424 Tasting Notes
This is ok, nothing outstanding. Although I’m not getting much fig flavor at all. It’s coming out a little bit as it cools but I don’t know that I would have been able to identify the flavoring if I tried it blind. There is nothing offensive about it, just a nice comforting cup. I won’t reorder though.
The name alone made me take a second look at this tea. As I have been going through these French teas I have had to do some Googling as to what the words on the packages mean, since there’s no English translation. I figured this one was another fruit reference, but was surprised to learn that Nosy Bey is an island off of Madagascar. Since this has vanilla in it, I am guessing that that’s the connection.
Another of my favorites from this order, this tea has delicious fresh peach and vanilla flavors. I think it is the best peach tea I have ever had.
I made a huge DF order and it all arrived last week, and I haven’t had much else since then. I have been bad about writing tastings notes on them. Some of the teas are real WOW teas. Some are just normal, but by normal I mean still a really good tea.
This one was a WOW tea. I found myself thinking about the tea each time I took a drink – it kept pulling my attention because it tasted so good. Sometimes I can sort of zone out and drink the tea automatically. The description says red fruits, papaya, and strawberry bits. But the really interesting part is the “biscuit” – which of course it not like an American biscuit. It’s like a European one, or a cookie. That’s the magic here.
It’s hard for me to describe exactly what biscuit tastes like in tea, but it’s sort of like a bit of cookie on the finish, but it’s not a sweet cookie. More like a shortbread. This tea alone makes me want to order one of every one of the teas they sell.
You guys know me and tins. I am such a sucker for a pretty tin! So it’s always a big bonus when the tea that comes in it is good too!
I can’t remember how I came across Ette Tea – probably linked from somewhere else. They are a boutique tea company that currently has five blends. The service from them is very personal and friendly, and my order came with a handwritten note!
All of the packaging and presentation was lovely. The double -lidded tin itself is so elegant, and the graphics on everything are so understated and classy. In addition to the tin I ordered, a small box of hand made tea bags (I had never seen anything like them before) was included, with samples of the Fortune Cookie Chai tea that they also sell. That was the other one I really wanted to try, so good call Ette!
“Kris Grey” is obviously a take on Earl Grey, and the name suggested to me that it would be a bit naughty. I think the naughtiness comes in with the addition of edible silver dust. You know me and my sparkle pony teas, so I was really excited about that. I poured the leaf out on a plate and found that the add ins were really pretty. There are blue flowers, and in some cases the whole flower bud is there. So nice!
The dry leaf smelled so very strongly of bergamot that I was a tiny bit apprehensive about the tea (even though I like bergamot), but it’s spot on beautifully balanced. Real vanilla beans turn it into a hint of Earl Grey Cream, but it’s just a whisper. I also get a little aftertaste of lemon, which is intriguing and refreshing.
I have to say that I am really happy I ordered this one and look forward to more flavor combinations from Ette Tea.
Oh, as a side note – there were no steeping parameters on the tin, so I went with 1 t / 8 oz and 195 temp. Why 195 you ask? Well because I made the tea in my Davids Tea Carry Mug, and it is so effective that I had to start lowering the 212 temp to 195, otherwise I will grow old and wrinkly before the tea is cool enough to drink (even with the lid off!)
Hi Marzipan, thank you for the purchase & lovely review of Kris Grey. We enjoyed reading it very much. The full flowers are butterfly blue pea in addition to the blue cornflowers that we blended in to create a greyish hue for Kris Grey & it’s all natural.
Hi Darby & Tealizzy, International shipping is SGD 16 or about USD11 for registered mail which means you will get it in the US about 4-8days.
So anyone who knows me know that I don’t drink green tea, pretty much ever. But I had committed to reviewing these, and wanted to try it.
The funny thing is that this is probably my favorite so far. It doesn’t have a very strong tea flavor compared to a black tea, but the mango and slightly floral flavors are really nice.
I love my Nina’s teas. I think they might be my favorite French tea company so far. Not long ago I went on a binge and ordered a bunch of their teas. While I was comparing prices on Amazon (the online Nina’s store was better), I saw this tea on Amazon but couldn’t find it on the Nina’s site. Laurent started a chat with me while I was browsing and added it within moments. Great service!
I love the white tin that this comes in. 80g of tea is a lot, so if anyone wants a sample let me know. I wonder why this one gets a special white tin instead of the normal red ones?
Anyway, it’s a nice tea. Not my favorite of the flavored Nina’s teas by any means, but a nice cup. It’s a little bit orange-y. I didn’t get some of the other flavors that other reviews mentioned. It’s not transporting me like Grand Amour or The des Anges, but it’s nice enough and I won’t have any trouble finishing it I’m sure.
For the past week I have been having themed tea days. Today is Whispering Pines day! I think I will adjust my schedule though, and have more of an event that will go until I have had each of the teas from that collection. The whole point of doing this was to make myself revisit teas in my collection, but I am finding that I don’t get to visit as many as I had planned. So, I’ll start that today.
This was the first pick on Whispering Pines day, and this tea is just. So. Good. I don’t have anything to say about it other than what I have said before, but having it today makes me wonder why it’s not totally gone – it’s so good.
I have had this for a while but never tried it until today. What a shame. I really liked it! It was even a little floral and I liked it. Who knew.
Sounds fabulous to me! I feel like adding vanilla to teas is a good way to sneak floral flavors into the cups of people who are not floral fans.
Lol, sure! If you have any floral or green/oolong samples that you’re looking to get rid of, just toss ‘em in my package! I’m sure I they can find a home in my or my office mate’s cup!
Oooh, that sounds very appealing!
I really like black currant. Yum.