Only the slightest hint of pineapple for sweetness here. Otherwise it is minty and forgettable.
“Only the slightest hint of pineapple for sweetness here. Otherwise it is minty and forgettable.” Read full tasting note
“As a huge NPS fan, I dashed off to purchase the sampler set from Simpson & Vail. It was delivered quickly and neatly packaged. A little gift to myself! We’re in the midst of planning a trip to...” Read full tasting note
“I’d only tried one of these National Park Collection teas, and really enjoyed it, so I figured it was time to sample some of the other ones. So I picked this one out at random to try. Pineapple...” Read full tasting note
“But no temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite. Every rock in its wall seems to glow with life.” John Muir, The Yosemite
In 1864, Abraham Lincoln signed an Act of Congress that transferred the land of Yosemite Valley to the State of California as a grant which prevented human settlement. John Muir, known as the “Father of the National Park system,” had a special place in his heart for Yosemite and lobbied Congress for the creation of the third national park in 1890. He continued to ask for additional protections for Yosemite National Park when he toured it with President Theodore Roosevelt, another strong advocate and conservationist. A close friend of Muir’s, Galen Clark, was the first man to serve as guardian commissioner of the area and he also played a huge role in the development of Yosemite National Park. The beauty of Yosemite has inspired many other famous people of the time, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, a transcendentalist; Ansel Adams, a photographer; and Therese Yelverton, a novelist.
Yosemite has a strong Native American culture and presence, which can be seen at the Yosemite Museum. The museum holds many Native American artifacts as well as a reconstructed village that is still used today for ceremonies and special gatherings. In 1929, the same year Simpson & Vail was incorporated, Maggie Howard, a Paiute, began working at the Yosemite Museum. She was one of the first American Indian women to arrange cultural demonstrations and she spent almost 15 years of her life educating the public about Native American culture in the Yosemite Valley.
Reading through historical and personal accounts of Yosemite, I was struck by a common theme used to describe this area. Many refer to Yosemite as “refreshing,” so my goal was to create a blend that was uplifting and soothing at the same time; a blend that refreshed the body and soul. Using herbs and flowers similar to those found in the park we came up with a blend of pineapple and spearmint that is a perfect marriage of flavors. When brewed the heavenly mint aroma, with a hint of pineapple, will tantalize your senses. Allow this blend to transport you from the comfort of your living room to the top of one of Yosemite’s many mountains, feeling the cool mountain breeze, and gazing upon the picturesque scenery.
Ingredients: Black teas, pineapple flavor, spearmint, and marigold petals.
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As a huge NPS fan, I dashed off to purchase the sampler set from Simpson & Vail. It was delivered quickly and neatly packaged. A little gift to myself! We’re in the midst of planning a trip to Yosemite, so I thought I’d start there.
I’ve now finished the Yosemite sample and tried it at several steeping lengths. I felt 4 minutes was the best steeping time and brought out the pineapple flavor more. That said, I hoped for more pineapple taste. I felt the spearmint was a more noticeable flavor.
All and all, a nice tea to kick off our trip plans but I’m not likely to order again.
Flavors: Pineapple, Spearmint
I’d only tried one of these National Park Collection teas, and really enjoyed it, so I figured it was time to sample some of the other ones. So I picked this one out at random to try. Pineapple and spearmint sounds good!
It’s tasty, but I would like more pineapple! The pineapple here is very soft and is more of an accent to the spearmint flavor. I do like the spearmint, and it’s not too strong. Sometimes spearmint can taste like chewing gum, but it’s just soft and refreshing here. The base tea is a little musty with some hay notes, which actually goes rather well with the herbaceous spearmint.
This probably isn’t one that I would reorder, just because there’s not quite enough pineapple here for me. But I’ll happily finish off the rest of the sample pouch! :)
Flavors: Hay, Herbaceous, Mint, Musty, Pineapple, Smooth, Spearmint, Sweet