A Rose as Sweet as Upton Tea Imports
Since the 14th century, Valentine’s Day has been a celebration of love. In our current culture, this day inspires the gifting of heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, fragrant bouquets of roses, and sweet poems, as well as an abundance of wedding proposals. Many of these traditional and timeless gifts originated during the Victorian Era, which was well known for its grand ornamentation. A great number of holiday traditions stem from the Victorian Era, and Valentine's Day is no exception.
The Victorians were fascinated by floriography, which is the secret language of flowers and sending messages through flower arrangements. It all began with Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, an English aristocrat and poetess of the 18th century, who accompanied her husband to Turkey, where he was sent as the British ambassador. While there, she wrote home about “a mysterious language of love and gallantry.” In a letter to a friend, she described this language: “There is no colour, no flower, no weed, no fruit, herb, pebble, or feather that has not a verse belonging to it: and you may quarrel, reproach, or send letters of passion, friendship, or civility, or even of news, without ever inking your fingers.”[i] Over the next century, interest bloomed over this secret language and, in 1819, the development of a formalized “language of flowers” took the form of a dictionary of symbolic meanings assigned to individual flowers. Called Le langage des Fleurs, it was written by Louise Cortambert, under the pen name Madame Charlotte de la Tour.
Thanks to the inspiration of Lady Mary a century earlier, floriography became a common practice during the Victorian era. Different flowers had different meanings, as well as the number of flowers in a bouquet. The grander the bouquet, the more complex were the feelings and message of the sender. Because of their wide variety of colors, roses were a great way of communicating. For example, one red rose meant love at first sight, while two dozen red roses symbolized eternal love. A peach-colored rose was sent to express thanks or gratitude.
You may wonder when chocolate made its entrance into the festivities. Our beloved confectionery treat was also a Victorian success. Richard Cadbury, an English chocolatier of the 19th century, was the first to link romance and chocolates when he created a heart-shaped box of chocolates for Valentine's Day in 1868. He did not patent the box but simply carved the way for other chocolatiers to use this idea. The Victorian culture's love of sentiment embraced it. After enjoying the chocolates, consumers would still have a keepsake to store their precious trinkets. Receiving a box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day is still a tradition enjoyed across the world.[ii]
At Upton Tea Imports, our special language is tea! We combine tea with both chocolate and roses, respectively, in a wonderful selection of teas to please both your sweetheart and your sweet tooth. Enjoy!
High-quality Chinese black tea is lightly scented with rose petals, creating a naturally aromatic, sweet cup with a very subtle hint of rose.
NT101: Rose Flavored China Black Congou
This naturally flavored black tea combines the lovely scent and flavor of rose with the toasty, earthy character of a premium China Congou. The captivating floral aroma is complemented by a hint of warming spices and sugary sweetness. The smooth cup has a rich mouth feel with a nuance of ripe fruit, which provides the perfect accent to the rose flavor that lingers in the soft, clean finish.
The fruit of the rose plant steeps a mildly floral, tart flavor in a caffeine-free beverage.
NT103: Chocolate Orange Spice Keemun Black Tea
A harmonious tapestry of scents — melted milk chocolate, clementine orange, cardamom, and nutmeg — elevate the aroma. With its pairing of sweet orange and cocoa notes, the flavor tastes like a Christmas chocolate orange, with a hint of warmth from the cardamom. The lingering finish is crisp and citrusy. While offering notes of bittersweet cocoa, please note that the medium-roasted Nicaraguan cacao nibs lend a glossy sheen across the surface of the cup.
NT102: Chocolate Banana Bread Keemun Black Tea
Medium-roast Nicaraguan cacao nibs lend a rich chocolate flavor and glossy sheen to the cup. As you take your first sip, you are greeted by a vibrant cacao aroma, joined by hints of ripe banana and vanilla cream. These hints become prominent notes in the flavor, complemented by sweet, dark cocoa notes and a hint of cinnamon. Bittersweet chocolate lingers in the finish, completing this delightful dessert-in-a-cup experience.
NT104: Chocolate Mint Chip Keemun Black Tea
Medium-roast Nicaraguan cacao nibs lend a rich chocolate flavor and glossy sheen to the cup. As you take your first sip, you are greeted by a vibrant cacao aroma, joined by hints of ripe banana and vanilla cream. These hints become prominent notes in the flavor, complemented by sweet, dark cocoa notes and a hint of cinnamon. Bittersweet chocolate lingers in the finish, completing this delightful dessert-in-a-cup experience.
TSA5: Chocolate Truffle Colombian Black Tea
Formerly called "Cacao Kisses," this decadent Colombian black tea combines cacao husks and nibs, from small chocolate producers in the Tumaco region, with bold, dark brown leaves to create this unique, naturally flavored selection. Sweet notes from the black tea base provide the perfect accent for the rich cocoa flavor.
If you can’t choose only one chocolate tea from our selections, we offer a set of all 4 teas, each packaged in a small silver tin, SF04: Chocolate Teas Sampler Set. Happy Valentine’s Day!
[i] RoyalSociety.org. Say it with Flowers. https://royalsociety.org/blog/2019/10/say-it-with-flowers/
[ii] History.com. How Chocolate Became a Valentine’s Day Staple. https://www.history.com/news/valentines-day-chocolate-box-history-cadbury