The Love Dalek Tea from Adagio Teas (Custom Blends)

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CuppaGeek’s Review:

Love Dalek Tea (from Adagio Teas Custom Blend platform) is a blend based off of the Doctor Who series, one of my personal favorite.   After taking a whiff of the dry leaf mix, you can almost taste a white tea flavor with notes of tart cherry and hibiscus. A great play on flavor-tart and floral.

Brewed up with water at 190F and allowed 3 minutes to steep, I was eager to take my first sip.  In this blend it seems, black tea is king.  I was eager for those white floral notes to pop out and play with the tart cherry flavorings added- but that didn’t happen right away.

At the very beginning of each sip, you know that the black tea reigns supreme.  What I was hoping would be a lovely floral cherry tea with a slight astringency, turned into a heavy handed astringent hibiscus tea party.

But I wasn’t ready to just say, this isn’t my cuppa.  After all, this is a Doctor Who blend.  So I prepped a few more sessions with this tea. And Eureka! After third infusion I was finally able to pull out a lovely white tea astringent tea with pops of floral and cherry notes.  Delicious and exactly what I was looking for.

So what are my final thoughts on this tea? As confused as the blend seems to be, I think there is potential. This may be a tea that needs a good solid cold brew to allow all the flavors an opportunity to shine.  I’m glad I have a few servings left to try just that!

All in all, I still love the idea behind Custom Blends from Adagio Teas. Drinking a tea dedicated to your favorite fandoms just gives one warm fuzzies!!


What to learn more about this tea?

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black/White Tea Blend

Where to Buy: Adagio Teas

Tea Description:

YOU ARE DALEKTABLE. YOU WOULD MAKE A GOOD VALENTINE. INFATUATE! INFATUATE! INFATUATE!

Ingredients:  White Peony, Black Tea, Rose Hips, Hibiscus, Apple Pieces, Rose Petals, Natural Wild Cherry Flavor, Rose Flavor, Dried Cherries

 Learn even more about this tea here.

Coconut Carrot Cashew from A Quarter To Tea

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy: A Quarter to Tea

Tea Description:

Coconut Carrot Cashew:  Three of the best C’s in existence that are only better when paired together. Sweet carrot, creamy coconut, and rich and nutty cashews come together on an Assam base for a medium bodied, and incredibly satisfying cup.

All orders come in resealable packaging and include a reusable muslin cotton tea bag.  Ingredients:   Assam black tea, raw cashews, shredded coconut, dried carrot, natural flavors.  Brew and Size Instructions:  Use 1-2 teaspoons for a 6 oz cup.  Steep for 3-5 minutes at 200F water.  

Remember, there’s no wrong way to take your tea, as long as it makes you happy!

Learn more about this tea here. 

Taster’s Review:

If you haven’t checked out A Quarter To Tea, I implore you to do so. A Quarter to Tea offers fresh gorgeous unique blends that make you crave more. And Coconut Carrot Cashew is no exception.

Coconut Carrot Cashew is an very unique and odd blend. Who would have thought that these three flavors would work together. But I have to say, they do brilliantly!

Let’s start with the ingredients in this blend. First whiff of this package and you get the sugar coconut noes right off the bat.  There is that good ol fashioned black tea fragrance that just makes ones heart happy.

Per the brewing suggestions, I steeped this blend for 4 minutes with water prepped at 200F.  Once the timer went off letting me know the tea was ready, I did allow the tea to cool for a moment or two. I was eager to try this delight!

First sip in and I am in LOVE. I have to say this tea has it all.

Gorgeous sweet almost sugary notes of coconut envelope the entire sip. The perfect amount of sweet to contrast with the subtle yet vibrant malty and astringent black tea base.  The carrot and cashew tones finish up perfectly with a carrot cake like finish. During each sip, you could almost imagine a lush decadent carrot cake with icing piled high.

I have tried several different dessert teas and several blends boasting that they taste like carrot cake. I have never tasted a tea that tasted more like a carrot cake than this one. Initially I was worried that the coconut in the blend would take over since the flakes are quite large, but that wasn’t the case. The coconut brought this tea to a whole new level completing that baked good note that A Quarter To Tea has captured.

So what I’m trying to say is yeah. . .this tea is good. . . . very good. . . Brilliant actually!

 

Butterfly Circus Tea from The Orange Moon Tea Society

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy: The Orange Moon Tea Society

Tea Description:

Butterfly Circus Tea is a very aromatic floral blend of Gulabi tea, rose buds, jasmine blossoms, dried lemon, sarsaparilla, and rose & jasmine extract. Our medium size tin of Butterfly Circus loose tea provides about 8-10 cups or 2-3 teapots worth of brewed tea depending on your preferred tea strength. The tin is also reusable after the tea is gone!

Learn more about this tea here. 

Taster’s Review:

 

Butterfly Circus Tea from The Orange Moon Tea Society can be described in one word-gorgeous. Simply gorgeous from the first sight to the last sip.  With the large floral components to a lush smooth Gulabi tea, Butterfly Circus Tea is one tea that doesn’t disappoint! The packaging alone is simply stunning!

Based off a series of tea tales, The Orange Moon Tea Society has created a line of teas that are as beautiful as the tins/packaging that they are in.  Take a second to check out their Etsy site, you’ll see what I mean.

First sip in you are greeted with a smooth lush silky black tea flavor with sweet notes of floral and a slight citrus undertone. The jasmine is noticeable in just about every note but what really steals the show is the Gulabi tea base. Light yet demanding attention in every taste.  So incredibly smooth with just a tinge of astringency, even after the liquor cools.   What more could one really ask for?

Seems like this tea is as romantic and gentle as it is vibrant and strong. Very well done and one that should be shared with many! This would be a perfect tea to share while reading a good book or enjoying your favorite TV show. So if you are in the market for a soul soothing cozy blend that you can snuggle up to, I highly recommend this one! You won’t be disappointed!

 

 

Bangkok Green Tea -Nectar Fine Teas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green Tea

Where to Buy: Nectar Fine Teas

Tea Description:

Green Tea-Japan(Coconut/Lemongrass) 2-3 minutes@170/180f

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I’m not sure where I found Bangkok Green Tea from Nectar Fine Teas but it doesn’t look like they have an online presence except for a FB page. I’m sad to find this because this coconut flavored green tea and I have become the best of friends as of late!

This flavored green tea is a lovely mix of green tea, coconut pieces, and lemongrass. Simple yet full of fresh proper flavor. I am a huge fan of cold brewing tea at work. I pour a few scoops into my silicone infuser, some ice, and water and let the cup sit. I use a stainless steel tumbler which holds all the coldness in quiet nicely.  In just about a half an hour or so, I have the start of a wonderful iced cuppa tea.

As an iced flavored green tea, this tea really delivers on flavor! Cool crisp green tea with a lovely lush coconut flavor that just stands out with perfection.  The lemongrass flavor I don’t really get in this cuppa, but maybe as a hot tea that flavor might stand up better.

We did try cold brewing the tea overnight in a pitcher and the flavors were just about the same as when we cold brewed it in a tumbler. The only difference is that the coconut flavor is way more prominent when cold brewing overnight.  So if you are a fan of green teas and coconut flavors, I suggest cold brewing this one. You’ll be in coconut-green tea- heaven!  Maybe before my stash runs out, I’ll try Bangkok as a hot tea but for now, I’m loving this tea just as it is!

 

 

As American As Apple Pie from Cat Spring Yaupon Tea

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Yaupon Tea

Where to Buy: Cat Spring Yaupon Tea 

Tea Description:

As American As Apple Pie is our comforting black yaupon tea loose leaf blend as delicious as a slice of apple pie. Take a trip to grandma’s kitchen with every cup.

Contains: yaupon tea, bits of dried apple, sliced almonds, cinnamon, beetroot and flavoring.
(Allergen: Contains Almonds)

Learn more about this tea here. 

Taster’s Review:

Have you ever looked at a tea and went- yeah right-this tea isn’t going to taste like that? Well I did. I did with As American As Apple Pie from Cat Spring’s Yaupon Tea. I have had a lot of other apple pie flavored teas and for the most part, they just taste like a apple cinnamon flavored tea. They don’t deliver on the baked good flavor.

As American as Apple Pie reminds me of an yerba mate blend when I first looked at it. It didn’t have any other attributes like yerba mate, just the look. The smell was more reminiscent of black tea. This particular tea smelled amazing. Rich apple notes mixed with a baked good aroma that really captivates you. I couldn’t wait to steep up this tea.

Steeped up the tea per the instructions on the back of the package and took my first sip. I have to say I was taken back by how fresh and bright this tea tasted. It really does come across as apple pie!! Apple Pie with touches of caramel drizzled on tea. The notes of flaky baked fresh crust with  apples that are spiced with just the right amount of sugar and cinnamon. There is a slight roasted toasted flavor in the background that really elevates every sip.

I highly recommend checking this one out. Yaupon Tea was something I had only tried a few times in the past but never had an experience like this. Take a moment and check out yaupon tea and then check this tea out. It truly is like taking a trip to grandma’s kitchen!