Smoky Orange Sparrow

There are times when I hear the name of a tea and have a preconceived notion that I’m not going to like it based upon its ingredients or type of tea itself.

All too often I’m correct but know that deep down I wasn’t going to find out unless I tried it. I fully expected that to be for case with Smoky Orange Sparrow from Birdsong Tea. This was wholly based upon the word “smoky” in the name.

I’m not a fan of smoky teas or any with variants of Lapsang Souchong in them. And though this is oolong based I know there are some oolongs that can hold that smoky flavor. So I went in to trying this with trepidation and fully expected not to like it.

Thankfully I was wrong. This is a complex blend in that while it’s simplistic in its ingredients, it’s complex in its flavor in that an orange tea can be difficult to get the flavoring just right. This succeeds at both ends.

From the packet there is a sweetness to this blend that fully surprises one. There is a hint of smokiness to it but it’s mild. It isn’t until the blend was steeped that the smoky hints become more prevalent and actually act as a base to this tea while the orange citrus notes truly enhance the flavor and give it further presence. One sip brings with it a light and airy taste reminiscent of spring day while another sip delivers a moody quality to it.

I can easily see this pairing well with a pork roast or smoked cheeses and meats. But also would work well with fruity desserts.

It’s a blend that is truly…

This is a unique tea with an oolong base. The smoke is more evident in the dry leaves than the brewed tea. My first sip I could really taste the oolong tea base. Then hints of orange came through.

Smoky Orange Sparrow certainly warmed me up on a chilly spring day today, and this tea delivers exactly what it promises: smoky and orange flavors over a smooth oolong base. As I’m not usually a fan of smoky teas (hold the lapsang please! ✋🏻) I was afraid I might not enjoy this one, but thankfully the smoky notes are not overpowering in the scent or taste. The orange really is quite lovely, too!

Opening the package a bright aroma of fresh orange peel is prominent. The tea leafs are dark twisted and have flower pieces. I steeped the tea for the higher end of 4 minutes. The tea does have a bit more smoke present in the aroma but is faint in the taste. The orange holds up throughout. In enjoyed this tea hot, but prefer it cold. As ice tea the smoke was deeper and balanced the orange more. I will be adding this to my summer ice tea rotation.