Vanilla teas are not a novelty. In fact, they may even seem boring, especially if you are on the quest to find the most unique and unusual teas. But The Pinup, vanilla black tea blend from The Tea and the Gang is far from boring. This tea is so interesting and different, it will make you change the way you look at “common” classic tea blends for good.
What is Vanilla Black Tea?
Usually, a vanilla black tea is a simple black tea blend with vanilla flavourings. Some blends may contain other ingredients too, but they will always have a recognizable sweet flavour. Pretty much like earl grey always has a recognizable bergamot flavour.
Most vanilla blends have a very strong flavour blended into a malty black tea base. Because of their robust body and intense flavour, they are often great as breakfast blends and taste great with different condiments. In other words, when you are buying a vanilla black tea, you may have a fairly good idea of what to expect even.
But the Pinup from The Tea and a Gang is far from a typical vanilla blend and you see that immediately after opening the pouch. It's blended with Sri Lankan black tea, jasmine flowers, calendula petals, real vanilla pieces and flavourings. Vanilla pieces are not that common in vanilla black tea blends at all. All these ingredients create a beautiful blend with long and thin, twisted black tea leaves interwind with beautiful yellow petals with an intense, sweet scent and hints of buttermilk.
Sri Lankan teas are amazing for afternoon tea times when you want to enjoy a light and refreshing flavour with no condiments.
What does it taste like?
Base of this blend is Sri Lankan black tea, which is fresher, crisper and lighter than Assam teas. What's great about black teas is that you don't need to be careful about the water temperature. With this blend, you don't need to be careful about steeping time either. Use 1-2 teaspoons of tea leaves per cup of water and steep for 3-5 minutes.
This tea is a true definition of a gentle dessert blend. You can over-brew it and it still won't show any bitterness. It brews into a lighter brown tea with an incredible scent and flavour that's light, not overpowering, but sweet with hints of honeycomb. The Pinup is as natural as a vanilla tea can be and quite complex. It doesn't need any condiments – in fact, condiments would take away a part of the experience. But if you'd still prefer to add something, both milk and honey or brown sugar are great choices.
Who would like this blend? Tea drinkers that enjoy sophisticated blends with complex flavours and want to enjoy pure teas. This is not a bold and strong breakfast blend – it's a tea to enjoy with all your senses. It's a tea to sip and relax, so an afternoon would be an ideal time to drink it. The Pinup vanilla black tea would also be a splendid choice for tea drinkers that want to enjoy the benefits of black tea but are not fond of strong and robust flavours. That said, this tea is extremely flavourful, but in a very sophisticated and complex way.
The Pinup vanilla blend is available as loose tea and in pyramid tea bags for easier steeping.
Tea Recap
Water or milk? Water (or a splash of milk).
Day or night? Day.
Hot or iced? Hot or iced.
Sweetened or Pure? Pure or with a teaspoon of honey syrup.
Caffeine? Yes
What's the price? Starting from 3.19 GBP.
Where to buy? Get The Pinup Vanilla Black Tea from The Tea and the Gang website or Amazon.
