Coconut Lychee from The NecessiTeas. . . .

Hello coconut and lychee. Definitely some great summer flavors, all atop a light white base. who wouldn’t love a pop of sunshine in their day? .

I enjoy both coconut and lychee and though I have not seen them together often, I can see them blending really well. Unfortunately, this wasn’t around when I placed my Necessiteas order last fall because I probably would have snatched this up quick. Luckily for me, there was a small sample lingering in a traveling teabox that came my way.

Comprised of white tea, organic coconut, safflower petals, goji berries and natural and organic flavors, the dry leaf not only smells delightfully of fruity coconut but looks quite lovely too. Steeped for 3 minutes at 185 degrees, I am left with a cup of tea radiating the smell of coconut throughout my kitchen.

Given the scent, it is no wonder that coconut is the strongest flavor component here. Thick and creamy and fresh, reminiscent of the white flesh of the nut itself. The base is a bit floral which ties in nicely to the coconut while helping to create the lychee taste. It is very nice but the tea itself is heavier than I anticipated in the sense that the mouthfeel is quite dense for a tea you would expect to be light and summery. I blame the coconut but I also don’t mind so much.

I enjoyed my sample of this blend but I don’t know how often I could reach for it before I grew tired. It certainly is nice every now and then but it’s potent and therefore I think this can get old quick.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  White
Where to Buy:  The NecessiTeas
Description

I have a feeling fresh lychees are near impossible to find for about 99% of us, so…. for all of those who have never tasted a lychee, this tea is for you. Lychees are, however, very tasty. They are sweet and a bit floral, and they pair extremely well with coconut and that’s exactly what I’ve done with this blend. For something extra fun, try this tea iced with a splash of rum.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Coquito from A Quarter To Tea. . . . . .

A few weeks ago, I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts (The Sporkful, in case you’re wondering), and host Dan Pashman brought up a coconut milk eggnog drink called Coquito, popular in Puerto Rico.

The way he described this spicy, creamy, coconutty delight gave me insta-cravings, and I immediately started googling for coquito recipes to try on my own. The holiday hustle and bustle and some personal difficulties got in my way, of course, and I promptly forgot about my quest to try this delicious Puerto Rican treat.

So imagine my surprise when I opened my A Quarter to Tea subscription box for December and saw a coquito-inspired white tea sitting right on top! This tea is a delight to look at, with big chunks of dried coconut and heavenly-scented spices throughout the leaf.

Brewed, it’s a beautiful light golden liquor with strong flavors of spiced coconut with a little eggnog undertone. I loved it with a splash of milk to truly impact that creamy, eggnog-y note I was hoping for.

If this tea is anything like true coquito, I’m certain I’d be a fan! Now the real test: can I make this sample last until I finally get off my tush and try brewing up a batch for comparison?

Probably not– it’s that good.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: White Tea
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description

Tea of the Month for December 2016

We’re taking December to dreams of warmer weather all the way to Puerto Rico with our Coquito tea!

Coquito is a spiced coconut drink, that could almost be called coconut eggnog!

Our tea version is sweet and coconut-y, with cinnamon, clove, a touch of ginger with just a hint of tropical fruit lingering in the background.

This tea is limited run, so once it is gone, it’s gone for the season. It is sold only in 0.5oz quantities.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!