Biron Herbal Teas – Pink Pepper Citron Black Tea

by CuppaGeek

Typically I am not the first one to grab a black tea-especially a black flavored tea that could possibly be on the spicier side but I’m trying hard to stay out of my comfort zone with teas lately.

Biron Herbal Teas, based out of Georgia,  offers a variety of herbal blends and teas with an adorable tea fairy as their logo.   They mainly carry herbal blends but there are a few flavored and unflavored tea options as well in both tea sachet and loose leaf form.

For some reason, Pink Pepper Citron Black Tea caught my eye and before I knew it I had prepared freshly boiled water, grabbed my favorite mug, and I was steeping this tea.  The citrus aroma wasn’t super strong but I could definitely tell there was ginger in the blend.  I could also occasionally sniff a cinnamon note here and there. Because I’m super nuts about my black teas, I was very conservative with my steeping time.  The first infusion I only steeped the tea for 3 minutes before I took my first sip.

Sip, I should probably say gulp.  Once this tea hit my taste buds, I was in for an adventure.  This tea is unique but in a uniquely delicious way.  Not being a fan of chai I was surprised how much I enjoyed the peppery flavor this tea omits.  Generous spicy notes of pepper and ginger mingle lovingly with this smooth malty black tea base.  I was worried that the cardamom might overpower the blend but that isn’t the case at all.  To compliment the spiced flavors there is also this subtle sweet citrus flavor.  Really lovely and exactly what I needed to get my day started.

For being my first go with Biron Herbal Teas, I’m pretty happy with this selection and am thinking that I might even need to get more of this blend and try it as a cold brew.  Especially with spring right around the corner.  The flavors are just a fun creative mix that I think know I need more of.

Want to Know More About This Tea?

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Biron Herbal Teas

Description

With just enough spice provided by ginger, cardamom, and pink pepper, this black tea explodes with flavor. Lemongrass and orange peel even out the blend nicely, leaving a refreshing aftertaste on the palate.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

CuppaGeek

I am a late 30s something mom who loves her family, will be getting married to a wonderful guy and has 4 kids (2 mine-2 his). We have a beautiful life together and I wouldn't change a thing. Tea is a passion that quickly turned into an obsession, very similar to my love for polka dots, the horror genre, and anything that is geeky and fun. I drink all kinds of tea and will try a tea twice to make sure I didn't bumble the first infusion. Besides SororiTea Sisters, I'm also the blogger and genius (I use that word very loosely) behind CuppaGeek, where I review tea, books, and the horror genre.

This post was posted in Biron Herbal Tea, Black Tea

Firewater from Pelican Tea. . . . .

by MrsPremise

Firewater from Pelican Tea gets its name from the addition of hot habanero peppers to the tea.  But hot peppers aren’t the only unusual ingredient, this solid black tea also has toasted brown rice, an ingredient that is usually found in green tea genmai cha teas.

I always like to get a whiff of my tea leaves before I brew them, but I was a little nervous about sticking my nose in the bag this time.  Would I get a noseful of hot peppers and run away sneezing like in the cartoons?  Well, I got lucky, this tea smells savory and earthy and a bit like baked bread from all the starchy brown rice, but no burning or sneezing.

I let the leaves steep and took in the scent of the brewing tea.  Still no bite of spice, just more toasted cereal tones from the rice, and a robust black tea. Taking a sip, I finally get a glimpse of the hot peppers.  At the back of each sip there is the slightly smoky, chipotle flavor of habanero peppers, and a warm burn of capsaicin down my throat.  It’s not so spicy as to be unpleasant, but it is definitely a distinctive experience.  All the forward flavors of the tea focus on the nutty, roasted rice.

This would be a great tea for those who like rice in their tea, like in genmai cha.  Or this would be a winner for those of you who like the spicy soup sipping broth products out there. The brown rice and earthy black tea take over most of the flavor palette in this tea, but the passing flame of hot pepper spice with each sip makes this something special.

All in all Firewater is a really unique blend that would be a fun gift for any lover of all things hot and spicy.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Black
Where to Buy: Pelican Tea
Description:

The original Pelican Tea, and an instant classic.  Habanero-infused Orange Pekoe black tea and toasted brown rice contribute to an unpretentious blend that’s as comforting as it is spicy.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

MrsPremise

Growing up, I drank herbal teas like fresh ginger tea during New England's harsh winters and iced blueberry tea during its humid summers. Over time, I was tempted into trying a wider variety of loose leaf teas by the fandom-themed blends available online. I have since gone on to design my own blends, and I greatly enjoy drafting up flavor ideas and drawing tea labels. When I'm not thinking about tea I can be found reading novels and comic books, playing video games, or watching movies; my favorite genres being history, humor, sci-fi, and fantasy. Generally, I prefer bold teas: spicy chais, rich black teas, even smoky lapsang souchong on occasion. But I have also dabbled in herbal rooibos, flavored oolongs, and traditional matcha. I'm glad to be expanding my palette by tasting and reviewing new teas and blends. Find me on Steepster: http://steepster.com/A2shedsjackson Fandom blends: http://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/list.html?userId=292149

This post was posted in Black Tea, Pelican Tea