Lets face it, you are a delicate princess with expensive tastes. You're not snobbish, oh certainly not! but anything coarse would simply offend your delicate self. You
need the finest clothes made out of soft, thick cotton, edged in beautiful and soft lace. Your hair is brushed 100 times each morning, to make it so soft that it doesn't irritate your fair and ladylike face. You sit at your vanity, laptop perched among fine perfumes and powders, on a velvet stool filled with soft down. You sip, what? Why tea, of course! Out of a beautifully painted porcelain cup, edged in fine gold. But not any kind of tea will do! Only the finest tea can quench your thirst. But where to find such delights in this harsh day and age? No worries! Because Caro-
chan has braved the deep dark
internet to help you in your eternal quest for a tea as refined as you, and nearly as expensive as your dress.
- Chrysanthemum Silver Needle $21.95 for 3 oz. The Chrysanthemum's white petals yield a refreshing and buttery cup with a sweet fragrance, resulting in a blend that dazzles with its savory aroma, rich body and smooth delicate flavor.
- Monkey Picked Oolong Tea $25 for 2oz. This is the ultimate oolong tea. When infused, the unbroken, evenly-sized leaves gracefully unfurl to reveal the most complex Oolong bouquet available. Its legendary name refers to Buddhist monks who trained monkeys to harvest the youngest leaves from the top of the wild tea trees.
- Rose Silver Needle $21.95 for 3 oz. White tea from China's southern Fujian province Silver Needle is only harvested for a couple of days each spring and boasts young tender buds plucked right before opening. Also known as Bai Hao Yin Zhen, our Silver Needle white tea has exquisitely shaped buds enveloped in white down. Scented with pink rose petals, this blend captivates with its savory aroma, rich body and smooth, delicate taste.
- Gyokuro $35 for 3 oz. Green tea from Japan, Gyokuro, also known as "precious jade dew" because of its unique blue-green color and naturally sweet taste, is the highest quality Japanese green tea. Made only with the earliest buds of the first spring flush season, Gyokuro usually grows in the shade for around 20 days before hand-harvested. Due to reduced sunlight, less photosynthesis occurs resulting in increased amounts of amino acids. chlorophyll, and caffeine. This impacts Gyokuro's color, taste and aroma producing a sweet, delicate tea with a soft, mellow body.
- Shincha $32 for 3 oz. Green tea from Japan, Shincha is a type of sencha green tea, picked from the "first flush" spring harvest in Shizuoka, one of Japans highest quality and most sought after teas. Rich in amino acids, catechins and antioxidants, this rare, first flush green tea exhibits a characteristic bright, emerald green color, strong aroma and refined sweetness.
- Queen of Babylon $15 for 2 0z. A whimsical tasting rare white tea blended with immunity boosting pomegranate seeds, sour cherries, sweet carrot bits, apple and pineapple pieces.
- Silver Yin Zhen Pearls White Tea $22 for 2 oz. The world's rarest and most famous tea, Silver Needle, is expertly hand-rolled into delicate downy white tea pearls. When steeped, they gently unfurl to release a sweet, fragrant, mellow brew.
Oh my! But what if you find your purse lacking the sufficient funds to cover your need for dainty teas? Fear not! You need not give up your dainty pursuits of the perfect cup of tea, for there are many teas, in lovely flavors, that even the most frugal of princesses could afford.
- Coco Chia Rooibos $8.95 for 4oz. Coco Chai rooibos tea is a handcrafted, caffeine-free chai tea made from South African rooibos blended with shredded coconut, red peppercorns and aromatic spices including ginger, cinnamon and cardomon. This twist on a classic chai tea will surprise with its intoxicating aroma and spicy but sweet flavor.
- Wild Blossoms & Berries $8.95 for 4oz. Wild Blossoms and Berries herbal tea is a fruity infusion comprised of black currant, lemongrass, hibiscus, chamomile, mint, licorice root, and spices that produce memorable refreshment. A well balanced tart and sweet herbal infusion, Wild Blossoms and Berries herbal tea is a Mighty Leaf favorite iced tea blend.
- Japanese Wild Cherry Green Tea $5 for 2 oz. Sencha green tea flavored with candied cherry pieces and rose petals. This combination produces a tempestously sweet infusion.
- California Fields $8.95 for 4 oz. Chinese black and green tea is blended with California sunflowers, cactus flowers, and rhubarb creating our signature California Fields black tea blend. A lovely fruity tea that is subtly complex. California Fields makes a delicious iced tea with its black and green tea base.
- Earl Grey Creme Black Tea $4.50 for 2oz. A smooth and rich combination of classic Earl Grey black tea and Bergamot oil with a touch of dairy-free creaminess coming from the vanilla pieces and cream flavoring added.
Sucha cute post ^^
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful for living near Portsmouth Tea Company. They have so many blends and conveniently organize their store into black, green, white and fruits types.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite teas: Buckingham Palace Garden Party Tea. Available here: http://www.englishteastore.com/1mt-bpgp.html ^_~
ReplyDeleteI'm A year or two late, but...
DeleteThat's my favorite tea too! Smelling it makes me feel like I'm walking through a butterfly garden ^_^
But Miss Caro-Chan, can you point me in the direction of a honest amn to pur my tea? Heaven knows I can't heat my ever-so-sensitive hands. ;)
ReplyDelete*dies from delight* Mmm... tea! Have you had any of those specific blends?
ReplyDeleteA friend and I were able to have "High Tea in the Library" at Biltmore in early October. I can't remember what tea I ordered, but it turned the water a deep raspberry pink.
Those all sound so good. My current tea is Twinning's Black Current, Vanilla and Ginger. Super cheap, haha, but it's good. Lately I've loved any tea with vanilla in it.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite teas are from Mariage Freres. I remember visiting their store in Paris some time ago. http://www.mariagefreres.com/
ReplyDeleteI'm hosting a fancy tea meet-up at a very elegant restaurant in 2 weeks. I'd love to have some gifts for all the girls. Any suggestions?
I haven't had any of these teas! The expensive ones are a bit too much for me, and the other ones are simply on my list of teas I must have.
ReplyDeleteThat tea sounds awesome! I love teas that are both tasty, and very pretty!
My current tea is Rooibose Rose Garden from Teavana. It's super cheap on sale right now because they're discontinuing it, which is such a shame because it's delicious! Vanilla teas are lovely! I sadly don't have any good vanilla teas at the moment!
ReplyDeleteI've worked in the tea and coffee industry since I was 16 years old, and very rarely have I seen a rip-off as big as Teavana. It is very good, but they prey on novices who don't know they can get the same or better for a fraction of the price (and on snooty people who think they're getting the best because it's expensive).
ReplyDeleteMy personal favorite brand is The Simple Leaf. The owner's father and grandfather are professional tea cuppers in India, and they personally source all their varietals and blends. The only way you can get better quality is to go to South Asia yourself! Plus, they're delightful people.
Also, Numi Tea has some lovely flowering teas that are fairly inexpensive, organic, Fair Trade, etc. I have another favorite company for flowers, but the name escapes me at the moment. Oh dear!
I should've been more clear: Not everyone who likes Teavana falls into those two categories, and ultimately there's nothing wrong with enjoying their product. I've just noticed that a decent number of people who go on and on about how fabulous that company is turn out to have never really tried anything else. It's kind of like being a die-hard AP fangirl not because they're a wonderful brand, but because you had never worn anything by another company.
ReplyDeleteOh wow these teas are so expensive! A lot of the Asian teas you can find in the tea aisle of Asian grocery stores for much cheaper! :D
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Teavana is definitely not the only company who profits off newbies (wow, typing that word takes me back to 1996). Tea's gotten so trendy, it's like wine nowadays! Sadly, I went back to school for a teaching degree and had to leave the tea world behind... Perhaps I should start my own tea-focused, loli-adjacent blog. Thanks for the inspiration! (P.S. You'd be surprised how many parents of high schoolers are freaked out by a student teacher in a petticoat.)
ReplyDeleteTea is totally the new wine XD Congrats on the teaching job, that's very cool. If I had a Lolita teacher when I was in HS I would have loved whatever class that was!
ReplyDeleteI think a tea focused blog would be incredible! If you do ever start up such a blog, be sure to let me know. I'll definitely read it and link it!
Agreed. Though if I had extra money, it'd be a thing I'd like to splurge on. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge fan of sweet, berry teas, but the occasion just insisted on it. They even had chocolate tea (the next to try on my list).
I have had monkey-picked oolong tea XD It is good!!
ReplyDeleteOf course, I had it as a free sample from Teavana, so I did not pay the price... ^^;
You should also try www.uptontea.com
ReplyDeleteShipping is flat rate $4.20
My favorite is Chamillo (http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/item.asp?itemID=BH75)
Also Assam (http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/item.asp?itemID=TA30)
And Moroccan Mint Tea (http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/item.asp?itemID=TE47)