Mad Tea Party Blend

I’m here! Really I am! I haven’t had much time for Steepster because we drove down to San Diego last weekend for a wedding, and then I was just exhausted. The trip back was pretty much a nightmare. Now that I’ve recovered some, I’m back!

While we were down there, we stopped at Downtown Disney to have lunch with a friend, and guess what I got? Alice in Wonderland tea ware! So cute! I got a teapot and two cups with saucers. I was hesitating because I’m pretty frugal, but my husband convinced me. He’s a good husband. ;)

I was going to pick up a tin of loose leaf, but the tea ware came with a ton of bagged tea…the same flavors as the loose leaf, so I didn’t, although the loose leaf might be better. So, my review here is of the bagged version.

This tea turned out to be a pretty good, balanced blend. I definitely tasted the peach, apricot and ginger. I was happy that the ginger wasn’t overpowering. Not amazing, but not bad. And may I say, freaking CUTE packaging!!

Btw, I’ve re-watched the mad tea party scene from the movie on Netflix twice now. :D

Thank you Rie for sharing some of this tea with me.

I didn’t realize that it had ginger in it when I first asked to swap for it. I do not like ginger except in cookies and other heavily spiced recipes, just not ginger alone. ginger tea makes me nauseous just smelling it. For the longest time, I didn’t realize that ginger was my problem. There was a flavor I frequently detected in some Chinese dishes and it was awful, but as I didn’t know what it was, it was impossible to avoid. I never suspected ginger, because it is common in all the yummy autumn pastries that I love, how could it be the enemy? Then one day, when I was eating some store-bought sushi, I sampled the pickled ginger that came with it. Yuck! that was it. That was the nasty Chinese food flavor that alluded me for so long. Finally! On a related note, I was in shock the day I learned that ambrosia fruit salad is made with mayo. Strange how ingredients can take on a life of their own in a blend. So far, I haven’t had any luck with ginger blend teas.

I read reviews of this tea and most of them say that the ginger stands out. Strange enough, I didn’t detect it at all. A case of ambrosia salad? This tea tastes like peach gummy rings. Oh man, I used to love those things when I was a kid. I had a bag of them in my candy stash at all times. The tea brings back memories, but I’ve largely lost my taste for candy. My sweet tooth aims for cakes and bakery goods, but generally not candies.

My husband on the other hand, who is not the biggest fan of peaches, likes this tea. He says he gives it an 88. Good thing since I have quite a bit left!

Quite pleasant. It is peachy with just a touch of ginger to give it an edge.

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 1 zarafina cup
Tool: Zarafina Black-Loose-Medium
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Sweet, Fruit
Steeped Tea Smell: Fruity, apricot
Flavor: Slight astringency, Apricot black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: bitter
Liquor: Translucent light brown

Steepster Traveling Teabox Tea

Reminds me of Eastern Shore Tea Company Teabag Black Tea ‘Spiced Apricot’

It is a good tea, but not something I want again, I had a very large stash of apricot tea and am quite over it.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: Just as strong

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/disney-wonderland-tea-loose-leaf-black.html

i just had to make a cup :) its been calling to me ever scene my last post about it.
it is a very smooth and fruity tea. i would love to try this iced but i have noticed my mug is now empty ;) maybe with a second infusion? it is defiantly not an every day cup in my book, but for someone who is bonkers for apricots it may be. i only wish it tasted more like a flavored black and not an herbal.

Let it be known to everyone who doesn’t know, I love Alice in Wonderland and all things Lewis Carroll, and I have since as long as I can remember. I fancy myself a bit of a Mad Hatter (tons of hats, a little crazy, no mercury poisoning though) and also have a serious love of Disney. Though I have no shame in admitting that the Disney version of Alice in Wonderland was never really ‘big’ with me, I still was super excite to try a Mad Tea Party!

So if that introduction didn’t do it, allow me to properly introduce today’s tea: Mad Tea Party Blend by Disney Wonderland. A blend of Indian Black Teas, Safflowers, Calendula Petals, Ginger Bits, Apricot Bits, Peach and Apricot flavors. I just love it when ingredients include the word ‘bits’ it just makes me smile. Anyway, this tea is very pretty with the different flower petals mixed in with the tea leaves, I love pretty teas.

The aroma of the leaves is very fruity and tart! You mostly get the aroma of apricots, so much apricot that it drowns out all the other things at first, but if you keep sniffing around you get to experience a mild floral scent and just a touch of spice. It is a very potent aroma, almost a little too strong and makes me feel a bit topsy turvy.

After brewing the aroma just kicks up the intensity, the smell reminds me of an apricot liqueur with heavy citrus notes. Where the citrus is coming from is beyond me, but oranges are definitely there and poking me in the face. I am slightly worried I am going to get sloshed from this tea. The brewed liquid has more of the ginger aroma to it but it also has an artificial ‘perfume’ smell.

The taste is intensely tart, like eating unripe cherries tart. I should point out that it is not bitter, just intensely tart. I need to add some sugar to this tea (much like I need sugar with store grade strawberries, their tartness is not enjoyable to me either) to make it a little more tolerable so I can actually see what flavors are there under the tart. Well, it actually does taste a but like liqueur or maybe the flavoring has alcohol in it, but it also tastes like peaches and apricots. I decided after seeing a lot of other people on Steepster say that this tea is great iced to turn it into an iced tea, and you know what, it works that way. It still has that ‘fake’ taste that a lot of flavored bottled teas have but it is no longer tart and I can taste the earthiness of the tea mixed with peaches and apricots, and at the end a zing of spice from the ginger. Sadly I am not overwhelmed and doubt I will be seeking out more of this tea, it is just too tart for a hot tea and too artificial for an iced.

Favourite of the Disney blends.
AHAS;DKFSDF I’M DYING WITH FINALS. I’LL DO A LEGIT NOTE LATER.

This tea actually holds a lot of sentimental value for me, I bought this tea on an orchestra trip and every time I drink it I am reminded of my time there.

This is my first “apricot” tea and so please note I have not compared it to others.

It’s a gorgeous smell right out of the tin, apricots hit you right in the face.
On steeping the tea apricot comes to the forefront. It’s not bitter at all.

It may be my nostalgia talking, but this is one of my most favorite teas. I’d give a lot to have a lifetime supply of this at hand.

All in all (to the experienced tea aficionado), it’s worth trying if you happen to be in a Disney theme park (if only for the adorable tin).

Surprisingly good for a gift shop tea! Pretty sweet, and doesn’t need any kind of sweetener at all; the apricot is fairly strong but you can taste the notes of the other flavors as well. This one is the one I liked best of the Wonderland Teas, and the only one I’d buy in loose leaf — which is fortunate because as of now it’s one of the only few they sell that way.

This tea is deeeelicious. It’s great with or without sweetener, smells wonderful, and tastes very happy, if that makes any sense at all. I’m not even a big fan of fruity teas, but it’s yummy, and I hope to get more very soon!