Tea Time in January 2024 Box

This month's selection of teas and pastries is a carefully chosen exploration of tastes, all designed to delight your senses.

Welcome to this month's Origins box, where the rich, deep flavors of Minto Island Black Tea meets the unique taste sensations of White Peach Oolong OREO and Banana Chocolate Pocky, crafting a delightful journey of tea and pastry indulgence

Fruity or Floral box, where we delightfully blend the essence of nature's bounty. Each sip of our Organic Blackberry Tea, paired with our artisan Cranberry Almond Crisps and Blueberry Lemon Oat Bars, promises a variety of exquisite flavors and textures.

In this Explorer Tea section, the exquisite blend takes you on a sensory expedition, offering an invigorating fusion of America's wilderness in every sip. Its distinct aroma and taste promise an unforgettable experience.

Every tea and pastry in this box offer a harmonious blend of traditional flavors and delightful tastes, ensuring an enchanting escape with each serving.

Follow our My Tea Time blog series for an immersive exploration of your monthly tea experiences. Without further ado, let's start our January tea experience! 

Origins

Get to know your Origins Tea!

Minto Island Black Tea, a cherished offering from Minto Island Growers, represents the pinnacle of artisanal tea crafting in Salem, Oregon. This exquisite blend, born from the lush landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, is lovingly nurtured by Elizabeth and her team. It exemplifies not only the richness of its origin but also the culmination of decades of dedicated and sustainable farming. Each cup invites you to experience the deep, resonant flavors that are a hallmark of their expertise.

Tea Name: Minto Island Black Tea

Teamaker: Minto Island Growers

Origin: Salem, Oregon, USA

Elevation: Nestled in the rich, fertile valleys of Oregon.

Cultivation: This tea is a product of sustainable farming practices, ensuring environmental harmony.

Harvest Date: Spring 2023

Caffeine Content: High

Brewing Instructions: To fully appreciate the depth of flavors, we recommend using 1 tablespoon of tea leaves per 8 oz (about 240 ml) of water. Brew for 180 seconds, adding an extra 60 seconds for a second infusion. The ideal water temperature is 212°F (100°C). This tea allows up to 2 infusions, offering a chance to savor its evolving taste.

Tea Aroma and Taste

Minto Island Black Tea offers a variety of flavors that will delight the connoisseur's palate. With a balanced composition featuring fewer buds and more leaf pieces, it provides a perfect harmony of taste

Appearance: A harmonious blend of carefully selected leaves, offering a visual feast of quality and care.

Smell: Milk chocolate, banana bread, and the sweet whiff of Medjool dates.

Taste: Each sip unfolds layers of flavor, starting with a rich, chocolatey note, transitioning into the sweetness of banana bread, and finishing with the luxurious taste of Medjool dates.

About the farm and Farmers!

Minto Island Growers have been pioneers in tea cultivation for over three decades. Elizabeth, the passionate owner, dedicates her expertise to nurturing the 30-year-old Mother tea plot, sharing her knowledge and the farm's history with visitors. Kacie and Gavin, their expert production duo, delve into the intricacies of tea processing and the nuances of the Spring flush. This trio, with their diverse skills and shared dedication, has transformed Minto Island Growers into a sanctuary for authentic tea cultivation, weaving their personal stories into the very essence of each tea leaf they nurture.

Pastry Pairings

Pair your Minto Island Black Tea with the exquisite White Peach Oolong OREO for a delightful fusion of East and West flavors. The creamy, peach-infused filling beautifully complements the tea's deep, chocolatey notes, while Banana Chocolate Pocky adds a playful, fruity twist to enhance your tea experience.

White Peach Oolong OREO – China

Indulge in the unique White Peach Oolong flavored cookies, a delightful blend of East and West. These cookies feature a familiar, satisfying crunch and sweet cocoa, contrasted with a creamy filling infused with the delicate, aromatic notes of White Peach Oolong. The light, fruity undertones of the cream complement the rich cocoa, creating a harmonious balance that pairs beautifully with a cup of White Peach Oolong tea, enhancing both the cookie's and the tea's peachy, floral flavors.

Banana Cream Biscuit Sticks – Thailand

Banana Chocolate Pocky offers a delightful blend of flavors and textures, perfect for tea enthusiasts. The crunchy chocolate sticks, coated in luscious banana cream, provide a satisfying contrast to the smooth, rich tea. This fusion creates a harmonious balance, enhancing the tea's flavor while offering a sweet, fruity complement. The unique combination of banana and chocolate adds a playful twist to your tea experience, making it an ideal treat for a cozy, indulgent evening.

Palate Cleanser (for taste testing): Saltine crackers are provided in our tea box to clean the taste of your mouth including spicy, bitter, or sweet.

(Read more about Tea J Tea’s recommended way of tasting: Sip-Bite-Sip)

Fruity or Floral

Experience the delightful fusion of floral and fruity notes with every sip of Organic Blackberry Tea. This tea artfully blends the luscious sweetness of blackberries with the robust depth of black tea, creating a symphony of flavors that dance on your palate. It's perfect for those who appreciate a refreshing yet rich tea experience.

Tea Name: Blackberry Black Tea – USA

Processing: The ingredients are hand-picked and processed under strict organic standards, ensuring a product that is pure and natural, and preserves the essence of each component.

Year: 2023

Caffeine Content: Moderate

Brewing Instructions: For the perfect cup of Organic Blackberry Tea, begin with 1 tablespoon of tea leaves for every 8 oz (approximately 240 ml) of water. Heat the water to a rolling boil, or about 212°F (100°C). Steep the tea for 180 seconds. For a second infusion, add an additional 60 seconds to the steeping time. This blend allows for up to two flavorful infusions, with each one unveiling its own unique layers of taste.

Tea Aroma and Taste

Indulge in the captivating aroma and taste of this tea, where each brew unfurls a tapestry of rich, nuanced flavors. The first inhale brings a bouquet of floral and fruity scents, promising a tasting experience that is both complex and harmonious. As you sip, discover layers of taste that echo the freshness of a blooming garden and the sweetness of sun-ripened fruit. 

Appearance: The appearance of Organic Blackberry Tea is a visual treat, showcasing a harmonious mix of dark tea leaves interspersed with the lighter hues of blackberry leaves. The dry leaves hint at the quality and care taken in selecting each ingredient.

Smell: Sweet, sun-ripened scent of blackberries, evoking images of lush, berry-filled fields.

Tasting Notes: Upon tasting, Organic Blackberry Tea offers rich flavors. The initial sip greets you with the vibrant, slightly tart taste of blackberries, reminiscent of freshly picked fruit. This fruity burst is beautifully balanced by the depth and warmth of the black tea, whose rich flavors unfold with each sip. 

Pastry Pairings

Savor the perfect companions to your tea with our Cranberry Almond Crisp and Blueberry Lemon Oat Bar. The Crisp blends cranberries and almonds with a cinnamon twist, offering a comforting crunch. The Oat Bar combines gluten-free oats, blueberries, and a tangy lemon zest, creating a delightfully textured, fruity treat.

Cranberry Almond Crisp – USA

The Cranberry Almond Crisp combines the rustic goodness of enriched unbleached flour with the natural sweetness of cranberries and raisins. Enhanced by a hint of cinnamon, its delightful crunch comes from fresh almonds, offering a warm, comforting taste. This crisp's texture perfectly complements the smoothness of tea, making it an ideal pairing

Blueberry Lemon Oat Bar – USA

These bars boast a pleasing texture, combining the softness of gluten-free oats with the subtle crunch of chia seeds and almonds. The organic agave adds moistness, while the blueberries provide a gentle chewiness, together creating a satisfying, hearty snack. The variety in texture makes every bite interesting and enjoyable. The fruity and tangy profile of the Blueberry Lemon Oat Bar pairs exceptionally well with tea.

Explorer

Something New

This unique blend features the enchanting Pine Tea from the USA and is a testament to the adventurous spirit of tea enthusiasts. Crafted for those who crave exploration and new experiences, this tea offers a delightful escape from the ordinary, presenting a taste of America's rich, natural landscapes.

Tea Name: Pine Tea – USA

Processing: Skillfully crafted with a blend of natural ingredients, reflecting the pristine essence of American forests.

Year: 2023

Caffeine Content: None

Brewing Instructions: To fully capture the essence of Pine Tea in the USA, start by boiling water to 212°F (100°C). Add 1 tablespoon of tea for each 8 oz (240 ml) of water. Steep the tea for 4 minutes to unleash its full flavor profile. For a subtler taste, a second infusion for an additional 4 minutes using the same leaves is recommended.

Tea Aroma and Taste

This blend invites you on a journey through the untamed heart of America's forests. Its scent weaves a variety of earthy richness and crisp pine freshness. Each sip reveals a complex symphony of spices and woodland notes, promising a multi-faceted sensory delight.

Appearance: The tea offers a harmonious blend of visible natural elements, each contributing to its overall allure.

Smell: The aroma, a captivating fusion of earthy tones with fresh pine, evokes the serenity of a walk through a forest..

Tasting Notes: Spices such as cinnamon, juniper, anise seeds, and nutmeg contribute a warm, slightly spicy undertone. This complements the woodsy notes, resulting in a rich, multi-layered experience. 

Are you interested in previous Subscription Boxes from previous months? Check out Last Month’s box (December Tea Time in A Box).