CrowKettle Send Message

A while back, on a trip to re-stock my Genmaicha I was given a sample of this tea at the door and ended up buying a small amount of it as well. I was amazed by how smooth it was and I liked the subtle peach flavour and the sweet notes from the calendula flowers. on a cold winter evening it really made me feel warm and fresh. When I steep it myself it’s usually not as fine as that first impression; while the black ceylon is nice it has a tendency to steal the show if not prepared with full attentiveness.

This is one of my favourite rooibos blends, one of my first DT purchases, and a staple part of my collection.

For the longest time I was drinking this chai cold, over-steeped, and with no milk- Don’t ask me why. As a testament to its quality and in spite of my abuse I can still say it tasted “decent”- albeit as a cold, heavily spiced water mixture.

Somewhere along the line I decided to infuse it with steamed milk – and what a revelation that was! Now I look back on my old ways and shudder with embarrassment. I do some cringing too.

With the addition of milk the spiciness and creaminess come to a delicious balance – where neither of which is too weak. All of the spices are prevalent but the peppercorn, coconut, and cloves are the ones that draw me in.

Typically, I’m not a fan of rooibos blends but this one reminds me not to be close-minded. There are some good things out there and sometimes they need milk.

Yuzu is my catnip.. I’m not exaggerating. whenever I get a whiff of it on anything I go a tad crazy. Unsurprisingly, I was very ecstatic to hear of the existence of this tea and that a friend was able to bring me back some.

Taking off the lid, my expectations are fulfilled. Sour and sweet, abrasive, tart Yuzu. I would hold the leaves up under my nose all day except in fear that they would lose their powerful scent. Nevermind me looking insane.

Steeped, the tea tastes like.. yuzu (surprise)! It’s taken down a notch from the smell of the dry leaves but this isn’t a mystery tea- it has one agenda, much to my delight. It’s almost as tart as a grapefruit but it’s sweeter, and yes, there is a slight peppery note. Another great citrus flavoured green for me.

It will be a very sad day when I run out. Luckily, a small serving offers multiple steeps; I’m going to stretch this one out for all it’s worth.

This one always smelled like sour cinnamon to me and I’ve never been able to make up my mind on how I feel about that. Separately, I am both a huge citrus and cinnamon enthusiast but putting them together is a hurdle I had to jump in order to appreciate this tea.

The basic tastes do some impressive acrobatics here: sour-sweet-spice, a hint of sweet-salt, potentially from the calendula flowers, and even a bit of bitter (or more of a bit if you don’t steep it properly)… Wow. Despite all the crazy shenanigans I feel the cinnamon dominates and draws the most attention. There’s a lot happening to distract the unsuspecting casual sipper but the oolong is there underneath it all.

Cleansing and refreshing are two words that often come to mind when I think of Silk Road tea and Earl White doesn’t disappoint. This one gives me that zesty clean feel and it’s no wonder why- it contains lemongrass, citrus peel, and bergamot, among OTHER citrus notes. Despite the slightly bitter and tart front instated by the bergamot there’s a smooth, almost sweet and creamy note (from the white tea leaves?) that comes in, especially as it cools down.

Those who aren’t fans of citrus flavours or of Earl Grey will likely not be impressed with this one. For those who ARE fans of those things and are appreciators of the light complexities of white tea, give this one a shot.

This cherry tea is so smooth! The green tea and cherry are a good match and they subtly blend together to create a clean and tart, vegetative, tree fruit flavour. Someone told me this one reminded him of bubblegum but I’ve never really gotten that impression. It doesn’t have the artificial/mechanical taste that I’ve sometimes experienced with flavoured “candy” teas. The aroma is what attracted me to this tea and is a good indicator to the overall taste.

What can I say hasn’t been said already? Owning this tea gives you the magical power to make Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes all day every day; if you like that beverage this should be an instant, unquestionable buy.

It also smells like the epitome of Fall: Cloves, Cinnamon, Caramel, and the sweet scent of those little pumpkin candies. It’s definitely one of the highlights of the season for me and it tastes great in all of its forms be it straight, with milk, brown sugar, or even.. well, maybe it isn’t the best cooled but it’s still drinkable. For best results brew it longer to get the full range of the flavours.

This was my very first loose leaf tea and I’ve been hooked ever since.

I have off and on days with this tea. I’m admittedly not a huge fan of peppermint or licorice but the creamy, earthy undertones of the smell and taste convinced me to buy a tin. On its’ good days it’s delicately smooth and refreshing; It really opens up the sinuses and clears the throat. When it’s bad it’s plainly overpowering- like a hot, earthy mouthwash. It’s lethal nasty if left to cool (unless you like Greek mints). If you want to subdue the over-daunting peppermint add a bit of milk- it takes on a nice mint hot chocolate flavour.
If you like peppermint and licorice, flavored coffee or hot chocolate, or want a kick when feeling ill this tea does the job. Despite my lack of appreciation for its core flavours I’m definitely refilling my tin.