The Tea of the Week for September 9, 2019!
This is SO good! So good, in fact, that the first AND second time I tasted it, I wasn’t able to write this description because what I was tasting defied description! I had a difficult time nailing down just exactly what I was trying. I’m sure it had a little bit to do with the fact that a lot has been going on lately so I wasn’t able to get my mind in the right place – but when I would sit at my computer, ready to compose a description, I found myself without words . . . & those that know me know that it isn’t often that I’m at a loss for words.
This amazing blend starts with a Gao Yan Fujian black tea. Usually when I think of Fujian, I think if a tea with strong chocolate-y tones. I love that in a Fujian black tea – but this Gao Yan is unique – rather than a chocolate-y tone, it has a sweet raw sugar profile with notes of stone fruit. When I first tried it, it reminded me of a sweet, tree-ripened black plum that’s been sprinkled with a little turbinado sugar & then bruleed! Yeah – yum!
I knew I wanted to do something with this tea – but I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do because the tea itself was so phenomenal – I didn’t want to mess with an already good thing, you know? So what I decided to do is work with it’s natural flavors – to enhance what it’s already got going on to make it even better.
To the Gao Yan, I added some maple essence to play upon the natural raw sugar notes. Then I added some plums to play to the natural plum-y notes. I added some Sri Lankan cinnamon & some walnut essence (don’t worry, it’s nut-free!) for some depth & warmth. Then I added just a teensy bit of Lapsang Souchong for a warm, roasty-toasty flavor.
The result is astonishing. I’ve never actually had a “maple roasted plum” but this is what I’d imagine something like that tasting. The black tea offers a nice, rich background of flavor. There’s a well-defined maple note, a hint of smoke, juicy plum notes, nutty walnut tones & warm, sweet spice from the cinnamon. It’s really quite a delight to sip.
Oh, and it IS organic, VEGAN, gluten-free & allergen-free (no nuts!)
organic ingredients: black teas, plums, cinnamon, calendula petals & natural flavors
This is one of my favs!
I can see why! Mmm.
Wow, that sounds good!
Oh wow, it’s great iced too!