Spring brings rebirth to our seasons. It comes as a fresh start after the sometimes long winter. We look forward to it and it begins a season of growth and planting. In this challenging season, I am excited to share with you some new tea tasting with spring blooms.
Before we get started, a couple stories and accolades. First, about the pictures. These pictures are from those early spring strolls that we are all taking these days. The first blooms of spring were captured by three beautiful women – Brenda, Marissa, and my daughter. Thank you for these demonstrations of God’s consistent character and presence in spring.
Secondly, about the teas. I have wanted to get out and sample some new teas. With all of us being at home these days, I have not been able to to this. To my surprise, one day a package arrived at my home. Inside was a sweet note of thanks from my daughter-in-law’s mother, thanking me for taking care of her daughter during a recent illness. What an unnecessary surprise and treat. But inside the box was the best – a selection of teas that I had not had before. I was delighted and blessed. These teas set the basis for this session of tastings.
Many thanks to all these contributions to this latest adventure.
Using the colors of the flowers, I have taken these first blooms and have coupled them with some of my teacups. Along with this, I have paired a new tea for your tasting enjoyment. Let’s take some time to deep breathe and enjoy the walk through God’s beautiful creations. Come along with me for a virtual spring stroll.
Tea Tasting Guidelines
A reminder of the process. Let’s use the tea tasting guidelines that were posted some time ago. Here’s a refresher.
- Assemble and setup brewing station and table
- Place a small amount of the loose tea in a bowl or plate. Smell the tea and note flavors or scents of the raw tea.
- Steep the tea according to the directions.
- In a fresh cup, pour a portion of tea. Observe the color and the smell of the steeped tea.
- First sip the tea with no additives.
- Then begin with additives –
- Sugar alone
- Milk alone
- Sugar and milk
- Discuss impressions – likes, dislikes, possible pairings with food.
- Repeat process for additional tastings, getting fresh cups and pot
Click here for a copy of your Tea Tasting Guidelines for the Daily Enthusiast
Here’s the previous post https://teastheseason3.com/tea-tasting-2-the-adventure-continues/
Let’s taste…..
Blueberry Black Tea
Our first selection is a reflection of blues. This is Blueberry Black Tea. This tea is from Yunnan China and is a mix of black tea and blueberries. You can see and smell the blueberries in the loose tea. When this tea is steeped, it takes on a very light hue of blue within the black tea. The first smell of the steeped tea is definitely blueberry, the taste as well but is subtle. With a little sugar added, the blueberry taste is definitely accentuated. With milk, I felt it dulled the flavor – and the color was a purple gray. I would enjoy this tea again, using a small amount of sugar to enhance the blueberry flavor. Steep this tea for 3-5 minutes.
The Blueberry Black Tea was served in Greystone teapot by Johnson Brothers and enjoyed in a teacup by Hidone – Blueberry made in Japan.
Lemon Drop Mate
This tasting was for Lemon Drop Mate, a white tea that has been infused with lemon and combined with Macha. The loose leaf tea has a gorgeous grassy look and a light citrus smell. The steeped tea has a delicate lemon taste with almost a mint-like flavor and has this beautiful light amber color. You can taste the Macha and its very pleasant to the tea. I actually enjoyed this plain or with sugar and milk. When I tried the sugar alone, it was too sweet and almost tasted like a candy – for me too much. I will have this tea again – it was surprisingly delightful. Steep this tea for 3 minutes.
The Lemon Drop Mate was served in a Furio Home teapot and enjoyed in Hautschenreuther Selb Bavaria Favorite teacup.
Raspberry Pink Champagne
This Raspberry Pink Champagne is a white tea with the taste of raspberries and a slight fizz of champagne. The tea was accompanied by a Raspberry Champagne sugar. The loose leaf tea is a large lighter green leaf and is rough cut. There is a light hint of raspberry in the smell. Without any additive, the flavor is gentle and very mellow. With a little sugar, the flavor of the raspberries is stronger. Using the Raspberry Champagne sugar was a fun addition and definitely rounded out the flavor. Milk again for me seemed to mellow out the flavor too much. My daughter-in-law found it enjoyable. I have not been a fan of white teas, but I would definitely drink this again. It was delightful. Steep this tea for 3 minutes and yields a beautiful light amber color.
The Raspberry Champagne tea was served in an Old Amsterdam teapot and enjoyed in English Castle Staffordshire – floral pattern teacup.
Rooibos Chai
I absolutely love Rooibos teas and this one did not disappoint. This was Rooibos Chai. All the spices of Chai with the tastes of Rooibos. The loose leaf has a spicy fragrance and a beautiful mix of whole spices. The steeped tea had that familiar Chai fragrance along with the dark auburn that Rooibos teas have. It was beautiful. The first taste is clear with the spices but not over powering at all. With a little sugar added, the spices became very clear. A little milk, and it was a delicious blend with a nice creaminess. My recommendation is actually with, without sugar and / or milk. I did receive some Chai Sugar, for me it was a little too sweet and masked the Rooibos flavor. This is definitely one that I will continue to enjoy. And since there is no caffeine in a Rooibos tea, you can enjoy this anytime of the day or evening. Steeping time for this tea is 5 minutes.
Chair Rooibos as served with a hand glazed English Cordon Bleu BIA pot and enjoyed in a vintage Rosina teacup.
Berry White
This last tea is called Berry White. This is another white tea blend that includes a mix of natural berries – blueberries, raspberries, schizandra berries, strawberries, and hibiscus. Natural flavors of lychee and plums were also present with some jasmine. The loose leaf tea was a beautiful painting of all the berries. Raspberry and strawberry were the prominent fragrance. Once steeped, it yielded a berry colored tea that was reflective of the many combinations adn paired beautifully with the china. Even though it had a somewhat astringent character, the tea was delicious on its own. An addition of a little sugar was okay, it really wasn’t needed for this tea. And no milk. This tea was able to be enjoyed on its own. I will have this tea again and would serve it for a dessert phase of an afternoon tea. This tea is steeped for 6 minutes.
Berry White Mitterteich Bavaria Violet teacup / Japanese bone china
Though our stroll is done, the seasons will continue…the times will change and we can be grateful that the desert once again yields to spring. Did you have a favorite? I hope that this brings you some comforting reflections and reassurance of hope.
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. Isaiah 35:1
Credits and accolades….
The teas used in this post came from The Spice and Tea Exchange https://www.spiceandtea.com/ Check it out – I am sure you will enjoy it!
The gorgeous cozies were designed and sewn by my sister. Previously highlighted in this post Cozy Up To A Warm Cup of Tea https://teastheseason3.com/cozy-up-to-a-warm-cup-of-tea/
