Tea Time at Reverie: Sweet Jane Bennet from Bingley’s Teas

December 15, 2015December 15, 2015 / saraletourneau / 3 Comments

It’s our last Tea Time of 2015! Today’s is also an appropriate choice for the holiday season, a black-and-green tea blend named after the kind yet reserved oldest daughter of the Bennet family from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Read more about Sweet Jane Bennet from Bingley’s Teas at A Bibliophile’s Reverie!

A Bibliophile's Reverie

“Oh! You are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general. You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in your life.”
Elizabeth Bennet to Jane Bennet, in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”

No one can deny that Jane Bennet is a sweetheart. The eldest sister of the beloved Bennet family from Pride and Prejudice, she’s kind, soft-spoken, and patient, an optimist who sees the best in people. Maybe it’s no surprise that Jane caught Charles Bingley’s eye – she’s an angel, in both demeanor and physical beauty.

What would an angelic character’s tea taste like, then? If you ask Bingley’s Teas, their answer would most likely be Sweet Jane Bennet from their Jane Austen Tea Series. This blend of black and green tea combines…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Teasenz’s Ali Shan Milky Oolong Tea

November 25, 2015November 25, 2015 / saraletourneau / 2 Comments

Oolongs are wonderfully versatile when it comes to flavor. They can be floral, vegetal, fruity, honeyed – or, in this case, milky. It sounds like a weird combination, but it’s actually not so far-fetched. Find out why in my review of Teasenz’s Ali Shan Milky Oolong at A Bibliophile’s Reverie.

Also, I’ll be “off the grid” for the Thanksgiving holiday. I should be back on social media either Sunday or Monday, and my next blog post will go live on Monday as well. Until then, have a good rest of your week and a Happy Thanksgiving!

A Bibliophile's Reverie

teasenzlogo

Awwww, we’re down to our final Teasenz sample! I’ve really enjoyed trying this Chinese vendor’s selections over the past year. Each has been of superb quality, to the point that I know I’ll be a customer in the future. 😉

So, what have I saved for last from Teasenz? Ali Shan Milky Oolong. (Yes, the name does sound strange if you’ve never heard of it before.) This particular kind of tea is grown only in Taiwan, in the country’s Ali Shan Mountain region. According to Teasenz, the area’s soil conditions and the production methods used for these leaves bring out a unique milk flavor and creaminess. Read on to find out how these qualities manifest once Ali Shan Milky Oolong is brewed.

The Basics

Teasenz Ali Shan Milky Oolong 1 Photo courtesy of Teasenz

Teasenz’s Description:“Intense creamy taste with floral undertone. A one-of-a-kind tea from Taiwan with a fantastically creamy flavor resulting from its unique roasting process. Our Ali Shan…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Golden Tips Tea’s Assam Enigma Black Tea

November 9, 2015November 9, 2015 / saraletourneau / 2 Comments

Today’s tea review at A Bibliophile’s Reverie covers a surprising Assam black tea from Golden Tips. I say “surprising” because although it’s strong and assertive like other black teas from that region of India, its flavor profile is quite unique. Read on to learn more about Assam Enigma.

A Bibliophile's Reverie

Time for another new vendor! Golden Tips Tea was kind enough to send a generous package of samples for future Tea Times. This family business in India sells single-origin, unflavored teas from some of the country’s finest tea regions. Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri, and even the neighboring country of Nepal are represented. I’m excited to finally dive into their offerings, and I hope you are, too!

And with the fall days growing shorter and chillier, it’s the ideal time to break out a new black tea. Assam Enigma catches my eye first from the Golden Tips stash. This blend of summer-picked black tea leaves is said to carry the strong, malty flavors that Assam teas are famous for, with a few surprises. (Plus, doesn’t the word “enigma” in the name entice you into trying it?) So, let’s get brewing.

The Basics

Photo courtesy of Golden Tips Tea

Golden Tips’ Description:“An…

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Tea Time At Reverie: Inspired By Jane’s Pemberley Green & Herbal Tea

October 12, 2015October 12, 2015 / saraletourneau / 1 Comment

It’s tea review time again! And if you’re a fan of herbal tisanes and literary-themed teas, this one might tickle your tastebuds. Head over to A Bibliophile’s Reverie to learn more about Pemberley Green & Herbal Tea from Inspired By Jane – and find out why the timing for this particular review was impeccable from a health perspective.

A Bibliophile's Reverie

“Every disposition of the ground was good; and [Elizabeth] looked on the whole scene – the river, the trees scattered on its banks, and the winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it – with delight.”
– Jane Austen, “Pride and Prejudice”

It’s fall here in the Northern Hemisphere. That means cooling temperatures, leaves falling from the trees, scrumptious dishes featuring apples and pumpkin, and – unfortunately – the dreaded cold virus. I’m just getting over my first cold of the season, and my body’s been craving more tea than usual. Especially herbals. Anything with chamomile, spearmint, or lemongrass is my best friend right now.

Which means it’s the perfect time to introduce you to Inspired By Jane, which offers a line of five teas that pay tribute of the works of Jane Austen. (Yay, more literary-themed teas!) Three of its teas include herbal ingredients, and…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Teasenz’s Love At First Sight Blooming Tea

September 17, 2015September 17, 2015 / saraletourneau / Leave a comment

A number of readers enjoyed learning about blooming tea when I first reviewed it for A Bibliophile’s Reverie. So, how about another one? 😉 Teasenz was kind enough to send two blooming tea samples; and today I offer my thoughts on the second sample, the delicate and refined Love At First Sight Blooming Tea.

A Bibliophile's Reverie

It’s blooming tea time again! Teasenz was generous enough to include two different blooming tea samples for our review. We’ve already covered their delightful Oriental Beauty Blooming Tea here. Today, we turn the spotlight to Love At First Sight Blooming Tea. This bouquet of green tea and flowers sounds similar to Oriental Beauty in terms of ingredients. So, will the infusion also taste similar? Let’s bring out the glass teapot and find out.

The Basics

Teasenz’s Description:“Sweet, smooth and delicate, this famous blooming tea from Fujian Province blossoms into beautiful flowers when infused. After enjoying the tea, preserve the enchanting view of Love at First Sight for up to five days in a glass of cold water. Refresh the water once a day.”

Ingredients: Green tea leaves, globe amaranth, jasmine, marigold, and calendula blossoms

Steeping Instructions: Use 1 blooming tea ball for every 8 oz of…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Miss Elizabeth Black Tea from Bingley’s Teas

August 26, 2015August 26, 2015 / saraletourneau / 4 Comments

Squeezing in a tea review before the month is over. If you’re a fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice or of black teas that lean on the fruity or sweet side, Miss Elizabeth Black Tea from Bingley’s Teas might appeal to your tastebuds. Read more about it now at A Bibliophile’s Reverie!

A Bibliophile's Reverie

“There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and everyday confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense.”
– Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”

Out of all of Jane Austen’s heroines, Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice has resonated most with readers over the years. She’s intelligent, witty, and virtuous, she converses easily with others and never resorts to the (*ahem*) embarrassing behaviors of other women in her family, especially her mother and her youngest sister Lydia. Lizzie, however, is fond of her sharp tongue and her ability to read people. That pride triggers her character arc – and a good deal of Pride and Prejudice

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Tea Time at Reverie: Yezi Tea’s Tie Guan Yin High Grade Oolong Tea

July 28, 2015July 28, 2015 / saraletourneau / 2 Comments

Squeezing in another tea review before the end of the month! I purposely saved Tie Guan Yin as my final sample from Yezi Tea because it’s my favorite kind of oolong. And this High Grade version of Tie Guan Yin did not disappoint! Read my review at A Bibliophile’s Reverie to learn more.

A Bibliophile's Reverie

Today’s tea is one of many names: Iron Goddess Oolong, Iron Bodhisattva, Monkey-Picked Oolong, Tie Kwan Yin (Taiwanese)… They’re all part of the pool known as Tie Guan Yin, which is Chinese for “Iron Goddess of Mercy.” This renowned oolong tea is available at most tea shops and online retailers, including our friends at Yezi Tea, who were kind enough to send us samples. (Justin also wrote about Yezi’s Tie Guan Yin High Grade Oolong Tea here.)

Yezi’s brand of Tie Guan Yin High Grade Oolong hails from the mountains of Anxi County in the southern Fujian province of China. Since the early days of the Qing Dynasty, this tea has been famous for its heavy body and surprisingly sweet flavor. So, how does Tie Guan Yin measure up to other oolongs we’ve tasted for Tea Time? Read on to find out!

The Basics

Photo courtesy…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Sanctuary T’s Serenity Herbal Tea

July 16, 2015July 16, 2015 / saraletourneau / Leave a comment

New tea review is up at A Bibliophile’s Reverie! Today I’m tasting Serenity, an herbal blend from NYC’s Sanctuary T. If you’re a fan of chamomile, lemongrass, or peppermint – or, even better, all three – then consider giving this soothing tisane a try. Also, find out which historical fantasy novel I recommend to go with it!

A Bibliophile's Reverie

Not everyone considers herbal teas to be… well, teas. But whether it’s rooibos, honeybush, or other goodies, you can’t deny that an herbal blend infuses hot water the same way that black, green, oolong, and white teas do. Plus, some of my favorite teas happen to be herbals. 😉

We’ve been happy to include such tisanes in our Tea Times here at A Bibliophile’s Reverie. Today’s is no exception. Serenity is our last sample from Sanctuary T in New York City, and it’s just as heavenly as the description says. Read on to find out more about it!

The Basics

Photo courtesy of Sanctuary T

Sanctuary T’s Description:“M-F getting too hectic and stressful? This tea can’t add more hours to the day, but it will make your day slow down for a moment. With its refreshing, flowery blend of peppermint, lemongrass, jasmine, lavender and chamomile, a cup of Serenity…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Tea From Taiwan’s Zhong Shu Hu Oolong Tea

June 26, 2015June 26, 2015 / saraletourneau / 1 Comment

Another tea review is up at A Bibliophile’s Reverie! This time I try Zhong Shu Hu Oolong from Tea From Taiwan. If you’re a fan of light or milky (Alishan) oolongs, this one might be of interest to you.

A Bibliophile's Reverie

Forgive me if I’ve said it before, but the variety of oolong teas never ceases to amaze me. Vegetal, floral, fruity, roasted – each one has been as unique as a person’s fingerprint. Today we have another oolong offering for you: Zhong Shu Hu Oolong, courtesy of Tea From Taiwan. This particular tea is grown in the Ali Mountain region (Alishan), which is one of Taiwan’s most famous tea-producing regions. Most oolongs from this part of the world are known for their unique “milky” presence in both aroma and taste. However, Tea From Taiwan describes Zhong Shu Hu as sweet and complex. Maybe it’s a little bit of all three qualities? Let’s find out.

The Basics

Photo courtesy of Tea From Taiwan

Tea From Taiwan’s Description:“Zhong Shu Hu oolong tea has a sweet taste and refined aroma. Each brewing brings out new flavours and taste sensations. This…

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Tea Time at Reverie: Elinor’s Heart Black Tea from Bingley’s Teas

June 12, 2015June 12, 2015 / saraletourneau / Leave a comment

English Breakfast fans, here’s a black tea with a literary slant that you might like! Elinor’s Heart from Bingley’s Teas combines bright Ceylon with jammy Kenyan leaves for a well-rounded cup that celebrates the more level-headed and rational Dashwood sister from Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. Learn more about Elinor’s Heart – and why I prefer it steeped on the longer end of its brew range – at A Bibliophile’s Reverie!

A Bibliophile's Reverie

“I have seen a great deal of him, have studied his sentiments and heard his opinion on subjects of literature and taste; and, upon the whole, I venture to pronounce that his mind is well-informed, his enjoyment of books exceedingly great, his imagination lively, his observation just and correct, and his taste delicate and pure.… At present, I know him so well, that I think him really handsome; or, at least, almost so.”
Elinor Dashwood, Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility”

If Marianne Dashwood represents the “sensibility” of Sense and Sensibility, her older sister Elinor would be the “sense.” She’s practical, well-mannered, and rational, making her the perfect – if not only – choice as her mother’s counselor and the Dashwoods’ accountant. Even when Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars, her logic overrules her heart, and she places her responsibilities for her family over her desire for marriage…

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