I was completely THRILLED when I received a package in the mail from Global Tea Hut recently! It contained August and September’s issues and teas inside and today I am sharing September’s “Nostalgia” 2016 Traditional Oolong from Global Tea Hut in this post!
One of these days I will most likely be reviewing an issues or at least the publication side of the Global Tea Hut but for today I wanted to focus solely on this lovely tea. “Nostalgia” 2016 Traditional Oolong from Global Tea Hut has an aroma of a slightly roasted or toasted oolong. It hails from Li Shan, Taiwan, and is a 2016 traditional Oolong grown at 2000 meters. The tightly rolled leaves are a dark shade of brown.
The aroma – once infused – is airy, light, and a bit roasty and/or toasty, a bit nutty, and nature-like. “Nostalgia” 2016 Traditional Oolong from Global Tea Hut leaves an admiral glowing hue in the cup. The flavor is straight-up squeaky clean, nutty, gently vegetal, and ever-so-slightly-roasted.
As I sip on “Nostalgia” 2016 Traditional Oolong from Global Tea Hut it takes me to another place…a natural setting in its purist form…a place where I can meditate and listen to nature, myself, and the tea at hand. “Nostalgia” 2016 Traditional Oolong from Global Tea Hut leaves me at peace with my surroundings and myself. Oh…if I could always have this sense of well-being.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Global Tea Hut
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Who doesn’t love TeaMail? A List of My Tea Subscriptions
Monthly subscription boxes are so popular anymore. It seems like you can get just about anything in some form of a monthly box delivered to your house. From dog treats and toys, to clothes, to jewelry, to vegan boxes, you name it, you can find a subscription for it most likely. This is especially true with tea. Tea sub boxes seem to be growing in popular and I have to say, I’m ok with that. There is something so alluring about getting a box in the mail with surprise flavors or blends that you might not necessarily pick out yourself. I personally subscribe to 5 tea boxes a monthly. Sounds like a lot, but I also only drink tea so it works for me.
So with the holiday shopping season just around the corner and people starting to think about gift giving, I’d thought I’d run down a few of my favorite tea subscription plans to maybe give you ideas on what to give the tea enthusiasts on your list.
(1) Plum Deluxe
Plum Deluxe is the one that started it all. When I first started looking at subscription plans, I wanted something that was affordable and was hand blended. I instantly fell in love with Plum Deluxe. From the bright purple envelopes you receive in the mail, to their unique and soul soothing tea blends, to the amazing community that surrounds Plum Deluxe. This company is all about taking a moment and enjoying life. Their motto is Making Moments Matter and the exude this in every uplifting post, tea blend, and note they include in their shipments.
A quick side note: When you sign up with Plum Deluxe, you are invited to join the Plum Deluxe Facebook community-which is incredibly active and even has fun holiday swaps. On a daily basis you see the members of this community encouraging each other through their love of tea.
Cost: 2 options starting at $10 a month (includes shipping)
(2) 52Teas
Probably no surprise this lovely tea company is on my list. I have been a customer of 52Teas for years but only recently pulled the trigger on signing up for a monthly subscription plan. I actually figured up how much I was spending on stand alone orders with 52Teas and realized I would save money just by signing up. I have to say I’m very glad I did.
Each month, I receive all of the different uniquely hand blended teas that will be offered for the month. The fact that I get a chance to try the blends out before they are released has some great advantages. When the teas are official released on the site, I have a head start on whether or not I want to order more of a tea or not.
Besides that, who wouldn’t want a monthly tea box sent to them full of delicious teas like Blueberry Honeybush Muffin or Bananas Foster Black Tea or Earl Grey Cider Black Tea?
Cost: Options start at $18 (includes shipping)
(3) BlendBee
BlendBee is one I can’t recommend enough. I love the customer service and delicious fresh teas that are delivered to my door each month.
Every month I receive an email from the amazing Jamah asking me what blends I would like. You have the option to choose from any blend that are currently being offered in the store or choose from one of the new teas she may be releasing that month. I’ve even asked for her to tweak a blend here or there and she has happily obliged. This plan is one of the more custom friendly plans perfect for anybody’s tastes.
Have to love a company that offers amazing customer service and fabulous fresh teas!
Cost: Options starting at $15 (includes shipping)
(4) Tea Box Express
Maybe one of the more expensive boxes out there, Tea Box Express is a box that I can always bank on getting some really unique and quality tea and/or tea related goodies. And completely worth every penny!
I have only received two boxes so far from Tea Box Express but i have to say these boxes are worth it. Each month you are sent quality fresh teas from companies that you may not have necessarily tried yet or even heard of. Last month’s box had JusTea’s Mount Kenya Black Tea and that tea has memorized. Also included was an adorable wooden tea spoon (also from JusTea), a herbal tea that you can either drink or use as a facial, and a box of sea salt caramels that were sinful. Here is my post about my unboxing of the October Tea Box Express.
Cost: Options start at $25.50 (plus shipping)
(5) A Quarter To Tea
My newest subscription plan is to A Quarter To Tea. I have always adored their blends and drink them down quite quickly. So when I saw they offered a monthly subscription plan, I quickly emailed Lauren, asked her a few questions, and promptly signed up.
This particular plan is similar to 52Teas were you are sent 4 different teas each month. I’ve had experienced so many amazing rich and decadent blends from A Quarter to Tea recently that I had to sign up. To be completely transparent, I am drinking their Eggnog Pound Cake while I write this post up.
What I’m really excited about is this box is A Quarter to Tea’s limited edition teas, the ones that aren’t available in their sampler packs. Such delicious flavors and so incredibly unique, I had to jump on the chance to get a monthly box!
Cost: Options start at $16– you can sign up on their Etsy site or their site. (Just a note, if you order through the Etsy site, you will need to sign up every month. If you sign up through their site, there is the option to have recurring billing.)
There are many many other wonderful tea subscription plans out there and I”m sure I’ll sign up for a few more here and there. Handmade Tea for instance is one that I subscribed to for some time and I know there are several tea subscriptions that deliver more straight teas. So many wonderful tea plans and so little time!
Let us know which subscription plans you currently subscribe to tea related or not and we will randomly draw a winner who will receive a lovely tea care package from The SororiTea Sisters!
Midnight Melange Black Tea from Plum Deluxe
Midnight Melange – Midnight Melange – Midnight Melange…say THAT 10 times fast! Midnight Melange is just FUN to say, isn’t it? Midnight Melange Black Tea from Plum Deluxe is also TASTY to sip on, too!
Midnight Melange Black Tea from Plum Deluxe contains Black Tea, Hibiscus, Lemon Peel, Rosehips, Rose Petals, and Vanilla. The black tea base is medium strength. It has a tarty-tang of the hibiscus but I have to say it’s NOT overdone, thankfully! The lemon peel cuts the tart from the hibiscus a bit and I like that. The vanilla prevents it from not being too citrusy or too tart, overall. The rose does seem to give it a hint of floral flavor but it’s underneath and in the background.
Midnight Melange Black Tea from Plum Deluxe DOES brew dark. It smells like a tart black tea with rose which totally makes sense based on the ingredients! The end sip and aftertaste – especially after naturally cooling at room temperature for a while – are that of lemon peel and I absolutely LOVE the way that peel lingers.
I do really like this Midnight Melange Black Tea from Plum Deluxe. If I wanted this for a first-of-the-morning tea to smack me in the face I would love the black tea base to be more prominent but overall it is a nice flavored black. And other companies should take note as to how this specific tea worked with hibiscus! Nicely done…NOT overdone at all…just the way hibiscus SHOULD be but rarely is.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Plum Deluxe
This tea is no longer available but here are teas that are!
Fresh Jasmine from BlendBee
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: BlendBee
Tea Description:
Indulge in this jasmine green tea blend of citrus, spice, and delicate floral notes. The perfect tea to serve hot or cold brewed. Your summer tea party won’t be complete without a pitcher of Fresh Jasmine..
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Recently I signed up for BlendBee’s monthly tea subscription and my first box arrived with my 2 teas for the month yesterday. The first blend I checked out was Fresh Jasmine. (The other was Coco Blue which I well review in a bit so stay tuned!)
Fresh Jasmine consists of green tea, jasmine flowers, hint of spices and lemon. I opened up the pouch to start prepping the tea and this tea had such a lovely bright candy note. Think lemon drop candy!
Each package of tea that BlendBee sends you has the steeping parameters laid out for you. After a few minutes of steeping and allowing the tea to cool, I was ready for my first sip. . which I’ll admit turned into a huge gulp. This blend is incredibly delicious!
Fresh juicy lemon notes pop while the green tea creates the full bodied rich buttery flavor. The ginger creates a slight contrast that actually fits in well with the rest of the flavors. As light and gentle as this tea is there are flavors that are bold and vibrant. And honestly, as flavor goes-this tea does remind me of a lemon drop. Sweet and candy like.
Since this tea showed up at more door yesterday, I have already enjoyed about 10 infusions of this tea. I can’t seem to stay away from the blend.
All in all, I am crazy impressed with this tea and I’m incredibly happy with my decision to go with BlendBee. For the price of two drinks at my local coffee shop, I get 30 cups of this (and another) amazingly fresh cuppas to enjoy.