Indian Spice

This morning I am drinking Indian Spice, a flavored black tea. When I need a strong drink I reach for Indian Spice - it is both striking and soothing.

Composition: Indian (pellet tea) blended with cardamom seeds, cinnamon and cardamom flavor

Visual: Dark brown with hints of red pellets. Dry mix resembles coffee grounds.
Dry Aroma: Very pungent robust scent - this tea has a spicy yet soapy (cardamom) smell
Flavor: Full bodied and slightly bitter - probably attributed to the cardamon. I prefer to drink with honey and milk or cream. However, depending on my mood, I may drink without milk/cream.
Liquor: Dark brown
Brewing Time: 5 minutes - I love a strong cup of tea.
Manufacturer: Harney & Sons Fine Teas
Caffeine: Yes

Special Note: When brewed with milk this delicious tea is known as the popular Chai Tea.

What is cardamom?

Cardamom is the dried, unripened fruit of the perennial Elettaria cardamomum. Enclosed in the fruit pods are tiny, brown, aromatic seeds which are slightly pungent to taste. Cardamom pods are generally green but are also available in bleached white pod form. It is available both in the whole pod and as decorticated seeds with the outer hull removed.

The next time you are looking for a new tea try Indian Spice, then return to Tea Escapade and comment about your experience. Until then...Happy Tea Drinking!

Reference: McCormick Spice Encyclopedia located at http://www.mccormick.com/content.cfm?id=8214

Seven Sons Congratulating

Recently, my family and I drank Seven Sons Congratulating for the first time. This tea is one of the four "Art Teas" sold by Harney and Son Fine Teas. Of course, I had to purchase a special clear glass tea pot for the occasion. Not being able to watch the tea "bloom" would have spoiled the fun. The tasting would not have been complete without a review.

Composition: Green and White Tea buds
Dry Visual: Looks like a flower bulb planted in one's flower bed
Dry Aroma: Very little smell
Flavor: I was pleasantly surprised by how flavorful this tea was. My first love leans towards a stronger tea so I typically do not drink green tea. Seven Sons Congratulating has changed my mind.

Liquor: Yellow with a slightly pink hue

Brewing Time: Typically 3 to 5 minutes. However, to obtain the full effect of the Art Tea, the bulb remains in the clear glass teapot thus causing the tea to increase in strength.
Manufacturer: Harney & Sons Fine Teas
Caffeine: Yes

Special Note:

The green and white tea buds are pressed into a bulb with a red flower. When placed into hot water, the bulb blossoms revealing the red flower surrounded by a white crown. One bulb brews two to three cups of tea.

If there are any other Seven Sons Congratulating drinkers out there I'd love to hear from you. Until then...happy tea drinking!

Reference: Harney and Sons website - http://harney.com

Winter White Earl Grey

Today I am drinking... Winter White Earl Grey, which for the past two years has been my favorite hot tea beverage.

Composition: Mutan white tea with bergamot

Visual: A mixture of light and dark green leaves this loose tea comes packaged in silk triangular shaped sachets.

Dry Aroma: Very Pungent - currently undescribable

Flavor: Full bodied and slightly bitter - probably attributed to the bergamot as I am reminded of a lemon/orange rind. I prefer to drink with sweetener - sugar, sugar in the raw or honey

Liquor: Dark yellow to light brown

Brewing Time: 3-8 minutes - I opt for 8 minutes because I love a strong cup of tea.

Manufacturer: Harney & Sons Fine Teas

Caffeine: Yes

Special Note: One tea bag brews two cups of tea

What is Bergamot? (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Main Entry: ber·ga·mot
Function: noun
Etymology: French bergamote, from Italian bergamotta, modification of Turkish bey armudu, literally, the bey's pear
Date: 1650
a pear-shaped orange of a Mediterranean tree (Citrus aurantium bergamia) having a rind that yields an essential oil used especially in perfumery