Tea Thoughts + Puns

Reviews, thoughts, and musings on all things tea, from a frequent brewer and aspiring aficionado.

[daily-deliciousness]

Chai latte cupcakes with caramel brûlée frosting

[rhapsoteainbrew]

Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world Earth revolves—slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.

Thich Nhat Hanh

[derivings]

ROZA by rrrroza

[rhapsoteainbrew]

Lemon Cayenne Cleanse from David’s Tea

Prep: 165°, 4 minutes steeping, honey Verdict: ★★★★☆ 4/5 Very Good!

I would describe this one as more lemon than cayenne, but it sure is tasty. The aroma is bright and citrusy, without being overpowering. The aroma is absolutely lovely. A dash of honey makes all of the flavors pop and adds a sweet-tart undertone. 

With a light base of white tea, the lemon peel, rosehip peel, and lime pieces give this a bright, citrus flavor. This tea contains chili peppers but in a way that adds warmth to the flavor more than heat. Though the website touts this as a blend of sour and spicy, to me it tastes more like a fabulous blend of sour citrus and sweet warmth. 

This is one of the more unique teas in my collection and I love it for that. The harmony between the citrus flavors and the chili notes creates a bright, warm blend that’s sunny and full of life. If you’re shy about spicy, you’ve nothing to fear from this one. But if you’re looking for something with citrusy sweetness and invigorating warmth, this one hits on that special something. 

[rhapsoteainbrew]

how to make soft serve matcha ice cream

[mirenavahleris-deactivated20220]

Sampling another tea from Beantown Tea & Spices today. This tea was sweetened with a Clover Honey spoon I found at Cracker Barrel when J and I took our trip this past weekend. Because it is peach flavored, I had high hopes for this tea, but it seemed to lose its flavor once brewed. I would still like to try it iced and see if it tastes better when prepared that way. Another one for the tea journal!

Tea: Peach White Tea

Water temp: 180*F

Qty: 2 teaspoons

Steep: 3-5 minutes

Ingredients: Premium White Tea, Dried Peaches, and natural flavors.

[rhapsoteainbrew]

The essence of the enjoying of tea lies in appreciation of its color, aroma, and flavor, as well as the principles of its preparation: refinement, simplicity, and cleanliness.

Cai Xiang

[hanabolkonski]

Charlotte and I enjoyed early spring with this spring-ish tea, because even my tea loves flowers.

[rhapsoteainbrew]

Vanilla Matcha from David’s Tea

Prep: 165°, 4 spoonfuls of matcha, whisk, plain, fill half with frothed milk over ice Verdict: ★★★★☆ 4/5 Very Good!

As an iced latte, the vanilla matcha makes for a smooth, creamy treat. The tastes are subtle, but still decidedly sweet, even with nothing added but milk. The vanilla taste itself is not pronounced, but the effect that it has on smoothing and sweetening the base matcha is noticeable. 

As I noted in my original review, this vanilla is sweet in a mild, gentle way. While the flavor itself is less pronounced with the added milk, I’m still pleased by the rich creaminess this offers, the gentle sweetness of subtle vanilla. 

If you don’t love plain matcha, but you don’t want something too distinctly flavored, this is a perfect bridge. It tempers the matcha with a rounded, gentle taste, for an overall smooth and subtle drinking experience. 

[hemlockteas]

Just because winter is over doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to the smell of fresh baked cookies.

Today, we are sipping on some Almond Rooibos. Caffeine-free and smooth as can be with an oh-so-sweet aroma. 🧑‍🍳☕️

[rhapsoteainbrew]

Tea does our fancy aid, repress those vapors which the head invade and keeps that palace of the soul serene.

Edmund Waller

[novelteatins]

These are not books.

They are tea tins with tea inside!

Get yours now and help expand the NovelTea Tins library.

[tea-ring]

Just be aware, these are NOT AIR TIGHT so your tea shouldn’t be stored in them w/o being in a pouch or some other air tight container.

[rhapsoteainbrew]

Cinnamon Heart from David’s Tea

Prep: 212°, 5 minutes steeping, honey Verdict: ★★★★☆ 4/5 Very Good!

Oh, this is cinnamon-y. Yet, the distinctive sweetness sets this tea apart from your usual chai, for a rich, playful cinnamon taste that’s bright and warm and full of zing. 

Cinnamon is the star attraction—and star ingredient—of this tea. However, while not distinct in and of themselves, the rosehip, apple, and pumpkin are working hard in the background. These other elements add a layer of sweetness that plain cinnamon would not have on its own, tempering that spicy sharpness with brighter, sweeter notes. 

The result is a warm, juicy cinnamon flavor with a zingy sweetness. It’s reminiscent of cinnamon candies (though it’s neither as eye-wateringly sharp nor as artificially sweet, achieving cinnamon sweetness in a more natural way). 

This tea is cinnamon, cinnamon, cinnamon, but the full sweetness keeps the taste from being too sharp or too much. It’s a perfect balance of sweet and spicy, for a contrast that is truly delicious. 

[artydiet]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPeCs1cjneV/?utm_medium=copy_link

[rhapsoteainbrew]

The kettle sings well, for pieces of iron are so arranged in the bottom as to produce a peculiar melody in which one may hear the echoes of a cataract muffled by clouds, of a distant sea breaking among the rocks, a rainstorm sweeping through a bamboo forest, or the soughing of pines on some faraway hill.

Kakuzo Okakura

[tinyteabag]

Artist -> Tina Shan

[rhapsoteainbrew]

Lavender Buttercream from David’s Tea

Prep: 212°, 4 ½ minutes steeping, honey Verdict: ★★★★☆ 4/5 Very Good!

This is delectably sweet! Like licking the frosting off a cupcake, the taste is bright without crossing into cloying or overkill. The buttercream flavor is absolutely spot-on, a smooth replication of its namesake. Normally, I like a little sweet treat with my tea, but this is a dessert all on its own! 

The caffeine-free rooibos is enhanced by vanilla flavoring and lavender. I prefer to add a little honey to make those bright, sweet flavors really shine. If you’ve got a sweet-tooth and love a desserty treat, this is one a winner! A lot of teas that purport to mimic different desserts are often more abstract, but I really can’t get over how much this one reminds me of the taste of frosting. 

I would describe this as more buttercream than lavender, though both tastes are present. But the lavender is much more subtle than the bright cupcake frosting taste. That said, the lavender is most present in the aftertaste, with those earthy-smooth lavender notes lingering behind that more vivid sweetness. 

Overall, if you love sweet, this tea is downright delectable!