When it comes to lattes, there are two different types of tea that tend to work best: Chai and Earl Greys (London Fogs, anyone?!). I have found that any variation of these kinds of tea tend to take to the latte method beautifully, whether that be plain or flavored versions or even just heavily spiced teas inspired by Chai. I usually reach for the spiced teas/chai blends but today I went for something different: Lavender Cream by Tea Sparrow.
Lavender Cream is an Earl Grey black tea made with lavender petals, vanilla pieces, lavender extract, and vanilla extract. The ingredients leave me torn since I love vanilla in teas and I really don’t love lavender and it is that lavender that has had me putting off trying this tea for months.
The tea smells delightful, both dry and after steeping thanks to the bergamot. Unfortunately that lovely scent does not translate to the taste of the tea which I am not loving. It is creamy but then a soapy taste takes over. I blame the lavender for that one. There is also an underlying astringency that Earl Grey teas often have, though here it is tampered by the milk.
Many people love this type of tea and for those people, this may be a nice blend to try. However, for me, the lavender was a deal breaker. It is always nice to try something new but I am happy with the one latte.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea Sparrow
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
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!
Sleep from We Are Tea. . . .
Oh, my aching back! I have a severe case of text neck that has traveled down my shoulder and upper back and sleeping has been a bit rough lately. A friend told me that tulsi is the best pain-in-the-neck reliever and I would love to get a good night’s sleep, so let’s see if it gives some relief.
When I mix my own tulsi blend I usually just put tulsi and lavender. This blend also has chamomile and rose. It looks beautiful in the sachet and is clearly nice big pieces and not dust. You can tell it is fresh by the lovely colors of the ingredients – no oasty gray here. And the sachet is made of cornstarch! No nylon in this baby, so I can toss the whole thing in my compost tomorrow – after I resteep it, of course!
After three minutes of steeping, I am ready to be enticed away to la-la land. The tea tastes and smells primarily of tulsi to me even though that is the last ingredient listed. Secondly, I taste chamomile and then the lavender and rose equally and subtly. It is a little bit savory and a whole lot relaxing. There is a lingering herbal aftertaste and it isn’t really floral, but still savory.
I could swear I feel my jaw unclenching, and I didn’t even realize it was clenched…
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: We Are Tea
Description
There aren’t many things that a good night’s sleep can’t fix, so we created this ultimate night time blend to help you along the way. Settle your mind, sink into your pillow and let this caffeine free tea melt the pressure away. No sheep counting required!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Strawberry Lavender Fields from Socra Tea Detroit. . . .
I was very interested to try Strawberry Lavender Fields tea. Not only does this tea fuse three very distinct flavors, (strawberry, peppermint and lavender), but it starts with a black tea and honeybush base, two of my favorite types of tea! The dry leaves had a light strawberry and mint aroma and were actually very pretty with the purple lavender pieces peeking through the black tea leaves. I steeped the tea with boiling water for 2 minutes per the package directions.
The blend of China, India and Ceylon black tea was the first thing that really came through in my initial sip. There was a bit of astringency with the black tea and I can understand why they suggested just a 2 minute steep time to keep the tea from becoming too astringent. A blast of peppermint follows the initial black tea taste, nothing too intense but a nice, fresh mint flavor. Unfortunately the strawberry gets a bit lost between the black tea and mint. The fruit is there however it is extremely light. I didn’t pick up on any honeybush at all. A very subtle floral note from the lavender dominates the aftertaste.
I suspect that this tea would do well cold brewed as that may help to enhance the berry flavor. Overall I did enjoy this blend and am anxious to try it iced, however, I do wish that the strawberry was a bit more prevalent.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Socra Tea Detroit
Description
By popular demand! This is a complementary blend of sweet, musky & floral for hot or iced beverages.
Ingredients: Black tea from China, India, and Ceylon, strawberry pieces, peppermint leaves, MICHIGAN GROWN English Lavender & honeybush.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Lavender Ginger Mint from Yerba Buena Tea. . . . .
Well, friends, the plague has hit our home. It feels like we’ve been sick for a thousand years, but it’s probably closer to three weeks. After having no taste for tea (WHO AM I) for the first two weeks, and drowning my coughing sorrows in all the throat coat tea in the tri-city area, I was finally feeling like branching out. This herbal blend from Yerba Buena was everything I was craving.
While all three of these particular herbals have a tendency to be overpowering, in this blend, they work PERFECTLY. Maybe it’s the softer, sweeter spearmint, or the gentle hint of lavender and ginger in the background, this cuppa is just as appropriate for an omg-get-me-some-sick-day tea variety as it would be for a bedtime wind-down. Mmm. Just the ticket.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Yerba Buena Tea
Description
You’re a butterfly, floating gently above the French countryside, hills of purple lavender rolling for miles in the sun. The minty fresh ginger goodness from a cup of steeping herbal brew wafts up and wakes you from a daydream so joyful you can hardly believe it’s true. Could it be that this is only tea?
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
