On The Rocks

Looks exactly as advertised. Got some, and it’s good. Only did one mug 8 oz for 30 secs, and it has the vibes of a Bourbon caramel/booze filled chocolate bottle that you might find at Xmas time. Tasty. Black tea provides a malty base with the vanilla, and the milk oolong makes it creamier in texture. I taste a little bit of the oolong, but the black tea is leading.

It’s good, but I need more time on it to see what icing the tea does to the flavor. It’s original blending the oolong and black together and makes a much more balanced vanilla tea, though it’s only slightly different than other vanilla teas I’ve had. I like the boozy flavor profile. I’m liking Eyes of Green a little bit more so far. I’m curious about how the Morning Sex one compares. Since the black tea profile is the most prominent, it’s going to take some time for me to finish this one down.

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.

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.

Mmmm! This was a highly aromatic cup of tea with a lot of really floral but thick and dense vanilla notes that gracefully but heavily coated the entire palate. Really quite peaceful but commanding. Like, I don’t know if I’m conveying this well but it just felt like a cup of oxymorons in the most beautiful way. Kind of an “everything” vanilla blend.