Portland Black Tea

Description

Countdown to Catching Up, Part 3 – Tea 9 (Counting Down from 10 to 1!)

This is my dedication to Portland. I know that in the past, I did a Rose City Chai which was also dedicated to Portland. Even though I happen to live in Washington State, it kinda feels like I live in Portland because it’s really a matter of a 5 minute drive to get over the state line into Portland territory. So, I consider Portland more my home than I do “Washington” even though I technically live in Washington, because when I say I live in Vancouver, immediately, people think I live in Canada because most people don’t even know there’s a Vancouver in Washington state & when I say I live in Washington State, they think “Seattle” which is a 2 ½ hour drive on good days. 

And that’s probably more than you wanted to know about where I live, huh?

Anyway, for this tea dedication to Portland, I started with a lovely Rose Congou. Then I added some Assam tea & just a touch of Vietnamese black tea to round the flavor nicely. The result is a bold, flavorful base, with notes of rose without it tasting too perfume-y. Just a nice floral note, nothing too overwhelming for the palate. Then I added some vanilla bean to add a soft creaminess to the cup. Finally, the unofficial fruit of the northwest – the blackberry. Sure, the official fruit of Oregon is the Pear while the official fruit of Washington is the Apple, but for me, the UNoffical fruit of these Pacific Northwestern states is the blackberry – vines of which can be found throughout the state – growing wild. 

Besides, while I love both pears & apples, I find that the blackberry just GOES with this blend in a way that I don’t think apple or pear would. So, blackberry it is!

This blend is so good! Lots of juicy blackberry, a pleasant vanilla undertone & rich black tea plus that lovely rose-y note. Nice! It’s also organic, vegan, gluten-free & allergen-friendly!

organic ingredients: black teas, rose buds & petals, blackberries, vanilla bean & natural flavors

to brew: shake the pouch well before you measure to ensure that ingredients are well-incorporated. Use 3g of tea to 12oz of nearly boiling water (205°F) & steep for 3 ½ minutes. Strain & allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before you start sipping. This tea also works well as a cold-brew!

serving suggestion: as I mentioned above, I really like this as either a hot cuppa or a cold-brew. As a hot tea, I get more of the rose notes & as the tea cools, I find that more of the vanilla pops. I find that a small amount of sugar will bring out the variety of flavors here: the blackberry, the vanilla & the rose – but it’s also quite a stunning drink without any sweetener.