Recently, I went to a tea tasting at the Tazo Tea store.
Last Saturday (May 4, 2013), I walked into the Tazo Tea store right as Megan (the store manager) and Aaron (a Tazo tea partner at the store) were just getting started on a tasting of three white teas:
This was a lot of fun. While I have been to many coffee seminars, I have been to far fewer tea tasting events. All three teas were white teas, as I have already mentioned. The Silver Needle was the lightest in flavor profile, though interestingly had almost a buttery aroma! Berryblossom White was a fantastic tea. I bought a tin of the loose leaf Berryblossom White to take home with me. I love the cranberry aroma from the tin, and I like its light berry and floral, refreshing flavor. It had a very clean finish as a hot tea. The friend I was with (Kristen) far preferred the Organic Vanilla Apricot tea, though I thought it had an odd lingering flavor as a hot tea.
While I was there, I tried the Berryblossom White Tazo tea as a sparkling iced tea! I have said this many times, but I really do hope that some day Starbucks launches sparkling teas in all of their stores:
I bought some tea while at the Tazo store, and I have been making the Berryblossom White tea as an iced tea at home since then. I do add a little sugar. This tea is one of the best iced teas in the Tazo lineup. However, I have discovered through some trial and error that it is super important not to over-steep a tea! I think I’ve got it down. It really takes no more than 3 minutes to steep this tea as an iced tea. I’m sure the tea experts reading this already know how important it is not to over-steep a tea.
Take a look at the rest of the photos from tea tasting! Both Kristen and I enjoyed our trip to the Tazo Tea store!
You can follow Tazo tea on Twitter too. There is also a Tazo tea Facebook page and you can order Tazo tea from their website.
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So very exciting! I’m really excited about what Starbucks is doing with Tazo and I hope they open up a similar retail store here in NYC. White tea is wonderful but also very delicate. Three minute infusions sounds about right and you’ll also want to make sure that your water isn’t too hot. It should be well under boiling, around 175 or 180 degrees.
Berryblossom White is good, but I also really like Silver Needle too. I like a dark roast in my coffee but when it comes to tea I tend to lean towards something lighter. Looks like you all had a really good time. I love that Starbucks is partnering with other companies and expanding. It is a win for everyone.
Thank you so much for this post! As a person very new to the tea arena, this post was very informative. How, exactly, do you make this an iced tea? Thanks!
I too bought the Berryblossom White to take home with me – I had picked up the Organic Vanilla Apricot Creme a few weeks ago (per Megan’s recommendation). I tend to have a weakness for anything vanilla or apricot-y.
Berryblossom White used to be my favourite in our tea line up. I was really bummed that it did not come back as a full leaf option. Glad to know it’s available at the Tazo store!
BB White is my all time fav not-black tea! If you close a tight lid on your tea while it’s steeping, it’ll develop a nice color, too.
I enjoy white tea and what a wonderful tea tasting experience you had. Bring these stores here! I tend to go against the norm and actually like my tea strong and when iced with not too much ice so I can taste the tea. Did they pair the tea with food?
@Ensanguin – To make iced tea, I have been using a blue Teavana infusion pitcher:
http://www.teavana.com/tea-products/tea-makers-infusers/p/blue-infusion-tea-pitcher
^ That, by far, has been the easiest way to do it. The pitcher is large, (24 ounces) and iced tea is double strength anyways, so I end up using like 9 – 11 smallish scoops (using a Teavana “perfect scoop” which is exactly one teaspoon), and then fill it totally full with hot water and steep. For the herbal teas, it seems as though you can walk away and be fairly imprecise about brew time. For this white tea, I set a timer.
I always add a little sugar to the bottom of the pitcher.
Pour over ice.
That’s what works for me.
@Purple1 – Come to think of it, I have never been to a tea tasting pairing tea with foods.
Love Berry Blossom White!! Back in the day when I was a barista, I loved it over ice!! Perfect summer beverage
Yum! Thanks for sharing this tea tasting with us.
I loved Berryblossom White when it was in stores too!
I’ve never been to a tea tasting either, unless you count samples given out at Tevana. Of the ones you listed, the Silver Needle and Berryblossom White sound like flavors I’d enjoy. I, too, would drink the Berryblossom as an iced tea as I’m not a fan of berry flavor hot teas, but totally okay with it being cold. Odd? I know.
I had the pleasure of meeting Megan this weekend. What an amazing store, staff and atmosphere. I hope to visit again sometime soon.