Do you like cinnamon? A lot? Do you like the intense, spicy flavors of Indian or Middle Eastern food? Then Harney & Sons' Hot Cinnamon Spice tea (https://www.harney.com/hot-cinnamon-spice-tea.html) is for you.
This is a bold, assertive tea. Hot Cinnamon Spice is a blend of black tea, three types of cinnamon, orange peel, and sweet cloves. No sugar has been added and even +Robert Peterson , most avid fan of Texas sweet tea, finds that no sugar is needed. It's incredibly cinnamon-y -- the aroma almost knocks you down and takes your lunch money. It's got a spicy bite over the top of the tea flavor. This is not a gentle, soothing drink. It's a late afternoon or after dinner pick-me-up.
For me, drinking this tea is very much a mood thing. I'm not always in the mood to have three types of cinnamon take my lunch money. I can get the same flavors, in different and far gentler proportions, from Harney & Sons' Holiday tea blend (https://www.harney.com/hrp-holiday-tea.html). By and large, I prefer the more gingerbread-like flavors of the Holiday tea, which incorporates almonds and uses a far lighter hand with the cinnamon. But for nights when I am working late, or when I need to drive home tired after a late-night dinner, Hot Cinnamon Spice can be a great, energizing, pick-me up. It comes in both regular and decaf, but I honestly can't see the point of drinking this in decaf form.
I'm not a huge fan of Indian food, but I imagine the Hot Cinnamon Spice would go exceptionally well with it. It goes really well with steak dinners, for sure.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Tea tasting: Twinings' Winter Spice Herbal Tea
I'm a big fan of Twinings for solid, basic tea. In years past, their Winter Spice herbal (http://www.twiningsusashop.com/winter-spice.html) has been a nice mellow tisane. This year, however, it seems to have taken a steep fall-off in quality.
It's supposed to be a blend of apple and camomile, with hints of cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. In earlier years, it's been a bright, sunny and warm cuppa, slightly suggestive of apple strudel but not overly sweet. It was a great match for winter baking, with the cinnamon notes carrying through.
Unfortunately, the two cups I just made have tasted like hot water that has been passed vaguely in the vicinity of an apple and then shown some camomile flowers. They were nasty and insipid. I'm terribly disappointed. Maybe I got a very old box and the tisane has aged too much to brew well. Maybe Twinings is "reformulating" again, which never goes well for them. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2030922/Earl-Grey-drinkers-dismiss-new-recipe-affront-tea.html)
Putting two teabags into my mug has made the tea palatable, but still a shadow of its former self. Throwing out tea is anathema in most cases, but this one has got to go.
It's supposed to be a blend of apple and camomile, with hints of cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. In earlier years, it's been a bright, sunny and warm cuppa, slightly suggestive of apple strudel but not overly sweet. It was a great match for winter baking, with the cinnamon notes carrying through.
Unfortunately, the two cups I just made have tasted like hot water that has been passed vaguely in the vicinity of an apple and then shown some camomile flowers. They were nasty and insipid. I'm terribly disappointed. Maybe I got a very old box and the tisane has aged too much to brew well. Maybe Twinings is "reformulating" again, which never goes well for them. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2030922/Earl-Grey-drinkers-dismiss-new-recipe-affront-tea.html)
Putting two teabags into my mug has made the tea palatable, but still a shadow of its former self. Throwing out tea is anathema in most cases, but this one has got to go.
Monday, January 27, 2014
"Tea, Earl Grey, hot"
Of all of the flavored black teas, Earl Grey tea is probably the most well known and the easiest to find. It also carries a certain geek cred because it was the favorite drink of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard.
The tea is generally thought to be named after Charles, 2nd Earl Grey, Prime Minister of England (b. 1764, d. 1845), but this claim is increasingly disputed. (http://www.foodsofengland.co.uk/earlgreytea.htm ; http://www.tea.co.uk/news-article/a-grey-area:-all-about-earl-grey) Twinings advertises that is has been making Earl Grey tea since the 1830s. (http://www.twiningsusashop.com/earl-grey.html). However, Jacksons of Picadilly, another British tea institution, also claims to be the maker of the original Earl Grey blend. (http://www.twiningsusashop.com/earl-grey.html).
Earl Grey tea is black tea flavored with oil of bergamot. Oil of bergamot is extracted from the bergamot orange, a citrus fruit. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergamot_orange; http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/61711/bergamot-orange) . Bergamot oil combined with black tea produces a flavorful, aromatic brew that is well-known to any serious tea-drinker. Applied with too heavy a hand it becomes unbearably perfume-y.
Twinings (http://www.twiningsusashop.com/earl-grey.html) is likely the best-known maker of Earl Grey tea imported to the U.S., and can be counted on to produce a solid, flavorful cuppa. It's got all the right floral and citrus notes without letting the bergamot overwhelm the taste of the tea. Twinings tried to reformulate its classic blend in 2011, but like New Coke, that attempt was met with tea-drinker outrage, and the original blend was brought back. (http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewmcfbrown/100102578/earl-grey-tea-is-back-twinings-gives-in-to-outraged-tea-drinkers/)
I've sampled a number of other companies' Earl Greys as well:
Mighty Leaf (http://www.mightyleaf.com/Best-Sellers/Organic-Earl-Grey-Black-Tea-Pouches/#Organic-Earl-Grey--15-pouches-cello-wrap) seems to go heavier on the bergamot oil than Twinings does, but stays on the acceptable side of the balance between tea and flavoring.
Republic of Tea (http://www.republicoftea.com/earl-greyer-black-tea/p/V00583/) produces a nicely balanced blend that is fair competition for Twinings.
Harney & Sons (https://www.harney.com/harney-teas/black-tea-aab3238922bcc25a6f606eb525ffdc56/flavored-black-teas.html) makes two different blends of Earl Grey -- the Imperial and the Supreme. I'm quite fond of the Imperial, which is the "standard" Earl Grey. The Supreme is billed as using a higher quality tea, and I look forward to trying it.
My current Earl Grey of choice is from Taylors of Harrogate (http://www.taylorsofharrogate.co.uk/subcattea.asp?catid=119), which carries some of my current favorite black teas. The quality of the black tea is more than a match for the bergamot in this one, creating a subtle mix of flavors that can soothe even the worst afternoon.
I've got a sample pouch of Adagio's Earl Grey Moonlight blend waiting to be opened. I'll report on this one separately.
For me, Bigelow's and Stash's Earl Grey blends are the definition of imbalanced, over-perfumed teas. They use too heavy a hand with the bergamot, and the result is somewhat like drinking straight bergamot oil that has been passed over a tea leaf a few times.
For those who want a less perfumed tea, in the 1990s Twinings developed "Lady Grey tea," a blend using less bergamot oil but adding lemon and orange peel oils. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Grey_(tea)). Other companies also make "Lady Grey" or "Mrs. Earl Grey" or otherwise modified Earl Grey teas using reduced levels of bergamot and additional flavors such as lavender or other citrus fruits. For me it's a mood thing. Some days, there is simply nothing quite as soothing and satisfying as a steaming cup of Earl Grey. Lady Grey is a lighter, brisker taste, more for everyday drinking than savoring.
The tea is generally thought to be named after Charles, 2nd Earl Grey, Prime Minister of England (b. 1764, d. 1845), but this claim is increasingly disputed. (http://www.foodsofengland.co.uk/earlgreytea.htm ; http://www.tea.co.uk/news-article/a-grey-area:-all-about-earl-grey) Twinings advertises that is has been making Earl Grey tea since the 1830s. (http://www.twiningsusashop.com/earl-grey.html). However, Jacksons of Picadilly, another British tea institution, also claims to be the maker of the original Earl Grey blend. (http://www.twiningsusashop.com/earl-grey.html).
Earl Grey tea is black tea flavored with oil of bergamot. Oil of bergamot is extracted from the bergamot orange, a citrus fruit. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergamot_orange; http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/61711/bergamot-orange) . Bergamot oil combined with black tea produces a flavorful, aromatic brew that is well-known to any serious tea-drinker. Applied with too heavy a hand it becomes unbearably perfume-y.
Twinings (http://www.twiningsusashop.com/earl-grey.html) is likely the best-known maker of Earl Grey tea imported to the U.S., and can be counted on to produce a solid, flavorful cuppa. It's got all the right floral and citrus notes without letting the bergamot overwhelm the taste of the tea. Twinings tried to reformulate its classic blend in 2011, but like New Coke, that attempt was met with tea-drinker outrage, and the original blend was brought back. (http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewmcfbrown/100102578/earl-grey-tea-is-back-twinings-gives-in-to-outraged-tea-drinkers/)
I've sampled a number of other companies' Earl Greys as well:
Mighty Leaf (http://www.mightyleaf.com/Best-Sellers/Organic-Earl-Grey-Black-Tea-Pouches/#Organic-Earl-Grey--15-pouches-cello-wrap) seems to go heavier on the bergamot oil than Twinings does, but stays on the acceptable side of the balance between tea and flavoring.
Republic of Tea (http://www.republicoftea.com/earl-greyer-black-tea/p/V00583/) produces a nicely balanced blend that is fair competition for Twinings.
Harney & Sons (https://www.harney.com/harney-teas/black-tea-aab3238922bcc25a6f606eb525ffdc56/flavored-black-teas.html) makes two different blends of Earl Grey -- the Imperial and the Supreme. I'm quite fond of the Imperial, which is the "standard" Earl Grey. The Supreme is billed as using a higher quality tea, and I look forward to trying it.
My current Earl Grey of choice is from Taylors of Harrogate (http://www.taylorsofharrogate.co.uk/subcattea.asp?catid=119), which carries some of my current favorite black teas. The quality of the black tea is more than a match for the bergamot in this one, creating a subtle mix of flavors that can soothe even the worst afternoon.
I've got a sample pouch of Adagio's Earl Grey Moonlight blend waiting to be opened. I'll report on this one separately.
For me, Bigelow's and Stash's Earl Grey blends are the definition of imbalanced, over-perfumed teas. They use too heavy a hand with the bergamot, and the result is somewhat like drinking straight bergamot oil that has been passed over a tea leaf a few times.
For those who want a less perfumed tea, in the 1990s Twinings developed "Lady Grey tea," a blend using less bergamot oil but adding lemon and orange peel oils. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Grey_(tea)). Other companies also make "Lady Grey" or "Mrs. Earl Grey" or otherwise modified Earl Grey teas using reduced levels of bergamot and additional flavors such as lavender or other citrus fruits. For me it's a mood thing. Some days, there is simply nothing quite as soothing and satisfying as a steaming cup of Earl Grey. Lady Grey is a lighter, brisker taste, more for everyday drinking than savoring.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Tea tasting: David's Teas' Stormy Night
Now that my taste buds have returned, I was all ready to do a full review of a tea worth tasting. Unfortunately, this very interesting tea isn't currently available from David's. It may be seasonal, or it may be that it simply was not very popular. I picked it up in May in Quebec City.
The tea smells like German chocolate cake -- chocolate, cinnamon and coconut, with a hint of vanilla. Cinnamon and coconut dominate the flavor when brewed mildly. When brewed more strongly, the chocolate chunks mixed in with the leaves can make the tea seem muddy. but they do intensify the chocolate flavor. The chocolate chunks also make cleaning out the tea ball or tea strainer quite the pain in the butt.
This is really an afternoon or evening tea; I can't see being able to appreciate something this complex in the morning. Since I try to avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening, I don't dip into Stormy Night very often.
If your taste runs this way, and David's decides to bring it back, it's worth picking up a small pouch.
The tea smells like German chocolate cake -- chocolate, cinnamon and coconut, with a hint of vanilla. Cinnamon and coconut dominate the flavor when brewed mildly. When brewed more strongly, the chocolate chunks mixed in with the leaves can make the tea seem muddy. but they do intensify the chocolate flavor. The chocolate chunks also make cleaning out the tea ball or tea strainer quite the pain in the butt.
This is really an afternoon or evening tea; I can't see being able to appreciate something this complex in the morning. Since I try to avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening, I don't dip into Stormy Night very often.
If your taste runs this way, and David's decides to bring it back, it's worth picking up a small pouch.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Tea-flavored things that aren't tea
I apologize for the lack of tea tasting for the past week. I've had a horrid head cold and my sense of taste is completely off.
Trying to soothe my itchy, scratchy throat, I cracked open a package of Bali's Best Green Tea Latte candies that I was given for the holidays. (http://www.fusiongourmet.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=1_4). They're very interesting and could easily become addictive. They remind me a lot of green tea ice cream. And I love green tea ice cream (which is unexpected, given that I hate milk in tea). The slightly bitter herbal taste combined with the smooth creamy texture is unlike anything else.
Green tea ice cream is something I used to find only in Asian restaurants or small specialty ice cream stores. However, Hagen-Daaz now sells green tea ice cream (http://www.haagendazs.com/Products/Product/2781). It can be found in most of the middle- to high-end grocery stores around me.
I've found a couple of recipes for cooking with tea as an ingredient. Bromley's website has some interesting ideas that I intend to try: http://www.bromleytea.com/recipes.html
If anyone else attempts any of these recipes, please let me know so I can share it with the group!
Trying to soothe my itchy, scratchy throat, I cracked open a package of Bali's Best Green Tea Latte candies that I was given for the holidays. (http://www.fusiongourmet.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=1_4). They're very interesting and could easily become addictive. They remind me a lot of green tea ice cream. And I love green tea ice cream (which is unexpected, given that I hate milk in tea). The slightly bitter herbal taste combined with the smooth creamy texture is unlike anything else.
Green tea ice cream is something I used to find only in Asian restaurants or small specialty ice cream stores. However, Hagen-Daaz now sells green tea ice cream (http://www.haagendazs.com/Products/Product/2781). It can be found in most of the middle- to high-end grocery stores around me.
I've found a couple of recipes for cooking with tea as an ingredient. Bromley's website has some interesting ideas that I intend to try: http://www.bromleytea.com/recipes.html
If anyone else attempts any of these recipes, please let me know so I can share it with the group!
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Guest review: Adagio's Dragonwell Green
+Camille des Jardins has provided me with another guest review, this time for Dragonwell Green (http://www.adagio.com/green/dragonwell.html) :
"I first tried Dragonwell tea many many years ago, when I first realized that tea was a Thing, and started to pay more attention. Mom had discovered Stash Tea, and was finding all sorts of interesting varities. I wanted to try Dragonwell because of the name. And it sounded good, but mostly because dragon. I don't remember if I liked it or not. Figured I'd try it again, given the opportunity.
Adagio's Dragonwell brews a pale green cup of tea when done according to recommendations. Earthy, 'green' scent, but not super strong. Lovely light, slightly smoky flavor. Nicely warming after shoveling the walkway in single-digit temperatures. I forgot about the second steeping I had started in the evening with the morning's tea leaves for about 10 minutes, and figured I'd ruined it, but there is none of the bitterness I usually associate with over-steeped green tea, and the flavor is just as nice as the morning's cup. A wonderful, wonderful tea."
"I first tried Dragonwell tea many many years ago, when I first realized that tea was a Thing, and started to pay more attention. Mom had discovered Stash Tea, and was finding all sorts of interesting varities. I wanted to try Dragonwell because of the name. And it sounded good, but mostly because dragon. I don't remember if I liked it or not. Figured I'd try it again, given the opportunity.
Adagio's Dragonwell brews a pale green cup of tea when done according to recommendations. Earthy, 'green' scent, but not super strong. Lovely light, slightly smoky flavor. Nicely warming after shoveling the walkway in single-digit temperatures. I forgot about the second steeping I had started in the evening with the morning's tea leaves for about 10 minutes, and figured I'd ruined it, but there is none of the bitterness I usually associate with over-steeped green tea, and the flavor is just as nice as the morning's cup. A wonderful, wonderful tea."
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Tea tasting: Teavana's Black Dragon Pearl
In keeping with the theme of unflavored teas, today's tea is Teavana's Black Dragon Pearl (http://www.teavana.com/the-teas/black-teas/p/black-dragon-pearls-black-tea). It's a lovely, textured black tea, with a malty undertone. The tea is presented in little rolled "pearls" of about 30 leaves. It takes about 3 of the little pearls to make a medium brew for a 16-oz cup. Using more or fewer pearls will make a stronger or weaker cup with a slightly different flavor profile.
This is also a tea that can be re-used after the first brewing. I've used the same leaves up to three times without negatively impacting the flavor of the tea. It is slightly different on each brewing, but tasty nevertheless. The first brewing is maltier, the later brewings are more simple.
The website claims it has chocolate tones, but I don't taste them.
This is also a tea that can be re-used after the first brewing. I've used the same leaves up to three times without negatively impacting the flavor of the tea. It is slightly different on each brewing, but tasty nevertheless. The first brewing is maltier, the later brewings are more simple.
The website claims it has chocolate tones, but I don't taste them.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Tea for those who don't like flavored teas
I've been focusing primarily on flavored teas and up-market blends. Today I want to talk about how to find good, basic tea for people who don't like or want flavors or who simply want to be able to buy something off the shelf in the market.
You can never go wrong with Twinings for simple, basic tea. Twinings English Breakfast and Twinings Irish Breakfast are good, solid, basic teas, without non-tea flavors. They can be found in pretty much every supermarket I've ever visited. Both are blends; Irish Breakfast tea tends to have a heavier mix of Assam tea than English Breakfast. If you're able to find it, Twinings does sell a pure Assam tea that is excellent. I've not been able to find it in supermarkets, but Amazon sells it for $12.00 for 50 bags. (http://www.amazon.com/Twinings-Assam-Strong-Mighty-Bags/dp/B004YADQZI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389729465&sr=8-1&keywords=Twinings+Assam)
Mighty Leaf carries some excellent basic black teas, including Organic Breakfast and Darjeeling Estate (http://www.mightyleaf.com/tea-pouches_black-tea-classic/). I've been able to find Mighty Leaf in stores like Shop Rite, King's and Wegmans. Mighty Leaf's Organic Black is my go-to tea for when +Rhiannon theCurious , who loves extremely strong dark tea, visits.
Republic of Tea's British Breakfast (http://www.republicoftea.com/british-breakfast-black-tea/p/V00586/) can also be counted on to deliver a flavorful, solid, dependably quality cuppa. I find that Republic of Tea blends are very good for busy people who can't always watch the clock to take the tea bag out. I've gotten called to an hour-long meeting just after making a cup of tea, and found the resulting cup to be highly drinkable despite having left the tea bag in.
I find Bigelow's teas to be very hit or miss. Some are excellent; some are cloying, nasty and over-flavored ("Constant Comment" being the ur-example of a bad Bigelow tea). Still, Bigelow's basic blacks are a huge step above having to drink Lipton.
Starbuck's Tazo Awake tea is serviceable if nothing better is available, but you need to be very careful about how long that tea bag steeps. It moves quickly into undrinkable sludge if brewed too long, and there's a small window of opportunity between "not strong enough" and sludge.
You can never go wrong with Twinings for simple, basic tea. Twinings English Breakfast and Twinings Irish Breakfast are good, solid, basic teas, without non-tea flavors. They can be found in pretty much every supermarket I've ever visited. Both are blends; Irish Breakfast tea tends to have a heavier mix of Assam tea than English Breakfast. If you're able to find it, Twinings does sell a pure Assam tea that is excellent. I've not been able to find it in supermarkets, but Amazon sells it for $12.00 for 50 bags. (http://www.amazon.com/Twinings-Assam-Strong-Mighty-Bags/dp/B004YADQZI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389729465&sr=8-1&keywords=Twinings+Assam)
Mighty Leaf carries some excellent basic black teas, including Organic Breakfast and Darjeeling Estate (http://www.mightyleaf.com/tea-pouches_black-tea-classic/). I've been able to find Mighty Leaf in stores like Shop Rite, King's and Wegmans. Mighty Leaf's Organic Black is my go-to tea for when +Rhiannon theCurious , who loves extremely strong dark tea, visits.
Republic of Tea's British Breakfast (http://www.republicoftea.com/british-breakfast-black-tea/p/V00586/) can also be counted on to deliver a flavorful, solid, dependably quality cuppa. I find that Republic of Tea blends are very good for busy people who can't always watch the clock to take the tea bag out. I've gotten called to an hour-long meeting just after making a cup of tea, and found the resulting cup to be highly drinkable despite having left the tea bag in.
I find Bigelow's teas to be very hit or miss. Some are excellent; some are cloying, nasty and over-flavored ("Constant Comment" being the ur-example of a bad Bigelow tea). Still, Bigelow's basic blacks are a huge step above having to drink Lipton.
Starbuck's Tazo Awake tea is serviceable if nothing better is available, but you need to be very careful about how long that tea bag steeps. It moves quickly into undrinkable sludge if brewed too long, and there's a small window of opportunity between "not strong enough" and sludge.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Revisiting White Cucumber Tea
I brewed the remainder of the Adagio White Cucumber Tea (http://www.adagio.com/white/white_cucumber.html), choosing the option for the strongest brew. I then chilled it and served it iced. What a vast improvement on the hot version! Stepping up the brewing strength increased the tea flavor of the white tea. Serving it iced made the cucumber flavor elements refreshing, not soupy. For people who are fond of grassy teas, I think White Cucumber iced tea would work particularly well with mint.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Tea tasting: Tea Forté's Raspberry Nectar
Tea Forté does an excellent job with fruity teas, making them sweet and flavorful without becoming cloying. Their Raspberry Nectar (http://www.teaforte.com/store/gourmet-tea/herbal-tea/raspberry-nectar/) is no exception. It is rich and brilliant with raspberry flavor. I dislike having too much hibiscus in my fruit teas; this blend uses the hibiscus well without letting it take over the taste completely. Raspberry nectar indeed. Hot or iced, it's got a nice tart-sweet fruity glow.
Adding sweetener to this tea would be far too much. It doesn't require it; the natural raspberry flavor is sweet enough. However, I'm wondering what a bit of raspberry syrup, like the kinds they use in coffee shops, would do to this tea.
Adding sweetener to this tea would be far too much. It doesn't require it; the natural raspberry flavor is sweet enough. However, I'm wondering what a bit of raspberry syrup, like the kinds they use in coffee shops, would do to this tea.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Tea tasting: Various vanilla teas
I adore vanilla. A good vanilla is one of my favorite flavors. Vanilla flavored tea is always assured to make me happy. Rather than focus on one tea today, I'm going to talk about my favorite go-to vanilla teas.
Harney & Sons' Vanilla Comoro (https://www.harney.com/vanilla-comoro.html) is a decaffeinated vanilla black tea. It's a great after-dinner tea. The decaffeination process doesn't destroy the quality of the tea. It has a strong vanilla scent that puts me in mind of butter cookies, but a lighter vanilla flavor once brewed. It's smooth and silky, good both hot and iced.
Republic of Tea's Vanilla Almond Black (http://www.republicoftea.com/vanilla-almond-black-tea/p/V00582/) has a far less heavy hand with the vanilla scent and flavor. The vanilla and almond are both background notes behind the tea. This is a vanilla-flavored tea for people who generally don't like flavored teas. I also like Republic of Tea's blacks because they don't get bitter if you happen to get called away and can't pull the tea bag out in time.
Mighty Leaf's Vanilla Bean (http://www.mightyleaf.com/tea-pouches_flavored-black-tea/vanilla-bean-black-tea-pouches/) falls in between the strong flavor of Harney & Sons and the very light flavor of Republic of Tea. The vanilla aroma is of medium strength and there's more distinct vanilla smoothness in the taste and mouth feel. Mighty Leaf's tea pouches allow for larger tea leaves in the bags, enhancing the black tea taste. I believe that the Vanilla Bean is available in both regular and decaf.
Twinings French Vanilla Chai (http://www.twiningsusashop.com/french-vanilla-chai.html) is a perfectly serviceable chai with strong vanilla notes.
Twinings Camomiles, Honey and Vanilla (http://www.twiningsusashop.com/camomile-honey-vanilla.html) is a gentle and soothing blend which nicely balances the vanilla and honey notes without overwhelming the camomile.
Harney & Sons' Vanilla Comoro (https://www.harney.com/vanilla-comoro.html) is a decaffeinated vanilla black tea. It's a great after-dinner tea. The decaffeination process doesn't destroy the quality of the tea. It has a strong vanilla scent that puts me in mind of butter cookies, but a lighter vanilla flavor once brewed. It's smooth and silky, good both hot and iced.
Republic of Tea's Vanilla Almond Black (http://www.republicoftea.com/vanilla-almond-black-tea/p/V00582/) has a far less heavy hand with the vanilla scent and flavor. The vanilla and almond are both background notes behind the tea. This is a vanilla-flavored tea for people who generally don't like flavored teas. I also like Republic of Tea's blacks because they don't get bitter if you happen to get called away and can't pull the tea bag out in time.
Mighty Leaf's Vanilla Bean (http://www.mightyleaf.com/tea-pouches_flavored-black-tea/vanilla-bean-black-tea-pouches/) falls in between the strong flavor of Harney & Sons and the very light flavor of Republic of Tea. The vanilla aroma is of medium strength and there's more distinct vanilla smoothness in the taste and mouth feel. Mighty Leaf's tea pouches allow for larger tea leaves in the bags, enhancing the black tea taste. I believe that the Vanilla Bean is available in both regular and decaf.
Twinings French Vanilla Chai (http://www.twiningsusashop.com/french-vanilla-chai.html) is a perfectly serviceable chai with strong vanilla notes.
Twinings Camomiles, Honey and Vanilla (http://www.twiningsusashop.com/camomile-honey-vanilla.html) is a gentle and soothing blend which nicely balances the vanilla and honey notes without overwhelming the camomile.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Tea tasting: Adagio's White Cucumber
With Adagio's offering $2 samples, I decided to break out of my tea comfort zone a bit and try its White Cucumber tea. (https://www.adagio.com/white/white_cucumber.html). Here's how the website describes it:
"Stay cool with this refreshing, spa-inspired blend of cucumber and premium Chinese white tea. Vegetal aroma (think cucumber appetizers at a middle eastern restaurant), with a pleasantly dry, green melon finish. Excellent over ice, this unexpected pairing will leave you relaxed and centered; a lot more convenient than placing cucumber slices on your eyelids."
Unfortunately, this is a tea FAIL. While we're not talking diner Tetley, White Cucumber is definitely not something I'll be drinking voluntarily once the sample runs out. I will experiment with the last of the sample size to get rid of it. Or possibly just kiss those $2 goodbye.
That "vegetal aroma" touted by the website is akin to the unspeakable stench created when one opens a bag of salad left at the bottom of the crisper for far too long. I opened the package and nearly dumped the whole thing in sheer self-defense. Fortunately, the tea does not taste anything like that awful stink.
The tea also doesn't taste much like good white tea. It tastes like cucumber water. While cucumber water is refreshing to drink iced during the hell of a steamy August, I recommend against drinking it hot while the country is in the grips of a Polar Vortex. I don't get tea or melon flavor out of this mixture at all.
In the interests of science I'm going to brew it again and try it iced, and possibly with sweetener, although I can't image that putting sugar on cucumbers will taste good. Tea shouldn't put me in mind of how much I want ranch dressing, but that's all that the White Cucumber brew accomplishes.
"Stay cool with this refreshing, spa-inspired blend of cucumber and premium Chinese white tea. Vegetal aroma (think cucumber appetizers at a middle eastern restaurant), with a pleasantly dry, green melon finish. Excellent over ice, this unexpected pairing will leave you relaxed and centered; a lot more convenient than placing cucumber slices on your eyelids."
Unfortunately, this is a tea FAIL. While we're not talking diner Tetley, White Cucumber is definitely not something I'll be drinking voluntarily once the sample runs out. I will experiment with the last of the sample size to get rid of it. Or possibly just kiss those $2 goodbye.
That "vegetal aroma" touted by the website is akin to the unspeakable stench created when one opens a bag of salad left at the bottom of the crisper for far too long. I opened the package and nearly dumped the whole thing in sheer self-defense. Fortunately, the tea does not taste anything like that awful stink.
The tea also doesn't taste much like good white tea. It tastes like cucumber water. While cucumber water is refreshing to drink iced during the hell of a steamy August, I recommend against drinking it hot while the country is in the grips of a Polar Vortex. I don't get tea or melon flavor out of this mixture at all.
In the interests of science I'm going to brew it again and try it iced, and possibly with sweetener, although I can't image that putting sugar on cucumbers will taste good. Tea shouldn't put me in mind of how much I want ranch dressing, but that's all that the White Cucumber brew accomplishes.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Tea experiments: Teavana's White Chocolate Peppermint + Crushed Candy Canes
With Polarvortexmaggedon settling in here on the East Coast, the folks here at Mt. Mackyntoich were in dire need of warm, soothing tea. As an experiment, I made a pot of Teavana's White Chocolate Peppermint Rooibos (previously reviewed on this blog at http://alysteaparty.blogspot.com/2013/12/tea-tasting-teavana-white-chocolate.html). I then crushed leftover candy canes into our mugs and poured the tea over them. I used about half of a large size candy cane for myself, and a whole candy cane for +Robert Peterson , who likes his tea much much sweeter than I do.
It worked splendidly. The candy cane emphasized the peppermint aspect of the tea without losing the white chocolate undertone. The whole drink was made richer, like a fine minty-sweet dessert.
It worked splendidly. The candy cane emphasized the peppermint aspect of the tea without losing the white chocolate undertone. The whole drink was made richer, like a fine minty-sweet dessert.
Tea tasting: Adagio's Almond Oolong
The flavor of almonds is not to everyone's taste. But if you are a fan of marzipan or almond cookies (which I am), then Adagio's Almond Oolong (http://www.adagio.com/oolong/almond_oolong.html) is a delight.
Opening the package yields an overwhelming scent of sweet almond, like opening a package of good marzipan. The aroma of the brewed tea is subtler and lighter, fortunately, because even loving almond I don't think I'd be able to drink something as almondy as the scent of the raw tea.
Oolongs are full-bodied teas with an interesting array of flavor notes of their own depending on the exact preparation. The almond flavoring and the oolong work well together; a less assertive tea would be overwhelmed. The almond heightens the sweeter tones of the oolong and adds a smoothness after the initial tang of the tea.
I don't like what sweetener does to this tea; it unbalances the flavors. I tried sweetening it both with honey and Sugar in the Raw (http://www.intheraw.com/products/sugar-in-the-raw/), but neither did anything good to the taste.
I also definitely think this tea is best hot. It's a soothing, gentle flavor mix that wants warmth.
Drinking this tea makes me want to go into the kitchen and bake either sugar or almond cookies.
Opening the package yields an overwhelming scent of sweet almond, like opening a package of good marzipan. The aroma of the brewed tea is subtler and lighter, fortunately, because even loving almond I don't think I'd be able to drink something as almondy as the scent of the raw tea.
Oolongs are full-bodied teas with an interesting array of flavor notes of their own depending on the exact preparation. The almond flavoring and the oolong work well together; a less assertive tea would be overwhelmed. The almond heightens the sweeter tones of the oolong and adds a smoothness after the initial tang of the tea.
I don't like what sweetener does to this tea; it unbalances the flavors. I tried sweetening it both with honey and Sugar in the Raw (http://www.intheraw.com/products/sugar-in-the-raw/), but neither did anything good to the taste.
I also definitely think this tea is best hot. It's a soothing, gentle flavor mix that wants warmth.
Drinking this tea makes me want to go into the kitchen and bake either sugar or almond cookies.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Guest review: Strawberry Lychee black tea
Today's guest review is from +Jody Livingston
"I was given a box of Strawberry Lychee tropical black tea from Hawaiian Islands Tea Company by the author of this blog. It's quite nice.
The nose is stronger than the taste, which is good, since it is quite strong with a very prominent strawberry note and a more subtle lychee fragrance. The tea, once made is more subdued. I took it with a teaspoon of local honey. It has a clean mouth feel with a soft taste of strawberry hitting first. The lychee taste sneaks in after and lingers a bit. But is is the taste of the tea that is primary, and it's not a sharp tea, more of a comfortable evening tea.
Overall it's not as fruity as I expected it to be, but I think it benefits from that. The tea itself is the star."
"I was given a box of Strawberry Lychee tropical black tea from Hawaiian Islands Tea Company by the author of this blog. It's quite nice.
The nose is stronger than the taste, which is good, since it is quite strong with a very prominent strawberry note and a more subtle lychee fragrance. The tea, once made is more subdued. I took it with a teaspoon of local honey. It has a clean mouth feel with a soft taste of strawberry hitting first. The lychee taste sneaks in after and lingers a bit. But is is the taste of the tea that is primary, and it's not a sharp tea, more of a comfortable evening tea.
Overall it's not as fruity as I expected it to be, but I think it benefits from that. The tea itself is the star."
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Bad tea chronicles
On the way home from an SCA event last night, a group of us stopped at a diner in New Paltz, NY. This diner had been selected more or less by throwing a pin at a map, so I wasn't expecting much.
Even those very low expectations were crushed and mangled utterly by the cups of hot tea we were served. I have been far too spoiled by drinking nothing but good tea for the last several months. Mere off-the-shelf Tetley tea was just nasty. Above and beyond the bitter bite of cheap orange pekoe, it had a nasty back-taste that reminded me a bit of coffee grounds.
On the other hands, the fried zucchini was excellent.
Even those very low expectations were crushed and mangled utterly by the cups of hot tea we were served. I have been far too spoiled by drinking nothing but good tea for the last several months. Mere off-the-shelf Tetley tea was just nasty. Above and beyond the bitter bite of cheap orange pekoe, it had a nasty back-taste that reminded me a bit of coffee grounds.
On the other hands, the fried zucchini was excellent.
Tea tasting: Adagio's Casablanca Twist
Adagio's website describes its Casablanca Twist (https://www.adagio.com/green/casablanca_twist.html) thusly: "An interesting twist on classic Moroccan Mint tea, which traditionally combines Gunpowder green tea from China with fresh mint. We kept the latter, and replaced the smoky notes of Gunpowder with the muscatel highlights of a Darjeeling from India. The result is very a refreshing cup, with bold, cool minty notes, smooth and relaxing texture and flavor. Very intriguing cup."
The website description is spot on. The mingling of the mint with the Darjeeling is an excellent pairing, producing a refreshing taste that goes down easily. There's the vagueness hint of natural sweetness underlying the taste of the mint and the Darjeeling.
Adding honey doesn't do much for the flavor. Too much honey overwhelms the clean, bright tones of the mint. The flavor doesn't seem strong enough to be good over ice; and given the current weather in these parts I'm not likely to try it iced any time soon.
The website description is spot on. The mingling of the mint with the Darjeeling is an excellent pairing, producing a refreshing taste that goes down easily. There's the vagueness hint of natural sweetness underlying the taste of the mint and the Darjeeling.
Adding honey doesn't do much for the flavor. Too much honey overwhelms the clean, bright tones of the mint. The flavor doesn't seem strong enough to be good over ice; and given the current weather in these parts I'm not likely to try it iced any time soon.
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