Review: Adagio’s Gingerbread Black Tea

The Subject: Gingerbread Black Tea from Adagio Teas.

Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F
Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Black
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Ginger, vanilla
Aroma, dry: Mostly vanilla
Aroma in the cup, plain: Ginger, vanilla
Taste, plain: Ginger, vanilla, slightly bitter
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Ginger, vanilla
Taste, enhanced: Some ginger and definitely more cookie-ish

2nd Infusion: Ginger slightly less, a bit more bitter

Chilled: Didn’t try

Comments:

After trying several of Adagio’s flavored black teas, our tastebuds are getting pretty adept at sorting out the subtleties. This Gingerbread-flavored black tea is distinct from the others: Pumpkin Spice, Sweet Potato, Chestnut, Candy Cane, and Cranberry (still our favorite). Whether it lives up to its name is another matter. I’m still not sure. There’s a tingle to gingerbread that I did not detect in this tea.

Adagio puts recommendations on their tea tins for water temperature and steeping time, so for these reviews that is what we have been following. They may want to revise this, though, since each black tea we’ve tried so far has a bitter edge to it. Since I prefer my black tea with milk and sweetener, which take away this bitterness, it’s not a problem. You may want to try steeping the tea for 3 or 4 minutes and see if it’s better that way. As with all teas, a little personal experimentation is in order.

The dry tea had a fairly strong vanilla scent but the ginger wasn’t noticeable even to my sensitive sniffer. After 5 minutes of steeping, however, the ginger was very evident while the vanilla was slightly subdued. This agreed with the taste plain in the cup, which also had a bitter edge. Milk and sweetener took away this edge and transformed this tea from just a black tea with vanilla and ginger to a true cookie-tasting tea. As noted above, though, the ginger “tingle” was not there.

Some may think this a seasonal tea, but hubby and I agree that we could enjoy a cuppa anytime of the year.

Little Yellow Teapot borrowed the Little Gingerbread Teapot’s cup and saucer for this shot:

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Review: The English Tea Store’s Darjeeling Tea

The Subject: Darjeeling Tea from The English Tea Store.



Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F
Steeping time: 3 to 5 minutes (see comments)

Tea type: Darjeeling
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Nothing added
Aroma, dry: Plant-ish, fresh, very “tea”
Aroma in the cup, plain: Fresh plant-like fragrance
Color in the cup, plain: Beautiful ruby-red, almost like red wine
Taste, plain: Mild bitter edge, plant-like taste evident
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Milder plant aromas
Taste, enhanced: Bitter edge smoothed out, plant flavor enhanced

2nd Infusion: Recommended (see comments)

Chilled: Didn’t try, but suspect would be great with a bit of sweetener

Comments:

Since Darjeeling is one of my favorite teas, I’m quite familiar with it and wanted this taste test to be a comparison of the sample I received from The English Tea Store (ETS) to other Darjeeling teas I’ve tried. The version I drink most often is from Ahmad Tea (which I bought locally at the Mideast Market), so this is the one I used.

The artist in me is anxious to address the color of the steeped tea, so I’ll get to that now (a little ahead of normal). The ETS version is a sparkling ruby red, almost like red wine (according to my hubby), while the Ahmad version is lighter, sort of an amber orange. Of all the different teas I drink, the colors of both of these are the most beautiful.

Dry, the teas are also quite different. ETS’s is more fannings (very small pieces but bigger than dust) where Ahmad’s is pieces (broken leaves). This difference becomes more apparent when you see the pieces after steeping. It also carries through to the steeped version where ETS’s is stronger and slightly more bitter, a taste disparity that I found jarring at first.

This difference put me in the same situation as when I reviewed the ETS Indian Spiced Chai — my tastebuds were accustomed to a certain flavor, in this instance the lighter and less bitter Ahmad Darjeeling, and had to adjust to the taste of the ETS Darjeeling. The Ahmad version is more along my expectations of what a tea called the “champagne of teas” should taste like. This could be my fault, though. Having observed the size of the dry tea bits and with several years experience under my belt of varying steep times according to those bit sizes, I should have tried the ETS Darjeeling after only 3 minutes of steeping. (As a general rule, smaller pieces brew up faster, darker, and stronger.) Thus, I put a time of 3 to 5 minutes for steeping. Try the tea “liquor” after 3 minutes to see if it is ready (should be a lighter red). If it’s not strong enough for your taste, let the leaves steep and try after another minute or two (don’t steep longer than 5 minutes).

Caution: As with most teas, don’t let this ETS Darjeeling steep longer than 5 minutes or you might end up with an overly strong and bitter tea “liquor.”

Hubby thinks a bit of sweetener is sufficient to enhance this tea. I, however, prefer mine with both milk and sweetener. They take away the bitter edge (mostly from the tannic acid in tea leaves) and give the tea a round, smooth flavor. While hubby preferred the ETS Darjeeling’s stronger, more bitter taste, I needed this tea enhanced, finding it too strong otherwise. Playing with the steeping time should correct this, though.

As for a second infusion, I definitely recommend as being milder, but Hubby thought it was more bitter. The Little Yellow Teapot was, as always, silent on the issue.

While I prefer the Ahmad version (rating: 4 teapots) to the ETS version, we both find Darjeeling tea in general to be a great one to drink while sitting curled up all comfy under a snuggly blanket. Dear Darjeeling!

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named, unless otherwise indicated. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Review: Adagio’s Candy Cane Black Tea

The Subject: Candy Cane Black Tea from Adagio Teas.

Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F
Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Black
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Peppermint, some vanilla
Aroma, dry: Black tea, peppermint, vanilla
Aroma in the cup, plain: Black tea, peppermint, vanilla
Taste, plain: Black tea, peppermint, vanilla
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Black tea, peppermint, vanilla
Taste, enhanced: Black tea, peppermint, vanilla

2nd Infusion: Overly strong peppermint

Chilled: Not recommended

Comments:

What one food item is more associated with the Christmas season than peppermint candy canes? And what could be a better holiday combo for tea drinkers than candy cane flavored black tea (with real chunks of candy cane)? Unless you’re allergic to peppermint, that is, as I am. Hubby to the rescue. For this review, hubby is taking over.

Hubby speaking. I’m happy to fill in as tea reviewer. (Actually, the Little Yellow Teapot has engaged in coercion tactics – he threatened to steep a really bitter pot of tea next time!)

Dry, this tea has a strong peppermint aroma that still allows the scent of black tea to come through. There is also a sort of vanilla cake frosting fragrance. These aromas are all present in the steeped tea plain. The peppermint smell is milder, though, with a stronger tea fragrance. The first sip is initially tea flavored, with the minty flavor filling the mouth afterwards, making this a great after-dinner tea.

You could drink this tea straight, especially if you are a real peppermint fan, but adding a little sweetener gives the tea a more “candy” quality, especially in the aftertaste. I would sum it up as akin to eating a candy cane with tea in it.

With some milk added, the tea takes on a pudding quality – Butterscotch, to be exact. I also tried a second cupful, adding eggnog instead of milk. Wow! Very Christmasy with that pudding smoothness and black tea taste, with peppermint still apparent in the background.

Caution: Don’t oversteep. The peppermint flavor will become too strong and overwhelm the black tea taste, even with milk (or eggnog) and sweetener.

I had to take off a half teapot due to this being a strictly seasonal tea and another half teapot since I don’t think a second infusion is advisable, nor is serving this tea chilled. Still, I highly recommend it for your Christmastime enjoyment.

There, I hope the Little Yellow Teapot is satisfied. And, Wifey, too…

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Review: The English Tea Store’s Chai Green Tea

The Subject: Chai Green Tea from The English Tea Store.

Rating:

Water temperature: 180° F
Steeping time: 3 minutes

Tea type: Green
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Coriander, cardamom
Aroma, dry: Green tea with spice overtones
Aroma in the cup, plain: Green tea with spice overtones
Taste, plain: Green tea with spice overtones
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Green tea with spice overtones
Taste, enhanced: Green tea with spice overtones

2nd Infusion: Stronger spice overtones

Chilled: Good

Comments:

Having recently reviewed The English Tea Store’s Indian Spiced Chai and enjoyed it immensely, I was anxious to try their Chai Green Tea. This is my first time trying a chai made with green tea instead of black. (I’ve led a sheltered life, tea-wise.) Hubby was equally eager to test this tea, having learned from tasting the Indian Spiced Chai that Twinings and Starbucks are not the last word in chai teas.

Still, my brain could not initially wrap itself around the concept of chai made with green tea. It took almost a whole cupful to get past this. Once there, I had a truly enjoyable tea adventure. (Expectation can be quite a bug-a-boo, getting in the way of enjoying something!)

The scent when first opening the airtight packet was of Indian spices, but subtler than the Indian Spiced Chai — sort of like walking into the home of someone who cooks a lot of curry vs. walking into an Indian spice store.

Be prepared. This tea brews up light in color and is not meant to have milk added to it (you can, of course, add milk if you like — whatever suits your tastebuds). Don’t oversteep, as this tea gets bitter with an overly strong spice taste. The second infusion is also stronger on the spice taste and loses a lot of the green tea taste.

The taste plain in the cup is a balance of spices and green tea with a slightly bitter edge. We found that adding a little sweetener took away the edge and let the other flavors really dance.

We just had to try this tea with some of the Walker’s mince pies in our pantry. I was sure they would be a great “go-with,” but Hubby was skeptical. To the most pleasant surprise of us both, the taste combo was exquisite. Our theory is that mince pies are similar in taste to the date cookies we buy at the local Middle East market.

We had to take off a half teapot since neither of us finds this tea to be one we would drink every day. We deducted another half teapot for the overly spicy second infusion. Overall, though, this is a real eye-opener tea and bridges the gap nicely between black tea chais and green tea.

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective. The mince meat pies were purchased by the reviewer.

Review: Adagio’s Chestnut Black Tea

The Subject: Chestnut Black Tea from Adagio Teas.

Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F
Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Black
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Vanilla, chestnut
Aroma, dry: Vanilla, chestnut, black tea
Aroma in the cup, plain: Vanilla, chestnut, black tea
Taste, plain: Vanilla, chestnut, black tea
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Mainly vanilla and chestnut, faint black tea
Taste, enhanced: Mainly vanilla and chestnut, faint black tea

2nd Infusion: Strong as first

Chilled: Not recommended

Comments:

Remember the song “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”? One sip of Adagio’s Chestnut Black Tea will have you singing that song for the rest of the day. From the moment hubby popped the lid off the tin for me (I tend to spill tea leaves everywhere), the heavenly scent of vanilla and roasted chestnuts took over. We inhaled deeply. Ah! Another tea adventure has begun!

Since this is a black tea, we assumed that enhancing it with milk and sweetener would be the way to go. However, we always like to try the tea plain (and the Little Yellow Teapot insists on this being part of the tasting procedure — he has his standards!). The flavor of the tea straight with no enhancements was a bit surprising, milder than expected and with just a hint of bitter edge. If you prefer to drink your tea without enhancement, this tea would be a good choice. Just steep it a little less than 5 minutes and remove the tea leaves right away.

Enhanced with milk and sweetener, the tea takes on another dimension. The vanilla and roasted chestnut flavors strengthen, giving the tea a smooth and rich flavor. That tends to also be its drawback, since these flavors allow only a hint of black tea-ness to come through.

One the plus side, if you left some of this tea out for Santa, along with a couple of raspberry scones and lemon curd, he may never go back to drinking hot cocoa — and you may find a lot of extra presents under your tree on Christmas morning! We can’t guarantee this, but…

We deducted a half teapot for the way the added flavors and aromas overwhelm the tea. As enticing as those flavors and aromas are, this is still, after all, tea and should smell and taste at least a little like tea. We took off another half teapot since this is a seasonal tea, more occasional than year-round. It is otherwise quite excellent.

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Review: Golden Moon’s Imperial Formosa Oolong Tea

The Subject: Imperial Formosa Oolong Tea from Golden Moon Teas.

Rating:
Water temperature: 212° F
Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Oolong (semi-fermented)
Scents, flavorings, etc.: No added scents or flavorings
Aroma, dry: Fresh, mild, slightly smoky, earthy
Aroma in the cup, plain: Fresh, mild, slightly smoky, earthy
Taste, plain: Fresh, mild, slightly smoky, earthy
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: As enthralling as the first

Chilled: Excellent

Comments:

My longing for Oolong has grown to fever pitch. The sample of Golden Moon Tea’s Imperial Formosa Oolong arrived quite awhile ago, unfortunately about the same time as two other packages of tea samples. So, I’ve been waiting on this one and trying the other samples first, but I can wait no more! The time has come to try this tea.

First, a confession: I chose the Imperial Formosa Oolong because of its name, which speaks of a land across the globe. Just to touch and smell the leaves brings me closer to the workers on the tea plantations. Okay, so I’m a bit romantically minded — now you know!

Popping the top on this can is the start of a fabulous tea adventure. This is whole leaf tea, as you can see in the photos. The smell is intoxicating. Both hubby and I inhaled deeply. Hubby found the aroma mild, fresh, and pure “tea.” I was transported with the first whiff, taking in a heavenly, earthy aroma, one that speaks of tea bushes (Camellia Sinensis) growing in the sun, being tended by dedicated tea growers. Full-leaf tea goodness is promised in every molecule of scent.

The tea “liquor,” brewed loosely in the pot (nothing coming between us and our tea), is light in color and rich in taste, living up to the promise of the aroma of the dry tea. Look at these full tea leaves. It would be virtually criminal to stuff them into an infuser basket or tea ball. How could they fully expand and give forth their tea-ness?

A few months ago, I bought an Oolong from the local Asian market for $1.99. While it has a very authentic Chinese restaurant taste, smoky with no bitterness, it lacks the subtle and delicate flavor and aroma of the Imperial Formosa Oolong. Comparing these two Oolongs is like comparing a basic chocolate bar to a more gourmet chocolate bar like Godiva, Cadbury, or Ghiradelli. In fact, if Darjeeling is the “champagne of teas,” the Imperial Formosa Oolong is the “champagne of champagnes” of tea.

Golden Moon gets a half teapot just for the wonderful labeling on their can. They give detailed instructions on how to prepare this tea to get full benefit and the best taste possible. Very smart. There are a lot of novice tea drinkers who are hesitant about trying new teas because they lack the knowledge about how to prepare them. They get another half teapot for the wonderful can itself that perfectly preserves the freshness of this tea, blocking out all three threats to storing tea: light, air, and moisture.

I have to deduct a half teapot because of this tea being organic. More and more tea companies are climbing on the organic bandwagon, resulting in more tea growers feeling pressured into jumping through needless hoops to be certified as organic. For me, something being labeled “organic” is no guarantee of better quality.

Regardless, the Little Yellow Teapot will never be the same after having the honor of steeping this tea. In fact, he may run and hide if we try to steep a lesser quality Oolong in him. Can’t say that I blame him!

A perfect tea for a moment of quiet reflection at the end of the day.

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Review: The English Tea Store’s English Breakfast Blend No. 1 Black Tea

The Subject: English Breakfast Blend No. 1 Black Tea from The English Tea Store.


Rating:
Water temperature: 212° F
Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Black
Scents, flavorings, etc.: No added scents or flavors
Aroma, dry: Good, strong black tea aroma
Aroma in the cup, plain: Light scent, a bit smoky
Taste, plain: Mild, hint of an edge, smoky, hint of sweet
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Slightly woody
Taste, enhanced: Slightly woody/earthy, natural sweetness

2nd Infusion: Weaker than first (typical of bagged tea)

Chilled: Didn’t try

Comments:
The Little Yellow Teapot kept bugging me to review this tea, thinking that it would be a good option for Christmas breakfast tea. He was right, as always! On Christmas morning you’ll forget all about the presents under the tree and rush to the kitchen to brew some of the English Tea Store’s English Breakfast Blend No. 1 first thing. It’s that good!

Breakfast tea is one of my staples. I have several brands, some bagged like this one, and some loose (my preference). Breakfast teas tend to be fannings or dust, occasionally pieces. Therefore, they tend to brew up darker and stronger than other teas, making them ideal for enhancement in the cup with milk and sweetener. These smooth out the tea’s rough edges, especially the bitterness. However, the English Tea Store has managed to blend a breakfast tea that can stand on its own, with no enhancers, while still giving you that morning eye-opener — caffeine.

Hubby was quite pleased with this tea, finding the taste mild, smoky, and with only the merest trace of bitter edge. He has this one pegged as a great tea to drink plain. I found the dry tea to have a slightly woody scent that accurately presaged the taste plain in the cup. Adding milk and sweetener enhanced the smokiness and obliterated the trace bitterness. Hubby cautions that if you add milk and sweetener, use them sparingly. Too much can overwhelm the delicate and interesting flavor that fills you mouth with every sip. I totally agree.

Some good food “go withs” for this tea: pancakes and/or waffles with butter and syrup, crispy bacon or sausage links, chilled orange juice, etc., etc.,… in other words, breakfast! Oh, yeah, and chocolate (did I really have to say it?).

Just because this tea is great for Christmas breakfast doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it all year long — and all day long!

Since the tea is bagged tea, I had to deduct a half teapot. The taste was so intriguing, that I was tempted to deduct another half teapot (but didn’t) for the fact that I am now totally spoiled. How can I ever drink Twinings English Breakfast again?

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Review: Adagio’s Sweet Potato Black Tea

The Subject: Sweet Potato Black Tea from Adagio Teas.


Rating:
Water temperature: 212° F
Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Black
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Sweet Potato, Cinnamon, Nutmeg
Aroma, dry: Mostly black tea, hint of sweet potato
Aroma in the cup, plain: Black tea, sweet potato
Taste, plain: Some edge, slight bitterness, faint sweet potato
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Sweet potato stronger, black tea
Taste, enhanced: Sweet potato stronger, black tea

2nd Infusion: Strong as first

Chilled: Not recommended

Comments:
Having loved Adagio’s Cranberry Black Tea and Pumpkin Pie Black Tea, we were prepared to be bowled over once again. Sorry to say that we weren’t. Of course, we weren’t disappointed either. This tea is still tasty, just not as enthralling as the other two teas.

The first issue is that this tea, unlike the others, isn’t palatable plain. Nor do we envision drinking it chilled. A truly fine tea will be one or the other. This tea must be enhanced with milk and sweetener to take away the edge of the black tea and bring out the sweet potato flavor (almost taking on a chai quality). It scores well in the multiple infusion category, however, with the second infusion being as strong as the first — great for anyone trying to get the most out of their tea dollars.

The scent dry is mostly the black tea. Hubby thought he detected a hint of nutmeg and compared the aroma to a slice of toast with jam. Neither of us could detect a sweet potato fragrance. I thought there was a bit of cinnamon scent.

We tried the tea plain, as we do with all samples. This tea has a definite edge, a bitterness that clings to the tongue long after we swallowed. Enhancing the tea with milk and sweetener took that edge away and added another dimension: a stronger taste of sweet potato. Hubby thought the aftertaste had a milkshake quality, lingering on the palate. After the second cupful, I agreed. We don’t see this as a year-round tea, more appropriate for the Winter holidays.

Pairing of teas with foods, just like pairing wines, is a growing area of tea-dom. I can add my little tidbit to that volume of knowledge online: this tea does NOT go with the meatloaf, gravy, mashed potatoes, peas, and sliced tomato we had for lunch. I had to set my cup aside, eat lunch, rinse my palate with a little water and a few drops of lemon, and then finish the tea. Experiment with a few foods on your own or earmark this tea for your quiet tea moment — just you and the mug.

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Store Samples

Look what my humans brought home from the grocery store yesterday:

Full-leaf tea in sachets from revolution tea

World Classics tea (I guess they're expanding beyond fruit juices and pasta sauces)

I didn't know grocery stores had teas of this quality.

Two Leaves and a Bud Samples Received

Steaming with anticipation! Just got my samples from Two Leaves and a Bud.

Which one will my humans try first? Check back soon to find out.

Review: Adagio’s Jasmine Bloom Flowering Tea

The Subject: Jasmine Bloom Flowering Tea from Adagio Teas.

The Little Yellow Teapot is handing over the baton to the Little Glass Teapot for this review. Read on to see why.

Rating:

Water temperature: 180° F
Steeping time: 3 minutes (Adagio recommends 5 minutes)

Tea type: Green
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Jasmine
Aroma, dry: Jasmine and Green Tea
Aroma in the cup, plain: Jasmine and Green Tea
Taste, plain: Jasmine and Green Tea
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: N/A

Chilled: Retains Jasmine flavor

Comments:
Since enjoying a flowering tea is very much a visual experience, in addition to the taste sensations, steeping in a glass teapot is the best favor you will do for yourself. Thus, the Little Yellow Teapot bowed to his buddy, the Little Glass Teapot, for this experience.

Having heard how expensive flowering tea was (some as much as $32 for one teaball), I was excited to see that Adagio had an affordable alternative ($10 for a box of 10 teaballs). They’re smaller, too, perfect for a soothing “cuppa” this very special tea (instead of a big potful). But what about quality?

Have no fear — this tea will not disappoint.

First, Adagio packages the teaballs well so that freshness and aroma are preserved. Second, that freshness and aroma, evident from the very moment you tear open the pack, speak of quality ingredients. As with all their products, Adagio puts the water temperature and recommended steeping time on their packages, great for those of us used to preparing black tea (put tea in pot, boil water, pour in pot over tea, let steep 5 minutes). Since this is a green tea, the water should not be boiled and steeping time is less. Adagio recommends 5 minutes, but I found this to be a bit too long. (The flower had fully unfolded after 3 minutes, and the Jasmine smell was at its peak.)

Before steeping, hubby and I gave the teaball a big sniff. He found the Jasmine aroma to be mild and very pleasant. I thought it a bit strong (my sensitive sniffer) but not overly so (the aroma of the green tea was still detectable). After steeping, hubby and I both found the Jasmine much lighter and milder than when dry, with a soothing and smooth taste and no edge or bitterness. I found that the taste left a definite tang on my tongue and stayed in my mouth, especially at the back, for several minutes after.

How did this flowering tea compare with one I had recently during Afternoon Tea at Heron’s at The Umstead Hotel and Spa (from Rari-Teas)? Very well.

Adagio’s qualities vs. Rari-Teas:

1. The Adagio teaball was smaller
2. The tea and floral quality was comparable
3. The Jasmine was equally strong yet not overpowering
4. The tea “liquor” is a bit darker in color, but still delicate
5. The flower opened as expected for a real tea time show
6. The overall flavor was milder and somewhat more satisfying

For you tea lovers who prefer your tea chilled, definitely give this one a try. Just steep the tea, strain into a container, and set in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, you can try it out to see if you need a bit of sweetener. If you can’t wait overnight, add an ice cube or two (they’ll dilute the tea as they melt, so you might want to let it steep a little longer).

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Click on the “Read More” link below to see more photos. Watch this blooming tea in action!

Review: The English Tea Store’s Indian Spiced Chai Black Tea

The Subject: Indian Spiced Chai Black Tea from The English Tea Store.

Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F
Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Black
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Coriander, cardamom, ginger, cloves
Aroma, dry: Like walking into an Indian spice store
Aroma in the cup, plain: N/A

Taste, plain: N/A

Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Curry tea

Taste, enhanced: Spicy, mild, smooth

2nd Infusion: Equal in strength, taste, and aroma to first

Comments:

When first opening the plastic, resealable pouch in which this tea comes, hubby and I were both enthralled by its strong aroma — like stepping inside a store selling spices... more

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Review: Rari-Teas’ Exotic Flowering Tea

The Subject: “Loyalty” from Rari-Teas.

Rating:

Water temperature: 180° F
Steeping time: 3 minutes

Tea type: White
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Jasmine
Aroma, dry: Delicate tea with subtle floral
Aroma in the cup, plain: Delicate tea with subtle floral
Taste, plain: Delicate tea with subtle floral
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A

2nd Infusion: Just added more warm water to take away bitterness

Comments:
Trying a flowering tea for the first time was a true tea adventure. The Little Yellow Teapot stayed at home, understanding that a glass teapot was the right vessel for this type of tea.

I had to deduct a half-teapot because the whole visual portion of the experience ends when the brew peaks, since you need to remove the bloom from the teapot to avoid over-steeping.

See the full story on the English Tea Blog.

See my review of afternoon tea at Heron’s, where I enjoyed this adventure, on TeaMuse.

Dry flowering teaballs.
Left: “Spirituality” (White Tea and Tea Tree Flower).
Right: “Loyalty” (White Tea and Jasmine)

“Loyalty” (White Tea and Jasmine) in full bloom (side and overhead views).

A light, delicate floral note that balances the tea flavor.

Disclaimer: The tea reviewed in this article was NOT provided by the company named. In any event, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.

Review: Adagio’s Cranberry Black Tea

The Subject: Cranberry Black Tea from Adagio Teas.

Rating:

Water temperature: 212° F
Steeping time: 5 minutes

Tea type: Black
Scents, flavorings, etc.: Cranberry
Aroma, dry: Fruity cranberry (mild) with black tea scent
Aroma in the cup, plain: Definitely cranberry with black tea undertones
Taste, plain: Mild cranberry, black tea, slight edge, lingers on palate
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: Cranberry, black tea
Taste, enhanced: Mellowed cranberry blended with black tea

2nd Infusion: Strong, keeps cranberry flavor, slightly bitter
Good Chilled: Definitely

Comments:

The Little Yellow Teapot is beaming, and not just from the glow of the candlelight! He has discovered a most wonderful tasting tea: Adagio’s Cranberry Black Tea. Hubby and I agree — this tea is truly scrumptious, both plain and with “enhancements” (milk and sweetener). This is a tea that won’t get pushed to the back of the pantry shelf. In fact, you may find that you just have to have some on hand at all times — and you may not want to share it!

The dry tea caresses your nose with a gentle scent of cranberry, followed by the rich aroma of a fine black tea. Hubby found the overall fragrance soothing and very aromatic. I liked that the tea notes were not overwhelmed by the fruity notes and the aftertaste had only the slightest bitterness.

The tea plain in the cup had an aroma that matched the dry, i.e., subtle cranberry with definite tea notes in balance with each other. Hubby thought the scent was understated, not overpowering. I appreciated that the cranberry didn’t get lost. As for taste, we both detected a slight edge (me a bit more so, bordering on bitterness) but found that the cranberry rounded that off nicely. Hubby found no need to enhance this tea. I wanted to try it both ways, however. When enhanced with milk and sweetener, I found this tea took on a rich, smooth taste, with the bitterness totally gone. The flavor was truly worthy of my finest bone china cup from Bavaria.

Even the 2nd infusion was great and as strong as the first, a true sign of quality loose leaf tea. A bit of the cranberry taste was lost, but still noticeable over the slightly more bitter black tea. Milk and sweetener rounded off the edges nicely.

One of the best things about Adagio’s Cranberry Black Tea is that it can be enjoyed year round, as opposed to being seasonal like their Pumpkin Spice Tea, or occasional like the Buckingham Palace Garden Party Tea. This is due not only to the taste, which goes with a wide variety of foods, but that it can be served both hot or chilled, making it a great Summer-time tea. It’s also special enough to serve at your next tea party, especially if you’re having cheesecake.

As for great “go with” foods: ham, turkey, all the “trimmings,” pecan pie, pumpkin pie, chocolate (of course!). You might want to keep this tea in mind not only for your Christmas feast, but also Easter (especially if you’re serving the traditional baked ham) and a Summer picnic or two (the ants will thank you!).

The only reason this tea didn’t get 5 teapots is because we have lots more samples to try, and one of them might be better — but we have our doubts! This is one very tasty tea.

Disclaimer: The teas reviewed here were provided by the company named. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are strictly objective.