Maple Bacon

I am still not tired of this tea. It’s even good to dunk chocolate chip cookies in!
(I just used the last of my maple syrup to sweeten it though. Time to buy more!)

Surprise sipdown!! (154)

I thought I had more than one serving of this but apparently not so good bye maple bacon tea. It seems as though you are more bacony today and there is a nice amount of maple. It is not something I would want to drink often nor will I miss it once it is gone but it was definitely an interesting tea to try.

Thank you Kristaleyn for this sample!! and Azzrian? I think I got some from both of you :)

Unfortunately though, this tea is not for me. I could barely finish a few sips, let alone the cup. Forget a second steep!
Something about this tea just makes me ill. Not in an allergy way. More in a can’t handle the flavour sortof tummy protest.
Now bear in mind… I don’t like smoked ham. Yep, bacon and I… we’ve never gotten along.
Even with milk and sugar this wasn’t palatable :(
So I won’t rate this. I can’t decide what would be a fair rating…
and I am super grateful to have tried this. You win some you lose some right?

I have Paul Tracy to thank for sending me some of this tea. I had tried it when it was released as a 52Teas tea of the week. But I really liked it so I didn’t mind receiving it again.

Paul had mentioned to me that he didn’t know why he wasn’t getting the same flavors out of this tea that others have been so excited about, so first, I shall post the URL to my full-length review of this tea:
http://www.teareviewblog.com/?p=8262

My first tasting of this tea, I thought it was ok, but, I didn’t get a lot of maple flavoring (but then, when I eat maple bacon, I don’t get a LOT of maple in that either, it is more of an enhancement than a pronounced flavor). But what I really wasn’t getting was BACON. Frank had commented on that review and said that one of his regular customers had suggested adding just a pinch of salt to the cup. (I use Kosher salt, in case you’re wondering)

This does the trick. It really brings out the bacon flavor. I also add just a drizzle of agave nectar, or if you really want to enhance the maple-y flavor, add a little bit of real maple syrup. The sweetener highlights the overall flavors to the cup while the salt brings out the bacon flavor.

This is actually really good. It represents the first of many purchases I’ve made from 52Teas/zoomdweebies/mysweethoneybush/manteas, so there are some fond memories attached to this one. In fact, I am sure that if we were to combine the purchases that I’ve made with them since that time, I’ve probably made a mortgage payment or two for Frank. :)

Paul… I hope this helps you find more enjoyment from this tea.

Hot, I got little out of this. As it cools, I’m getting… an odd flavor, however I would identify it as bacon (maybe?) with some maple flavored pancake syrup. There’s a nice smoky element to it, which adds to the ‘bacon’ side of things, and I do quite enjoy the flavoring – this from a gal who eats a lot of bacon, however maple syrup is off the table. Would I reach for it? Maybe, if I’m craving this particular mélange of tastes, and if I can perhaps label it differently in my head.

In related news: I just discovered my cups, which I thought were 8 oz, are actually 12 oz. I almost feel like I should remove all prior ratings with these cups, because all were severely underleafed. Darn it! Why did I fail to measure them when I got them?

Another from the Bestsellers sampler and another surprise that it was included. This would be a great idea if is done well. Unfortunately, it is not my thing. The smell of the bacon is a bit off. And the maple doesn’t seem to make an appearance in the scent of the dry leaves or the actual tea. (Not like the Pancake Breakfast syrup.. but that was in the older batches too… I haven’t tried the new yet.) Not really any flavor for me in either steep. I really don’t like this black tea base. It doesn’t even taste like any tea I’ve had before. I find it hard to believe a bacon tea is a bestseller, but ah well, I’m happy to try anything. When it comes to 52Teas, either I LOVE the blends or I really don’t. But I hope this black tea base hasn’t taken over every blend from now on.
Steep #1 // just boiled // 2 min
Steep #2 // just boiled // 4 min

Received this in the bestsellers sampler pack.

I have the Smokey Bacon tea and it is ok but it is pretty bold in taste. This one is much lighter in taste. The “smoke” flavour is pretty light. I do get some bacon flavour out of this one. The maple taste is also pretty light, but it works well with the tea. If I was adding maple syrup myself to a tea, I would have added more. I was surprised at this one. I would say the black tea base is fairly strong as compared to the flavouring. I think I prefer this one more than the smokey bacon.

Since I don’t care for the tea for Day 8 of the Christmas exchange, I decided to try another from Day 6. This time it’s one I’ve been wanting to try anyway! Love when that works out. :)

Hmm. Bacon. Love how this one smells – both dry and as it’s steeping. I’m a bit apprehensive about trying it, because I’m a total bacon lover and what if it’s no good? I’m going to want bacon…

But I tried it … and it’s delicious! I really feel like I’m eating bacon, sans crunch. I can taste a bit of the maple, which helps cut the smoky bacon flavor.

A coworker just asked me where I got a BLT! That’s how fragrant this is!

I do crave “real” bacon…but let’s be honest. I always do. ;)

This is awesome as only Frank @52Teas could do! :)

Thank you to Amanda for sending me a sample of this. I have been anxiously awaiting to try this one. Bacon…yes please. Opening the bag there is a nice candy like aroma that fills the air. I noticed that it is the very much like some of the other black tea blends from 52/Manteas. So the aroma is good. The maple comes through pretty well. I think better than it did when I received a sample of the pancake breakfast. The black tea is bright but not too astringent. Sigh Where’s the bacon? I’m not tasting the bacon come through and that is a little disappointing. It’s almost like The Great Bacon shortage hoax of 2013. Which I think was just a ploy for people to eat more bacon. It worked…at least for this guy. I really wanted to love this one. I like it. I just wish that I could taste the bacon.

Wow! Thank you tattooed_tea for sending us this feast of tea for the Sixth Day of Christmas! This is one of five teas, all of them breakfast themed! Since I had already grabbed some strong Sage Derby cheese and Almond Nut Thins I figured the bacon would be best and I quickly scrambled an egg to go with.

When I first sipped this I wasn’t sure. Smoky, sure but what else? But this has started to really round itself out, I can taste the sweet maple, I can even imagine the grease from bacon, this may sound weird or gross but I’m impressed. But this tea has more to it than just the food it’s inspired by.

This tea evokes a scene, the bacon is cooking in a smoky cabin or perhaps over a campfire. This is freaking lumberjack tea! And it reminds me of pu’erh in this way, bringing up sensory memories and the smoke is quite complex.

I definitely want to blend this with Pancake Breakfast, but I think I shall steep this a second time, try the pancake on it’s own and save a teaspoon of each to share with my sister. Sadly because of the smoke, I don’t think the husband could appreciate it. But I say YUM!