Apple Cider Black Tea

Thanks to CHAroma I get to try yet another delicious (and timely!) concoction from 52teas.

I brewed this up last night, but decided to go to bed before drinking more than a sip of it, so I’m finishing it off now (it’s still good!) It tastes surprisingly like apple cider in tea form. A bit less spicey and appley, but both are present and good! The spicing here is again reminiscent of many of 52teas’ spiced blends (e.g. Cinnamon Roll Honeybush, Strawberry Pie Honeybush, Melange Rooibos), but it works quite well.

I think this would (have been) a great choice for a caffeinated, sugar-free cider for those cold winter nights (or tonight. -2C felt pretty darn freezing!) I have another cup’s worth, which I’ll save for when it gets a little colder.

ETA: Second infusion is way bitter, even with a 2.5 minute infusion. Boo.

This is pretty good. Not my favorite Frank blend, but, then, they can’t all be, can they?

The aroma of the dry leaf is so … familiar … but it’s distantly familiar, you know? Like something from my childhood but I can’t quite place it. It smells candy-like but I’m not sure which candy I’m smelling. Like bubblegum and candy apples, maybe?

The aroma of the brewed tea is much more like what I would have expected. Very mulled cider-esque, but a little heavier on the spices than on the apple.

The flavor is nice. This particular combination of flavors/ingredients seem to highlight the astringency of the blend that 52Teas uses, and this is something happens occasionally with Frank’s blends. Some (more often than not) are able to work very harmoniously with the tea, and others tend to bring out some of the harshness in the blend. That is not to say that this blend is bad, because it certainly is not. But it is a little on the astringent side.

That being said, this is incredibly comforting on this chilly day. I didn’t want to get going today, I would have preferred to stay under the covers where it was warm and cozy, but this tea is helping me come to terms with the fact that I cannot stay in bed.

Wow, this tea is a conundrum!

It is quite similar to mulled apple cider because of the blend of spices that’s in it. But it’s missing the strong apple component I expected and wanted, despite the fact that it has large chunks of dried apples. If you had mulled apple cider, took out the cider, and replaced it with black tea, you’d have a cup of this tea.

It’s pretty good, but strange at the same time. I keep thinking I’m drinking hot apple cider, but then it tastes like tea instead! You’d think I’d get over it, but every sip surprises me.

It tastes better with milk and sugar, which I added one at a time after trying it straight. I’m going to make it as a chai tea latte next time. That oughta be really good!

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: boiling
Tool: kati loose tea system
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes…I forgot about it so + ???
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: mulled apple cider (cinnamon, apple)
Steeped Tea Smell: mulled apple cider (cinnamon, apple)
Flavor: black tea, hints of apple, cinnamon, spice
Body: Full
Aftertaste: slight astringency
Liquor: translucent dark orange-brown

As usual, the smell is much stronger than the taste.

Post-Steep Additives: +1 tsp german rock sugar = brings out the flavors more

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-apple-cider.html

CHAroma’s review is spot on for this. There’s not a strong apple taste, but the spices of cider are all there. I’m not big on spicy teas so I can’t say that I’m crazy about this one, but the spices are present without being overwhelming so it’s one of the more enjoyable ones that I’ve had.