Thursday, March 20, 2014

Palais Des Thés- Pure Indulgence Cinnamon

To commemorate the first day of spring, I decided to feature the newest teas released by Palais des Thés. The brand has introduced two new teas to the Pure Indulgence line: lavender and cinnamon. I'll start with the lavender, because it is the epitome of springtime in a cup.


This lavender oolong tea is a breath of springtime air. The dry leaves have a strong lavender aroma that immediately relaxed me. I could feel the gentle springtime breeze and see the purple blossoms of Provence. After steeping, the tightly rolled leaves unfurl to reveal their deep green beauty. The lavender aroma is more subtle in the brewed tea along with a mellow vegetal note from the oolong. The tea's lavender flavor and mild vegetal notes are quite calming. It reminds me of being in a fancy spa, which is a 'pure indulgence'. This is a comforting, well balanced tea that would be refreshing iced.



While the lavender tea relaxed me, the cinnamon woke me right up. The dry leaves have a sweet and spicy cinnamon smell. I am so glad the flavors are all natural, since I have tried cinnamon teas in the past that contain artificial flavors. This tea also has the leathery aroma I associate with pu erh, something I have grown to love.

The brewed tea is smooth, and the cinnamon flavor is much more muted than I was expecting, but pleasantly so. The pu erh sings loudly in this brew with woodsy earthy and leathery notes. The cinnamon compliments the pu erh very well to create a smooth and satisfying brew. As with most pu erh teas, giving the leaves a quick rinse with boiling water before the first brew produces a smoother cup. Even though the cinnamon is subtle, the spicy hum lingers for a long time. It reminded me a little of eating Sichuan peppercorns. The only other flavored pu erh I've had recently is the ginger pu erh from Miansai Tea Bar which I also enjoyed. I may seek out other flavored pu erh in the future, to see how they stack up. If you enjoy the unique flavors in pu erh, I'd say this is a good choice to try.

Thank you to Palais Des Thés for providing these two luxurious blends to taste! They definitely enhance the happiness of springtime!

Monday, March 10, 2014

Steep Thoughts: Tea Visualizations


Do you ever notice flavors evoke images in your mind? We all know a nostalgic dish can send us right back to childhood, but what happens when you sip tea? When I focus on flavors in tea, I can picture an entire landscape associated with it. I feel as if I'm transported to a different place, and can hear, see, and taste it.

Sometimes I'll see a sunny field of wildflowers if the tea is bright and floral. I can smell the daffodils and feel the sunshine. Or I'll be walking through crunchy leaves on a fall day if the tea is woodsy and nutty. A smoky campfire crackles in the background.

I'm currently drinking a pu erh which tastes leathery and ever so slightly smoky. I'm travelling on the back of a motorcycle in a wooded area of France with a leather jacket clad rider. I can hear the motor and smell the exhaust. Occasionally we'll pass a small stone house or animal.

For me, the visualizations associated with the tea I'm drinking is part of the meditation. My mind can go somewhere else, away from where I'm sitting.  This transformation will happen anywhere that I'm sipping. Sometimes I just need to clear the thoughts from my mind, but I do enjoy this creative escape.

Have you experienced this transformation? Do certain flavors bring you to specific places?

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Get Festive: NY Coffee & Tea Festival


With the frigid NY weather we've had this winter, I am daydreaming of springtime adventures. A pre-spring event to take note of is the 9th annual NY Coffee & Tea Festival is March 22nd and 23rd. If you are considering taking the trip, I urge you to do so. It's a great opportunity to meet and chat with vendors, and learn a few things. There are free and paid events to check out to further enhance your experience as well. There are always lots of freebies and samples at the event which is an added plus!

If you haven't bought tickets yet, Sunday is still available. If you're new to the event, check out my post from last year to get an idea of the festivities.

We're trying to set up a blogger meet up during the event. If you are going, let us know in the comments!