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Oct 31

Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Chai from Culinary Teas

Black Tea,Chai Tea,Culinary Teas,Flavored Tea,Tea Review 8:00 am | 3 Comments

Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Chai from Culinary TeasIt’s the perfect time of year for a good Chai tea, and this particular Chai is the perfect Halloween cup of tea!  As you can see from the photo, this is a very festive looking tea blend, with candy bits of Halloween colors among the tea leaves and spices.

This is a very strong chai, which is good, because traditionally, chai teas are served with milk (preferably frothed!) and sweetener, and the flavors must be strong and bold enough to withstand the addition of milk and sweetener without overwhelming or reducing any of the flavor.  This tea pulls that off perfectly, as even with milk and sugar, the black tea was still prominent and the spices were very spicy and delicious!

Named after The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, this tea stays with that and the Halloween theme by making the main flavor in this chai a nice mellow pumpkin flavor!  For those of you who either aren’t familiar with the tale, or remember this gem from their childhood (born in the 60s or 70s??), or for those who wish to share this 36 minute full length Disney short on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow with their children, here is a special treat for you this Halloween.    This is the original 1949 full Disney version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow narrated by Bing Crosby:

We hope you enjoy watching that timeless classic, and this Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Chai is the perfect cup of tea to enjoy with that video.

Culinary Teas describes this tea as:

So, what goes into a tea named after the terrifying tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman? Pumpkin, of course. (The story goes that the horseman had the head of a pumpkin.) Add to this a select blend of herbs and spices, chai mix, cinnamon and ginger pieces. The taste of Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Chai, it goes without saying, is to die for!

The warm mellow pumpkin flavor works perfectly with the mix of chai spices including cinnamon, ginger and other spices which are very well-balanced on the palate.   The black tea is bold enough that you can taste the flavor of the tea even with the strong chai spices.

This tea has an incredibly delicious flavor, and I recommend it served hot with milk or milk substitute (I use soy milk), and sweetener.  It would also make a lovely iced chai if you are in the mood for an iced chai.  Even though the spices leave a very pleasant warmth on your tongue, the blend itself is very smooth and mellow.  No one flavor stands out above the others, you can taste the bold malty black tea, the chai spices, the pumpkin and a hint of candy.  A great Halloween treat!

Happy Halloween from The Tea Review Blog!



The Tea Guru
The Tea Guru
http://www.teareviewblog.com


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Oct 30

Swiss Apple from Tea Forté

Flavored Tea,Rooibos,Tea Forté,Tea Review 11:00 pm | No Comments

Swiss Apple from Tea FortéThis Swiss Apple tea from Tea Forté is another tea received as part of the Skin-Smart Antioxidant Amplifier Teas.

During the first steeping, the liquor of the freshly brewed tea is a golden amber color with russet tones.  I taste crisp apples mixed evenly with the cinnamon, and the lingering spicy effect of the cinnamon is heady.

During the second steeping of this teabag, the liquor produced was lighter, with the cinnamon lingering throughout the cup.

The third steeping seems to be about the same as the second, with the prevailing notes of cinnamon.

I couldn’t really discern much of the Alpine chocolate flavor, but then perhaps I don’t know what alpine chocolate tastes like since I have not had it before, and might not be able to recognize it in this cup.

The recommended steeping instructions for this blend is to bring freshly-drawn purified cold water to a boil.  Place the filter bag (teabag) into your cup and pour your boiling water over the teabag and allow to steep for 3-5 minutes.

Tea Forté describes this tea as:

Naturally caffeine-free rooibos tea with the taste of fresh crisp apples, the euphoric flavor of delicious, deep dark Alpine chocolate, and a tingle of cinnamon.

I usually don’t particularly like cinnamon except for a cinnamon bun; gooey with some walnuts added on top.  This tea might go particularly nicely with a hot cinnamon bun in the morning.

This tea is meant to support the skin and I would drink this tea just to help support my skin tone and help keep it blemish-free.



seule771
seule771
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Oct 30

Moroccan Mint from The Tao of Tea

Flavored Tea,Green Tea,Tea Review,The Tao of Tea 4:00 pm | No Comments

Moroccan Mint Green Tea from The Tao of Tea This tea is smoothly rich in body and mildly nutty. It is well blended with refreshing mint leaves, making me think of sweet mint,  not that of an after-dinner mint, but the kind of mint one adds to liquor to enhance the flavor which enlivens the palate.

The leaves in the tin are neatly rolled & polished green tea.   When the lid is removed, the smell of the mint hits you at once; a deep breath, and yet a deeper one, conjures up thoughts of winter, a cold day and wanting for a hot cup of warmth.   Even when enjoyed on a hot day, this tea would be most welcoming in that it would add coolness and the freshness found in the mint leaves.

Brewing tips: Use 170-degree spring water with 1 teaspoon of tea for every 8 oz of water. Steep for 2-3 minutes. Good for 2-3 infusions.

Tea characteristics:  Smooth, mildly nutty

The Tao of Tea describes this tea as:

Sweet mint tea is part of life in Morocco. Boiled mint tea has been a tradition since ancient times. Green tea from China was introduced by the British and it became popular to blend it with the minty brew, sweetened with sugar. We have attempted to recreate the Moroccan experience in this tea. Full-bodied green tea from China blended with flavorful peppermint. Crisp, cooling brew that can be enjoyed either warm or iced. Traditionally served in small glasses (istikan).

Flavor Profile: Full-bodied, roasted, vegetal green tea with fragrant, cooling peppermint.
Ingredients: 100% Organic Green Tea Leaves, 100% Organic Peppermint Leaves.
Certified Organic by: Quality Assurance International (QAI)

Overall this is a very refreshing cup of mint tea which is both soothing and cleansing.  This Moroccan Mint Green Tea (3.5 oz tin) is a wonderful blend of 100% organic, full bodied and roasted green tea leaves and 100% organic peppermint leaves. This tea serves well iced or hot.

I liked this tea because the mint was not medicinal but savored in the luxuriousness of the premium green tea leaves, and it was very well blended throughout.



seule771
seule771
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Oct 30

Brandy and Winter Peppermint from Culinary Teas

Black Tea,Culinary Teas,Flavored Tea,Tea Review 8:00 am | No Comments

Brandy and Winter Peppermint from Culinary TeasThis is a gorgeous winter tea!  Incredibly crisp and refreshing, this is sure to help warm you up on a cold winter evening.  The fragrance of the dried tea leaves is scrumptious, with a strong sweet peppermint standing in the forefront and the whisper of brandy in the background, which lends a sweet fruit-like undertone to the aroma.

They start with a medium strength black tea, possibly a Ceylon or a Congou or Keemun.  It’s enough to give it a black tea flavor in the background of the tea.  When brewed, the flavor is much like the aroma of the dried leaves.   In the forefront is a very nice crisp refreshing peppermint.  This isn’t an unpleasant mint flavor at all, we aren’t talking mint such as “Grandma’s mints in the bottom of her purse”, we are talking about a fresh, authentic and wintry peppermint with a hint of sweetness to it.

Underneath the aromatic peppermint is a hint of brandy.  This gives the tea a slightly sweet, slightly tangy undertone that is similar to a combination of rum and ripe plums.   As mentioned above, the actual black tea is just a casual bystander in this blend, however, it is present and lends the appropriate black tea flavors that bring the blend into balance.

Culinary Teas describes this tea as:

Our Brandy and Winter Peppermint tea has the fruity taste of a good Brandy with the cooling zing of Peppermint Schnapps. Perfect for an evening Hot Toddy.

I recommend serving this tea piping hot on a cold winter day.   It would make a great refreshing iced tea in the summer, but by icing this tea, you actually lose a lot of the brandy and black tea flavors and the mint is the main highlight.   Therefore I prefer it hot, and without milk, so that I can taste all the gorgeous subtle nuances of flavor this tea has to share.  I added a touch of sweetener to it, and it was absolutely fantastic!

This is a fabulous cold weather tea to keep on hand, and is wonderful to wake up to first thing in the morning for a zesty wake-up, or after a meal as the peppermint is very settling to the stomach.  One of the better peppermint-based teas I’ve tasted, and I love the combination of peppermint and brandy!



The Tea Guru
The Tea Guru
http://www.teareviewblog.com


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Oct 29

Premium Keemun Hao Ya Black Tea by Teavivre

Black Tea,Tea Review,Teavivre,Unflavored Tea 11:00 pm | No Comments

  • Type Of leaves: Black Tea
  • Name Of Tea: Premium Keemun Hao Ya Black Tea
  • Available From: Teavivre

Premium Keemun Hao Ya Black Tea from TeavivreThis top quality black tea comes to you in a double sealed pouch, with a locking strip to seal out anything that may harm this wonderfully aromatic tea.

The leaves themselves are hand rolled during the oxidization process to allow for the fullness of the tea to truly come to light.  Upon opening this tea, I noted a slight smoky aroma and a strong earthy overtone.   The tea is very dark and has a some yellow tips throughout.

The liquor brews up to a deep amber color, reminiscent of a fine whiskey or dark rum. The flavor is full, yet mellow enough to be a morning wake up, and has a deep intense flavor that lingers on the tongue.  A perfect breakfast tea, Keemun is the key ingredient in many breakfast blends, making this a perfect stand alone delight to even the most discerning of palates.  This tea stands up very well to the addition of sweetener, cream or milk.  Citrus overtones and a slight smoke in the background, give this tea a truly unique character.

Teavivre describes this tea as:

Absolutely exceptional, premium Keemun Hao Ya black tea

*  Handmade Gongfu process tea from Qimen county, Anhui province
*  Dark black, glossy thin buds topped with golden tips
*  Makes a bold copper coloured tea
*  A bold but smooth, fruity taste with a lingering, mellow aftertaste
*  Moderate caffeine (less than 20% of a cup of coffee)
*  1-2 teaspoons for 8oz of water.  Brew at 194 ºF (90 ºC) for 2 to 3 minutes

Rated as the best of Chinese black teas, Keemun is an absolute delight to drink. TeaVivre’s Premium Keemun represents the highest quality of this tea generally available to the public, and has a taste, aroma and appearance that completely justifies its reputation as one of the best black teas in the world. Handmade in Keemun’s birthplace of Qimen, this tea is simply stunning.

Keemun black tea is fully oxidised, and so does not have the same level of antioxidants as green or white tea. TeaVivre’s Keemun teas come from Anhui Keemun Black Tea Development Co., Ltd.  They are well known to produce some of China’s most sought after Keemun teas.

Be sure to not over steep this tea, as it will get bitter, and lose many of the flavors that it imparts.  That said, this tea is by far is one of the finest black teas I have had the pleasure to enjoy.



PNytewing
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Oct 29

Organic Earl Grey from Tea District

Black Tea,earl grey,Flavored Tea,Tea District,Tea Review 4:00 pm | No Comments

Organic Earl Grey from Tea DistrictWhat a delectable and enjoyable cup of Earl Grey!  Captain Picard would travel 2,000,000 light years just to taste this one!   Organic and Fair Trade, this Earl Grey tea starts with a very strong yet mellow Yunnan Dian Hong, one of the most delicious types of black tea.  This is a much higher quality black tea than what is used in most Earl Grey blends.  In fact the choice of Yunnan Dian Hong as a black tea base is what makes this tea so spectacular, with bold golden highlights and a deep rich flavor.

Last evening, a new friend stopped by to chat for a while, and I had been explaining to him The Tea Review Blog, and how it worked, what we were about, and things like that.  His first question to me after listening to me was, “What is your all-time favorite tea?”.  He followed up by saying “I bet you review so many teas that a question like that really stumps you!”.   As a matter of fact, it doesn’t!  I get that question, a lot.  And the honest answer to that question after having sampled thousands upon thousands of teas great and small, is simply ‘A good Earl Grey!’.

This Earl Grey from Tea District is definitely ‘a good Earl Grey’.  A very, very good Earl Grey.  The bergamot is a top quality authentic bergamot flavor, with no hint of artificial ingredients.  It tastes so delicious and refreshing, and is perfectly balanced with the strong malty Yunnan black tea.  It has absolutely no harshness to the taste, and leaves a refreshing palate-cleansing golden aftertaste on the tongue.

Because he didn’t know what an Earl Grey tea was, I explained to him that usually what makes an Earl Grey an Earl Grey is the addition of bergamot flavoring, bergamot being a small citrus fruit that is similar to a cross between an orange and a tangerine, which primarily is grown in Italy.   The tea is historically a black tea, however more recent blends make Green Tea Earl Greys which are green tea with bergamot, or even Oolong Earl Grey mixing bergamot flavoring with Oolong teas.

Bergamot can also be incorporated with other herbs or flavorings for varieties on a standard Earl Grey, for example popular varieties of “flavored” Earl Grey teas are Cream Earl Grey, which blends vanilla with the black tea and bergamot, and Victorian Earl Grey teas, which include lavender, rosemary and sometimes even rose petals with the black tea and bergamot.

And since my new friend had never tasted an Earl Grey tea before, I prepared and served this particular Earl Grey from Tea District to him last night as his first Earl Grey because I knew it was one of the best quality Earl Grey teas he could possibly sample, and he thought it was absolutely spectacular!  He wanted to know where he could buy some for himself, so I sent him to the Tea District website.

Tea District describes this tea as:

Organic Earl Grey is a blend of bold flavored Yunnan Dian Hong harvested from antique tea trees infused with natural Bergamot citrus from Southern Italy.

Origin/Estate: Yunnan Dian Hong – China , Tea District Blend
Caffeine: Black teas, which are fully fermented tea has approximately 45 mg of caffeine per 8 oz cup (compared to on average 90 mg of caffeine per 8 oz cup of coffee)
Taste: A citrus blend with strong and full bodied flavors from the Yunnan province of China and Bergamot from Southern Italy.
Ingredients: Organic Fair Trade Certified™ black tea and natural essential bergamot oil.
Brewing: Water: 212˚F / Boiling / Leaves: 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces / Infusion Time: 4 minutes

This is definitely an award-winning Earl Grey tea to me.    The high quality ingredients are in perfect balance and harmony with each other.  Neither the black tea nor the bergamot outweighs the other in this blend, instead, they harmonize to create a delicious Earl Grey tea.

Serve as you would your favorite black tea.  This tea can be enjoyed plain, or with sweetener or even milk if you so desire.  I find that it is a pleasurable cup for any time of day or night, and any Earl Grey lover should have this one on hand.   Another fantastic tea from Tea District!



The Tea Guru
The Tea Guru
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Oct 28

Broken Leaf Tea from Gorreana Tea

Black Tea,Gorreana Tea,Tea Review,Unflavored Tea 4:00 pm | No Comments

Broken Leaf Tea by Gorreana TeaThis is a lovely cup of surprising depth from Gorreana Tea.  Based in Portugal, this tea company produces some of the finest unflavored teas in Europe.  Family owned and operated since 1883, Gorreana Tea has the oldest tea estate in Europe, so their teas have a long standing tradition of excellency.

This broken leaf black tea is no exception to their tradition of excellency with teas.  The dried leaves are dark and delicate broken leaves and some stems, with a very fine aromatic and almost muscatel fragrance that is reminiscent of a Darjeeling.

Once brewed, the aroma takes on a slightly nutty fragrance.   The flavor of the brewed tea is very smooth and mellow, with very little astringency.  It has a deep, rich flavor that has smoky undertones, and a touch of an earthy nuance to it.  This is a medium to heavy strength tea that would stand up quite well to sugar or milk.

Gorreana Tea describes this tea as:

Gorreana’s broken leaf tea has been a staple on European tables for over a century.

Harvested using the 3rd (lowest) leaf of the camellia sinensis (tea plant) comes this rich black tea plucked fresh from the bush annually.

Once you mix your boiling water with this fantastic loose leaf tea you witness what tea lovers calls a “dancing of the leaves” where the water begins to turn a golden shade as the fresh leaves ignite your water like magic to create a European passion 125 years in the making.

Overall this is a very nice plain black tea to enjoy anytime of day when you are in the mood for “just tea”.  I prefer this tea with a touch of sugar as it really compliments the nutty, almost smoked flavor profile.  If you take milk in your tea, this would stand up to milk or milk substitute quite well.

Although this is not a very high grade of tea, the quality for this grade is exceptional.  If you are looking for quality and tradition, I highly recommend this broken leaf black tea from Gorreana Tea.



The Tea Guru
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http://www.teareviewblog.com


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