Ahhhhh…Caramel Walnut Shortbread Rooibos from Simpson & Vail…you fill my nose with wondrous aroma and my heart with incredible joy!
Caramel Walnut Shortbread Rooibos from Simpson & Vail is a Flavored Green Rooibos from their new line of Dessert Teas and I am so happy we are one of the first ones to try it here at Sororitea Sisters!
Both dry and wet the smell of this Caramel Walnut Shortbread Rooibos from Simpson & Vail is one for the record books! It’s completely reminiscent of shortbread! And if you are a fan of walnut flavored green teas give this one a whirl because it’s darn comparable sniff-wise and without the caffeine! There is a sweetness and a bit of green taste to it too thanks to the Green Rooibos – I’m sure! I think that it’s AWESOME that they used Green Rooibos in this offering instead of Red Rooibos.
I feel Red Rooibos is being over used most of the time and companies aren’t using enough of the Green Rooibos. Oddly, I prefer Green Rooibos over Red. Okay, Okay…rant over. YES I’m excited they used Green Rooibos for Caramel Walnut Shortbread Rooibos from Simpson & Vail can you tell?
The flavor of Caramel Walnut Shortbread Rooibos from Simpson & Vail is super, too! It’s very dessert-like and helps with not only sweet tooth cravings but potentially carb cravings! YUM! And Caramel Walnut Shortbread Rooibos from Simpson & Vail is tasty hot or cold! SCORE for S&V!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Rooibos
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Description: Featuring another delicious caffeine-free addition to our Dessert Tea line. This new blend was easy for us to agree on. This green Rooibos blend brews to an amber cup with a nutty, buttery taste and deep caramel overtones. A delectable brew that needs no sweeteners.
When I asked Jim for his feedback on this blend he gave it to me along with this “4 out of 4 people recommend this. I know usually it’s 4 out 5 but we didn’t like the 5th person’s comments so we threw his results out and him in the quarry”. I think this caffeine free blend might be just what Jim needs this afternoon!
Ingredients: Organic Green Rooibos, flavoring, safflower blossoms, and orange blossoms.
Brew tea at 212º – steep for 5 minutes.
Caffeine Free. Certified Kosher.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
William Shakespeare’s Black Tea Blend from Simpson & Vail
This tea sample didn’t have ingredients on it, so I took a moment to think about what a Shakespeare tea might taste like.
(Original Artwork Courtney of Super Starling!)
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Description:
Possibly the most well-known name in western literature, William Shakespeare began his life as a tanner’s son in Stratford-Upon-Avon in the spring of 1564. After a seven year period following the birth of his children in which no reliable records of his life can be found, Shakespeare reappeared in London where he began writing and acting in plays. Initially, his name was relegated to the corners of playbills, but as his productions grew in popularity, theaters began using “written by William Shakespeare” as their main selling point. The plays and poems he produced during the thirty year period when he was writing have endured the test of time and are studied and read across the world. He pioneered many styles and structures that have set the foundations for some of western literature’s greatest achievements. Shakespeare is even credited with inventing over 1700 words in the English language.
Gardens, herbs, and flowers appear in many of Shakespeare’s plays and oftentimes play a critical role in his stories. Our William Shakespeare tea blend is a combination of a few of the many herbs he references: lavender, roses, rosemary. The wit and playfulness of his verse means that Shakespeare’s plays can still be enjoyed today, ideally with a warm cup of tea.
This black tea and floral blend brews to an amber cup with a sweet, floral taste. The slightly earthy and woody notes are rounded out with the citrus taste of bergamot and sweet rose petals.
Ingredients: Rose Congou black tea, lavender petals, rose petals, rosemary and bergamot oil.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Green Guava from Simpson and Vail
CuppaGeek’s Review:
Simpson & Vail is one of my favorite tea companies to review. The crew is passionate and incredibly in tune to what the tea community wants and needs. They provide amazing customer service and deliver fresh teas with flavors that are crisp and bright.
Green Guava is one of their “summer” blends that they have been featuring. Vibrant sweet tropical notes are what I’m picking up from the pouch. The tea itself gives you such a summer feel. I love how the bright colors pop against the green tea base.
Allowed to cool for just a few moments and I was greeted with flavors that are recommencement of a sweet jam you would pick up at your local farmer’s market. Fresh sweet with a tiny twinge of tartness. Buttery green tea base brings out a wonderful balance and completes each sip with such a full bodied feel. To bring out the tropical feel I really wish there was almost a hint of pineapple or mango thrown into the mix. There is almost a note of a flavor that is missing.
All in all, this flavored green tea is really nice. Subtle, gentle, and not in your face. One that could bring a soothing tone to a hectic day or even as an afternoon tea.
If you haven’t checked out the fabulous line of teas at Simpson and Vail- please do! I’m sure you’ll find at least five teas that will instantly hop into your cart.
What do learn more about this tea?
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Tea Description:
A wonderful afternoon tea! This fabulous blend of delicious fruits is melded with colorful herbs and our delicate White Monkey tea. The pale ecru cup emits a scrumptious fruity taste that is certain to please.
Learn even more about this tea here.
Pomegranate Olive Leaf from Simpson and Vail
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Tea Description:
Pomegranate Olive Leaf Blend from Simpson and Vail offers the perfect balance of tart and sweet meet in this all organic herbal tisane. It brews to a pink cup with a bold fruit flavor and a light herbal aftertaste. Delicious hot or iced.
Ingredients: Organic Olive leaf, organic green rooibos, organic orange peel, organic hibiscus, organic spearmint, natural pomegranate flavor, organic red cornflowers
Brew tea at 212º – steep for 5 minutes.
Certified Kosher. Caffeine Free
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Pomegranate Olive Leaf Blend from Simpson and Vail is a blend I’ve had my eye on for some time. Simpson and Vail is one of my favorite tea shops. They are a wonderful company to buy from. Their care and compassion for their customers shows in their website, newsletter, and how they interact with their customers. I just love trying out their teas! They always taste fresh and crisp!
This particular blend was one I had my eye on for a while and I just had to try it. The blend is different. An Olive leaf and green rooibos blend mixed in with spearmint and pomegranate. So just by the description alone, you can imagine a blend that totes notes of honey, sweetness, tartness, and mint. An odd combination to say the least but I have to say, one that works!
I actually cold steeped the tea in a mason jar so I could enjoy this blend as a lovely iced tea during the day and I can’t say I would try this blend any other way. The blend itself is a lovely sight that reminds me of wildflowers. The different pops of colors amongst a green base makes me think of wildflowers in a lush green park area. Serene and vibrant. Which is a great way to describe this tea.
This tea is an unusual blend for sure but a wonderful sort of unusual. The tea has a subtle grassy like flavor mixed with a sweet honey like note and a tart minty finish. Like I said, very unusual, but one that I am digging. As a cold brew tea, this tea is refreshing, soothing, and just what the doctor ordered on such a hot muggy July summer day in the Midwest.
Pomegranate Olive Leaf from Simpson and Vail is just another wonderful example of their great fresh and crisp tasting teas I just can’t say enough about them!
Creamy Toasted Coconut from Simpson & Vail
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Tea Description:
A perfect tea for afternoon enjoyment! This delightfully light tea brews to an ecru color and has the taste of baked goodies with an undertone of an earthy oolong. The rich, exotic aroma is accompanied by the smooth, delicious taste of coconut macaroon with vanilla accents. Great hot or cold.
Ingredients: Oolong tea, cacao nibs organic, vanilla beans, organic coconut pieces, flavorings and blue cornflower petals.
Brew tea at 195º – steep for 4 minutes.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The other day I came home to an incredibly considerate package from Simpson & Vail. I just love this company and recommend them all the time. They have an amazing story, customer service, and a line of tea that just makes you drool.
This oolong has been one that I instantly grabbed out of the box and have been drinking ever since. I had just finished up my a delicious flavored oolong from Handmade Teas and was wanting another one. This one is completely satisfied that craving!
I scooped a few spoonfuls into my tea pot and prepared my water to 195. The lovely tea blend had a rich bright coconut aroma. I couldn’t wait to try it. I allowed the tea to steep for about 4 minutes and poured myself a huge cuppa. Sat down and took my first sip.
You ever have a day where you need a cuppa tea just to soothe your soul after a rough day? This tea is the answer! A lovely dose of roasted toasted coconut and oolong with a sweet creamy vanilla undertone and a very very slight chocolate note. Wow, this tea is one of those teas that reminds me why I drink tea. I can’t get enough of it. I’m typically not a fan of tea blends that feature coconut as the spotlight but this one has the perfect amount of coconut that mixes so well with the oolong. The flavors just go together perfectly. I’m literally on my fourth cuppa of the same infusion and I can’t get enough.
If you haven’t tried Simpson & Vail, I highly recommend taking a second and checking out their offerings. You’ll be glad you did! I’m off to brew up another cup!