111 Tasting Notes
This was my other sample from Butiki Teas, and wow… The aroma of this one is intoxicating! Very much a buttery caramel scent, like stepping into a confectionary store just after they’ve dipped the apples in the caramel. The flavor is lovely as well. I can taste caramel as I sip, but I can also taste the apple, which is very crisp and sweet. Like it says on the Butiki Teas website, this tea has a roasted note to it, which makes the overall flavor like a baked apple—and also makes it a great blend for fall, really cozy and warm. The oolong base of this tea matches the other flavors perfectly: smooth and creamy with hints of honey and flowers, but just enough roast to stand up to the caramel apple notes. So good! Now I just wish I had ordered more.
Received a sample of this with my Butiki Teas order. This is a delicious Ceylon blend with creamy notes. I didn’t find it astringent, possibly because I only steeped it for two minutes and thirty seconds (maybe even less). It has a soft creamy flavor that really does remind me of creme brûlée or similar desserts, along with a hint of toastiness (almost like a caramelized sugar crust). The pumpkin is subtle here… I can smell it, but as far as the taste goes I only noticed the pumpkin flavor once I added a little honey to my cup. Even then, it’s still pretty light, just a hint of buttery squash (perhaps because it blended so well with the cream notes). That said, I found this tea to be very smooth and well-balanced. It’s a really sophisticated choice for a fall-inspired blend. The flavors aren’t in-your-face, but they’re delicious all the same. I’m so glad I got to try it!
I’m sad to hear that Butiki Teas is closing, though… I only just discovered the company via the reviews here at Steepster. But I also feel very lucky that I was able to try some of their lovely blends before they sell out.
I was in the mood for a spice tea, so I picked this one out of my cupboard. As far as flavor goes, it’s pretty basic—more of a generic holiday spice tea than gingerbread. (I like to blend it with David’sTEA Gingerbread from last winter for a more distinct dessert flavor.) As for the spices, cinnamon is the dominant note here, followed by ginger. There’s also some citrus flavor (orange peels, according to the label). This is a really dry black tea… I think most people would find it too bitter without milk and/or sugar. I like to drink it plain, but I can be a bit of a masochist when it comes to astringency.
This is a decent tea for spice fanatics. But I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who’s searching for an authentic gingerbread flavor.
I tried this tea while I was on vacation at Disney World (managed to snag a reservation for afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian!). It had a delicious aroma, very fruity with a touch of vanilla. As for the taste, I found it a bit dry for the first cup or two. But the brightness of the Ceylon complimented the fruit notes well, and when I added a little sugar to the third cup, it enhanced the sweetness and improved the flavor. So I’d recommend drinking this tea with sugar, or some other sweetener. Overall, this was a sophisticated black tea that went well with sandwiches and pastries, which made it a great choice for afternoon tea.
