Thé au Tibet

Trying this one again today since it’s been a long time since I’ve had it and I just tried a similar Thé des Moines by Le Palais des Thés. I think the main difference here is the addition of rose petals to this one, which I am certain that the LPdT blend does not have. I steeped this one the same way as the LPdT blend, which happens to be the recommended time and temp for this tea as well even though it’s a little hotter than I would normally brew a black/green blend.

Oh vanilla and jasmine, you are so not a combo that is good to me, and it’s not getting any better. It just smells… weird and unpleasant to me. I can’t place it. However! The flavor on this one is pretty nice, at least when it’s hot. It surprised me! There is a hint of sweetness, even, and the vanilla and jasmine tend to spend their time apart more, though there is some of that weirdness I dislike. But then, it’s cooling, and… bleh. Very similar to the LPdT blend. Better because it still seems smoother, but very very similar, and thus not my style.

The description of this says “very refined”. Yep. It is. It is also remarkably easy and comforting. I keep forgetting about this, it´s one of the cinderellas of my tea collection, and it is so unfair.

Just brewed a cup, and oh my it was so lovely. And because the small cup was just not enough, I did not resist trying the rest of the pot, which had been steeping for 10 minutes or more. And it was still good which is something rather miraculous. For all the chic and elegance of this tea, it´s also so forgiving and right for just about all occasions.

It might spoil me for all other earl greys. And it just might destroy my relationship with Lady Grey.

I received a sample of this tea from Cteresa – thanks again ;-) – and liked it so much that I recently bought Histoire Tibetaine from THE O DOR as it resembles this tea ingredient wise.

These teas are similar in some respects but certainly not the same.

Starting with the basis: both teas contain vanilla, bergamot and jasmine. The HT adds marigold and uses a base of black and green tea. The TT adds mandarin orange and rose and uses a base of black tea.

Although the vanilla and jasmine are very recognizable in both teas, they vere into entirely different directions taste wise.

In the HT the vanilla is really in the forefront, both scent and tastewise. De jasmine prevents the brew becoming too sweet. The bergamot and marigold aren’t really recognizable, at least not to me (actually I don’t even know what marigold smells and tastes like). The tea is warm, sweet and comforting in character. The floral notes remain in the background.

In the TT on the other hand the floral notes – and especially the rose – are at the forefront. Together with the black tea base this makes for an edgier tea with a slight smokey feeling. The vanilla is cetainly present but seems to be in a supporting role rather than a leading one. As the tea cools the vanilla becomes more noticeable btw.

It’s really great to see how two teas with for a great part the same ingredients can be so different in character. They actually aren’t comparable at all :-)

I like both teas. For the TT that’s something, as I actually don’t like rose in my tea and usually try to avoid rose scented teas. The HT is more of a ‘happy feeling’ tea as the TT is more elegant and sophisticated. Being a sweet tooth I’d probably choose the HT over the TT most times, but I can imagine that being different for others.

Prep details: HT 80 C/ 4:30 min & TT 95 C/ 4:30 min

Rating is for TT only. This review has been posted under HT too and give it’s rating there

I think this must be a blend of Chinese blacks and greens, despite the description. An utterly delicious and delightful blend! It tastes like magic. It’s totally different from Rosy Earl Grey, but it has that black/green/floral synergy going on. It also has the addition of a creamy vanilla flavor which just knocks my socks off!

You know I’m no fan of green tea, but like in Rosy, it really WORKS in this blend. It provides a delicateness that makes the fruits and florals, and yes even that touch of vanilla, shine! I wouldn’t want this one any other way.

Thank you so much Dinosara! This is fantastic and so different from my every day fare. I am really enjoying it.

THANKS to DINOSARA for this sample…eh..um…huge bag! I’ll be enjoying this tea all winter thanks to you! I really like this one. I’m not a huge fan on straight Earl Grey but love Earl Grey Creme.
I’m going to try steeping this at different temps and times and iced also to see if I can acquire additional flavor.
This first time I did 2 tsp for 16oz, 3 min steep at 208 degrees. I totally tasted the vanilla and bergamot. I did not get any jasmine or orange and I love my jasmine! So overall this is an excellent tea just based on flavor. If you’re wanting jasmine and rose to come through they didn’t for me at this steep. If I don’t get more on other steeps I might try adding a jasmine pearl or two.
I would definitely buy this tea.

Day #4 of 24 and tea of the afternoon……

This tea comes to me from Dinosara and her round the world travels. Thank you! I really like this. It is a fruity/floral version of Earl Grey with a light hint of vanilla. The tea base does look a bit more like a Darjeeling than a Chinese black tea. It kind of reminds me of Viennese Earl Grey from Harney & Son’s, but with a lot more flavors going on. It amazes me that even with all those flavors, they seamlessly complement the tea base. If I ever do order from Mariage Freres, this will be on my list. Very relaxing and enjoyable.

15 oz mug, 2 tsp tea, 209 water, 4 minutes. Very lightly sweetened.

This is just such a perfect morning tea, especially on cold foggy mornings. It’s milder than other earl greys, which makes me like it more. I could especially taste the vanilla this morning.

I just ordered this untasted from Mariage Freres and it is everything I hoped it would be from the description, which isn’t always the case. It is masterfully blended so that no note stands out to me from the rest, instead it has its own unique quality, which is something I love in perfume as well.

Another tea that comes from Lisbon , from a with cteresa … Teresa Obrigada ! yes, I know I could find Tea Tibet here but I did not want to buy it and this is really a good way to taste before you buy a tea that you might not like at all.

It is a blend that is unremarkable at first , dark black and green twigs ,shot cut. It smells Jasmine and Jasmine and a touch of rose.

I decide to brew it 4 minutes no more.

I get a very dark liquor , more than I would have thought given to the colour of the leaves that are very green once infused .

I start to taste it : it’s pretty amazing. So here I remain quite quiet … cannot tell if I like it or not . Very strange . It is relatively floral : Jasmine is the star. The rose softens the entire body of the cup. We can also clearly detect citrus . bergamot . and ? So I jump on the MF site and I read that it is supposed to contain as well mandarin . I ’m not sure to get it.

I am at the end of my mug … and if I drink this tea without displeasure I cannot say that I am excited . Probably too floral for me. Yet I like some very good jasmine teas . But there, blah . I understand that one can appreciate it but it is really not a cup for me.

Here are some pics : http://thevangeliste.wordpress.com/2014/11/16/the-au-tibet-mariage-freres/

A sample from Cteresa. I’ve had relative success with a few orange/jasmine/vanilla blends recently, so I pulled this one out to try with interest. I gave 1 tsp of leaf 4 minutes in boiling water, and added a splash of milk. It smells beautiful — sweetly cirtussy, just like an actual mandarin, with a light floral edge.

To taste, it’s everything I’d hoped. The orange is sweetish, but with a slightly zesty edge, and the vanilla and jasmine combine into a creamy light floral, which complements the citrus flavour beautifully. The base is smooth and delicate, with no bitterness or astringency at all, and it doesn’t detract in the slightest from the flavouring. I do appreciate how well balanced many MF teas are; the more I drink, the more that stands out to me. Thy’re the quiet, unassuming geniuses of my tea cupboard. Their flavouring might not be loud and brashy, but it’s certainly subtly awesome.

This is one I’d definitely add to my cupboard if the opportunity arose. My favourite orange jasmine tea prior to trying this one was Mighty Leaf’s Orange Dulce, but I think it might just have lost its crown! Thanks so much to Cteresa for sharing this one with me.