Eleven years ago, I traveled around Spain. My journey started in Madrid and ended in Barcelona, where I was introduced to the majestic artwork of Antoni Gaudi. In addition to immersing myself in the culture, I discovered that much of the population speaks Catalan instead of Spanish (I found this out the hard way…). I also had the privilege of dining on the cuisine of the culture, which included the much-renowned dish of Paella. I’ve had Paella before but not like the Paella in Spain, the flavors are so bold and unique. One of the main ingredients of this scrumptious dish is saffron. Saffron history is as bold and rich as the spice itself. It’s been around for over 3,500 years and is used in many middle eastern dishes. 7th century paintings show people cooking with saffron, women sprinkling the red strings over a boiling pot. It has a distinctive smell and flavor: sweet like honey yet earthy like hay. It has also been used for medicinal purposes (it is said that it was used to treat the Bubonic Plague in the 14th century) and for beauty treatments (I also read that Cleopatra of Egypt used to add it to her bath as a perfume and mood enhancer). Today, it’s many uses include my beloved paella and the latest tea that has seduced my senses, Steeped Saffron Plum tea by Steepologie. The name alone intrigued me, I don’t find saffron in many teas. Once I opened the bag, I was hooked - it was like a magic spell was cast over me and I HAD to brew a pot of it.
The scent of this tea is strong and beautiful, like a radiant bouquet of flowers. The red saffron strings tickle the brown tea leaves and create a lovely perfume of sweetness in the air. Saffron has both honey and floral notes, so when combined with the tart plum, it’s absolutely intoxicating...not to mention, very exotic and unusual. You won’t find this tea on the shelves of your local grocery store, it’s too daring and distinctive for grocery store teas - this isn’t your grandma’s tea. And even she would perk up on her first whiff of this alluring blend.
This beautiful tea bouquet steeps into a light reddish brown hue in your teacup, the colors are bright and lovely. Once you steep the tea, the aroma only intensifies and the room is filled with the scent of spiced flowers. Sipping this tea is like drinking the nectar of a gorgeous orchid (if the orchid's had nectar) where the taste is sweet like honey yet floral and fragrant. Plums are usually tart but in this tea, they are sweet and they are a great compliment to the sensual saffron flavors. You won’t need sugar to sweeten this tea and I wouldn’t add cream, it’s delicious all on its own.
So, the next time you are craving something exotic and sweet, reach for this unique tea bouquet. One sip and you will be carried away to a lovely place of peace and tranquility with the flavors and aromas of a beautiful bouquet, hand picked just for you.
Sometimes your tea spirit whispers softly to you, guiding you to try a specific tea. Other times, it's a hard nudge pulling you towards your tea time - your “me time”.
Website:
https://www.steepologie.com/products/steeped-saffron-plum-tea-steep-no-b185
Pamper Your Pinky,
Fairy Teamother
Spanish Bouquet Tea
I'm always amazed how you can make smells and flavors come alive with words! I've always found saffron fascinating, so small and so pricey! I didn't know anything about it's history though. A history lesson and new tea to try, the best of both worlds! :)