When I first opened the package of this tea, I was impressed with just how fragrant the tea was.  It reminded me so much of summertime when I was young.  My gramma had a huge apricot tree in her back yard, and it was my favorite “climbing” tree.  I would climb the tree, sit on one of the branches, pick a ripe, juicy apricot and eat it as I sat in the tree.  With the bright California sun shining down, and the aroma of fresh, tree-ripened fruit — that, to me, is the scent of summer.

And this tea has captured that fragrance perfectly.  The apricot aroma is so vibrant and even juicy!  Now, imagine that delicious apricot mingling with a delicate waft of vanilla — yes, it really does smell that yummy.

But, as I’ve said so often said, what really matters is how it tastes.  And I am happy to report that this tea is delicious.  As the aroma suggests, the apricot is the most dominant flavor profile, but the vanilla adds a very smooth, creamy character to the cup.  The white tea is very gentle here — as is the case with most white tea blends — but my palate can detect its presence amid the other flavors.

Tazo describes this tea as:

Tazo Vanilla Apricot White mixes prized Chinese tea buds plucked in the splendor of their youth, alluring hints of creamy Tahitian vanilla and notes of fresh, juicy apricots in a golden brew that positively glows in the cup.  After a long sip, you may detect a certain glow in your aura as well, but that could just be the tea talking.

Ingredients:  White tea and Natural Ingredients.

What is nicely distinctive about this particular white tea blend is that the flavor is not what I would call “delicate” or “fragile.”  A very nice change from many white tea blends that I’ve tried.  Because of this, I think this would make a very delightfully refreshing iced tea, as the tea has a very notable “summer-like” profile.  However, I do prefer to take my tea hot in the autumn, and I think this tea is really good hot also.

While I do prefer loose leaf tea, I must admit that I do love Tazo teas even though they come bagged.  Sometimes, a tea bag certainly is a nice convenience (especially for that early morning cup of tea, when I don’t feel like fumbling around with my smart tea brewer and measuring loose leaf tea) and what I’ve come to appreciate from Tazo is that their tea is of very good quality, and the flavors are always exceptionally good.