Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Darjeeling)
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Orange you glad we didn’t just do another ho-hum Orange tea? Oh, my darjeelings, we couldn’t do that to you!
Instead, here’s a blend of real Margaret’s Hope Estate Darjeelings blended with real orange peel and natural orange and cream flavors. It’s a Dreamsicle Darjeeling. There’s some purists out there who might find it an outrage that we would create a flavored blend with what is known as the “Champagne of teas”, but we’re not scared. Give this a shot and you’ll be wondering why no one has attempted it before.
Just remember that Darjeeling is a bit more delicate than most black teas. Some tea nerds would argue that it is technically an oolong, as it is only oxidized about 90%. The upshot of all of this is that you have to steep it in water just below the boiling point (180-190°) for three to four minutes only.
Learn more about this blend here.
Taster’s Review:
I’m actually *revisiting* this tea because I can’t seem to find a review from the first time I tasted it. I may or may not have reviewed this tea from the original batch – but regardless – here’s my review for the reblended batch that was released about the same time that 52Teas announced their VIT (Very Important Tea): Dreamsicle Puerh as their special release for their fundraising campaign.
But I certainly don’t mind revisiting this Dreamsicle Darjeeling Black Tea, it’s one of my all time favorites from 52Teas. I was so happy to see that Frank (Chief Zoomdweebie over at 52Teas) decided to reblend this tea!
Unfortunately, as with nearly all reblends from 52Teas, I can’t say that this Dreamsicle Darjeeling is as memorable as the original batch. Oh, this reblended batch still makes a tasty cup of tea, but it just isn’t quite as … “dreamy” as I remember.
This has plenty of orange flavor, it’s the vanilla tones that I think are lacking. This is not as creamy as I’d like it to be. However, I do get a really nice flavor from the Darjeeling – it’s crisp and I am getting some wine-like, fruity notes that are distinctly Darjeeling-esque. I also taste some of the woodsy notes of the Darjeeling.
The orange adds a nice brightness to the cup, and it tastes very much like the orange I would taste on the outside of the Dreamsicle treat, it’s sweet and refreshing. I do taste some vanilla notes, I am just wishing I tasted more, and I think that just a little more vanilla would give this a more “Dreamsicle” taste.
Overall – it’s good! Just not as amazing as I remember the original batch tasting.
Pomegranate Da Hong Pao Oolong Tea from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
“According to legend, the mother of a Ming Dynasty emperor was cured of an illness by a certain tea, and that emperor sent great red robes to clothe the four bushes from which that tea originated. Three of these original bushes, growing on a rock on Mount Wuyi and reportedly dates back to the Song Dynasty, still survive today and are highly venerated.”
Da Hong Pao is a Wuyi Oolong that has been known to sell for $1,250,000 per kilogram. Ours is infused with delicious organic pomegranate flavor and blended with real freeze-dried pomegranate arils. Thankfully it’s not anywhere near $1.25-million, but we do have only a limited supply.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Hmm … an interesting tea, this Pomegranate Da Hong Pao Oolong Tea from 52Teas! I wasn’t too sure what to think of it, given that Da Hong Pao is not my favorite when it comes to Oolong. I love Pomegranate … but, Da Hong Pao is one of those Oolong teas that I can take or leave … and sometimes, I’d much rather leave it. I’ve come across some Big Red Robe Oolong teas that I’m just not too fond of … while others I’ve liked alright. Some I’ve actually really enjoyed. But, none of them will ever compete for the place that Oolong teas like Ali Shan have in my heart.
But, because I do love Pomegranate, I decided to give this one a shot to see how well the flavors of Big Red Robe meld with the tart and tangy notes of pomegranate. And I like it.
Again, it’s not my favorite VIT (Very Important Tea) from 52Teas – but I guess they can’t all be my favorites. But it is certainly enjoyable. And I’m finding that as it cools, I’m enjoying it more. The fruitier qualities of the Oolong are starting to emerge now, and these unite quite nicely with the pomegranate notes.
The hints of smoky tones from the Big Red Robe add a really interesting element to the cup as well. I like the way this mingles with the pomegranate. The sip starts with a sweet, caramel-y undertone, and then I notice the notes of earth and smoke. The tangy notes of pomegranate begin to reveal themselves, and then as the sip comes to an end, I notice a sort of “charred wood” kind of taste and a mineral note that is quite interesting. I find the layers of flavor here to be very compelling. The aftertaste is sweet and slightly smoky, with a tart “tingle” that tickles the tip of the tongue. (How’s that for a tongue twister? I think even my fingertips got a little tongue tied!)
Overall, I am enjoying this cuppa. Not my favorite 52Teas blend … but certainly not a disappointment either – on the contrary, I’m enjoying this much more than I expected to! As I write this review, I see that there are only eleven pouches of this one left, and it is certainly worth a try – so you better hurry and grab yours while you can!
Lemon-Lime Meringue Flavored Kukicha from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Product Description:
This is an extremely limited edition blend. We have enough for twenty 2oz. pouches of this blend, then it’s gone. This is a Kukicha green tea blended with lemon myrtle and natural flavors.
We’ve managed to capture the essence of a slice of lemon-lime meringue pie, with a light touch of pastry-like crust, lemon and lime and of course, the meringue. Those of you who have the opportunity to try this are going to be blown away by it. Don’t delay, it’s not going to last long.
Taster’s Review:
I don’t think I’ve ever eaten lemon-lime meringue pie before … but my dear gramma made the best lemon meringue pie ever. The meringue was light, fluffy, creamy and sweet … the way you might imagine a cloud tasting in those dreamy moments when you’re cloud-watching. The lemon filling was slightly tart, but more sweet than tart. It was smooth and rich and creamy. And while I have known some people to just eat the filling out of a pie, with my gramma’s pie, you want to eat the crust, because it was always so perfect … she had a knack for pie baking.
And Frank from 52Teas has a knack for making unusual yet amazingly delicious flavored tea blends.
This particular flavored green Kukicha blend was not one of his “teas of the week” but, rather, a limited-edition V.I.T. (Very Important Tea) and what an important tea it is. This tea has managed to take me back to the memories of my gramma’s lemon meringue pies. It is smooth and creamy and fluffy … tasting like a bite of lemon custard (with just a hint of lime in there too), sweet meringue and buttery pie crust. It even imparts such a sublime texture on the palate, that I feel like I just ate a bite of pie! It is silky smooth and sumptuous.
This is DEFINITELY one of Frank’s best teas to date (I know I’ve said that more than once about teas prior to this review), and it just goes to show why you should subscribe to his newsletter (the subscription sign up is on the right side of the screen), as it will send you an email whenever a new tea like this one is introduced, so that you might avoid missing out on any of his Very Important Teas … this tea may have sold out, but maybe you can get in on his next amazing blend.