So I thought I’d heard it all. That is until, I learned about gourmet tea cookies sold by Botanical Bakery located in Napa Valley, California. Sondra Wells, “planter, baker, tea cookie maker” and now owner of Botanical Bakery, began creating her tasty treats 10 years ago when preparing for a dinner party. That first cookie, Lavender Tea Cookies, was a big hit with her guests. Unknowing, this was the beginning of Botanical Bakery. A company that prides itself for its quality ingredients and creative cookie recipes.
Lavender Tea Cookies, is quite unique with its dominant butter and lavender flavors. A lover of butter cookies, I found the taste of the former ingredient delicious and the taste of the latter distinct. Delicately sweet, Lavender Tea Cookies contains: organic unbleached flour, organic sweet cream butter, organic pure cane sugar, organic lavender buds, and vitamin E. While dense and buttery, the lavender left a slight vegetal after taste.
Intrigued, I was compelled to move on to Cinnamon Basil Tea Cookies. Crafted with the same ingredients, albeit two
modifications – no lavender, instead basil and cinnamon. Upon removal from the packaging, the basil was immediately recognizable. My first bite, was robust with butter and basil, yet the cinnamon was surprisingly mild. A typically dominant spice, I found the cinnamon enhanced the buttery flavor by adding a second layer of sweetness. Visually, Cinnamon Tea Cookies, looked unlike any cookie I’ve ever seen. Pieces of basil were intermingled throughout the petite cookie.
After nibbling on both cookies, it was definitely tea time. With the kettle preparing to boil, I opened the package containing my last cookie. Cardamom Tea Cookies smelled divine. One of the reasons I love chai tea is because it often contains cardamom. Thus the combination of cardamom and butter made me giddy just thinking about it. My first bite solidified not only my love for this cookie, but my decision to brew a cuppa chai tea. Again, the ingredients were the same as the last two cookies, minus the cinnamon and basil but with the addition of green cardamom. I found Cardamom Tea Cookies sweet and spicy and truly delicious. Perfect for eating along side a cup of tea.
Armed with a hot cup of chai tea, I finished each cookie, saving Cardamom Tea for last. The taste of each cookie was further enhanced by a sip of tea. Botanical Bakery cookies are sweet enough to enjoy alone, but not so sweet as to alter the taste of the tea. The perfect complement.
To learn more about Sondra Wells and Botanical Bakery or to place an order, visit their website at http://botanicalbakery.com. Until we meet again… Happy Tea Drinking!
WOw, I’m definitely going to check out those Lavendar cookies. Sounds divine with tea!
Cheers,
Karen O.
[...] earlier I sampled and reviewed several Botanical Bakery products. See Tea Escapade Blog Post: Botanical Bakery – Tea Cookies. At that time, there were only four varieties of their yummy tea cookies [...]