teaNsympathy

I owe Lipton a huge debt. It got me drinking tea at the age of three when my mom would make it for me in my carebear or beauty and the beast mugs. It’s all my parents drink to this day, and there is always a huge quantity at hand. It’s the reason we have an insta-hot faucet installed in my kitchen, and as much as my tastes have matured, I still enjoy it with milk and sugar. So I salute you, Lipton Black Tea, my gateway drug of teas. Thank you for the world you opened up to me so many years ago.

I don’t even know where to begin with this one. It was one of a bunch I ordered from teavana. And though I tried to pick very diverse teas, I must admit, this was not one that I was most excited about. That all changed at first sniff. It has a lovely, satisfying bouquet of florals, specifically the jasmine, and citrus. It smells like heavy spring, when everything around you is most alive. Drinking it in the dead of winter, this made it all the more alluring to me, as I was transported in the first sip. Between this, and the quality that something within it reminds me only of a hard, powdery candy I used to get from the quarter machine at the grocery store as a child, this tea brings me the warmth and life of springtime, coupled with striking youthful nostalgia. Could there be any better combination?

My father picked up a tin of this for me when he stumbled upon their store in Soho. Not knowing much about tea, or having much to go on (time or info-wise), he got me this and the Darjeeling. I was much more excited, originally, to try the Darjeeling, but it ended up being this one that stole my heart. My history and opinion of Earl Greys is somewhat complicated, but this one definitely won me over. The aroma is a strong bergamot punch in the face, at first, but then dissolves into the subtle layers of the white tea florals.
The color is light, and the flavor crisp and mild simultaneously. It’s very delicious, and perfect for the many evenings I spent snuggled-up and sipping its warm contents while a blizzard and howling winds raged outside.

I cannot say enough good things about this tea! I ordered it expecting a straightforward, zesty black tea somewhere on the spectrum close to Earl Grey. However, this is anything but ordinary! The aroma is overpowering; you get a mix of the vanilla and citrus, some lemongrass and florals. The color is a clear burnt sienna. It’s not strong or spicy to taste; it’s light and full at the same time. It’s a mix of contradictions and a study in subtleties. It just has a hint of something that makes it special and stand out. It was such a surprise, and evokes so many memories of Paris. This tea resembles its namesake.

This is a pleasant twist on oolong. It’s very fragrant with a general fruity/candylike aroma, and the color after steeping is a light, golden marigold. The flavor is light but full and has a few different layers to it. A little stronger at first, but has a nice, fruity finish to it. However, I can’t get past the fact that the taste resembles that of a blue raspberry or strawberry slushie. Am I crazy, or is anybody else getting something along the same lines? Either is quite probable. I think for this reason the flavor tastes somewhat artificial to me. Be this as it may, I still enjoy it when I’m in the mood for something sweet and juicy. In this regard, I believe this tea is fairly straightforward. It is mostly what it claims to be.