Buttered Cinnamon Raisin Toast Black Tea

I don’t know what to say about this one. I was a bit hesitant to try it, but why not? The scent of the leaves were faint, so I couldn’t discern much except maybe a little muscat-ish. Upon steeping, the scent was … strange … I can’t really describe it. Possibly buttery smelling. The taste was interesting but not in a bad way. I added sugar, and it helped bring out the flavors. It really is buttered cinnamon raisin toast! I can taste the toast, and I love how the cinnamon isn’t overpowering. Buttery and smooth. All the flavors began to pop out. I’m pulling out a lot of raisin. Delicious!

Now I’m off to fix myself some almond butter and strawberry jam sandwich. >_<

What the hell, this tastes EXACTLY like buttered cinnamon raisin toast! So much so that its actually blowing my mind (and its taking all my restraint not to type this tasting note entirely in caps). Did 52teas make cinnamon raisin bread, toast it, butter it then cut it into tiny tea-leaf-shaped bits?!? Either that or magic are they only reasonable explanations for the bang-on flavour of this tea.
The aroma of buttered cinnamon raisin toast was present in the dry leaves, with the resulting brewed tea being a bit more buttered-raisin on the nose and first sip, the cinnamon-toast comes through on the aftertaste. Its even more perfect if you add a splash of milk!

This was my first tea from this company (they were awesome enough to give shipping to New Zealand a go) and it will definitely not be my last. Gah, I still can’t get over how amazing this tea is!

Big thankyou to Jenn for sending me this sample!! You rock my tea world!!! :)
Wow, this was certainly an interesting, and entertaining experience. I accidentally oversteeped this one at 8 minutes (look, she did it again!).
I definitely taste raisin! and toast! and butter!! Go 52 Teas for hitting the target!!! It was tasty.
But… well, there is a medicinal aspect there that I’m not sure about. The second steep is better, not as overwhelming.
I suspect the “raisin” part, and the way it blends with everything else is what throws me off. shrugs
Lesson learned! I have enough left for one more cup. Maybe some milk will tamp down the medicinal impression I get? and less leaf! I never know how much to use with this ceramic mug/filter… even with my scoop. but it’s so convenient! and purty!! le sigh

I read one review of this tea that described it as “too raisniny”. What the what?! Who eats cinnamon raisin toast and wishes there were fewer fat, juicy, delicious raisins? That is just crazy talk!

I’m really enjoying this tea. The aroma of this tea dry is intoxicating! At first sip I taste sweet toasted raisins. That flavor moves to a warm cinnamon, and then an almost bready smooth black tea body. There’s an ever so slight sweet cinnamon finish. This is the perfect breakfast tea!

Thank you to Wifey_Woman (Little Mew Brew) and 52teas for bringing this tea back. I’m so glad that I had an opportunity to try it :)

Okay so I’ve now had this tea three times. I waited awhile to review it as I thought maybe this is the kinda tea blend that will grow on me. Sadly no it’s not growing on me I do enjoy the smell of the dry leaf but once steeped I don’t get raisin I get fig or plum? On my last sip I do get a little crisp toasty flavor so while I don’t get the butter flavor which maybe a good thing. I don’t totally hate this tea I can see while people do enjoy this tea and I think that the flavors are there I just prefer a stronger range of flavors in my tea. Unless I’m having a green or white tea of course. I’ll rate this one high up there for being spot on flavor wise but it is not something I personally would reorder.

My hubby and son say this tea smells just like Honduran tamales. Which would make since since one of the ingredients in a Honduran tamale is raisins. I know your thinking raisins in a tamale(?) LOL all I can say is it’s a tropical thing! You’d have to taste to understand.

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 3 cups filtered boiling water (1 cast iron teapot full)
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer
Steep Time: a little over 7 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Raisin bran cereal, sweet raisins
Steeped Tea Smell: cinnamon and tea
Flavor: black tea, smoky, astringent
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: tea
Liquor: translucent light reddish-brown

I started with 3 minutes, it was too weak, went and kept sipping, the tea was not yet bitter at 7 and I think it could have steeped longer.

The tea smells very much like cinnamon and tea. I was not getting toast (or was the smoky flavor supposed to represent crispy toast?) or butter.

The raisins was only present in the dry leaf smell.

To test the quality of a steeped golden raisin I took some of my golden raisins from the cupboard and steeped them a few minutes, very grape. So apparently the tea doesn’t have enough raisins for my liking.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this tea, it’s smooth and not bitter and really just fine. But I have done something wrong or it’s too subtle for me.

Next steep I will try adding sugar, cream separately and together while tossing in extra raisins. It may end up getting a higher rating once I fiddle with the preparation, it has potential.

I am interested to get MilitaJim’s thoughts on it – he’s out celebrating St. Patty’s Day. Bobbie agrees with my tea that smells like cinnamon assessment.

Post-Steep Additives: none

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-buttered.html

First off someone just asked where I got the Cinnamon Raisin Toast from….this is a good sign! I can smell the toastiness, and the cinnamon and it smells GOOD. The taste is pretty awesome too. I’m getting the butter flavor pretty heavy in this cup. But there are lighter notes of the cinnamon and raisins as well as the toastiness. All in all you bet I am glad I brought this one out of retirement. Again only rating as this is my first time trying it.

Dec.22
This tea smells like buttered cinnamon and to me tastes like it also. I’m not sure where the raisins went but I just couldn’t find them. I really liked the black tea base for this one and I really liked the taste overall. Flavored teas are just not my thing but this tea was very enjoyable.

I don’t know I am really not tasting this. It tastes funny. I will try again and hope I can bump this up. I had such high hopes.:-(

52teas has done a remarkably consistent job of producing new flavor blends that are characterized by strong, true, vivid, lively flavor. They are a real antidote to the many insipid teas out there.

The smell of the dry leaves blew me away. There’s no way that a person could distinguish this odor from a good Cinnamon Raisin bread toasted, with butter. And the taste carried through. Truly delicious, I could almost feel the toast crumbs at the side of my mouth.

I must commend 52teas for having a plethora of ingenuity when it comes to envisioning teas. They like big, bold, true tastes and I’ve yet to encounter one of their teas that had a hint of “false” or “synthetic” flavor. Their teas are consistently satisfying, rich, hearty blends that sometimes break my heart with their purity! (In a good way). Their base blacks are very high quality; strong, friendly, and adaptable.

I think you owe it to yourself to visit their web page and see what they have that grabs your attention. I have become so addicted to the weekly delivery of what promises to be an amazing tea experience, that I signed up for the 6 month subscription.
No affiliation….

I have tried this tea black and with sugar and milk. It is great both ways. The sugar and milk were nice, but it’s sweet enough on its own. The flavors are strong and true and were not overwhelmed in the least by the milk or the sugar. Excellent concoction.