Nutty Love

It is interesting to watch “cold” weather and rain grind my city (Long Beach California) to a halt, especially since I’m from Vancouver Canada, which is technically a rainforest and rains all the time. Yesterday’s busy plans got all messed up as one event I went to barely anyone attended due to rain. Another thing cancelled as it was raining and outdoors. Then other plans cancelled. Here’s to today being better, it’s “cold” 14c (LOL) but not raining at least.

Nutty love for breakfast with an english muffin sandwich! Mmmm, love this tea, it came out caramelly nice and nutty today. Yum, a great start to a “cold” day! See previous notes or my blog post for a full review http://oolongowl.com/nutty-love-black-tea-steep-city-teas-oolong-owl-tea-review/

And just like that, my cupboard is back up to 195. A swap, some samples from Steep City, and there are more swaps on the way. Now it becomes how fast can I sip things down before the rest come so I can stay under 200.

The good reviews for Steep City’s teas, along with their unique blends, made me really curious about trying them out, but not quite enough to put in an order (I am trying to cut back, after all). But then David at Steep City offered a few free samples deep within a discussion thread, and I jumped on it. I was disappointed that they couldn’t ship any white tea samples (the packaging would apparently crush the tea) because I really wanted to try Coconut Grove, but I am pleased to get the samples that I did, this being one of them!

I like the look of these tea leaves, which are fairly long and wirely. No chopped up base here. The dry leaf smelled delicious, like candied almonds with a hint of floral rose. Steeped, it still smells mouth-wateringly like candied nuts, and I can totally see the baklava resemblance that Alphakitty noted. There is a sweetness here from the apple pieces, but they manage to not make the tea taste appley or fruity at all. No it’s just nutty, honeyed, pastry, and the barest hint of floral rose. Normally I might want more rose, but all these flavors blend so well together, this time I don’t. I can’t definitively make out any notes that are just coming from the base tea, but it works so well and is so integrated I am sure that it is adding to these pastry-like flavors. It’s full and rich and not just a boring background note, even if it isn’t completely distinct on its own. Impressive first showing from this company.

I am having a tea-obsessed day. I just made 4 different cups at the same time: two hot (one for me, one for the boy), started a quick cold brew, and did a hot gaiwan steep that I stuck in the fridge to drink cold later. Just one of those tea days! But with gross almost-snow-not-quite-rain weather it’s the perfect time for tea.

I have been wanting a baklava tea from the moment I really got into loose leaf. Honey, rose, nuts, bakey goodness. Mmm! In fact, I’ve been saving up to get a custom blend of it. Now… well, let’s just say this tea has fulfilled my needs even though nowhere does it say it’s a baklava blend. I got a very generous sample (if it’s over an ounce can you even call it a sample?!) of this in my second Steep City order and it was love and first sniff, but I’ve been waiting for the right time to try it. Tonight’s the night!

This tea is just… uhnf. Honey, soft floral notes from the rose, a deep nuttiness from the walnut and almond, a strong black base that adds delicious bakey noes. Of course I added honey just to make it extra pastry-like, but that signature flavor was there even before. I am in love with this tea! Another winner from Steep City, I am already planning my 3rd order…

EDIT: Second steep with rock sugar and a tiny splash of cream is divine! A lot more flavor than I was expecting.

Finished off my sample of this from a long time ago. I think I enjoyed it more the first time, but my tastebuds have changed a lot since then. Now it’s a little too maple syrupy, but I still enjoyed it. On to the next sample…

thanks so much Steep City, for sending me some delicious samples! I especially wanted to try this one. I love nutty teas. This is deep dark black tea leaves mixed with some walnuts, almonds and rose petals. After a four minute steep, the flavors here blend so well together! The black tea is syrupy, malty, molasses-like. I kind of wish the base wasn’t as good so I could detect more of the nutty flavor… as I wouldn’t mind a ton of that. I’m always on the look out for more walnut or almond teas. The pretty rose petals add a nice hint of flavor, also. The syrupy flavor might be coming from the apple. It’s really a unique blend that works excellently. The second cup is more of the nice black tea, but I just wish more of the elements of the blend would shine. How did I not know of Steep City before? Unless they are a new company? I can’t wait to try their other blends.

Thanks AlphaKitty for a sample of this! Definitely nutty sweet and pretty tasty. However, I am reminded of why, for a long time, I thought I did not like black teas. Love the flavor. Not sure I like the combo of black tea with this flavor. Not sure I’d like the black tea base at all unflavored. I guess I’m more sensitive to black tea quality? In any case, love the caramel flavor and hint of rose. Nicely done.

Finishing off my sample of this. This tea is SUPER nutty. I’m getting a lot of walnut this time. Just read my previous note and taste the port I noted then. I added a little sugar, but it doesn’t seem to improve it. I keep trying to add cream and sugar to my teas, but it doesn’t make them better the way it used to. My taste buds must be morphing on me. Mutiny!