I think I’ve mentioned before that while my fiancé and I love to share a good pot of tea (in fact, hot beverages pre-bedtime are kind of our thing), it’s rare that we find teas that we both a) like and b) are craving at the same time c) are not crazy caffeinated (card-carrying member of the “can’t handle her caffeine” club over here while my dude can drink coffee until 1 AM). So when this interesting blend from Culinary Teas found its way into my cabinet, I thought it miiiight just be crazy to pique both of our interests.
And on the surface, ‘crazy’ isn’t such an overstatement on the description of this blend. In a good way, of course. A base of green tea and red rooibos, this tea brings together flavors of papaya, chocolate, strawberries and peppermint. I’ve gotta say– I had no idea how this one was going to brew up. But it was straight-up delightful! I can’t say I could pick out any of the aforementioned flavors specifically, other than a hint of fruit here and a touch of herbs there, may a slight chocolate aftertaste– but it all worked together surprisingly well. And for my hearty-tea-loving partner, it was just robust enough to satisfy his cravings without being overdone. And of course, a necessity for me– none of that trademarked medicinal aftertaste that I always fear might linger in a rooibos.
There may only be a few teas that my dude and I love to share together, but that list is now one tea longer with the addition of this blend from Culinary Teas. Yum!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos & Green blend
Where to Buy: Culinary Teas
Description
Here is an unusual but delicious combination celebrating mothers, the arrival of spring, and giving us an exotic lift with the flavors of rooibos and papaya.
We created this blend thinking of a Mom who always dreamed of traveling to distant tropical places but never had the opportunity. She loves green tea, strawberry, mint, and chocolate. So why not blend all of these together? To surprise her we added the rooibos and papaya pieces round out the blend.
This tea is low in caffeine and refreshing, taken hot or cold. It is perfect tea to enjoy while spending time with your Mom watching a late afternoon sunset. The light will intensify the rich color of the brew.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Jasmine Pecan Shortbread from A Quarter To Tea. . . .
I know Jasmine Pecan Shortbread is one of those teas that the name just intrigues you right off the bat and if its coming from A Quarter To Tea. . well than I’m really intrigued!
A Quarter To Tea offers unique hand blended small batch flavored teas that are simply brilliant. I’ve ordered my fair share of A Quarter To Teas and have never been disappointed. So I knew when I took a gamble on this particular blend, it would deliver.
And it did!
Let’s start with the buttery smooth green tea base that has a lovely jasmine flavor that doesn’t overwhelm but is noticeable. The pecan notes are the true star of the show. That flavor really brings home the pecan shortbread in the title of this tea.
You wouldn’t think those flavors would work together but they really do. Each sip you are presented with this sweet, nutty, and slightly floral flavor that delivers a truly unique and addicting flavor. There is even a slight vanilla and almost custard flavor as well.
Just delicious and giving me that sweet flavor I need without reaching for the candy bowl. Really lovely and I can’t seem to get enough of that nutty finish. This one is still available and one that I see using some of my Christmas money to get more of.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
Lovely vanilla, butter and pecans flavors with a jasmine background. Definitely try more than one steep — the more steeps, the more the jasmine comes to play!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Thunderstorm from Tea & Tins #VeganMoFo2016
Today’s Vegan MoFo prompt is all about How It’s Easy Being Green. . thought this was the perfect time to chat about a new flavored tea I just tried!
We’ve been having a lot of Thunderstorms where I live lately. Fall Thunderstorms. There isn’t anything quite like them. So when I saw Thunderstorms by Tea & Tins in my ‘yet to be sampled’ pile I knew the time was right to try it for more than one reason!
Green tea, coconut lime flavor, spearmint, lemongrass, coconut, lemon bits, and calendula petals is what makes up the flavor of Thunderstorms by Tea & Tins. This is a fantastically flavored green tea. I’m not sure why but I can’t get enough of lemon bits these days! Anything and everything lemon I adore as of late! Thunderstorms by Tea & Tins didn’t disappoint.
Thunderstorms by Tea & Tins has just the right amount of everything! The lemon is lush and juicy, the mint gives it a nice minty-fresh contrast, the coconut provides the sweetness and creaminess, and the green tea is a bit on the sweeter side, too!
I had a cup of this hot and a cup of this iced! I enjoyed both cups very much. So much so that I am not sure which I enjoyed more! I guess liking both equally isn’t a bad problem to have, now is it?
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Tea & Tins
Description
Loose leaf green tea, as refreshing as a summer thunderstorm!
Ingredients: green tea, coconut lime taste with spearmint, lemongrass, coconut, lemon bits and calendula petals
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
The Brew Is Out There by Geeky Teas
Hello Tea Friends!
I’m guilty of sometimes picking a tea for it’s name and that pretty much describes why I’ve gone for this blend. In the 90’s I was a huge X Files fan and I would faithfully watch every episode when it aired. It was one of the only tv shows that me and my mother both liked so we would spend the time together watching it and I have some wonderful memories. Not to mention some of the gripping, jaw dropping story lines in the show that left me awe inspired. When you’re young the likes of camouflage monsters and brain eating aliens are enough to cause playground chatter. If you’re not an X Files fan or have no idea what this tea has to do with it then let me clarify – The Truth Is Out There was a common slogan used on the show. That same slogan has since been featured on UFO posters and various other merchandise.
This tea is a blend of Green tea with vanilla, orange peel, natural lemon and orange flavour and sunflower petals. At least that is what the website says. So as I open my sample and give it a sniff I can smell an uplifting lemongrass, citrus scent with a creamy vanilla undertone. Looking at the blend it’s loosely chopped with some fine pieces of green tea and notable sunflower petals. In my sample I cannot find any orange pieces that are shown in the picture on the website but I must stress this is a small sample so that’s probably why.
Steeping Parameters: 4g loose leaf, 600ml teapot, 80C water temperature for 2 minutes. Ps. Also using my Ghostbusters mug.
Once steeped the resulting tea liquid is honey in colour and bares a sweet and creamy citrus scent.
The first few sips reveal a toasted grass base with a wave of creamy vanilla and a burst of fragrant lemongrass and citrus. It’s like a fire, once lit it burns brightly and gets more intense until it finally dies out. That is pretty much the strength and character of this blend at first. The tea plants the green tea base before becoming creamy and stronger which leads to a refreshing citrus before it all dies down into a distant memory. I like the combination of citrus and vanilla, it sounds rather odd but it does go very well together. Instead of the citrus being too sharp or sour the vanilla softens and sweetens it, to create a very relaxing blend. I also like that the green tea (which I believe to be Chinese Sencha from it’s appearance) comes through in the blend so that the flavours don’t dominate it completely. It’s also not too strong considering the small, broken down leaf pieces from the green tea (which is why I gave it a 2 minute steep ie smaller leaves usually means shorter steep).
Half way down the mug (with memories of Mulder *swoon* and the X Files theme tune in my head) the citrus has become a little stronger, which could be because it’s also cooled slightly; to a more waxy taste. Also the vanilla has become more neutral whilst the green tea leaves a slight dryness on the tongue with each additional sip. But my mouth is perfumed with the melody of citrus.
I enjoyed this blend. The mix of citrus and vanilla actually match Mulder and Scully in the show. Mulder is vanilla with his sweet yet smooth charm and Scully is citrus with it’s powerful, refreshing and clear essence. The two work well together and each balance the other, citrus stops vanilla from being too sweet and vanilla stops citrus from being too sour. The green tea adds depth and the overall blend leaves a wonderful, perfumed, I said it was perfumed which is because of the dryness and it’s overall strength, but in reality it tasted natural rather than synthetic. I also want to add that this has given me a little energy boost as well.
It’s inspired me to have a re-watch after all of these years, I will have to break out the X Files box sets. For now at least I can have faith, for The Brew Is Out There!
Until next time, Happy Steeping!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea Blend
Where to Buy: Geeky Teas
Description:
Green tea with vanilla, orange peels, natural lemon and orange flavor and sunflower petals, goes great with honey from hybridized bees. Brews up a lovely green color.
I want to believe!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Paraiso from Dave and Solomon Teas
I have only had Yerba maté once, and it was plain and roasted. I didn’t care for it but felt it might appeal to a coffee drinker, which I am not.
I see there is Yerba mate in this but I don’t taste it, or at least it doesn’t taste like the roasted maté I had.
Which brings me to what it does taste like. Heaven. It smells and tastes like heaven. It smells so good that the rest of my tea was hijacked by my kid and she stuck a flag in the remaining leaves to claim it as her territory. My husband was passing as we were drinking it and smelled the tea and asked if he could have some, too. The aroma really is pretty irresistible.
There are large chunks of dried fruit in this and I really wish I had eaten them, but I kept them there to see if this wonderful angel would resteep, AND IT DID! Glory be, that’s like double the tea for my kid to take away from me!
This is super sweet and smooth, and although their description says it makes great iced tea, I haven’t tried it that way yet.
I am happy to have something I can buy on the sly for a certain young lady as a stocking surprise for Christmas. And I may have to hijack a few leaves, myself.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Dave and Solomons Tea
Description
Yerba Mate, Green Tea, Rooibos, Papaya, Apples, Oranges, Lemongrass, Marigolds, Malva Blossoms, Cornflower & Safflower Petals, Pineapple & Natural Flavors
Steep 1 tsp. per 8 oz. of boiling Water 3- 5 min. Sweeten & Enjoy! Hot 0r Iced!
The combination of these ingredients creates a somewhat tart & grassy earthy foundation
with an almost mango/peachy vibe to it, especially at the back of each sip.
This is another tea that makes a very impressive Iced Tea!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
