This mini tea caddy was unwrapped with glee on Christmas Day 2018. I’ve had the patience of a saint waiting 11 months to review it! I couldn’t exactly review a Christmas-themed tea in the summer, so it waited patiently in its box as I battled the temptation to sip down the last cup.
Well, it’s now November 2019, Christmas is almost here, and it’s time to review this tea!
Fingers crossed that Whittard release it again this year. Luckily my Whittard Glitter Tea mini caddy has a use-by date of October 2020 so it’s still good for almost another year… if I don’t drink it all now.
Glitter Tea Whittard at a Glance
- Blend: Black tea with gold glitter
- Flavour: Rich black tea with a hint of caramel sweetness
The aroma of this tea is insanely good. It’s just so yummy! The flavour is excellent but less sweet than you may expect. It’s easy to drink and a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth without going calorie crazy.
Full Review – Whittard Glitter Tea
- Type: Loose leaf
- Tea: Black tea from China, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and Indonesia
- Additives: Caramel pieces, gold glitter, flavouring
- Flavour Notes: Rich, warm, classic black tea, caramel sweetness
- Aroma: Salted caramel, gooey sweet caramel brownies, metallic notes, malty tea
- Milk or Lemon: Neither
- Where to Buy: Whittard of Chelsea
Popping open the tea caddy, which has a double lid to stop the air making it stale, I’m hit with sweetness. The caramel pieces in this tea (yep, you read that right) smell so good! At first sniff, you could mistake it for salted caramel but when we get to the flavour you’ll know it’s 100% sugary goodness.
The glitter sticks to the tea leaves and will swirl around in your cup. If you don’t like the sound of that, use a simple paper filter tea bag or even a coffee filter. The glitter pieces are small enough to pass through metal mesh infusers, however.
Once brewed, the black tea makes an appearance. It’s on the light side, with Ceylon and Chinese teas rather than heavier Indian Assam teas. Nonetheless, it has a great malty aroma that plays nicely with the caramel notes.
Taking a sip, the black tea is what you’ll first notice. Caramel notes pop up in your mouth as the tea swirls around and intensifies with each further sip you take. The caramel aftertaste is long-lasting too.
As for the glitter, I can’t say that it noticeably affects the texture or flavour of the tea. It adds a slight metallic hint to the dry aroma of the tea leaves, but after that it’s gone. I tried hard to feel glitter grit on my tongue but failed. The texture is as smooth and pleasant as the flavour.
How to Brew Whittard Christmas Glitter Tea
Instructions for brewing black tea from Whittard to use 2g of tea (1 teaspoon) in boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes. I stopped at the 3-minute mark as I drink this one black. I don’t particularly enjoy it with milk but if you want to try it, keep brewing for 5 minutes.
I don’t feel the need to eat something when I drink this tea. It’s bold and almost like a dessert itself.
You could try using this tea in cooking. I imagine soaking sponge fingers in this tea to make a tiramisu would be delicious! If you try any recipes out with Whittard Glitter Tea, do let me know in the comments.
Why Whittard of Chelsea?
Whittard tends to do excellent seasonal teas in cute mini caddies that I can’t resist collecting. The 2018 Christmas Trio included Glitter Tea, Silent Night and the classic Christmas tea (all will be reviewed in the coming months) in a gift box.
Whittard provides a little extra information about the origins of the tea in this blend, but they aren’t too specific. Looking at the quality of the tea leaves, they’re not the best I’ve ever seen! I’ve also noticed that the caddy tins tend to have more broken leaf in them and tiny pieces, compared to the packets of tea. Perhaps it happens during transit.
I trust Whittard quite a bit and always enjoy going into their stores at this time of year – they usually have free samples of something going around, on my last visit I nibbled on free chocolate-covered espresso beans. It’s worth going!
Summary
Overall, I do recommend trying Whittard Glitter Tea. It’s not easy to get your hands on a tea that Whittard is no longer selling, but if a friend offers you a sample you should give it a go. The flavour is pleasant and the aroma is unnnnngh. Click the button below to check if it’s back on Whittard. Fingers-crossed.
Tea Recommendation
If you’re looking for something else that’s sweet but perhaps a little better for your health, take a look at my positively tropical review of Teakruthi Ceylon Emerald Tea. Subscribe to Immortal Wordsmith for updates when new tea reviews are posted!