Granny's Cake

T&C TTB#3: This smells cakey, sweet and cinnamony. I see a cardamom pod and maybe dried fruit? In taste it is mostly a generic spice cake ruled by cinnamon with a vaguely fruity note. It’s actually pretty decent although I don’t really get any “cake.” I also don’t get much of a tea base that I can isolate but that may just be my jaded and overworked tastebuds. :)

Now this one I can get behind. It was everything I was hoping for. The star anise could be left out, but I don’t mind it enough to stop drinking.

Update: On second though, maybe the star anise adds a nice dimension. I haven’t fully decided.

Sipdown!! (172)

Thank you Kat_Maria for the opportunity to try this tea. It really does smell amazing but unfortunately this is 100% star anise and I am just not a fan.

T&C TTB 16/23

I was happy this tea made it to me in the box :) It sounded so good. It reminded me a little of Davids Sugar & Spice but not as spicy or sweet. I have to go by memory right now, I know I enjoyed it but not sure if I would order it, well maybe I would, not sure yet.

Thank you so much for sharing this tea Kat_Maria!

Tea & Cards TTB

Okay, so I’m just a sucker for pastry-esque teas…I surrender.

This one is pretty much as advertised – there’s a comfortable black base with all kinds of baked goods notes mixed in and a gentle citrusy-vanilla overlay – it really does remind you of a comfy sitting room and some sort of freshly baked tasty thing…

Very good and one I would gladly drink again…although there are a few others I’ve had recently that may be vying for the title of “one true pastry tea.”

My Rivertea order came yesterday. Although it has nothing to do with the taste of the tea, it came in the most delightful packaging. Once I opened the cardboard box, I was greeted with tissue paper surrounding my order, and a cute sticker securing the tissue paper together that said ‘For a happier Kelly’. Considering my son had just finished an in-school suspension, and I apologized to the neighbor because my 7-year old daughter got mad at her son and mooned him…well, I could use some extra happiness!

The teas came in a bag inside cardboard containers. Very happy that the steeping instructions are on the bottom. I could definitely smell the teas, which worried me a little (I’m used to packaging that I can’t smell the teas through).

Before steeping, the smell of this tea just blew me away. I looked up a recipe for Chocolate Spiced Cake on Allrecipes, and yeah, I’m definitely smelling Chocolate Spiced Cake!

I steeped for 3 minutes 30 seconds, which is pretty quick for me. After my usual sweetening (I don’t think I drink any teas without sweetener…but I do try them first), I definitely taste Chocolate Spice Cake. I might have to go BAKE a chocolate spice cake after this.

There was a plastic swan also in my package…like a tea ball, but with a neck to hang over the side of the cup. I had a little bit of leaf escape through the holes, but it was cute, and did the job. The company made me feel special, and the tea is pretty good!

Sipdown (206/208)!

Again, thank you Cavocorax for the sample! I think this one actually grew on me the more I drank it, and I’m going to have to bump up the rating a little bit now that it’s gone.

I had this for my morning tea, mostly to get an extra sipdown in because, the side effect of working nearly fulltime, it appears I’ll be doing less tea drinking now that I wont be home as often. That’s a little bit sad, but an important sacrifice if it means that I’ll be paying my rent on time.

This cup was nice though; very rich and fudgey and with a lot of anise flavour (probably thanks to the almost completely intact piece of star anise). I don’t think I’ll miss it terribly – but we had a good run!

Finally I am getting around to this tea! the loose leaf smells absolutely knock-me-off-my-feet delicious! So does the steep that turned out to be of a very dark color.

The flavor is milder than the aroma. Which, I think, is good. I was afraid this tea might be too spicy, but it’s not. There’s a subtle note of citrus and a harmonious bouquet of spices that doesn’t bite your tongue. There were some lovely rose petals in it too, but I fail to detect them in the taste.

The base tea is slightly astringent and strong, which I like. I don’t like how with some flavored teas under the fancy flavors you discover… nothing. But it’s definitely not the case with this one. I might actually steep it for a little shorter next time, so the base is a bit less bitter.

Very enjoyable dessert tea!