Eight months have passed and the ninth month of the year is beginning—a time to look forward to cooler temperatures and the annual transformation of the landscape as leaves change color before drifting from the branches to blanket the ground. Here are a few teas and herbal blends to help you fully appreciate the arrival of autumn.
1. Dessert in a Cup: Scottish Caramel Toffee Pu-erh Tea – Loose Leaf*
Pu-erh teas are in a class by themselves. They are known as fermented teas. The leaves are processed similarly to black tea and then aged for a period of time, creating a unique flavor profile often described as earthy. This version combines that earthy character with sweet caramel and toffee notes for a rich, dessert-like experience in a teacup. This flavored tea also contains almond pieces, so those with nut sensitivities should take note.
2. Vibrant Citrus Flavor: PG Tips Vibrant Mandarin Orange Green Tea*
Part of a newer lineup from an iconic British tea brand, this blend showcases the quality that has made PG Tips one of the United Kingdom’s most recognized tea names for decades. Introduced as part of an expanded collection of flavored teas, this blend combines green teas from Kenya and Indonesia with bright mandarin orange flavor for a refreshing and lively cup.
3. Crisp Like Autumn Air: Apple Spice Flavored Black Tea*
Ceylon high-grown black tea, cultivated at elevations of approximately 5,500 feet, is blended with apple pieces, cinnamon, blackberry leaves, safflower petals, and natural flavors. The vapor-proof triple-layer packaging helps preserve freshness and aroma until brewing. For many tea lovers, the combination of apple and spice perfectly captures the flavors of autumn.
4. A Favorite Fall Flavor: ai-tea-pumpkin-spice.html”>Twinings Pumpkin Spice Chai*
Pumpkin spice season is here once again. This aromatic chai tea fills the senses with pumpkin flavor balanced by traditional chai spices including cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. Steep in freshly boiled water for 5 minutes. A touch of sugar can enhance the flavor, while milk and sweetener create a particularly comforting autumn beverage.
5. Basic Black: Taylors of Harrogate Pure Assam Tea Bags*
Some sources suggest that Assam tea originated entirely from Chinese tea plants, but the story is a bit more complex. The Camellia sinensis assamica variety was already cultivated and used in India before Robert Fortune famously transported tea plants and seeds from China. The Brahmaputra River, which flows through Assam, helps create the fertile growing conditions responsible for the region’s abundant tea production and robust flavor profile.
While some Assam tea producers now craft orthodox black teas, green teas, and even white teas, much of the region’s production remains dedicated to CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) teas. The result is a malty, brisk, and full-bodied tea that makes an excellent morning beverage. I particularly enjoy it with milk and sweetener.
Hopefully you’ll have the opportunity to try some of these teas during September as you prepare for the pleasures of the harvest season and the arrival of autumn.
See more tea reviews and articles by A.C. Cargill.
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