, this tea? It’s got the potential to, if done correctly.
Genmaicha is one of those teas that I consider a cupboard staple; it makes a very soothing, calming cup of toasted brown rice goodness and it also a great blend for sharing a pot with among friends – and for people truly new to tea who haven’t even come across Genmaicha it’s a good conversation piece as well; explaining the origin of adding brown rice to tea to stretch it out among the lower class in ‘old Japan’ in a fascinating thing to here and gives insight to some just how important tea is in some cultures. I, for one, remember that fact/’origin story’ being one of the most interesting to me when I was first getting really into tea outside of the flavored stuff offered at local chains such as DAVIDsTEA.
Of course, “Genmaicha with a twist” is a fantastic thing too; one a think more companies should run with. Some of my particular flavourites are Nina Paris’ Japon, Verdant’s Minnesota Blend, and Ette Tea’s Mango Sticky Rice. Apple seemed like an obvious, but untapped route – until now.
The initial wave of flavours was a very roasty brown rice and almost barley flavor; this is by far the best part of Genmaicha to me. If the level of roasty/toasty notes isn’t strong enough I’m going to be disappointed and if it’s too concentrated or has a “burnt” taste, like burnt toast, then I’m probably not going to be able to make it through the cup. However, this strikes a really nice balance between the two and has a lovely robust roasty flavour without overwhelming some of the other things going on.
Underneath that first, and most important flavour, was a mild vegetal note – there was some grassiness but mostly it was very marine with a bit of a seaweed flavour. This part of genmaicha is less important to me personally; as long as I can taste the green tea and it isn’t bitter I’m usually a happy consumer and both of those criterion were definitely checked off in this case. Now we get into the most important part of this particular blend: the apple! I’ll admit I didn’t taste it at first; but once the liquor had cooled I started to notice this very bright, slightly tart apple note at the finish of the sip that was lingering into the aftertaste. It’s definitely a greener apple; think Granny Smith or Sundance apples. However, the tartness and slight sweetness provides a really nice contrast between the flavour and whilst fairly simple I think this would be really enjoyable as a flavoured Genmaicha year round, but particularly in the fall.
Definitely worth trying, if you get the chance!
Vicky’s Sponge Cake from Bluebird Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Bluebird Tea
Tea Description:
Think vanilla sponge cake with a dollop of raspberry jam!
There is nothing better than a cuppa and cake (except perhaps a cake flavored cuppa!) and did you know it was our good old queenie Victoria who invented the Vicky Sponge? Guess the name gives it away a bit! She loved taking afternoon tea with her home girls but decided they needed some extra nourishment to last until dinner. Cake it is then! We like your thinking QV!
Ingredients: Ceylon black tea, Coconut, Strawberry granules, Freeze dried raspberries, Raspberry leaves.
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Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have been eyeing this tea for a while now. So when a few people expressed interest in a shared order, I didn’t hesitate. I used to belong to Bluebird Tea’s monthly plan, but with the shipping fees to the States being a bit high and my strong dislike of red rooibos, I thought it would be better to cancel. That was a couple years ago. Fast forward to a couple days ago when this box of Bluebird Tea arrived at the house. I squealed I was so excited.
I thought I would wait and share this one with my dad. He loves tea and mostly drinks bagged tea just for the sheer convenience of it. He also doesn’t take care of himself so I was hoping this might help him avoid the dessert table during our Mother’s Day festivities. It didn’t detour him from the table, but I did!
When I opened the tea packet and peeked inside, I couldn’t believe the huge freeze dried raspberries that were in this tea! They looked delicious just on their own. The mix is very attractive looking. I scooped a few tablespoons into a tea bag and poured fresh water into the tea kettle. Brought the water to a boil and threw in the tea. Steeped for 4 minutes and poured into two mugs.
This smelled just like raspberry jam. Tasted like it too. Every once in a while you would pick up the cake like flavor. But I was ok with that. I wished the cake flavor came out more, but this raspberry jam like taste was simply fantastic. I could barely pick up the black tea base. The Ceylon tea base was so very smooth.
My dad really enjoyed it and said that out of all the tea we had drank that day, this one he could drink every day -all day. So very good. I was able to get another infusion out of it, but the infusion was quite a bit weaker.
After doing a bit of research on Steepster, it looks like cold brewing is the way to go with this tea to get the cake like flavors to really pop. Tonight before I go to bed I am going to have to try this. It also looks like if you steep this longer, the cake flavors come out more.
Regardless, this tea is outstanding if you enjoy raspberry teas. And if those cake flavors do pop with cold brewing or maybe shaking up the bag more- then that is just an added bonus!
