Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: ESP Emporium
Tea Description:
A tea creation for all “sweet teeth”. Just like licking out a dish with freshly made huller cookie dough with hints of freshly grated orange peel… it must be scooped out to the last drop. Not even adults can say no to this indescribable taste. The unusual, colorful and abundant decoration of savory and spicy ingredients makes your mouth water just by looking at it.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Unexpected! That’s the word for this tea. I must admit that when this tea was ordered it was because of the name: Butter Truffle. It sounds amazing. I didn’t really even read the description or check the ingredients. My sweet tooth did all the decision making when it comes to this tea, and when I read “Butter Truffle” that sweet tooth of mine said: YES!
So, I guess I need not explain that I had expected something sweeter than what I’m tasting at the moment. But that is not to say that I dislike what I taste. This is really delicious – it’s just not quite what I had anticipated. I like when a tea surprises me this way.
The sweetness is there from the almonds and pistachios as well as a hint of citrus. It has a very biscuit-y kind of note to it, reminiscent of freshly baked cookies or possibly freshly baked scones. But this tea also has a savory tone to it, a delightfully savory quality from the spices. I taste a touch of smokiness from the cumin and a kiss of pepper. It tastes warm and spicy, but the spices are not overwhelming. It all works together very harmoniously.
The black tea base is fairly mellow and unassuming, completing the flavor of the cup without overwhelming it. There is a pleasing balance of tea flavors and spice, while teasing this drinker with hints of sweetness.
A very surprising and rewarding tea from ESP Emporium.
Vanilla Berry Truffle from The Persimmon Tree
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: The Persimmon Tree
Product Description:
A rooibos base infused with succulent black currants, organic hibiscus and creamy white chocolate blossoms.
Taster’s Review:
The fragrance of the dry leaf is really nice, it isn’t TOO powerful, but, it has a delicious combination of berry and vanilla notes with a somewhat nutty background. It smells like dessert!
I was about to steep this the way I normally would rooibos – that is, in boiling water for ten minutes. Because the tannins are very low in rooibos, the flavor will intensify from the long steep time without becoming bitter. However, upon closer examination of this tisane, I noticed the hibiscus. And while rooibos blends can benefit from a long steep time, the longer hibiscus is steeped the more tart and syrupy it becomes. And… I don’t like that.
So… I set the timer for six minutes instead. And this resulted in a really lovely cuppa. It is tart, but it isn’t too tart. The tartness accents the berry flavor of the black currant well, while the white chocolate in the blend gives the cup a deliciously creamy, sweet note that helps to offset the hibiscus tartness so that it doesn’t become too overpowering. The rooibos base is nutty and sweet, but, I am not getting that aftertaste that sometimes accompanies rooibos (a good thing!)
This is a skillfully blended tisane: the flavors are well-balanced, and while it is sweet enough to serve as a dessert tea, it isn’t cloyingly so. A very fun cup of tea any time of the day.
Hazelnut Truffle from Tea Forté
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea Forté
Product Description:
A rich black tea with luscious Belgian chocolate, rosebuds, cacao and roasted coconut flakes. Enriched with notes of toasted Hazelnuts.
Taster’s Review:
I was very excited to try this tea. Chocolate? Hazelnuts? Coconut? and Roses? Sounds heavenly if you ask me!
The aroma of the dry leaf is hazelnut with hints of chocolate and coconut. I couldn’t smell much from the rose in the dry leaf, although I can pick up vague floral notes in the liquor.
The black tea base is pretty mild here. It isn’t very aggressive, but then, I wouldn’t want it to be, because it would spoil the other flavors going on. I like the smooth, even-tone of the black tea as it is here.
The flavor is creamy and rich. I am tasting more hazelnut than anything else, but the chocolate is there too. Speaking as a chocoholic, I think it could use a bit more chocolate (but then, if a little chocolate is good, more chocolate is better, and a lot of chocolate is best. That’s my motto!)
The creamy flavor that I am getting comes primarily from the coconut, I don’t get a whole lot of specific coconut notes, but I do get that creaminess. I do get a little bit of coconut in the finish too.
The rose is not very strong in this, but its there if you focus on the sip. About mid-sip, I get a little bit of flowery sweetness, and in the finish there is a subtle sharpness that is also a distinct rose characteristic. Both of these notes are very subtle, but they’re there.
A very good cup of tea. Perhaps one of the best that I’ve tried from Tea Forté. I think what I’m liking best about it is that it IS a very contemplative cup, one that I am enjoying sipping.
Earl Grey Tea-Infused Chocolate Truffle from Arbor Teas
Where to Buy: Arbor Teas
Company Description:
A milk chocolate shell filled with dark chocolate ganache infused with the citrusy tang of our Earl Grey Black Tea.
Taster’s Review:
Editor’s Note: This review represents part 6 of 6 reviews, one review for each of the six flavors in the truffle collection available from Arbor Teas
I realize that I’ve probably said this about each and every truffle in this collection – but this one is the best!
The creamy milk chocolate is a perfect match with the Earl Grey tea – and while the chocolate IS the dominate flavor (it is a chocolate truffle, after all), the flavor of the black tea and bergamot do come through.
The flavor is very satisfying. The chocolate is rich and sweet and absolutely delicious. The bergamot has a clean, citrus-y note that lends a lightness to the taste. The black tea notes are very soft in this, but not completely overwhelmed by the chocolate.
These chocolates are available during the months of November through February, so there’s no time to waste! I think I discovered them on the Arbor Teas website back in March of this year, and it’s seemed like it took forever for November to finally get here so that I could try them! I’ve been so looking forward to them, and they have EXCEEDED my high expectations. They are really fantastic!
Product Review: Jasmine Tea-Infused Chocolate Truffle from Arbor Teas
Where to Buy: Arbor Teas
Company Description:
Dark chocolate ganache infused with our wonderfully-floral Jasmine Pearl Green Tea and grapefruit zest, diamond cut and dipped in white chocolate.
Taster’s Review:
Editor’s Note: This review represents part 5 of 6 reviews, one review for each of the six flavors in the truffle collection available from Arbor Teas
Of the six truffles in this collection, I think that this one is the prettiest. The pretty lavender blossoms on the white chocolate shell are beautiful! This is almost too pretty to eat. Almost!
The white chocolate shell is sweet and has just a little bit of snap to it when I bite into it, just before it gives way and my teeth sink into the tea-infused dark chocolate ganache.
I worried that I wouldn’t be able to taste the jasmine tea over the strong flavor of the dark chocolate ganache. But after allowing the chocolate to slowly melt on my tongue, I could taste the jasmine notes. The flavor is delicate amid the dark chocolate, but I can taste the jasmine and the green tea.
I think that the addition of the grapefruit zest helps this truffle immensely. The grapefruit essence penetrates the deep chocolate flavor and enhances the flavor of the jasmine tea, and creates a euphoric experience for the palate! This is absolutely amazing!
Of the five truffles that I’ve tasted thus far, this one is my favorite. Delicious! I am sad though, that I only have one truffle left. I must send my husband a link to these truffles in the hopes that he will order some for me for Christmas!