Sans & Sans

Aroma: A strange concoction that is a predominantly foreign floral, followed by delicate hints of pine and mint.

Flavour: If your impression of Barcelona is a city full of zing, and thus expect the tea to match the lifestyle, then your first taste of No.553 may hold disappointment. However, if you’ve ever visited Barcelona in summer you will know that whilst the city buzzes with enthusiasm, people spend most the day lounging under umbrellas at bars, sat in quiet contemplation out of the sun. Despite being busy it’s also serene and has a calming disposition, aided by light, warm, sweet scented breezes. No.553 recreates this tranquillity almost perfectly, with warm, hazy notes of muted fruits, floral hays, chamomile and a mild cooling pine and mint finish.

Final Thoughts: It’s easy to see this is an inventive blend, that captures the same relaxing essence of the city in tea form, making it perfect for those who want something light and relaxing.

For more visit: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk

Aroma: Bold, somehow creates a bubble-gum waft as the bag of tea is opened. When steeped, jasmine becomes a forceful central scent, hiding just the slightest hint of mint.

Flavour: This tea has everythingggggg. Somehow the combination of ingredients creates a palate that’s floral, herby, mentholating, fruity and grassy, all at once. It shouldn’t work… And yet, somehow, it does.

Final Thoughts: If you love mint and jasmine, Madame Li will be a blend that provides an enjoyable experience that, initially, doesn’t disappoint. It’s different, in an almost exotic way, drawing excitement and intrigue that causes your glands to gush and slaver.

For more visit: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk

Surprisingly pure taste for a tea bag tea!

When I was in Barcelona last week I couldn’t help myself to see which local and national tea-stores I could found. On my last trips, I haven’t been shopping anything else than tea . hehe

I found the tea-store on Argenteria 59, when me and my friend was passing by and I couldn’t resist to go in. After smelling plenty of different teas the girl behind the desk show me De Londres. When I saw the name I got very touched. I have been missing London like crazy during the last weeks, but haven’t found the time to travel back to the city yet. But I wanted a little piece of London at home, even if it was in chocolate tea.

When I smell the dry leaf its a heavy scent of caramel, dark chocolate and honey. It smells kind of bittersweet and the cacao is a dominant after-scent. Sans & Sans recommends the tea drinker to steep it in 95 C for 5 minutes but I think it’s too long. And the cacao bitterness gets so strong and makes the tea barely drinkable. I have been steeping this tea in boiling water for 2 -3 minutes. So if you try this, don’t follow my recommendations. When I drink the tea, the caramel and chocolate favors are rolling on the tongue and the honey makes the tea soft and smooth. Sometimes it reminds me of the Lupica Cookie tea. For someone how likes that one I think this one is worth a try, if you get your hands on it. I like this tea a lot. It’s like drinking a piece of dark chocolate. Yummy.

This is the second time I have made this tea but the first time I have rated. I found this in a fun little what-not store next to the wax museum in Barcelona. It is kind of a gray day on the coast today and this tea does seem like sunshine to me, maybe it can help burn away the gray.

The tea dry and prepared smells like a blend of mint and citrus. I am not sophisticated enough to separate out the orange and the quince flavors/scents from each other. The strong flavors of the tea do hide the green tea base. There is no bitterness or astringency. The first flavor I get in the sip is the mint and then the citrus flavors linger longer on the palate. It does taste like summer to me and is a very enjoyable tea.