As an amateur tea connoisseur, I have browsed all over the Tri-state area for the best brews. From herbal to more traditional black blends, here are some of my favorites. Even if you live too far away to make it to the teahouse, I found links to similar blends that are available to buy online.
Blueberry Bliss Rooibos Tea by Teavanna
Fruit tea is hard to get right without leaving a slightly sour taste in the mouth. Most blueberry teas I encounter use a hibiscus base, which is made from a flower mild enough to taste the blueberry, but it can leave the bad kind of bitter taste lingering on the tongue. Teavanna manages to enhance the blueberry flavor using rooibos tea, also known as red tea, instead.
The tea is a yellow hue, similar to that of Jasmine. I’m not sure how they got around the natural reddish color of rooibos, but I can certainty taste the sweet, nutty African tea base. Quite possibly the best fruit tea I have ever tasted, Blueberry Bliss Rooibos tea by Teavanna is fantastic either hot or iced.
Windsor Trimate Tea: Coca Tea Mate De Coca at Amazon.com
Coca tea is not for everyone. Coming from the coca leaf plant, it has an earthy flavor and a stimulating effect. I’ve had several imported from Peru, but this Trimate blend was by far the best. The color is darker than other coca teas and it has a bolder flavor but less of the odd herbal flavor known to that type of leaf. Giving a sense of alertness without the jitters, Windsor Trimate Tea is a great substitute for morning coffee.
Vietnamese French Vanilla at Tea & Sympathy in The Village
108 Greenwich Avenue, New York City, New York
If you live in New York City or ever visit the urban wonderland, Tea & Sympathy is a must try for the tea-taster elite. The traditional British food is delightful and the tea, served in fancy golden-laced teapots, is of the highest quality.
There are a lot of French Vanilla morning breakfast black teas available on grocery store shelves. But they cannot compare to this blend. It is very rich black tea, the vanilla is exceptionally flavorful, and with a little cream and sugar you will feel like British Royalty. If you like the natural creamy flavor of Earl Grey but are looking for something a little different, you will love Vietnamese French Vanilla.
And if you live too far away and can’t make it out to the City, here is a French Vanilla & Vietnamese Black blend that buyers on Amazon seem to love.
Rose of the Orient (sencha, gunpowder, pai mu tan, rose buds) at Sally Lunn’s
15 Perry St. Chester, NJ
Three pages long, Sally Lunn’s has the largest tea menu for a teahouse that I have ever seen. Being the tea lover I am, I have gone here several times with big groups of friends, and between us, we have tasted every tea. If I had to recommend one of the list, it would be Rose of the Orient.
A light and sophisticated blend with a Japanese green sencha base, it goes great with any meal at any time of the day. Sweet rose buds and the lightness of the white tea pai mu tan help even out the power of the sencha and gunpowder. This exotic combination of ingredients, though, I can’t find anywhere else. However, if you want to make it yourself, there are tons of free trade wholesalers accessible with a Google search.
Peachberry Jasmine Sutra Green Tea by Teavanna
Teavanna may be a chain, but they do not sacrifice mass-production for quality. I love Jasmine-Green blends and when I saw that they took the flavor for a spin with the complementary taste of peach, I had to try it and was far from disappointed.
A tea enthusiast on Teavanna’s site says, “I think this is a fun and complex tea. When I first opened the package it smells [sic] absolutely divine, notes of jasmine and fruit vying for your attention... Very floral taste, and as juicy as a peach.”
I cannot say it any better. With two of their fruity concoctions making my list, I can tell you that Teavanna knows how to blend their teas. They are a popular brand for a reason and are highly recommend for any tea tasting novice or connoisseur.
Candice Hall - Candice Hall is a freelance writer who enjoys politics, pop-culture, and people that burn, burn, burn like fabulous roman candles.
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