A Nice Cuppa

There’s a hint of fall in the air — here in D.C. it is rainy and cool, with a high only in the 70s. So close your eyes, imagine it’s October, and join me for a cup of very autumn tea.

I am lucky enough to live near a Teavana store, which offers dozens of unique loose-leaf tea varieties. When I stopped by last week, I found a new-to-me tea that screamed “falling leaves.” Not that is tastes or smells like falling leaves… I’m not sure I could handle something like that. The tea is called Vermont Maple, and the name really says it all.

Ingredients: Vermont Maple is somewhat unique in that the main ingredient appears to be almonds. Other ingredients include apple pieces, cinnamon, and maple. Please note: these ingredients are heavier than most teas, and since Teavana sells by weight, you may end up with fewer cups than you expect.

Smell: The aroma is pretty light, with a definite woody undertone. There is also a hint of sweet maple syrup, but only a hint. I wouldn’t recognize apple or cinnamon in here if I wasn’t told to look for it.

Appearance: The tea brews a brilliant bright red, like a maraschino cherry. This is somewhat perplexing, since the dry tea is not at all colorful.

Taste: I tested the tea with no milk or sweetener. It definitely has it’s own sweetness. The first taste hits you like the bottom of the forest, not entirely pleasant, but there is a nice almond finish. Again, no hint of any spices. Vermont Maple also comes across very weak; I would recommend more than the suggested 1.5 tsp per 8 ounce cup.

Summary: This is a great tea to look at, and could be pleasant to drink if it was mulled with additional wintry spices. Otherwise, especially given it’s weakness and few cups per ounce of dry tea, I would steer clear.