October’s Tea 2013
Earl Grey tea has been at the heart of Tea Sparrow since we started this club. We have been sent well over 100 different styles of Earl Grey tea throughout the years and to this day only 4 have ever made the grade among our Tea Party enthusiasts. This month, we’re featuring not one, but two of them: Florapharm’s Manhattan Earl Grey and Aromatica’s Organic Earl Grey Vanilla Rooibos. We also started our White Tea challenge back in March of this year and after trying 63 different white teas and white tea blends, we have rounded it down to our members’ 3 favourites. This month, we introduce you to The Tea Spot’s White Wedding Tea. The salty maple syrup toffee taste won the hearts of the whole team and with no hesitation we said, “I do.” Heads’ up: over the next four months, keep an eye out for the other finalists in our White Tea and Earl Grey challenges. Enjoy!
Michael Menashy, Tea Sparrow Family
The Tea Spot’s White Wedding Tea
White Wedding Tea is a celebration of fresh white tea leaves & caramel notes of roasted chestnut. A sweet bouquet & tiny white flowers adorn this full leaf white tea. These Bai Yun tea leaves impart a great body & flavor which lasts over multiple infusions.
Ingredients: White tea, jasmine flowers and roasted chestnut flavoring.
Heath Benefits: Because the white tea leaves are virtually undisturbed from their natural state when they are picked, they maintain a higher amount of antioxidants than their cousins, green and black teas. Some other interesting facts about white tea: it helps promote dental health as well as building a stronger immune system.
Michael Menashy, Tea Sparrow Family – “Wow, it taste like salty maple syrup toffee. Earthy, festive, smooth and sweet.”
Florapharm’s Manhattan Earl Grey
This full rounded Earl Grey has a light and mild taste, perfect for gentle morning wake up.
Ingredients: Black tea, sunflower petals, flavour and mallow blossoms.
Heath Benefits: Most people don’t realize black tea comes with many of the similar health benefits as green tea, including reduced risk of stroke and heart disease, among many others. As well, black tea is said to increase energy, aid in digestive health and to promote healthy skin and hair. Black tea’s tannins are also great immunity-boosters.
Zeta Newis, Tea Sparrow Family – “A new morning favourite for my tea cupboard.”
Aromatica’s Organic Earl Grey Vanilla Rooibos
Organic rooibos with the same fragrant bergamot as regular Earl Grey, but with the addition of rich vanilla to round out the profile.
Ingredients: Rooibos, calendula petals, almond slices, vanilla, and bergamot.
Health Benefits: This incredibly flavoured caffeine-free tea is growing quickly in popularity but did you know that it also contains high amounts of antioxidants? Although the antioxidants found in rooibos tea are different from those in green tea, they are still known to fight off free radicals in the body. Rooibos tea is also known to fight off cardiovascular disease, liver disease and lower blood pressure.
Darcy McMurray, Tea Enthusiast – “Light, slightly sweet, with a wonderful clean flavour. The almond and bergamot blend is fantastic.”
Tiesta Tea’s Nutty Almond Cream
Sweet almond with apple and cinnamon provide a nutty finish to the soothing blend. The unique nuttiness is unobtainable anywhere else.
Ingredients: Apple pieces, crushed almonds, cinnamon pieces, beetroot pieces.
Health Benefits: The phrase “herbal tea” or “tisanes” usually refers to infusions of fruit or herbs made without the tea plant. Regarding their benefits, apart from being the perfect refreshment on hot summer days, they are also packed with vitamin C. So it’s a great way to get your vitamin C without having to eat all the sugars that come with whole fruits.
Zeta Newis, Tea Sparrow Family – “What a pleasure. Waves and waves of Yumminess! Have it for dessert with a touch of honey or with milk as well.”