Violin in C Sharp

 It's been a hot minute since I did a tea review that wasn't part of an advent calendar, but this morning I felt like trying something new, and so - a review is in order! A while back, Plum Deluxe sent me this Strawberry Rhubarb Oolong sample as a freebe with one of my orders and it has gotten lost in my tea cupboard for longer than it should have.  This morning, while digging for the right tea to satisfy my mood, I rediscovered this little dime bag hiding among the larger stashes and decided that her time had come! First off, I was surprised that while being a billed as an Oolong, that the package said it should be brewed at boiling temperatures since light Oolongs are usually brewed at 180-190 degrees Fahrenheit and dark oolongs at 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit. But then I noticed that the oolong was blended with some black tea, and so that made more sense. I felt like drinking out of a newly arrived witchy mug that happens to be a very dark burgundy, so I don't have a photo...

  Dry and in the bag, the orange essence was STRONG on the nose, and that worried me a bit because it smelled oily and fake.  Thankfully, once the leaf was wet the fake orange smell vanished as though it had never been there and all I could smell was the Assam.  Also, the liquid was clean with no trace of oil floating on top. It brews up very dark, which I adore in my black teas.  The first sip wasn't complex or layered at all - it was pure hit you over the head Assam.  It took me a few sips to acclimate my palate to taste anything past the Assam.  This is NOT a complaint though, because it's high quality Assam.  The first flavor I got past the Assam was the Ceylon.  I was about half a cup in before I noticed the heather in the mid note - but once I noticed it, I couldn't un-taste it.  The orange peel was far milder than I would have liked because I did get a bit more tannin in the finish than I prefer and orange peel often mellows that out. ...

 In case you didn't know - I am a big Star Trek fan - especially Next Generation and DS9.  Picard is, in fact, my very favorite Captain.  I mean, how could he NOT be?  So, when Plum Deluxe targeted me with this fan blend, I tried to resist buying it.... and was successful for all of 30 minutes. If you are looking for a traditional Earl Grey - this is NOT your cuppa.  If you don't like pecans, this is also NOT your cuppa.  If you are a fan of Lady Grey blends and you enjoy pecans - then look no further, this is the cuppa for you! The black tea they've used in the blend is a little dry on the mouth when taken straight, but it takes cream VERY well.  The cornflower is just as prevalent in this as in a Lady Grey blend, but I quite enjoy that added floral touch.  The Bergamot is not as strong in this blend as in a traditional Earl Grey, but it is present and as always, adds depth to the mid notes of the blend.  On the nose and on the tongue, the m...

In case you hadn't figured it out - NEWS FLASH - I love tea.      Like several other tea aficionados in my extended friend group, I have managed to make my love of tea more than a simple appreciation of a beverage - I've developed my love of tea into a full blown hobby.  I collect different blends, I follow different tea companies and their blend collections the way some hobbyists follow card sets.  I have multiple drawers and shelves full of tea related paraphernalia, I have an electric water kettle that has multiple temperature settings specifically for different types of tea.... tea is a part of my daily life.  When I take a vacation someplace special, I try to find a tea cup to bring home for my collection.  For Mother's Day last year, I took my mother out to a fancy tea house to treat her to a Mother Daughter afternoon tea as a way to mark the celebration of the day. I LOVE tea.      With this in mind, it should come as no surprise ...

The description self identifies it as "a woodsy oolong" which is deliciously on the money. The currant does interesting things to the oolong. When you add jasmine to oolong I find that it lightens the flavor - especially lifting the end note and to date has been my favorite way of cutting out the weird somewhat bitter aftertaste a straight oolong can carry on the end note. The currant in this does the same thing as jasmine in that it gets rid of the oolong bitter end note - however the currant doesn't lift the flavor the way jasmine does. Instead, the currant deepens the flavor profile of the oolong closer to that of a black tea and in this blend really heightens the earthy/woodsy flavors. The result is that I feel very earthy goddess sitting in the forest as I sip this straight off the steep with no sugar or cream.

I wasn’t expecting this to have so many layers to its blend. It was delightful and comforting and needed just a touch of Italian sweet cream to be a flavor hug. Verdict: perfect for a rainy or cold day

This was a free sample with purchase that I got the last time I ordered from Plum Deluxe and I don't know why I've waited so long to drink it. On the lighter side for a black blend since this is off of a 6 min steep in the photo. The vanilla is nice and strong without being overpowering and while I'm not terribly fond of chamomile, it lends this blend a great complexity. It's a mild blend and does not hold up to cream at all well - HOWEVER, it is BRILLIANTLY DELICIOUS with just a touch of honey!!! Verdict: On my next Plum Deluxe purchase, I'm adding a full sized bag of this blend. MUST HAVE MORE

A mix of black and rooibos tea leaves. I expected the lemongrass to be stronger and almost overpowering and am delighted to find that this is not the case! Delightfully complex while still remaining light. Straight off the 5 min steep and I don't find it to need any cream or sugar - though most palettes will likely want to add a touch of sweetness. For that, I think honey might be the way to go with this blend. Verdict: delightful

Meadow Walk is an herbal tea blend from Plum Deluxe. ......  I continue to have issues with herbal tea. Foil and Hogs said in a sketch once that chamomile tastes like water that’s gone off- and I have to agree.   This Meadow walk is slightly better- but only just. The rosemary and rose hips come through the most, but that doesn’t mean either are at all strong. Thankfully, the flavor builds a bit so by the time I’m halfway through the mug there’s actual flavor in my water. *sigh* I’m wishing there were more good caffeine free black tea options. I don't know why I was expecting any good flavor when this is as dark as it got after a full 7 minute steep.  It looks like sad dirty dishwater. Verdict: I won't throw away the rest of the bag because that would be wasteful when there is SOME flavor there.... but it will likely take me quite a long time to use up the rest of the bag.   I won't be buying this blend again.