Pipers Chai

Pipers Tea and Coffee
Flavored black tea

Ingredients: Black tea infused with black pepper, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, cardamon, ginger, and vanilla and orange flavor.



Strong on the cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, this chai is practically a Scandinavian magic Christmas dust.

 

It's impossible to steep this tea poorly. With sturdy leaves, its robust black tea backs up the spice, making it drink incredibly smoothly with a round finish.

Chai is well-loved during colder weather for its warmth of flavor, but I think the hottest day of summer is also the perfect time.

Use code ALLTEA10 for 10% off your order at www.cupofpipers.com. 

Pipers 50 Greys

Flavored black tea
Pipers Tea & Coffee 

Ingredients: Black tea, bergamot oil, vanilla, cornflower blossoms.

The dry tea smells heady like a complex perfume. I've impressed a number of coworkers after holding the tea tin up to their faces and giving them no choice but to smell. Wouldn't you like to work with me?



Full cornflower blossoms accentuate the rich colors of the dry tea. The liquor looks lighter than I expected during infusion, so I'm curious to see how it will turn out.



Pipers 50 Greys makes a beautiful red cup. Its softness lends a smooth taste that lingers. Bergamot is strong in the aftertaste, with a touch of tangerine. I really feel the L-theanine calm with invigoration.



This is the refill 100g bag of tea to use in their white corked pots.

I usually drink black tea with milk, but this Pipers 50 Greys is so smooth, I love it on its own. I've been consistently impressed with Pipers.

Road trip to Kentucky, anyone?

Use code ALLTEA10 for 10% off your order at www.cupofpipers.com.

Black Jasmine Cream

Blended black and green tea
Margaret's Fine Imports

Ingredients: Green tea, black tea, and jasmine flowers with jasmine and vanilla flavor.

Earl grey drinkers will love this creamy jasmine tea. It's enhanced with jasmine flavor, so the aroma packs a punch. I avoid flavor-added tea, but I guess I just can't shake it.

The floral taste has some astringency, followed by the sweetness of vanilla. You wouldn't think so from the description, but it works with milk when hot. It's hearty like a black tea, but the touch of green tea accommodates the jasmine. It appears to be a mix of CTC and twisted leaves.

A Margaret's employee recommended trying it iced. I think I will!

Japanese Bancha Kyoto Special Leaf

Gently Stirred
Bancha green tea

Infusion method: ceramic teapot
Leaf: approx. 2 tsp.
Time: 2 & 4 min.
Infusion: light yellow

Bancha is described as unique and straw-like. I agree, but I find it different from the well-known, straw-like puerh. As a green tea, it actually smells more like... *cough* an illegal green leaf that is slowly becoming legal in some areas. It's toasted and smoky.



If anyone thinks it's a drug, it's my cats. I found my male cat licking the wrapping paper obsessively. I snatched up the paper, startled to find that something as innocent as paper can become a bad-cat-mom choice. Then my female cat rolled around in the same spot where the paper was. If you try this tea, use a good tin.



The paper cats can't resist.



Back to the tea. It tastes incredible! A special leaf, indeed. The taste matches the smell. It's refreshing like sencha (the first flush) but satisfying like a roasted or slightly fermented tea.



Give this tea a try, and hold onto your cats.

This tea was provided by Gently Stirred.