The first time I tried this tea, I couldn’t smell or taste the Bourbon vanilla at all. (Though I could smell some vanilla in the dry leaf!) So I steeped today’s cup for three minutes, instead of the recommended four, and added a little sugar. That seemed to help; I could smell vanilla this time, and taste a bit of its creamy sweetness mid-sip. That said, the vanilla here gets pretty overpowered by the tea base. This is a classic Assam black tea, the strong, dark kind with a lot of natural dryness. I think it would probably work best with milk and sugar, because of the astringency… I’ll have to try it that way in the future.
Overall, this is a high-quality tea, and I’m sure I’ll enjoy the rest of my sample. But if I’m in the mood for a vanilla tea, I’ll probably reach for one with a smoother black base and more vanilla flavor. (Of course, I’m horribly spoiled from teas like Golden Orchid!)This is You :-D
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Bio
I’m a writer who drinks tea to survive the creative process. A few years ago, I discovered the joys of loose leaf, and I’ve been hoarding all kinds of tea ever since!
My favorite teas change by the day. I usually drink them unsweetened, without milk. I like white and green teas, but I tend to prefer black and oolong these days. Rooibos can be hit-or-miss, same with herbals. (I mostly avoid blends with hibiscus, as I find it too tart, and I’m not a huge mint fan.) But I love when I find a good herbal that I can enjoy when I don’t want caffeine. I’m actively searching for tasty blends with chamomile in them.
I enjoy both flavored and straight teas. Some of my favorite flavors are vanilla, spice, apple, orange, chocolate, and peach. I’m obsessed with ginger. Seriously. I’ve been known to add extra ginger to teas that already have absurd amounts of spice in them. You’ve been warned. ;)
Location
Arizona
