The season of fall is upon us. You can smell the crispness in the morning, the leaves are beginning to change and the air is chilly and begs for a delicious cup of hot tea. So let’s look at some great fall teas. Here is Fall Tea Tastings – a review of 4 great teas.
I took a trip to one of my favorite tea shops, the New Mexico Tea Company.
You may remember, the New Mexico Tea Company has a great selection as well as these amazing tea illustrations on their packages. Prior to social distancing, you could browse the teas, smell and see each blend. However, at this time, I could only go into a vestibule where all the teas were listed in a catalog. Maybe not the same, but I walked away with an arm full of new teas to try. I did miss being able to smell and view the teas, but it obviously didn’t hinder my purchases.
I will be writing about four teas:
- Earl Grey Rooibos
- Dutch Licorice Rooibos
- Masala Spice Mix
- Pumpkin Spice
So as before, in this tasting, I followed the same process that I have shared outlined in Tea Tastings for the Daily Enthusiast.
I first viewed the loose leaf tea and smelled it. Then prepared a small pot, using one scoop (1 tablespoon) of tea to steep. My water was boiled to 212 degrees and I steeped as according to the recommendation and on the lower end of the range. I poured a cup to look at the brew, smelled it and then tasted it, progressing through any sweetening or milk.
Here are my observations and comments. These are only my opinion and others may have a completely different response to tasting these teas, which is absolutely the fun of this. A time when it really is all about you!
A note on Rooibos Teas
Before we get started, a little note on Rooibos. I enjoy Rooibos teas quite a bit. They are naturally decaffeinated, steep easily and produce a gorgeous rust brew. Rooibos is a member of the legume family of plants and is used to make a tisane (herbal tea). Commonly called african red tea, the product has been popular in South Africa for generations and is now consumed in many countries.
Earl Grey Rooibos
I am not a big fan of Earl Grey, as a black tea. I feel like it is a classic and that I should be. So I am constantly trying different blends and variations to see if I can find one that I enjoy. So seeing the Earl Grey Rooibos, I instantly wanted to give it a try. Like all Earl Grey teas, this tea is flavored with all natural Bergamot oil. Named after the 3rd Earl of Grey, this is one of many Earl Grey blends and reflects the South African flavors of Rooibos. The loose lea is very fragrant and is gorgeous.
Steeping and Serving
I steeped this tea for 5 minutes, the low end of the 5-7 minutes recommendations. The steep was very fragrant and revealed that classic Rooibos dark color. This is a great Earl Grey blend and I would drink this black, without any milk or sugar. Though still not a favorite, I did enjoy the tasting. I will be using this tea in some future baking – Earl Grey Shortbreads.
Dutch Licorice Rooibos
I love black licorice and I love Rooibos. So seeing this combination, I was excited to try this tea. This tea contains Rooibos, sunflower petals, anise, and natural flavors. The smell of the loose leaf doesn’t have an overpowering smell of licorice and in fact the tea, once steeped doesn’t as well. But in tasting, there is this gentle flavor of anise that sits delicately on your tongue and you realize its licorice.
Steeping and Serving
I steeped this tea for 5 minutes, which is the low end of the Rooibos recommendations (5-7 minutes). The brew is a light golden amber with the classic Rooibos color and is smooth to taste. I would definitely drink this tea again, maybe with a little sugar. No milk as it masked the flavor of the anise.
Masala Spice Mix
Not an expert on heavy spiced teas or Chai, I was anxious to try this blend. This is Masala Spice Mix. Masala meaning any of a number of spice mixtures ground into a paste or powder for use in Indian cooking. This is a hearty blend of spices. This particular blend is considered herbal and caffeine free. It contains ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, clove and pepper. The loose leaf tea is gorgeous and you can easily see all the different spices and the pepper. When you smell this tea, it has a strong and pungent smell, highlighting the clove and the pepper. It is similar to Chai blends and in fact uses some of the same spices. As you smell this tea, you can imagine the arid environment of its history.
Steeping and Serving
As with the other teas, I steeped this for 5 minutes, though the recommendation is actually to simmer in water for 7 minutes. I found the brew to be light amber but strong in flavor. The pepper really came through. I would drink this with milk, sugar or preferably honey – it would bring out the richness of this tea and make it tremendously satisfying. This can be a strong tea and depending on your tastes, you will want to brew accordingly. Interestingly, I am also going to use this tea for some cooking and in particular with meats.
Pumpkin Spice
A fall tasting could not go without some kind of Pumpkin Spice tea and this one was no exception. I love all the spices of the fall and this tea did not disappoint. I also tried several other blends of Pumpkin Spice from different purveyors, but the one from New Mexico Tea Company was my favorite. This is a black tea with ginger root, cinnamon, cardamom, marigold petals and natural vanilla flavor. In its loose leaf form, it is the classic smell of autumn and is just beautiful.
Steeping and Serving
I steeped this tea for 4 minutes. For me, steeping the full 5 minutes had a bitter taste. The brew was a beautiful dark amber color and had an amazing smell reflecting the spices. I enjoyed this tea black with a little sugar (or not). Milk was fine to add but I didn’t want to mask the pumpkin spices. This was a favorite of mine for sure.
Another great tasting done with so many other teas to explore. With over 20,000 tea varieties in the world, there are tastings forever! Give it a try – you will enjoy the broad horizons of tea, in any form (I have hinted at some additional fun with tea in baking and cooking). While you are doing your tea tasting, grab a friend and remember to enjoy the experience and………….welcome to fall
Check out Teas The Season’s previous posts on tea tastings – Tea Tastings -An Adventure in Teas and Tea Tastings 2 – The Adventure Continues