Simpson & Vail Haul By Susan McLean

Simpson & Vail was kind enough to send over some samples of their new fall/winter teas and boy am I in love! The descriptions are curtsey of their site, and my favorites include the Roasted Chestnut Rooibos, the Winter Wonderland Rooibos, the Salty Caramel Pumpkin Black Tea, and the Apple Cinnamon French Toast Black Tea. But, of course, all of their blends are great, with such interesting, rich notes. All I can say is, if you're looking for a killer fall tea, you've got to try the Salty Caramel Pumpkin Black Tea! The notes of pumpkin and pumpkin spice play so so well with the salted caramel, leaving a well rounded sip, reminiscent of falling leaves, 

​Check out the complete list of new teas here, 

and buy the Salty Caramel Pumpkin Black Tea here.

Apple Cinnamon French Toast Black Tea

Apple and cinnamon goodness with a hint of maple flavor. The aroma is pure lazy Sunday morning. Breakfast on the griddle, hot tea in your hand, your favorite book waiting to be read. The sweet apple and the heady cinnamon flavors dance on your tongue, while the rich maple taste offers the base note in this amber colored cup. ​

Apple Sage Black Tea

The taste of sweet apple and fragrant sage blend together wonderfully. The amber colored cup offers a depth of flavor that is warming and refreshing at the same time. This tea complements foods such as hard cheese, salads, sandwiches, fruits and more. ​​

Edgar Allen Poe's Black Tea Blend

This dark, earthy blend evokes the damp tombs of Poe’s stories. While it is perhaps the most well known, The Cask of Amontillado is not Poe’s only story in which his fear of being buried alive becomes a major plot point. His vivid descriptions of “utter darkness among a quantity of loose earth” that “threaten[ed] to bury [him] entirely” offered a direction for our blend. It combines the earthy tones of Pu­erh black with the mellow smokiness of Lapsang and the slightest citrus hint of an Earl Grey. The dried beetroot turns the brewed tea a deep blood red. ​

Roasted Chestnut Rooibos 

Usher in the holiday season with this joyous brew. If you like chestnuts roasted on an open fire you'll love this caffeine free tisane! The dry leaf has the aroma of nutty, heavenly goodness and the brewed cup explodes with this flavor followed by a light buttery taste. So curl up by a fire with this delicious cup while you read your favorite book and listen to holiday songs. We dare you to try not to sing "that" song!

Snickerdoodle Rooibos 

When we were kids Jim came home from elementary school with some recipes his teacher had given him (perhaps for an upcoming bake sale). I'll never forget the day our Mom made a batch of Snickerdoodle cookies. They were an instant favorite in our house! The recipe was lost for awhile and we would continually ask Mom for "those lovely cinnamon cookies". You never saw four happier kids than when she found the recipe again. 

If you are a cinnamon lover then this Rooibos blend is for you! When you open the bag, the aroma of cinnamon cookie happily greets you. The brewed cup is amber colored with the taste of fresh baked snickerdoodle cookies. The sweet cinnamon taste lingers deliciously on the tongue. ​​

Salty Caramel Pumpkin Black Tea

Fall in a cup! The aroma of caramel and pumpkin will delight your olfactory sense with the promise of a warm, tasty brew. The amber colored cup offers pumpkin on the front end with the delicious salty caramel taste at the back. These flavors are the perfect marriage in that they complement each other without competing. ​

Spiced Mulled Wine Black Tea

Looking for a winter concoction without the alcohol? Then, this brew is for you! The blend produces a reddish cup with a sweet fragrant aroma and taste. The tannic taste is reminiscent of red wine and it is perfectly complemented by the light spice taste and the earthy undertones. ​

Winter Wonderland Rooibos 

"Sleigh bells ring, are you listening
In the lane snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland…"

A wonderful blend of green rooibos with cacao and cinnamon and flavored with Bavarian chocolate, cinnamon and hazelnuts. When we sampled this in our store we heard "Best rooibos ever!", "A new favorite", "Great everyday tea". It brews to a golden cup with the delicious aroma and taste of cinnamon baked goodies (we were reminded of apple fritters). Smooth and warming, this blend has the more pronounced taste of cinnamon and hazelnuts, while the Bavarian chocolate is an underlying taste that rounds out the other flavors. Delicious in every season!