I’m nervous about this one. I’ve had it on the shelf for a month and am just getting the nerve to try it. I’ve since seen 52teas come out with a couple of other bacon teas that I’d rather try than this one but this is the one I have so taste I shall.
I opted to brew it per directions and not look at anyone else’s comments. I’m currently sitting in my chilly house with the sun sparkling off the snow outside and the warmth of the cup filled with hot tea is calming and encouraging me to take a whiff and dive right into the tea. I mean, I love tea. I love bacon. Why NOT combine the two?
Alrighty then. The aroma is bacony and reminds me of that yummy summer salad with the bacon, peas and maybe mayo? I really like that salad and admit to trying to get as much bacon on the serving spoon as possible when I scoop it onto my plate.
When I measured out the tea I could see the bacon that was promised to be inside. That is always a good sign. I think that the steeped tea smells better than the loose tea. The steeped leaves are less strong than the loose tea as well and I find that encouraging since I think the loose tea is a might bit strong.
Enough typing. Time to take a sip.
It tastes like bacon. After a couple of sips I don’t taste a lot of maple, which is ok with me as I was hoping for only a hint. My mind is flying at the ways that I could cook with this tea as opposed to drinking it. I think it would be great as the water for a wildrice dish. I’m so going to try that next week! Yummy!
For a midday cuppa I’m not so sure I’ll do it again unless someone else is here and wants to try it. I just don’t know that milk or sugar would be good with it either. It’s not a bad tea, mind you, just not my first choice. It’s so different, maybe it takes some getting used to?
Now to read what others wrote and see how they are drinking this one. I think I’ll much prefer cooking with it though than drinking it as a cuppa.
UPDATE: didn’t think I’d written this much to begin with so I’ll be brief. After reading other’s comments I added a bit of sugar and it’s amazing how it brings out the maple flavor. It doesn’t make the tea sweet really, just more full-flavored.
with milk and sugar it is just delightful and I can see how delicious it would be with breakfast food. Well, now I’m hungry, so I’m off to fix some lunch!
UPDATE: I brewed up a bit of this and cooked my wild rice in it for a dish and it didn’t seem to add much flavor. Maybe I need to make the tea stronger. I’m not one to cook often with tea. Anyone have suggestions?
