Pinoy Food & Other Cuisine :: Food PhotoBlog and Events |

Despite all the health benefits tea has over coffee, I’d much rather have a cup of coffee over a spot of tea any day. To me, coffee has this rich, thick flavor and aroma that no other (non-alcoholic) beverage can compete with; not to mention that the caffeine boost is the only thing that jump-starts my engine every morning. At the Tea Appreciation Seminar at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (CBTL), however, I got to try out some tea blends that I otherwise would never have tasted. I’ll still probably order a coffee instead of tea the next time I go to CBTL, but I did gain a better understanding of how quality tea should taste like.

Apparently, CBTL uses whole, uncot tea leaves and blossoms, which explains why their teas have distinct flavors and aromas. The first one we tried was the genmaicha green, a blend of high quality Sencha tea, partially toasted rice, and popped corn. It tasted like a sweet rice cookie and apparently, genmaicha green goes great with spicy food. Next was the Fancy Formosa Dragon Oolong which was, to be quite honest, nothing special; it didn’t taste particularly different from the kind of oolong tea you get served at in Chinese restaurants. I liked the Apricot Ceylon from Sri Lanka better; it’s flavored with apricot, which explains its fruity scent.

Up next was the Chai tea, a delicious blend of black tea, cinnamon, clove, caradomon, and other spices. It reminded me a lot of Gudang Garam, a clove cigarette brand from Indonesia that I like to smoke every now and then. I wonder if it would go with Chai tea?

Last but definitely not the least was my favorite tea blend among the five - African Sunrise, which Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf will be releasing in June 2008. It’s got this amazing, bright vanilla flavor that I’ve never tasted in tea before. If there was a tea blend that would make me forgo my usual Ultimate Mocha, it’s the African Sunrise. Do watch out for it once it comes out!

Don’t forget to join the What’s your Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Story and win a chance ta travel to Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA for 4 days and 3 nights, with accommodations and pocket money. Hurry, contest starts April 18 till May 18, 2008.