flavored teas

Tea Time at Reverie: Plum Deluxe’s Reading Nook Black Tea Blend

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Here’s my second-to-last Tea Time for A Bibliophile’s Reverie. (This is starting to get a little sad, thinking about the end.) And this first sample from Plum Deluxe out of Oregon (United States) caught my eye the moment that the vendor contacted me about reviewing some of his teas – and it wasn’t just the name. Read on to find out why I enjoyed Reading Nook Black Tea Blend so much. 🙂

A Bibliophile's Reverie

plumdeluxe_logo_straptea

Our next two Tea Time samples come from Plum Deluxe. Since 2008, this Oregon-based tea vendor has been exploring all aspects of the phrase “Making Moments Matter.” From handcrafted organic tea blends and a Tea of the Month Club, to recipes and meditations and other gifts, Plum Deluxe is committed to reminding its customers to be well, mindful, and positive. I can’t say I’ve met another tea company with such an inspiring mission – not to mention the teas in their online shop look delectable!

And what better way to introduce you to Plum Deluxe than with a bookish tea? 😉 Reading Nook blends a cream-flavored black tea with floral accents to create a soothing, stimulating, and truly unique brew. One look at the picture and description, and I knew I needed to review this beauty!

The Basics

Photo courtesy of Plum Deluxe Photo courtesy of Plum Deluxe

Plux Deluxe’s Description:“One needs a…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Tea Maineia’s Peach Apricot Black Tea

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Just in time for the warmer weather, here’s a deliciously fruity black tea that’s wonderful either hot or iced. Check out my review of Tea Maineia’s Peach Apricot Black Tea (and the book pairings I recommend for it) at A Bibliophile’s Reverie!

A Bibliophile's Reverie

Tea Maineia logo

Sometimes the best advice for choosing tea is, “Follow your nose.” In other words, if you like the way a tea smells, you’ll most likely enjoy its taste, too. That principle was a big reason – no, THE big reason – why I bought a packet of Peach Apricot Black Tea from Tea Maineia during my visit last fall. I’ve had several cups of this fruit-packed black tea since then, and I’m thrilled to say… well, you’ll have to read on to find that out.

The Basics

Tea Maineia Peach Apricot Photo courtesy of Tea Maineia

Tea Maineia’s Description:“A tasty combination of mellow peaches and deep full flavored apricots are blended into this classic Ceylon tea.”

Ingredients: Ceylon black tea, papaya pieces, peach pieces, apricot pieces, blackberry leaves, sunflower petals, calendula petals, and natural flavors

Steeping Instructions: Use 1½ teaspoons of tea for every 8 oz of water. Heat water to nearly…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Whispering Pines Tea Company’s Mirkwood Tea

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Time for another Middle-Earth inspired tea from Whispering Pines! And I already know a few readers who might be interested in this one based on the name alone. 😉 Read on to learn more about Mirkwood, a unique pu-erh blend, at A Bibliophile’s Reverie.

A Bibliophile's Reverie

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“But [the company] had to go on and on, long after they were sick for the sight of the sun and of the sky, and longed for the feel of wind on their faces. There was no movement of air down under the forest-roof, and it was everlastingly still and dark and stuffy. [… Bilbo] felt that he was being slowly suffocated.”
J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”

Today’s Tea Time brings us to one of Middle-Earth’s creepiest realms. Home of the wizard Radagast The Brown and the Woodland Elves, Mirkwood was once known as Greenwood the Great – until it fell under the Necromancer’s shadow. So, when Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakenshield’s Dwarf company arrive at Mirkwood during The Hobbit, the once lush and thriving forest is crawling with giant spiders and decaying from dark magic.

Despite its ambiance, Mirkwood has enchanted readers for generations. Now, thanks to Whispering Pines Tea…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Inspired By Jane’s Donwell Abbey Black Tea

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What happens when you combine black tea with a wine often used in Italian cooking? You get Inspired By Jane’s Donwell Abbey, a black tea with cinnamon and marsala wine. It’s not a combination you see much from your typical tea vendor – and as I discovered, it was actually quite delicious. Read my review of Donwell Abbey at A Bibliophile’s Reverie to learn more.

And yes, Donwell Abbey is another tea inspired by one of Jane Austen’s novels. 😉

A Bibliophile's Reverie

Inspired By Jane logo

“It was a sweet view—sweet to the eye and the mind. English verdure, English culture, English comfort, seen under a sun bright, without being oppressive.”
– Jane Austen, “Emma”

I confess that Emma is one of the few Jane Austen novels I haven’t read. But when Inspired By Jane asked which tea samples I’d like to try, I was immediately intrigued by Donwell Abbey. Named after the the estate owned by Emma’s neighbor (and future love interest) George Knightley, this black tea boasts a unusual yet appealing combination of cinnamon and marsala wine flavors.

Hmmmmm. I do like the sweet, tangy taste of marsala wine sauces in chicken marsala and chicken saltimbocca. So, how will it blend with cinnamon and black tea? Let’s brew some and find out, shall we?

The Basics

Donwell Abbey canInspired By Jane’s Description:“Almost a ‘gentleman’s tea,’ but everyone will love this rich, full-bodied black tea…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Whispering Pines Tea Company’s Rivendell Tea

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I think I know a number of readers who will leap at learning more about this tea! And in my opinion, this unique and delicious oolong blend was a stunning reflection of its namesake. Head on over to A Bibliophile’s Reverie now to read my review of Whispering Pine Tea Company’s Rivendell Tea!

A Bibliophile's Reverie

Whispering Pines logo

“Shadows had fallen in the valley below, but there was still a light on the faces of the mountains far above. The air was warm. The sound of running and falling water was loud, and the evening was filled with a faint scent of trees and flowers, as if summer still lingered in Elrond’s gardens.”
J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”

Oh, have I been itching to introduce our fellow bibliophiles to Whispering Pines Tea Company! This Michigan-based vendor specializing in loose-leaf teas, herbal tisanes, and handcrafted tea blends. Many of Whispering Pines’ offerings are inspired by the wilderness of northern Michigan. A select few, however, are influenced by literature, including three coming from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth.

Which brings me to our first Whispering Pines tea for review. In Middle-Earth, Rivendell is the stunningly beautiful home of Lord Elrond and other Elves, and a…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Sanctuary T’s Geisha Beauty

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Sanctuary T’s Geisha Beauty promises a burst of peach against a backdrop of black and green teas. Do the aroma and the flavor profile live up to this promise? Find out at my newest tea review at A Bibliophile’s Reverie.

A Bibliophile's Reverie

Sanctuary T logo

After falling in love with fruity black/green tea blends last year, I’ve been on the lookout for similar teas that combine different types of leaves with a floral or fruity pizzazz. Our previous Sanctuary T sample, Spring Harvest, was a lovely example of green and white teas married with tropical flavors. Now it’s time for another choice from Sanctuary T: Geisha Beauty, a best-selling blend of black and green teas with a dash of peach flavoring. Just how peachy is this infusion? Keep reading to find out.

The Basics

Geisha_Beauty_Loose Photo courtesy of Sanctuary T

Sanctuary T’s Description:“Geishas have traditionally been associated with beauty, subtlety, and sophistication, and those three ingredients are the inspiration behind this refined blend. We’ve combined black tea, green tea, sunflower leaves, rose petals, and other natural flavors to create a rich tea with strong undertones of peach. Try it iced or paired with…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Sanctuary T’s Spring Harvest Green Tea

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Are you as weary of winter as I am? Then here’s a fruity green/white tea blend that will remind you of spring! Aptly called Spring Harvest, this bouquet from Sanctuary T combines Japanese sencha with delicate white tea and tropical fruits for a crisp, sweet cup that blooms like the first flowers of April. Read my complete review of Sanctuary T’s Spring Harvest – and find out which books I paired with it – at A Bibliophile’s Reverie!

A Bibliophile's Reverie

I’ve had enough of winter. It’s only the first week of February, but after a January full of bitter cold and slushy roads – and then being buried under 3+ feet of snow within the past 2 weeks – I’m already counting down to spring. If I just close my eyes, I can already feel warmer temperatures, see new leaves on the trees, and smell the fresh flowers and the sweet dampness of earth after a rainstorm. Of course, that’s all in my imagination.

Sanctuary T logoChasing away the winter blues was my priority for this Tea Time. Luckily, Sanctuary T has a remedy in the form of tea: Spring Harvest, a blend of green and white teas with passionfruit flavoring. Turns out it was a rather delectable choice!

The Basics

Sanctuary T Spring Harvest loose Photo courtesy of Sanctuary T

Sanctuary T’s Description:“It may be raining outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t relax like…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Marianne’s Wild Abandon from Bingley’s Teas

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Completely forgot that I could actually reblog my tea reviews from A Bibliophile’s Reverie! So, going forward, I’ll share future Tea Time At Reverie articles here for your convenience. This one was posted about a week ago, and features a delectable black-green tea blend inspired by one of Jane Austen’s characters from “Sense and Sensibility.” Here’s Marianne’s Wild Abandon from Bingley’s Teas!

A Bibliophile's Reverie

We’ve been fortunate to receive samples from a number of teasellers since Tea Time At Reverie debuted in June. While we offer equal amounts of gratitude and enthusiasm to each vendor, we’re super-excited that some of our future reviews will cover select teas from Bingley’s Tea’s Jane Austen Tea Series! What better way to connect Tea Time to A Bibliophile’s Reverie’s main purpose as a book review and literary discussion blog than to talk about teas inspired by Jane Austen’s novels?

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Our first Bingley’s Tea review is based on one of Austen’s most memorable leading ladies. Marianne Dashwood, the middle sister of the Dashwood family, embodies the “sensibility” of Sense and Sensibility. She’s spirited, spontaneous, and hopelessly romantic. A tea named after Marianne would have to reflect her dramatic character. Enter Marianne’s Wild Abandon, a black-and-green tea blend that captures the personality and – of course! – sensibility of…

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