As a child growing up it was rare to have ice cream. When we did have it, it was usually the basic vanilla or chocolate or neapolitan. The lucky times we’d be at grandma’s and get butter pecan or some other neat flavor.

I remember the first time I had a banana split. It was so good! The ice cream with the fruit managed to pair together two great textures. Add in the hot fudge syrup and you’d think I’d died and gone to heaven.

Frank from 52teas has made some rather splendid blends. From his Champagne Mojito to his Rocky Road, he’s proven there’s almost nothing he can’t do with tea.

Visually this tea is made up of heavily broken black tea leaves. Not quite tea-bag size, but a bit larger. Large chunks of bananas, strawberries, vanilla beans, cherries and cacao nibs are mixed in for a decent visual. Togetehr these brew a dark caramel liquor.

The aroma here is more chocolate and banana than anything else. It actually reminds me of a Nutella banana panini I had at a local coffee shop once (shhh, don’t tell the tea!). I can catch just the faintest hint of either the strawberry or the cherry but I’m not really sure which.

WOW! The astringency here is very high. Not so much a pucker as much as a sting. That’s not always bad though. It depends on how you like your tea. This does bring the flavor down a couple notches for me though as it makes it more difficult for me to discern the more nuanced flavors. I do catch the chocolate through the finish which dries the tongue, and the banana.

Fans of Assam style black teas, extra strong black teas or strong cups of coffee will like this brew. I appreciate its aroma more than its flavor, but the tea certainly has plenty going for it.

Please Support This Advertiser

This tea is visually interesting. The leaves between 1/16 and 1/8 inch long with the blue slivers of cornflower petals blended in is actually quite pretty. This tea brews a nice yellow-orange liquor.

The aroma from the dried leaves is of a smoother variety than that of a typical Earl Grey. It’s almost as if this blend had already been softened with milk and sugar.

Earl Grey de la Creme’s flavor is smooth but strong. You can taste the softness from the vanilla and the sweetness from the cornflower petals. Of, course the bergamot oil is ever present throughout as is custom with any Earl Grey.

Lightly bold and flavorfully striking I recommend this blend from Special Teas for fans of any Earl Grey. The vanilla and cornflower petals really add something to this classic favorite.

Please Support This Advertiser

The aroma for Teatulia’s Black Tea is very light. Too light to really judge whether their “apricot” claim is true. But I dis catch some nuttiness and smokiness in there.

The leaves are roughly 1/8 an inch long, with golden tips throughout. Together they brew a light caramel gold liquor.

This brew comes out clean and smooth. No real astringency, but there is some drying of the palate. You definitely get the nuttiness and the smokiness here in the flavor. The texture is smooth, almost creamy.

I would recommend this tea to fans of Sri Lankan (Ceylon) black teas, such as those from New Vithanakande, and for fans of other Himalayan teas, such as those from Jun Chiyabari in Nepal. Fans of orthodox Assam teas and Autumnal Darjeelings may also find this brew pleasing.

Please Support This Advertiser

It’s pretty odd an idea to put jelly beans in a tea. At least to me. But this blend pulls it off. Blended with what looks like cherry chunks, hibiscus and other fruit pieces, this blend smells mighty sweet and looks very red with an occasional colored jelly bean adding to a vibrant visual mixture.

The liquor brews up a deep vibrant blood red. It’s really quite attractive. Add the fruity scent and you’ve got a nice hot party punch on your hands.

Speaking of fruit punch, that’s exactly what this blend tastes like. Given the relative penchant for fruity teas to sometimes come out sour, this blend really does “punch” well. Though I’m not sure that was the intent here.

Jello Bello does dry the palate a bit, but not a whole lot. If it were any less the dryness wouldn’t be noticeable at all. The sour flavor from the cherries hangs around through the finish while the sweetness fades.

Not overly bold on the palate this tea comes out actually quite soft. I’d recommend it for fans of fruity teas, fruit punch and anyone who likes to try new teas. Othodox tea fans aren’t likely to like this one though, and may not want to give it a go.

Please Support This Advertiser

I’ll admit, it’s taken me a while to review this one. This set hasn’t been produced for over a year. But it’s remained good this entire time with no loss in flavor quality!

The 1/8 inch long curled and twisted leaves are splendid to behold. Brown and black in color some much lighter leaves are mixed in providing for an interesting visual array.

The dry leaves provide an aroma of freshly dried leaves in Autumn, wheat toast and hints at hay. Once brewed the aroma sweetens and a more chocolatey vibrant scent seems to emerge. This tea brews a vibrant caramel liquor.

Jackee Muntz seems to bite a little. There’s certainly an astringent kick in this tea’s taste. A bit of toasted bread with fired notes and a panopoly of lesser notes including a honeyed edge in the finish which is very nice.

I can recommend this tea for fans of Keemuns and other mild black teas including Ceylon style Sri Lankan blacks. More of a green tea drinker? Think of this is a dark Fukamushi style Japanese Sencha.

Please Support This Advertiser