Black Rose tea: recommendations sought
So as I mentioned in a tasting note yesterday, I’ve just run out of my favorite black rose tea and am curious about perhaps trying some others. I plowed through a pound of it from the Ten Ren tea shop in Chinatown NYC, and so I know I can always get more from them. But if I always just bought the same thing again and again, where’s the fun in that?
Anyway, I’m soliciting suggestions over at my tea blog: TeaWritings.com (here: http://teawritings.com/?p=107 where there’s more about what I like in rose tea) and here on Steepster (and wherever else people run into me). I figure I’ll put in an order next Wednesday if I mail order? Or maybe stop in at the Tealuxe store in Harvard Square to see if their Victorian Rose Tea stands the test? I’ll be in New York next week so a trip to Ten Ren (or any other shop there?) is also possible.
Black. Rose. Robust yet subtle. Not fake rose. Inherently sweet.
Hit me with your suggestions, and thank you!
Great timing, I actually just got some of what you’re lookin’ for on my birthday a few days ago. Check out my tasting log here: http://steepster.com/teas/teafountain/8741-china-rose-congou
Well I haven’t had many rose teas so I can’t really say where it stands in the ranking of tea quality, but I really enjoyed the Rose Congou from Granville Island Tea Company.
They do ship outside of Canada and their rates seem quite reasonable (although I’ve always bought from their physical store).
And I’m not at all averse to mail order. I’ve gotten some of my best teas that way!
Great, I’ve enjoyed the teas I’ve had from that company; there’s a nice selection and the owners seem to really know their stuff. :)
Here’s the Steepster entry for the Rose Congou:
http://steepster.com/teas/granville-island-tea-co/4489-rose-congou
Ooh, I completely agree with your tasting note that just a little honey brings out the rose in most rose tea. Unless it’s lavender honey (though that made a kind of nice flavor blend of its own…). I normally drink my tea unsweetened, also, but this is one of the exceptions I make.
I don’t really care for black teas, but I suggest buying dried rose petals separately. That way you can add them, in whatever ratio you want, to any tea you want.
Yeah, I have a stash of the Siberian rosebuds from Vital-T Leaf and I use them to “rose up” other leaves sometimes. But there is something to be said for the skill of a good blender.
True. But you also shouldn’t have to depend on others for good tea. That’s one of the reasons I don’t like bagged. I don’t like other people in control of the steeping parameters. Unless I’m offered a cup by someone of course. I feel very loved when someone offers to make me tea. Let us know which one you end up loving;)
I still end up having to rely on others for good tea since the black tea and the rosebuds still must be bought from others before I blend them. And how much experimentation shall I do before I find the balance I like? I would rather not waste the tea and purchase something that is a known quantity. As I said, I have a source of a rose tea I like quite a lot (Ten Ren) but I figured I would see what kinds others here liked, too.
Pithy, I don’t know if they actually come from Siberia, but you’ll see them for sale on most of the mail order tea sites listed as Siberian. (Chances are they come from China anyway? shrug)
Zhi Tea has a really good Vanilla Rose black tea.
I sometimes mix roses in my vanilla tea, too, which is another of my staple blacks. Definitely worth me trying.
I haven’t tried it yet, but this is on my to-get list based on a friend’s rec plus some good things I’ve heard on Steepster:
http://steepster.com/teas/upton-tea-imports/3688-rose-congou
I’ve ordered from Upton twice before and am LOVING the teas I get from there. Excellent customer service, quick shipping, and no nonsense :)
I love the photograph that shows the scale of the rose petal against the tea leaves!
Of course I’m biased in this recommendation, but I do suggest you try out Rose Scented tea. It’s a simple Chinese Hunnan black tea base blended with rose petals, rose buds and sprinkled with some rose water. Very tasty.
Hm, now I’m curious how the various types of black tea used as a base affect the blend, too. I really am going to have to buy several types and do a taste test… Oh, life of a tea geek. This is also the first I’ve seen to mention rose water. Now if only I had a bigger budget!
Nope. All flavored teas generally have some sort of water or extract added to them. In a giant tumbler like machine, the tea is added, and then goes in the ingredients, like rose water, fruit extracts or even fruit pieces, depending on the blend. Then we turn the switch on, mixing everything together evenly, also hastening the drying process. Before tea gets packaged it MUST be dry, or then you would risk mold etc.
Yeah I guess so, you just think about it more when it’s called rose water vs. an extract or fruit.
Well the beautiful part about ordering from us is a sample is only $2! The rose water comes during the blending process, so that the tea is already scented and flavored when it comes to you.
And I am a big fan of buying samples. Now if only there were a central place I could buy $2 samples of 5-10 different brands/makers and do a real side by side taste test of them all!
Your shop in Millerton is too far west for my travels (between Boston and NY), but I will put it on my travel list for my next trip to Western MA and/or upstate NY — perhaps I could pass through on my next trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown as you’re only 30-40 minutes from Rte I-90 looks like…
We’re located north of NYC, but it might be too far of trip for you to make while you’re in the city. As far as placed to check out in the city, Amanzi tea down on Chambers street has a fair number of flavored teas, though I’ve never had their Rose Tea. You could also check out the T Salon in Chelsea Market. Miriam has a large selection of teas as well. Sadly our store in NYC is taking us longer to open than we anticipated or I’d direct you to us!
Ooooh! May I ask what part of NYC you’re looking to open up in? I go to NYC often and would LOVE to be able to visit instead of doing online orders.
Thanks for the recs for tea shops in NYC! If I get out of the conference I’m going to early enough I’ll try to check some out.
Guess what? I’m at the Chelsea T Salon right now. There’s free WIFI and I’m enjoying their Victorian Garden (rose and vanilla) right now! Look, I blogged it: http://teawritings.com/?p=113
Cecilia – I enjoyed reading your blog post! I had to chuckle because I said to myself "I think I went to TSalon a few times, but it was in Soho – maybe I’m confused,,,it was probably almost a decade ago…and then I read the end part! I am pretty sure I had the same tea you blogged about, and enjoyed it enough to take a few ounces of it home.
If you are ever in a silly mood, wouldn’t mind someone serving you in fairy wings, and really want some scones, try Alice’s Tea cup (if you haven’t already!) the next time you are in NYC. There are a few locations:
I’ll be visiting your blog again :)
Jacqueline — another friend was just telling me about Alice’s as well! I will definitely have to make a trip there. I have a good friend in the city who is mad for Alice in Wonderland as well; she and I definitely have to visit there!
I’ve been drinking Golden Moon’s Rose tea tonight, and I like it quite a bit. http://steepster.com/ccarter756/posts/23062#comments But I’m intrigued by the description from Harney & Sons – I think I’ll have to add it to a future order.
A friend just recommended that one to me, too, over at my tea blog! I’m definitely going to have to try it.
I have had a few Rose ones but not nec black rose. Loving this input! Thanks for starting this topic!
Yr welcome! I’ve tried a few now and will be making a big blog post about it some time soon. (I like to brew each one a few times before I declare an opinion about it.)
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