Just the Facts
*Tea Type: Tisane / Herbal
*Region: Not Specified
*Caffeine Level: None
*Ingredients: sweet apple, light lavender, and chamomile.
*Description: apple sweetened tea with a flowery hint.
*Appearance: small dried chamomile and lavender buds with bits of dried apple.
*Brewing Instructions: Temp of 212*F or 100*C. Brew 3-5 minutes.
*Multiple Infusions: No
*Aroma: apples with herbs.
*Color: light champagne
*Tasting Notes: apples, lavender and chamomile.
*Availability: In stock / Sold in Temples (sachets)
The Review
I often find myself drinking herbal tea when I want to remedy an aspect of my life or health. It’s not uncommon for me to pull out a ginger or peppermint tea when a digestive ailment plagues me, and chamomile or lavender to calm. Lately, I have had difficulty regulating my sleep cycle so I was eager to try Snooze Tea by Teapigs. Before I had released the temple, the term used to describe their pyramid shaped tea bags, I had heaped upon it my desperate desire for immediate and a deep recuperative sleep. I know, I imposed sleeping pill expectations that no tea could live up to. However, what I did find was a calming chameleon in a sachet. I use the term chameleon to describe teas with tasting notes that change when a different sweetener or steeping applications is introduced.
I was unable to find the amount of water to be used for their single serve tea temples on the website or packaging. I tend to like a stronger tea which prompted me to use 6 ounces of water heated to 212F or 100C, and the steep time of 5 minutes. The color was that of light champagne and the aroma reminiscent of a farmers market in the south of France. Sweet earthy apples, warm chamomile, and heady lavender wafted from the cup. I pictured myself riding a 1950’s lavender-blue cruiser style bicycle with a wicker basket on the front packed with cheese, bread, and produce. I giggled when I pictured myself falling off the bicycle because I haven’t ridden in over 25 years; so much for that daydream and the now crushed wicker basket.
I parted the brewed tea into three 2 ounce portions and commenced with my tasting. The plain brew had a heavy herbal taste to it that left a minty-medicinal finish; odd, given that I didn’t remember mint being listed amongst the ingredients. The portion sweetened with white sugar had a pronounced pleasant floral aroma and finish. Finally, the remaining portion sweetened with clover honey brought forth an apple crispness and finish. I found both sweetened versions incredibly enjoyable.
While they did not induce sleep, they did calm my mind and spirit. I would not recommend these teas be paired with strong dishes, but they would compliment light fare such as cheese and crackers. Really, any foods where you want to add an apple or herbaceous note. Better yet, drink it alone or try it as a refreshing iced tea on those hot summer days when you want something light but thirst-quenching.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Teapigs
Description
Fancy. Sweet apple, light lavender and a flowery hint.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Stress Less/Lipton. . . .
It’s been ‘forever and a day’ since I have tried a new-to-me-tea from Lipton, to be honest. But since I’m looking to try more herbal tisanes I figured WHY NOT.
Stress Less from Lipton was one of these herbals I have tried as of late. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at the flavor. It all seemed to mesh well and nothing was too overpowering.
This offering had Cinnamon, Chamomile, and Lavender in it. In the past I have been know to avoid herbals with a Chamomile base. The more I drink the more I seem to open my mind with that specific ingredient. I tend to lean towards those that pair with mint or chai type spices, hence, the cinnamon in this one.
I can see how this one could help mellow you out. Those 3 ingredients have a long history of that. But for me, the mellow flavors that meshed so well, is what convinced me to give this another sip next time I come across it.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Lipton
Description
Relax, rewind, then press play again with Lipton Stress Less Caffeine-Free Herbal Supplement, containing cinnamon, chamomile, and lavender. Stress Less is a comforting, cozy herbal infusion to help you unwind*. Carefully selected botanicals are blended with lavender essential oil that make every cup delicious. Enjoy a daily cup or two of Lipton Stress Less to supplement your varied, balanced diet. For the perfect cup, brew tea bag 4-6 minutes in freshly boiled water. Wellbeing by Lipton. Feel Happy & Healthy. *This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Rose City Rooibos from Beach House Teas. . . . .
Spring and summer are my favorite time for drinking floral teas, complementing the flowers blooming outside of my teacup. So this seemed like the perfect time to try a cup of Rose City Rooibos from Beach House Teas.
This is the first tea I’ve tried from Beach House Teas so I took a look at their website. Family-run business in the Pacific Northwest with a focus on organic and wild ingredients, producing hand-blended teas. They also have an Etsy shop, if that’s more your style. They even offer herb-infused sugar for cooking, and herb infused salts and bath bombs for the bath.
Let’s get back to the tea at hand, Rose City Rooibos. Like many tea blends on Beach House Teas, this blend looks great in the dry leaf with beautiful curled rose blossoms in pink and cream, and the rich russet tones of the red rooibos.
Brewed, this tea is smooth and simple, with the nutty, caramel tones of the red rooibos with gentle floral overtones. The ingredients list says there is peppermint in this blend as well, but the mint gets lost under all the rooibos taste and rose scent. I wouldn’t mind more peppermint in the next batch to help add more dimension to the flavor set of this blend. I usually favor teas with a bit more punch to their flavors, so I might not brew this one again. Overall this was very simple and comforting.
This tea’s description calls this a “liquid spa” and I won’t deny that the floral notes are relaxing, and the rose petals are captivating to look at. A good tea for when you need some relaxing aromatherapy.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Beach House Teas
Description:
Rose City Rooibos is 100% organic loose leaf tea blended with red rooibos tea, rose petals, peppermint, and pure extract. This floral elixir is all about beauty and what better way to surround yourself in beauty than rose petals and rooibos that’s like a liquid spa?
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Liquid Luck from Friday Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Friday Tea
Tea Description:
This golden brew is one of Tea Girl’s finest! A magical tisane that reminds us of a peach orchard at the height of summer. Warm, fruity, herby, and slightly spiced. Definitely a favorite hot or iced!
Ingredients: Peach, apple, orange, cinnamon, chamomile, blue cornflower
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have been wanting to try Friday Tea’s offerings for a while. And to my delight the other day I received a box from them thru a gift exchange I recently participated in.
This tea was the first one I had to try. A lovely herbal blend of peaches, apple, orange cinnamon, chamomile, and blue cornflower. The tea itself was gorgeous to look at and smelled amazingly fruity . I couldn’t wait to brew the tea up.
Steeped in water that was fresh boiled and allowed to sit for a few minutes, this tea was amazingly fruity, vibrant and delicious. You first get a lovely base of the peaches with notes of cinnamon giving the tea a bit of a spiced kick, but a gentle kick. The chamomile comes in next providing the blend with an almost baked dessert feeling and taste. Each sip finishes off with a lush citrus note that lovingly completes the tea.
What I am trying to say, is this tea is dynamite! One of the better herbal teas I’ve had in a while and one that is impressive from the first sip. I’m on my second infusion and this tea is continuing to give this really bright and vibrant peachy flavor. I can just imagine making this into a cold brew or as an iced tea. This is one of those teas that will be amazing (I bet) anyway you prep it.
I’m excited to dig into the rest of the box to see what other lovely teas I have from them. I see a possible order in my future! Friday Tea offers quite a few unique teas that I can’t wait to check out.
Lilith’s Fabulous Tea from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Since it’s the week of my youngest daughter’s birthday, I decided I should create a tea inspired by her. Two of her favorite fruit flavors (especially fruit tea flavors) are Lemon and Blueberry. And she has felt a special love for cotton candy ever since she portrayed “cotton candy” in her ballet company’s rendition of Hansel & Gretel. So I put those three flavors together with her favorite tea base – white tea – and came up with this “fabulous” blend.
Now, lemon, blueberry and cotton candy may seem a little weird, but, it actually tastes quite FABULOUS!
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn about subscribing to 52Teas Tea of the Week program here.
Taster’s Review:
This tea from the start was absolutely gorgeous! I adored the huge chunks of fruit and the gorgeous presentation of the tea overall. The pops of color really gave this tea a vibrant overall take. Just lovely!
Brewed this up at work and was excited to treat myself to a tea that had any kind of connection to cotton candy. I mean c’mon. Cotton Candy is amazing! With that in mind, I couldn’t wait for this tea to finish steeping so I could take my first taste.
Took my first sip and I was sad to say that I didn’t get bulled over and wowed with lemon or blueberry flavors. They were present and delicious but it was like something was missing. So I cold brewed this tea.
Cold brewing sometimes can really pull out flavors that you would never expect from a tea. I cold brewed this tea overnight and my goodness, this tea was simply one of the best cold brewed teas I have ever have. Delicious all the way around. Beautiful lemon notes with a vibrant blueberry undertone. The white tea base laid a nice groundwork of subtly sweet and lightly floral like notes. Heaven in a glass. I added in some fresh lemon slices and a few blueberries . . . can’t get much better than that. It looks like there is still some of this sweet lovin’ tea on the site . . . If you want some of this amazing lemon blueberry white tea. . .you should probably check it out soon before I do!