For some reason this tea was calling to me from my tea drawer, so I finally decided to brew a cup of it. I dropped the water temp this time because I remembered to go back and look at my previous tasting note, in which I say it was a little bit bitter.
This time the aroma of the steeped tea is again distinctly vanilla, with rose and other floral notes rounding it out. That lower steep temp took some of the bitterness out, but a little remains as it cools (shorter steep time also next time I guess). Not enough to be too distracting, though, and it’s definitely delicious. It’s that floral vanilla flavor, like really fresh vanilla beans. I suppose because it’s French Vanilla it should be creamier like custard, but all the florals just wipe that away. Don’t get me wrong, the tea is definitely smooth and rich, but in a different way than ice-cream style French Vanilla. Add to that strongly rosey, sweet, floral notes… this tea is definitely not for the (floral) faint at heart. Bumping my previous rating up a bit; if I can get rid of the last remaining twinges of bitterness, this could be amazing.
ETA: I “cool-brewed” this tea like I did with Rosy Earl Grey this morning for about an hour, maybe a bit longer. Even with that short of a cold-brew steep time, it’s really tasty. Very naturally sweet… it almost seems like I sweetened it! Floral and vanilla-y and of course no bitterness. Yum!
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I have a Blueberry White from this vendor that is pretty fabulous. I will have to check this one out, too.
I found it at the Cleveland Botanical Garden of all places! I’m not sure if the blend is just for the garden, but it doesn’t seem to be on their website. I could send you a sample if you’d like!
I can easily go there and look! ;) I have always wondered where they sell their tea. I have a friend who went to one of their local tea parties, and she gifted me with the Bluberry White blend (which I don’t see there now, either!) It is good stuff. I bought another bag and have been hoarding it.
Ok, cool, I didn’t know how close you were to the gardens. :) They only carried three teas there, I think the other two were a green and an herbal.
I have a Blueberry White from this vendor that is pretty fabulous. I will have to check this one out, too.
I found it at the Cleveland Botanical Garden of all places! I’m not sure if the blend is just for the garden, but it doesn’t seem to be on their website. I could send you a sample if you’d like!
I can easily go there and look! ;) I have always wondered where they sell their tea. I have a friend who went to one of their local tea parties, and she gifted me with the Bluberry White blend (which I don’t see there now, either!) It is good stuff. I bought another bag and have been hoarding it.
Ok, cool, I didn’t know how close you were to the gardens. :) They only carried three teas there, I think the other two were a green and an herbal.