Basilur Love Story Volume II Tea Review
If you remember in my review of Basilur’s Love Story Volume III tea, I was so gleeful that it wasn’t the stereotypical rose and sweet flavours that you associate with love. Well, a few weeks later and it’s Love Story Volume II that’s at the top of my tea review pile… and it’s exactly that romantic stereotype I was talking about!
Nutty and slightly creamy almond sweetness with opulent rose petals. That’s soppy Disney love in a nutshell. Or teacup, rather.
I’ll be the first to admit that Basilur Love Story Volume II isn’t my cup of tea. I tend to stay away from rose teas and overly sweet teas. But I gave it a good go. This was a sample generously sent to me by Basilur so I’ve taken a lot of time to properly taste and analyse this for my dedicated readers. I know there are rose tea fans out there who will love this!
Basilur Love Story Tea at a Glance
Izzy's Rating
3.3/5
- Blend: Black and green tea with almond and roses
- Flavour: Rose perfume with black tea and a hint of almond sweetness
A silky, perfumed black tea with dominant rose aroma and flavour. Very sensual and romantic, but not my cup of tea. If you like sweet roses, you’ll adore this. It also makes for a really lovely gift for a loved one. Even if they don’t fancy the tea, they won’t be able to resist the cute tea book box.
Full Review - Almond and Rose Tea
Izzy's Rating
3.3/5
- Type: Tagged pyramid tea sachet
- Tea: Pure Ceylon black tea, Sencha green tea
- Additives: Amaranth petals, almond flavour, rose flavour
- Flavour Notes: Perfume, roses, light black tea, bitterness
- Aroma: Floral roses, warm black tea, hint of almond sweetness
- Milk or Lemon: Neither
- Where to Buy: Basilur Official Website or Amazon
Once again, this Basilur tea book is a real feast for the eyes. The tea pyramid contains a mix of green and black tea leaves strewn with amaranth flower petals. It’s very pretty.
You don’t need to breathe deeply to get the aroma from this tea. It’s quite strong. By quite, I mean very. It’s dried rose petals that are so strong it’s verging on chemical! Luckily the subtle almond sweetness saves it.
The tea liquor is beautiful, just like the Volume III I reviewed. A very clear amber-orange colour with bubbles holding at the edge of the cup, hinting at a slightly thick and syrupy texture. The aroma is more complex now, losing some of its strength and evening out. I’m getting a floral aroma that’s not just roses, plus warm black tea notes and that hint of almond sweetness persevering through.
This is a tea to sip, not slurp down in a hurry. It’s perfumed black tea, a sensual mix of light black tea with a natural floral flavour plus roses. It’s drowning in roses. That scene in American Beauty with the roses? This tea is what that scene must have smelt like.
The texture is wonderfully silky and soft, like rose petals. It’s slightly thick but not syrupy. Rosewater, perhaps.
Unfortunately, the almond flavour is lost, the green tea never makes an appearance and there’s a hint of bitterness in the aftertaste.
I suppose no love is perfect.
How to Brew Rose Almond Tea
Following the instructions, I first used boiling water and brewed for 3 minutes and 45 seconds. It was a little too strong for my tastes, so after some experimenting I found 85°C to 90°C for 3 minutes was about right.
As for food pairings, I’d go with something creamy like a cheesecake with almond shortbread at the base to play up the creamy and nutty notes in the tea.
Don’t add anything to this tea. Milk, lemon, honey and sugar aren’t needed and won’t bring anything better to the flavour.
This is an afternoon tea if I ever saw one.
Why Basilur Tea Books?
My love affair with the packing is starting to outshine the actual tea. Basilur Love Story Volume II tea pyramids (or loose leaf) comes in a metal book-shaped box with delicate love inscriptions inside. The care that’s gone into the packaging and presentation is stunning.
As for the tea inside, well, it’s still good. The pyramid bags are biodegradable, the tea is almost whole leaf and the amaranth petals are gorgeous. The fluffy pieces are a mystery, however. There’s an airtight resealable bag inside the book tin, which is practical and great for storing the tea in.
Unfortunately, the rose and almond flavourings are fake in this blend. They don’t taste fake, but I always prefer real rose petals and almond chunks where possible.
Summary
A very nice, flavourful tea… but I sense possibly a marmite situation arising. For those, like me, who aren’t a fan of roses it’s diabolical. For rose lovers, it’s heaven. If you’re thinking about buying Basilur Love Story Volume II as a gift, I would recommend buying volumes I and III too, just in case they don’t like roses.
About Me
Despite finding romantic comedies disgustingly cheesy (I’m not the only one, right?) I do like these romantic themed teas. If you’re looking for a tea for a special occasion, use the tags below to navigate my tea reviews or check out the entire tea review index.