Tea Time in May 2025 Subscription Box
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Time to read 7 min
Welcome to this month's delightful selection of teas and pastries, where tradition meets innovation to offer a captivating variety of flavors and cultural delights. Explore the highlands of Vietnam with our Vietnamese Rock Oolong, a locally grown Wuyi-style rock tea celebrated for its rich, roasted profile. This tea is paired with Ube Cookies and Hawthorn Fruit Wafers, balancing sweet, nutty, and tangy notes to complement its robust character. For those who enjoy fruity sweetness and floral nuances, our Organic Coconut Black Tea provides a tropical twist – a smooth black tea infused with creamy coconut – accompanied by Coconut Mung Bean Cake and Coconut Pastry Squares to enhance its luxurious flavor. Completing the box is the Arjuna Cinnamon Herbal Blend, a caffeine-free Ayurvedic blend of Arjuna bark and cinnamon that offers a warm, spiced cup to expand your palate (this Explorer tea is enjoyed on its own, without pastry pairings). Join us through May’s tea experience, where each sip and bite tells a story of tradition, flavor, and discovery.
Table of Content
Try our New Premium Floral Tea Collection from Vietnam
May Tea and Pastry Subscription: Origins
Discover the essence of our Vietnamese Rock Oolong from Moc Chau, Son La Province in Vietnam. This locally crafted interpretation of the legendary Wuyi rock tea captures the same bold roast, floral undertone, and mineral-rich smoothness found in its Chinese counterpart. Artisanal farmers use traditional charcoal roasting techniques, resulting in a tea that balances heritage with local character. Each sip unveils notes of charred wood, stone fruit, and orchid, evolving gracefully over multiple infusions.
- Tea Name: Vietnamese Rock Oolong
- Teamaker: An Trà Cooperative
- Origin: Moc Chau, Son La Province, Vietnam
- Elevation: ~1,200–1,500 m
- Cultivation: Natural (charcoal roasted, semi-oxidized)
- Harvest Date: Spring 2024 (roasted late 2024)
Brewing Instructions: Use 1 tablespoon of tea leaves per 8 oz (240 ml) of water. Steep at 195°F (90°C) for 120 seconds. For subsequent infusions, add 30 seconds per steep, allowing up to 3 infusions to appreciate the tea’s evolving flavors.
Tea Aroma and Taste
Our Vietnamese-grown Da Hong Pao Oolong exemplifies the fusion of ancient Chinese tradition and Vietnamese terroir. The aroma is bold and warming – a toasty, woody fragrance with underlying notes of stone fruit and roasted nuts. The taste is full-bodied yet smooth, offering a rich tapestry of flavors: you’ll notice a deep roasted nuttiness and a caramelized sweetness, all balanced by a lingering mineral undertone. Each sip finishes with a pleasant, long-lasting sweetness and a gentle floral whisper, inviting you to savor the craftsmanship in every cup.
Appearance: The dry leaves are long, twisted, and dark brown with slight reddish hues; when brewed, the infusion gleams a clear amber.
Smell: Once steeped, the tea exudes an earthy, smoky aroma with hints of sweet honey and damp stone.
Taste: A robust, smooth flavor with notes of charred wood, toasted almonds, and a touch of ripe plum. The mineral “rock taste” gives depth, and a soft orchid-like sweetness emerges as the tea cools, leaving a satisfying, velvety finish.
Pastry Pairings
Pairing our Da Hong Pao Oolong with Ube Cookies and Hawthorn Fruit Wafers offers a delightful balance of flavors and textures. The sweet and nutty notes of the Ube Cookies complement the tea's robust profile, while the tangy and crisp Hawthorn Fruit Wafers provide a refreshing contrast. Together, these pastries enhance the overall tasting experience, making each sip and bite a harmonious adventure.
Ube Cookies - Philippines
Our Ube Cookies, sourced from the Philippines, bring a vibrant purple hue and a subtly sweet flavor to your tea experience. Made with purple yam, these cookies offer a moist and tender crumb with a hint of vanilla that perfectly complements the rich, roasted notes of the Da Hong Pao Oolong. The unique flavor profile of ube adds an exotic twist, making each bite a delightful pairing with your tea.
Hawthorn Fruit Wafers - China
The Hawthorn Fruit Wafers from China offer a crisp and tangy counterpart to our robust oolong tea. Infused with real hawthorn fruit, these wafers provide a burst of fruity flavor that cleanses the palate and enhances the mineral undertones of the tea. Their delicate crunch and vibrant taste create a perfect balance, making them an ideal accompaniment for a sophisticated tea time.
Palate Cleanser (for taste testing): Saltine crackers are provided in our tea box to cleanse your palate, ensuring that each new sip is as refreshing as the first. Whether you've indulged in sweet, spicy, or bitter flavors, the crackers help maintain a clear tasting experience.
( Read more about Tea J Tea’s recommended way of tasting: Sip-Bite-Sip )
May 2025 Tea and Pastry Box: Fruity or Floral
Experience the vibrant flavors of our Organic Coconut Black Tea, a perfect blend for those who cherish both fruity sweetness and floral elegance. This luxurious tea combines rich black tea leaves with creamy coconut, creating a harmonious balance that delights the palate with every sip. Sourced from organic growers, this blend ensures a smooth and sweet flavor profile that transports you to a tropical paradise.
- Tea Name: Organic Coconut Black Tea
- Processing: A blend of organic black tea leaves infused with shredded coconut and natural coconut flavor.
- Year: 2025
- Caffeine Content: Medium
- Brewing Instructions: For an ideal cup of Organic Coconut Black Tea, use one tablespoon of tea leaves per 8 ounces (240 ml) of water. Bring the water to a rolling boil at 212°F (100°C) and steep the tea for 2–3 minutes. Enjoy it hot or chilled, and consider adding honey or a splash of milk for an enhanced flavor experience.
Tea Aroma and Taste
The Organic Coconut Black Tea offers a delightful sensory experience, combining the inviting aroma of creamy coconut with the robust scent of malted black tea. This blend presents a rich amber infusion that is both clear and smooth, featuring delicate flecks of coconut that float gracefully. On the palate, the tea delivers a buttery coconut flavor upfront, seamlessly merging with the smoothness of black tea and subtle hints of vanilla and roasted nuts. The finish is mellow and lingering, leaving a satisfying warmth that complements its tropical essence.
Appearance: A deep amber infusion with a clear body, adorned with floating coconut flecks.
Smell: Aromatic blend of creamy coconut and malty black tea.
Tasting Notes: Buttery coconut with smooth black tea undertones, accented by hints of vanilla and roasted nuts.
Pastry Pairings
Enhance your tea experience by pairing the Organic Coconut Black Tea with our carefully selected pastries. Choose between the Coconut Mung Bean Cake from Vietnam or the Coconut Pastry Squares from China. Both options complement the tea’s rich and creamy profile, offering a delightful balance of textures and flavors that elevate your tea time.
Coconut Mung Bean Cake – Vietnam
The Coconut Mung Bean Cake features a soft and dense pastry with a subtly sweet mung bean filling and a smooth coconut cream layer. Its melt-in-your-mouth texture and gentle nuttiness perfectly complement the creamy coconut notes of the tea, creating a harmonious and comforting treat that enhances the overall flavor profile.
Coconut Pastry Squares – China
Our Coconut Pastry Squares boast flaky, golden layers that encase a luscious coconut center. The crisp texture of the pastry beautifully contrasts with the tea’s creamy notes, while the toasted coconut filling intensifies its tropical warmth. This pairing offers a delightful combination of crunchy and smooth textures, enhancing the richness of both the tea and the pastry.
Vietnam’s Floral tea for Daily Relaxation
May 2025 Artisan Tea and Pastry Subscription Box: Explorer Tea
Try Something New
For our adventurous tea enthusiasts, May’s Explorer tea is the Arjuna Cinnamon Herbal Blend – a caffeine-free tisane that combines the earthy flavors of Arjuna bark with the warm spice of Ceylon cinnamon. This blend is designed to expand your palate and introduce you to unique tea experiences, perfect for those looking to explore beyond traditional teas.
Tea Name: Arjuna Cinnamon Herbal Blend
Processing: This herbal blend features the grounding bark of the Arjuna tree, an esteemed ingredient in Ayurvedic practices, blended seamlessly with aromatic Ceylon cinnamon to create a harmonious and comforting infusion.
Year: 2025
Caffeine Content: Caffeine-free
Brewing Instructions: For the perfect cup of Explorer: Arjuna Cinnamon Herbal Blend, use one tablespoon of the blend per 8 ounces (240 ml) of water. Bring the water to a boil at 212°F (100°C), then steep the blend for 4–5 minutes. Enjoy it hot, with a drizzle of honey or a splash of milk if desired to enhance its natural sweetness.
Tea Aroma and Taste
Savor the distinctive aroma and flavor profile of our Arjuna Cinnamon Herbal Blend. This herbal tisane offers a sweet and spicy fragrance, complemented by the earthy notes of Arjuna bark. Each cup delivers a balanced taste experience that is both soothing and invigorating, making it an excellent choice for reflection and relaxation.
Appearance: The brew presents a clear reddish-brown color with visible flecks of herbs, reflecting the natural ingredients used in the blend.
Smell: A sweet cinnamon aroma intertwined with the earthy scent of Arjuna bark, evoking memories of spiced wood and herbal remedies.
Tasting Notes: Initially sweet and spicy with prominent cinnamon, the flavor is balanced by the bittersweet undertones of Arjuna bark. The infusion concludes with a smooth finish, leaving a lasting warmth of cinnamon on the palate.
Are you interested in previous Subscription Boxes from prior months? Check out Last Month’s box ( April 2025 Tea Time in A Box).
