The Silk Tea Co.

I have admittedly been putting off trying this tea because the dry leaf aroma smells very medicinal to me, which is concerning as a person who seems to have a very high tolerance for the more medicinal side of rooibos. However, I finally made it over the weekend and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to. I still think there’s a slightly mineral and woody edge that might be a problem for the more rooibos hesitant folk out there, but the strawberry was plump and ripe tasting and there was a very nice silky creamy/yogurt undertone that combined with the berry made me think of Campino hard yogurt candies. Which was nostalgic.

Gongfu!

Brewed this one up last weekend in my dad’s garden. The flowers are the perfect backdrop for this lightly oxidized oolong from Thailand as the lighter body and aromatic floral top/body notes fit in perfectly. Lilac, gardenia, and violet notes practically prance to the forefront of nearly every steep! Add to that a beautifully silky mouthfeel and a slightly creamy undertone and the lingering aftertaste of ripe green melon, and it’s a perfect session for a lazy Sunday afternoon in the heart of Summer!!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/CvVfG-oOYqV/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4RXQPTU0kk

Gongfu!

I knew this tea would be interesting from the moment I cracked open the sample bag and was hit with a wave of wood and spice aromas mixed with a brighter note of freshly macerated strawberries. Though strawberry didn’t come through in the steeped notes, this seven year old aged Taiwanese oolong did continue to be pretty intriguing and nuanced.

After a few softer steeps, while the leaves really opened up, this full bodied and deeply woody tea really started to pop off with notes of allspice, petrified woods and pine sap, clove, nutmeg, baked quince, and sandalwood. Lots and lots of sandalwood, actually. Somewhere in the middle of the session I got an infusion with a particularly notable cozy and fruity undertone of apple butter – that was my favourite part of the session, especially with the range of almost Autumnal spice notes present.

I think the only really negative of the session (if you even want to go so far as to call it negative) was the backend astringency of each steep, and the slight numbness left on the bed of my tongue. I didn’t particularly mind the numbness, though it was strange. However the astringency had an almost “crawling” sensation where it would catch in the back of my throat as well. I do have a tendency to leaf a little heavy with oolongs though, so that could maybe be resolved with a lighter touch…

Side note! After years of having some of my Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures volumes in the background of my tea space I’ve finally switched things up and rotated in some new graphic novels and manga. Still deciding if I like it, though it’s definitely a bit brighter feeling!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct62Ad3OnDT/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3m-IhgWyAo

Gongfu!

This afternoon I’m continuing to sip through The Silk Tea Co’s newest collection of oolongs with a session of Temple of Stone!! Though the most immediate notes are of cassia, charred campfire wood, roasted chestnuts, wet stones and nutmeg there’s a definite fruity sweetness that slowly builds and pushes up on the palate from beneath the layers of roast, mineral, and spice. My first thought was more ethereal in that it tasted “purple,” but after some contemplation I’ve settled that it’s more a mix of jammy plum and black currant flavours! It is, as the name suggests, a lot of stone though…

It’s not a secret that I have a soft spot for rock oolongs, so I was definitely excited to try this one. Unlike the typical yancha from China, it’s actually from Yilan in Taiwan though, thanks to generations of shared knowledge, you really can’t taste the difference. As Marika once said to me super casually, terroir is as much people as it is land. Definitely, definitely, definitely thinking about that a lot as I sip on these infusions.

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/CtkKDsrO3ol/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0ftjm9KrXk

Cold Brew!

Currently sipping on this one and it’s honestly mostly just reminding me of DT’s Magic Potion. The original one, not the newer version from a couple years ago with the popped rice in it. I guess what I mean by that is that it’s definitely quite sweet with a bit of a more ethereal and non-specific blue berry flavour. Not blueberry, but blue berry.

It’s fine, but it’s definitely less immediately appealing to me than many of The Silk Tea Co’s other blends have been. I do love a good berry blend, but usually I like more clarity of flavour notes in my berry teas and less of this coating sweetness.

Cold Brew!

I hate the name of this tea, but in terms of flavour? I’m calling this first tasting a smashing success. As I was drinking, the things that were coming to mind were Creme Brulee, with that lovely darkly sweet and slightly bitter burnt sugar crust but also the rich vanilla custard. However, it’s also got notes of orange that balance out those creamy and mailard flavours. The orange is incredibly dense and aromatic, almost more of a reduced/cooked down vibe versus anything candy like or fresh and vibrant. It reaaalllyyyyy works exceptionally with those burnt sugar notes.

Can’t wait to try this one hot! I sense a lot of complexity to this blend, and just some really well balanced flavours overall.

Picked this up from MJ’s recent “Passport Collection” of single origin oolongs!

I’ve been eagerly waiting for this collection to drop since it was first teased by MJ and TeaWithJann several months ago, and this first tasting doesn’t disappoint!! Smooth and medium bodied, this tea boasts wonderful golden honey notes that fit its namesake perfectly and is amplified further with toasty and softly floral tasting notes of orchid and osmanthus!

All I could think about while sipping was Ambrosia, which made for the perfect pairing with volume four of Lore Olympus – a Greek Mythology inspired web comic that I’ve been loving the printed version of. It just has such beautiful artwork and story telling!

Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctcct0hrM3r/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q41K1xHS0g

Oh, yum!

I was unsure how I would feel about the mix of green and black teas, but I find myself way too distracted by the scrumptious lemon notes to care. They’re somewhere in between more of a silky, sweet lemon cream and a more baked tasting lemon pastry. Lemon panna cotta keeps popping in my head as a reference point, and I’m not mad at that comparison. I do wish I tasted more distinct pistachio, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s just subtly adding to the very natural sweetness level and those baked good/pastry elements as nut inclusions in blends are want to do.

Too early to confidently say this, but it this my new favourite tea from The Silk Tea Co? I don’t know, maybe! It’s certainly made a very good first impression.

Grabbed a small sample from the TTB… mmm! Such a great vanilla tea with mild boozy notes. It reminds me of this fantastic whiskey barrel-aged maple syrup I received as a gift this year… yum.

The first time I tried this blend I steeped it for the recommended 30 to 40 seconds, let it cool, then poured it over ice as intended to be enjoyed. Once steeped, I had more of the vanilla bean aroma but the floral and booze-like notes were still there. Now it was time to taste, and wow. This blend is really special; I immediately got the deep vanilla flavor, complemented and balanced by the floral notes I got from the oolong. Together I got a decadent and sweet butter rum-like flavor that I’ve never had in a tea that wasn’t overly processed or full of artificial flavoring. I honestly can say that I’ve never had something like this blend before and I’m just still pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this blend; it was so smooth and slightly sweet. Having a cool and light tea like this on such a hot day was just an experience that I’ll never forget; I drank the entire 30 oz pitcher by myself! I was a bit tea drunk afterward but I enjoyed it.
Then I tried a few other ways described on the packaging, hot, with milk and honey, and cold brewed. I opened the package the moment I received it to cold brew some since it does take 12+ hours. When I tried it hot I also steeped it for 30 to 40 seconds as recommended; the vanilla bean provided a warm and comforting element that certainly would make this blend perfect for a cool, crisp mid-fall day. Just the mere change in temperature changed everything; making a crisp, cool, light, and floral tea and then transforming it into something rich and comforting. Then I tried it with milk and honey, honey is my preferred sweetener but I’m sure any sweetener would have the same effect; and wow did it change a lot? When I added the milk and honey into the mix, I was met with a beautifully creamy vanilla flavor. Making the tea into a decadent and dessert-like treat that seemed like a guilty pleasure; spoiler alert. I wasn’t guilty, I went in for another cup! Finally, I had the cold brew, with the cold brew I got more of the floral notes from the oolongs and safflower, cutting the sweetness of the vanilla flavor a bit and giving the tea a deliciously crisp bite and I can see myself cold brewing it time and time again.
Overall, I think that On the Rocks is a seriously incredible blend; it’s not often that I find a tea that is quite perfect anyway that you brew it. Although I preferred it over ice, I can see myself brewing it hot as the weather changes in the upcoming months. Another thing I liked was how much care and time MJ puts into the tea which makes the tea less like a beverage to just drink and move on from, but an experience to savor and ponder about. What I find with a lot of blends from The Silk Tea Co is how they’re able to transport you to a faraway place with just a few simple ingredients in a matter of minutes.

Sipdown 49

This is delightful! Really juicy, authentic peach and lychee. The rose is barely detectable, and works really well with the peach and lychee. I would certainly purchase this again.

Sipdown 38

This cup came out a bit bitter, which was a bummer. But, overall a really tasty vanilla tea that I would absolutely purchase again.

Bought another Silk Tea sampler so that I could try this. I love a vanilla tea, and this did not disappoint. This isn’t a vanilla bean blend, but rather a slightly boozy vanilla extract. I tried it plain, and it was delightful. Added some black sugar syrup…which ruined it. Definitely needs a more neutral sweetener. Can’t wait to try this as a latte with raw sugar.

This tea smells SO lovely- rose, vanilla, and cardamom. The flavor combination is really nice as well, though it came out a bit bitter. I’m interested in trying this with some milk or cream.

Probably not something I would have ordered, as I don’t really like buying decaf green teas. But, it was included in a sampler (and I do enjoy rose teas).

This is a really nice rose flavor- not perfumey at all. I also get a bit of vanilla sweetness, as well as some lychee and cardamom. Seems like the flavors would contradict one another, but they work quite well.

Strange VariaTEA TTB: Tea 8

The packaging on this is so pretty. The tea is also quite lovely. It’s syrupy in its sweetness but not super dense, if that makes sense. There’s also a clear fig flavour with a rose top note. The caramel is present but blends into the fig. It’s nice. Not a flavour I would really ever crave but nice.

July Sipdown Prompt – a tea with more than five ingredients

This is the only tea I have the fits the prompt! I have several teas with five ingredients, but only one with more than five and here it is. The next time I drink it, it will be a sipdown.

They call this smokey but I have yet to discover any smoke, and for that matter, any black tea flavor. This tastes 100% like a delicious flavored oolong to me.

I made a big pot to share with ashman this morning before work, but we ended up with about ten ounces leftover. I saved it for lunch, stirred in a bit of sugar, and added ice cubes to enjoy it with lunch and what a shocker! This was amazing iced. The fruity and floral flavors intensified and made a beautiful glass of cold, refreshing respite from the heat.

I am really tempted to use what remains in the bag for a small pitcher of iced tea instead of a pot of hot…

When I looked this up to add the company description, I was surprised to see that they shut down every summer! I don’t recall seeing anything like that before. Fortunately, I was able to just take it from the bag.

April Sipdown Prompt – your fanciest tea

I almost saved this one for tomorrow to fulfill “your most aromatic tea” but I actually have one or two equally aromatic and this one definitely feels like the fanciest. A gift from Superanna – of course.

Clouds and drizzle all day yesterday, and clouds, rain, and storms expected today and tonight. I went all out by having this with breakfast and lighting a candle I hoard – Charles Dickens by Paddywax. If a candle can be a good pairing, wow is that one ever perfect to go with this tea.

Smoky Assam is the first ingredient listed. In aroma and taste there is no smoke and no Assam flavor. What there IS, though, is wonderfully fruity oolong that gives you three really good solid steeps. In the steeper, I saw a whole cardamom pod float to the top. There is so much fruit in this that you would think it would take two scoops of the blend to make enough actual tea in the basket, but not so. Golden color shimmers from the lovely oolong base.

I finished my waffles and the bacon I share with Sam and went to pour another cup. About two ounces dribbles out of the pot. I have glugged this 21 ounces down without even realizing how much I was drinking.

Due to the ingredients, I have to stop hoarding it now and drink it. I refuse to commit the crime of letting it fade.

June Prompt – a pricey tea

This was a gift from Superanna, as is pretty much every pricey tea I own. I drank it Sunday with Youngest. We steeped it twice.

Her first comment was, “SOOOOOOO FIGGY!” This is the tea that made me supremely disappointed in Harney’s Capri, which is supposed to be fig but just tastes like lemon with the ghost of vanilla.

Big chunks of dried fruits, oolong, and supposedly some smoked black Assam that no one yet has been able to detect in this tea, so if the smoke was preventing you from buying this, go ahead and get it!

This is a true luxury tea. I need to try it flash chilled for these muggy afternoons.

My final tea of the second pass through the May Sipdown Prompts – a tea with unique or unusual ingredients.

This tea is jam packed full of goodies, but the unique thing about it is that they feature Smoky Assam prominently in the ingredient list and in the description, but it simply isn’t there in taste. The taste is mostly oolong with fruit.

A decadent and delicious tea!

I completely forgot MadHatter’s review of this and adding it to my wishlist. Maybe because I was trying to be good and not buy tea. But Superanna saw it on my wishlist and got it for me!

Looking at the bag, the first thing it says is “smoky Assam.” I love smoky tea but no one else who was here today does. Still, everyone was willing to give it a try.

First – there was no smoke. Ashman and Superanna said they didn’t get smoke and thought it tasted more like a green base. I would say there was little Assam, and mostly Milky Oolong and fruit. The spoon was full of fruit chunks and cardamom pods when I measured the dry leaf. The steeped tea was yellow, not at all the color I expected in a tea that lists Assam first.

It was absolutely delicious. I tasted caramel first and foremost with fruit right on its heels. Superanna felt it was super fruity. Ashman doesn’t care for anything fig, although he doesn’t detest fig, just doesn’t prefer it as he says. When I asked him how he liked it, he said it was right down his alley, mild, not brisk, and very fruity. We didn’t mention there was fig in it. With the dates, caramel, and cardamom I doubt he really picked out separate fig flavor.

I will really, really enjoy this one, and I agree with Superanna that it will probably also be super iced and will not even require any sweetener.

Thank you, Superanna!

I absolutely love this tea blend. The hint of smoke is hardly present, and the creamy fig note is heavy on this brew. It’s borderline a “dessert in a cup,” but in the healthy sense. I’m reminded of yogurt with figs. I’ve already sipped on bag of the tea and working on the second.

This has been in my ‘to try’ pile for awhile, and I just haven’t been in the mood to try it. I’m rarely in the mood for green teas anymore, and on the rare occasion that I am, I usually go for a straight green tea rather than something flavored or a blend.

I really like the smell once brewed (the dry leaf smells really mild and somewhat indistinct). The strawberry scent is quite candy like and sugary.

The strawberry flavor is much less pronounced than the scent. The main flavor I’m getting is a stale honeydew. Kind of like if you were to apply an old honeydew flavored chapstick and got some in your mouth. Not great.

This is going into my giveaway pile.