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This is another blend from my swap with Cameron, while this sort of blend is typically my jam, it was not my favorite. I thought it was pretty bland because I like super strong bergamot flavors. It also had a thick film on the top even though it was looseleaf I’m not sure how that happened.

One of my favorite pumpkin tea blends. Although I don’t have many in my stash at the moment Earl Greys are my favorites, this blend is no exception. I love that you can taste the pumpkin, spices ( especially the cardamom), and bergamot equally. It’s a well-balanced blend that I wish was available all year round.

This is one of the many blends that my friend Cameron sent me in our first swap (thank you, Cameron!) Before our swap, I didn’t know that Dammann Freres existed but I haven’t explored many tea companies other than my go-tos. First off, I love the smell of this blend. The scent alone is so comforting and welcoming that I’d steep it just to smell it. Taste-wise, I love this blend! I love figs, Italian Christmas wouldn’t exist without something with figs in it so this blend reminds me of home. I love the subtle fruitiness and sweetness of this blend, I preferred it without any additions.

Very cozy, I don’t normally love fruity blends but the sweet and malty vanilla notes make it taste more like a pie than straight fruit.

This is a delightful decaf black tea blend, I especially loved the warm, inviting vanilla flavor and aroma. It’s one of the first tea blends I have ever tried ( many moons ago) and it still is a staple in my stash almost twelve years later.

I really enjoy this blend, it’s the perfect blend for a cool and crisp fall morning. It’s nutty, slightly spiced, and comforting with a gentle apple flavor. I especially loved this blend because it’s subtle on the spice, sometimes when blends are over spiced I get headaches so this was a nice balance for me. I’m definitely making this blend a staple in my stash.

This blend was a definite yes from me, I absolutely loved it! I typically don’t love cherry blends because I usually associate cherry-flavored things with cough syrup. However, I loved it so so so much! This has to be one of my favorite chocolate blends and my new favorite cherry blend.

This blend is pretty mild, it tastes similar to a mocha coffee without all the bitterness and jitters. I liked this blend, I would drink it again but it was nothing too special.

A gorgeous blackberry and sage blend. I normally don’t enjoy sage-flavored blends but the lavender and blackberry really smooth it out for a delightfully comforting cuppa.

The first time I tried this blend I steeped it for the recommended 30 to 40 seconds, let it cool, then poured it over ice as intended to be enjoyed. Once steeped, I had more of the vanilla bean aroma but the floral and booze-like notes were still there. Now it was time to taste, and wow. This blend is really special; I immediately got the deep vanilla flavor, complemented and balanced by the floral notes I got from the oolong. Together I got a decadent and sweet butter rum-like flavor that I’ve never had in a tea that wasn’t overly processed or full of artificial flavoring. I honestly can say that I’ve never had something like this blend before and I’m just still pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this blend; it was so smooth and slightly sweet. Having a cool and light tea like this on such a hot day was just an experience that I’ll never forget; I drank the entire 30 oz pitcher by myself! I was a bit tea drunk afterward but I enjoyed it.
Then I tried a few other ways described on the packaging, hot, with milk and honey, and cold brewed. I opened the package the moment I received it to cold brew some since it does take 12+ hours. When I tried it hot I also steeped it for 30 to 40 seconds as recommended; the vanilla bean provided a warm and comforting element that certainly would make this blend perfect for a cool, crisp mid-fall day. Just the mere change in temperature changed everything; making a crisp, cool, light, and floral tea and then transforming it into something rich and comforting. Then I tried it with milk and honey, honey is my preferred sweetener but I’m sure any sweetener would have the same effect; and wow did it change a lot? When I added the milk and honey into the mix, I was met with a beautifully creamy vanilla flavor. Making the tea into a decadent and dessert-like treat that seemed like a guilty pleasure; spoiler alert. I wasn’t guilty, I went in for another cup! Finally, I had the cold brew, with the cold brew I got more of the floral notes from the oolongs and safflower, cutting the sweetness of the vanilla flavor a bit and giving the tea a deliciously crisp bite and I can see myself cold brewing it time and time again.
Overall, I think that On the Rocks is a seriously incredible blend; it’s not often that I find a tea that is quite perfect anyway that you brew it. Although I preferred it over ice, I can see myself brewing it hot as the weather changes in the upcoming months. Another thing I liked was how much care and time MJ puts into the tea which makes the tea less like a beverage to just drink and move on from, but an experience to savor and ponder about. What I find with a lot of blends from The Silk Tea Co is how they’re able to transport you to a faraway place with just a few simple ingredients in a matter of minutes.