Old Town Spice & Tea Merchants

The first few times I tried this I honestly wasn’t too impressed. The woody, earthy cinnamon wasn’t blending spectacularly with the floral, fragrant tieguanyin base. The last few servings were pretty decent though – although, it often hit a more watery horchata note than a thick and creamy rice pudding one. I guess it depends on the rice pudding you’re used to.

I usually shy away from dessert-flavoured puerh blends. I know there are some great blends out there, but the first puerh I ever tasted was a odd fishy dessert concoction that has made me hesitant ever since. Pistachio cream flavoured things trumps my prejudice though; this particular blend turned out to be a great way to combat the hard southern California water too.

My mom, who won’t go near puerh, was lulled into drinking this with a lot of milk. There is a bit of puerh earthy funk that I don’t love, but mostly is tastes like a pistachio-creme filled chocolate thing – so, easy to enjoy and sipdown with the family.

It’s been so long since I’ve had this tea style that I’ve completely forgotten what it tastes like. For some reason, when I initially bought it, it smelled a bit like a puerh (I did buy a flavoured puerh, so possible contamination via plastic bags). Since arriving home that has dissipated to a more familiar Yunnan Black tea profile (ex – hay, honey, earth, etc)

Sipping this one right off the cuff invokes hay barns, timber yards, and cigar parlors – notes of wood, earth, tobacco, leather, malt, tannins, and whisky with orange rind. It tastes like the outdoors and boozy comforts; it would make a fun tea for a camping trip. As it cools down it mellows out enough to reveal a subtly sweet side: stonefruit, raisin, and honey notes.

Steep Count: 2 + a short rinse (3 pearls). The first steep was on the longer side.

The more abrasive notes of first steep become secondary to the honey, raisin, and stonefruit. Add a dash of pepper to the mix. This flavour profile reminds me a bit of a gentler assam – another tea style I haven’t had for ages. As this cup cools, it verges into milky/creamy territory.

A shoot-off of Spice & Tea Merchants, I believe. They are located in Temecula, California and carry teas from a dozen suppliers – including a cultivated selection from aforementioned Spice & Tea Merchants, and Harney & Sons (who else has Paris and Florence?). I recognized a few familiar faces but I bet a lot of Steepsterites would be able to identify more.

It was near the end of my trip and was beginning to feel the absence of Earl Grey in my life so grabbed an ounce of this. It’s not reinventing the wheel but it does the trick. The bergamot is well balanced, while the vanilla notes are almost cake-ish in creamy sweetness. This dessert-like quality went over well with my Earl Grey-loving parents and sister. An easy and pleasant sipdown after I arrived back home too. No complaints!

Drank more of this yesterday afternoon, because I’m trying to sip down all my sample sizes still. This is one of them.
I think that the first time I steeped this I only put one tsp, but this time I put two which is what it says to do on the bag.
It was so much different than I remembered!
There was almost no peach at all (which is really sad for me) because the coconut really took over. And it was super creamy, which I actually kinda liked. It had some kind of faint fruity note in it, but it wasn’t peaches. D:
The creaminess would have been so perfect with peach flavors. And the white tea base would be the perfect base for that kind of tea too. Oh coconut, if only you didn’t take over. D:
Oh well, when I’m in the mood for a coconut tea, this one will be perfect. xD

The Cookie Lady gave me this tea for my birthday package the other day! :D I love peach teas, so of course I have to try this one!
She sent me a decent amount of that tea too. Again, with the generous Steepsters on here!
I didn’t read the steeping directions apparently because now that I look at this bag it says to steep “2 heaping teaspoons”, and I only did one and a half. So, this isn’t a very accurate review.
This cup tastes light, but definitely taste the peaches and cream. It’s a nice light and fruity tea. Can’t wait to try it with the correct steeping amount. I’m sure it will be great! Thank you, The Cookie Lady! So sweet of you to send it this way! (: