Weeping Angel v.2 Black Tea

Day 7 of the 52teas advent calendar. Maybe it’s because I’ve read so many other people’s notes so my brain is primed, but this does taste like buttery caramel popcorn to me. Especially getting a buttery note and a malty base, and the roasty popcorn note feels light but clearly present. The flavors aren’t as strong in the second steep – there is still a caramel popcorn flavor but the butteriness has faded and astringency from the base has crept in. Overall a very enjoyable cuppa though!

52teas 12 Teas of Christmas – Day 7

“Buttered popcorn!! Did I get it?!”

So close!

I walked away for a few minutes and she already drank the entire mug so…

“It tastes real red. Oh it’s red. Kinda smells like jello.” Wh-wh-whaaat? “Yeah, fruity. I don’t know if it’s got a special flavor but I really like it! I could have it hot or cold, iced tea even! I love it! Is this an herbal or has it got black tea in it? It’s creamy like, kinda like Ambrosia Salad, like jello with whipped cream on it.”

Your nose was so close! It’s caramel popcorn flavored or something.

“I GOT IT?! So that’s the vanilla-y flavor is the caramel and the butter flavor is the popcorn and caramel. But why is it so fruity to me?”

Probably from the black tea.

“I’d say it’s a 10+. I love it. I. Love. It. It’s like drinking your carbs. How could it be bad? I loooove it. taps the mug with the remote, turns mug upside down Look — GONE.”

- - - -

I didn’t think Kiki would like this one, let alone love it. Color me surprised :)

Definitely smells like caramel popcorn to me. Toffee crunch. I could tell blind. Steeped up, it’s a rich tea, malty and woody but I can’t taste those notes distinctly. The buttery toffee popcorn flavor swirls throughout. Smooth and a little slick but doesn’t leave my mouth oily. Given the flavors and base tea, I thought this would’ve felt more warming if that makes sense, but it has a cool earthy dampness in a good way (suppose that’s the salt even though I don’t taste it; reads wet rocks and soil to me). I really enjoy how mild yet pervasive the flavoring is in this tea.

52teas 12 Teas of Christmas 2023 – Day 7

OMG, this got reblended?! Weeping Angels taste like pure nostalgia — viciously bittersweet, and filtered through a set of warm, buttery caramel tinted glasses. It’s a full experience.

The flavour profile here is pretty true to my memories of Frank’s version(s) of this tea (I actually like this version a tad better, if my memory is close to accurate). It’s a pleasantly brisk, tannic, and nippy cup — with lodes of buttery caramel (because something about this tea also reminds me of mining and rocks. Also maybe licking those rocks because apparently I do that without question if prompted by tour guides who think they’re funny). It’s maybe a rougher cousin to Butterbeer (mmm, Anne also perfected that blend).

If salt wasn’t already present I’d be tempted to sprinkle some in so I could really recapture that salt mine experience I had in Poland (That’s where I licked the rock wall. I’m only moderately embarrassed about it now). Salt * Caramel is deliciously perfect.

Weeping Angels was one of my first encounters with 52teas (back when Frank ran it). It, like many other of his blends, was initially tricky for me to work with because the base teas were often bolder and brisker than I was used to at that time. Less (leaf, steep time), is more for both old and new Weeping Angels blends. Letting the cup cool down for 10-15 minutes, really makes the buttery sweet profile pop as well.

Anyways, it’s nice to have this tea in the same year David Tennant returns for Doctor Who specials. I didn’t have any of that on my 2023 bingo sheet, but I’m delighted it happened. Fantastic reblend!

Steep Count: 3

52teas 12 Teas of Christmas 2023 – Day 7

It was about 12 years ago or so when Frank first released his version of the Weeping Angel tea & to be completely honest, my memory of this tea – well, I don’t actually remember this tea very much. I remember the name of the tea & I remember there was quite a bit of excitement surrounding the tea – but I don’t really remember if I actually liked the taste of the tea. So, I think I should go back & check my tasting notes . . .

OK, I apparently really liked this tea. I gave it a 95! And I even used words like “seriously . . . YUM” – so I think I liked it. I also noticed that I wanted to bring out the caramel popcorn notes a bit & added some salt to the brewed cup. Which – makes sense since I did add some flaked sea salt when I blended this tea to help accentuate the popcorn notes. Without realizing it, I was channeling my 11 years ago self when blending this tea (yeah, so I guess it was actually 11 years).

So, one question I’ve been asked by a couple of people: how is this one different than the original blend – necessitating a v.2 on the name of this tea? As I mentioned somewhere – in the comments of someone else’s review of this tea, I didn’t have a recipe from which to refer, so I used the description that Frank had written about this tea when he released it. It said: “It’s a buttered toffee caramel corn flavored black tea”. Since I knew my go-to base of black teas is different from what he used back then, there’s that. I also added some specialty flavored cotton candy (which is made with organic cane sugar & organic flavors) which added to the toffee & caramel corn aspect. Finally, I added flaked sea salt. Those three things I know for sure are different from Frank’s original blend & I think it earns the v.2 with those differences. Also, being 100% honest here, I’ve never once, not once have I watched a Dr. Who episode. I have no source material when it comes to Dr. Who fandom. Sorry. So, I decided to put a v.2 on it – since I feel like I’m at somewhat of a disadvantage since I don’t actually know Dr. Who or what it’s about – I’m just trying my best to replicate a well-loved tea with a Dr. Who reference attached to it via its name.

Other than that, I think that if I were rating this tea, I’d probably give it a 95 too. Is that ego? I don’t know if I’m qualified to answer that. I just know that I really like this tea. I taste toffee caramel corn. I even taste butter. I taste the hint of salt that brings out the caramel corn notes. And I enjoy the black tea base. So, take my words for what they’re worth to you. I think it’s really, super tasty!

52Teas Advent – Day 1

I never tried the original version, and steeped this up without looking at the ingredients first. I definitely get a gentle caramel note on the black base. Super mild and not overwhelming. Now reading that it’s caramel corn- I can taste it, but it’s quite mild.

12 Teas of Christmas: Day 7

I steeped this one up not knowing what the flavor profile was intended to be and found myself puzzling over it! To me it’s mostly like a mild black breakfast tea with faint notes of something sweet and a bit grainy—and now I see it’s meant to be buttered toffee/caramel corn! I still think those flavors are verrry light, which I honestly don’t mind. I wanted something a bit more straightforward this morning anyway.

Adventageddon Day 19 – Tea 3/4

I was also 100% not prepared for the whiplash of nostalgia that I experienced scratching the sticker off this Doctor Who inspired blend in the morning! This is one of the very first teas I ever tried from 52Teas, and it’s especially well timed because for the first time in years I’ve been getting back into the series. In fact, the eagle eyed may have peeped that I watched all three 60th Anniversary specials with different advent teas! Maybe I’ll save myself a cuppa to drink on Christmas Day for the start of the new series!

I couldn’t really remember what flavour this was supposed to be until I opened the pouch, and then that super familiar caramel-like aroma hit me and it was like everything clicked in place. Though it’s mostly a very black tea forward cup (almost Breakfast tea style) I think there’s a pretty clear sweet butterscotch-y note to it as well. Very rich and smooth. I didn’t realize until I read Cameron’s tasting note that it’s actually supposed to be Caramel Popcorn – but in hindsight that makes a ton of sense.

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C1DQq6tu9xP/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anOu0Sb5UR4

52teas 12 Teas of Christmas 2023 – Day 7

So I couldn’t really tell that this was meant to taste like caramel corn. Honestly I didn’t get much flavoring at all in the taste? When I smelled the dry leaf, I guessed maybe hazelnut and something creamy, but that was obviously wrong ha ha.

Steeped up, I mostly taste the black tea? Which tastes like it has at least some Ceylon in it, which is not my favorite. I’m wondering if a shorter steep might do this one some good, I’ll have to try that next time.