Being a tea addict, I love my teaware almost as much as the tea itself. There is something about getting a new mug or a new teapot and adding the piece to your collection. I already have a few Grosche pieces in my collection but I have to say, this is one of my favorites! The Aspen Tea Infuser Mug is the perfect answer to steeping loose leaf tea at work!
Let’s start with the mug itself. The mug is a great weighted glass mug that fits into the curve of your hand perfectly. I have this oddity where a mug has to feel right in my hand. Something just clicks and I know the mug and I are going to be friends. That happened instantly when I held this mug.
Now to the infuser portion of this set and why this is the perfect set up for an office environment. The infuser fits perfectly inside the mug with a little cap that goes on the top of the infuser. When you are steeping your tea, you can remove the cap and use it to place the infuser after you are finished steeping. No mess no fuss! You don’t need a tea ball or need to deal with an infuser stick. In just three pieces that are made remarkably well, you can steep tea to your heart’s content!
I’ve brewed up green tea, oolong tea, herbal tea, black tea, white tea, you name it, I’ve tried so many different varieties. And the process couldn’t be simplier! Scoop a few spoon fulls into your infuser, pour in your water, allow the tea to steep, remove the infuser, and you are set. Doesn’t get easier than that!
Clean up is easy as well. Just scoop the spent leaves out and you are set for your next cuppa! I’m a huge fan of this set up and am pondering picking up a few more for when I’m at my parents’ house or at home.
Overall, a wonderful addition to any tea lover’s collection or the perfect piece for a new tea enthusiast. I highly recommend this piece for anyone’s collection! Plus, whenever a product is purchased from Grosche, Grosche will create 5 days worth of healthy drinking water for someone in need on your behalf. Learn more about this wonderful project-The Safe Water Project here.
A great piece and a amazing cause. Just a few reasons why I love Grosche so much!
Here’s the scoop!
Where to Buy: Grosche
Description:
The Aspen tea infuser mug is the perfect personal tea mug for any loose leaf tea lover. The Aspen includes an infuser and a lid/infuser holder to keep mess to a minimum. The mesh infuser, made from 18-8 stainless steel, won’t allow your tea leaves to escape. This tea strainer cup has a very high quality and fine strainer, that will hold back even smaller leaf teas, and allow the full flavor to infuse into the water. You can even steep a fine Rooibos tea in the Aspen. So skip the messy tea ball, and step up to Aspen.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Awake from Tazo Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tazo
Tea Description:
A breakfast-style black tea of malty boldness and bright flavor, invigorating any time of day.
The sun peeks over the horizon through the clouds, a star streaks undetected across the sky and the world begins anew. This bold and flavorful blend of black teas will send you down the day’s path wondering where it will take you and if it’s possible to bring along a friend.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is another tea from my tea stash that for some reason I seem to have a lot of it. I think at one time, this was my go to tea in the mornings at work. I rarely drink it anymore but I’m on my mission to drink up some of this tea I have so here we go!
Awake is one of the better Tazo teas in my opinion. Just be careful with it. It turns on you quick and becomes very bitter.
I brewed the tea up like I do my black tea-212F-3 min. I let this cool off for a few minutes and took my time enjoying the tea.
This may not be the black tea around, but its tasty! I like the bold yet subtle nature of the tea. There is a nice malty feel in each sip and there are no hints of astringency around. Just smooth rich black tea. Another no mess no fuss tea that is perfect for those busy mornings or when you just need to do a grab and go kinda tea. What is also great is that most grocery stores carry this tea so it is easily accessible.
I’ll be happy when I can proudly say “SIPDOWN” (when all the teabags are gone). But this isn’t such a bad tea to drink this afternoon. It is definitely giving me a bit of a pep in my step for the afternoon.
Raspberry Rose Hibiscus from The Republic of Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: The Republic of Tea
Tea Description:
Herb Tea for Sweethearts – Every day should be a celebration of love. Raise a cup of this romantic blend with a base of flavorful, healthy Nigerian hibiscus. Sweet, ripe raspberries and delicate rose petals add fruity and floral notes. Enjoy this caffeine-free blend with the ones you cherish.
Raspberry Rose Hibiscus is a limited-edition, seasonal blend. When it’s gone, it’s gone.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh my! Can you say raspberry candy aroma?!? I think you can.
This tea bag smells just like raspberry candy. Incredibly fruity and very sweet smelling. This is another tea bag that I found in a box that I have sorely neglected. I thought I’d try this one as a nice after lunch sort of treat. Typically right after lunch, I crave something sweet. I’m hoping this herbal will do the trick!
I threw this tea bag in a cuppa water that was boiling for about 5 minutes. Since there is hibiscus in this, I didn’t want to let it steep for too long. First sip and I really am not getting any true flavors except just for a hot beverage. So I decided to let this steep just a bit longer.
Took another sip and while this smells so sweet and candy like, the flavor is more mild and subtle. The raspberry and rose are gentle but bring a nice quiet flavor. There is a sweetness there but I can’t really put my finger on what is bringing the sweetness out. I see that in the ingredients listed there is vanilla, but I don’t think that is it.
I’m quite surprised with this tea. With the fragrance that is coming from my tea cup, you’d think I was drinking the sweetest sugary raspberry tea that there ever was. Instead I am greeted with this relaxed slightly raspberry slightly floral herbal tea. I can barely even taste the hibiscus. This might be one I need to experiment and play with more. Maybe even try this one as a cold brew or iced tea. I’m quite content with this one.
Usually I feel that The Republic of Tea has either hit or miss teas. . This one just might be a hit.
The Full English from Twinings
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Twinings
Tea Description:
This tea is not available on the US Twinings website.
Learn more about Twinings Black Tea options for the US here
Taster’s Review:
I am on a quest. A quest to drink down some tea. My tea cupboard has gotten outrageously out of control. So I am now honor and duty bound to drink some up before this coming fall season when there will be pumpkin spice and apple pie teas tempting me to gobble and snatch them up!
The first one I grab is one that isn’t available in the US. This is something that I have always been confused about. Twinings has a US store and an international store. The international store has an amazing selection of teas that make me drool thinking about them. But alas,the same selection isn’t available on the US site. Eventually one of these days, I’ll order form the international store and deal with the higher shipper cost. For now, I’m happy I was able to try this one.
The Full English is a tea I believe I picked up from a Steepster member who was putting together some pretty amazing boxes from her travels. I couldn’t resist. I kept reading these amazing reviews from teas she had picked up from other Steepsterites and I wanted to be part of the club!
I say this with my head low but this is the first time I’ve even cracked into the box. I know! Shame on me. Like I said, my tea cupboard is getting out of control.
I brewed this up like a traditional black-212F-3 minutes and pulled the tea bag out. I didn’t want to leave this one in which turned out to be a good thing. At 3 minutes this tea was already turning bitter. The first few sips were just plain lovely black unadulterated black tea. Nothing fancy, just good. But as this starts to cool, the bitterness is swooping in.
For a tea at work, this one would do, but I would be afraid that I would constantly have an issue with the bitterness. This is definitely one you don’t want to forget about. I can just picture this one being lovely when at a tea party or enjoying a spot of milk in it along with a treat. Yum!
Moroccan Tea by Alokozay
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Alokozay
Tea Description:
Moroccan Tea is a perfect balance of Gunpowder Green Tea and dried Peppermint leaves, this stunning classic is refreshing, reviving and inspiring.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Sometimes the teas that hit the spot are the simplest teas that you ignore in the back of your stash. I haven’t been ignoring this one per say but I don’t always drink tea bagged tea anymore. I seem to leave those as a last resort. For shame on me once again!
I have noticed this brand several times on Amazon but never really took a second look. For a Moroccan Tea this one isn’t too bad. The mint is strong and the green is tea is nice and refreshing. This tea didn’t provide any kind of wow factor that I usually look for.
Not sure I would love to own more of this but to try it, I’d say its decent. I just really enjoy some of the other tea companies versions of this tea like Tealated. Telated has a marvelous Moroccan Tea that is simply done but there is a bit more complexity to it with a roasted finish.
Like I said, I wouldn’t run right out and pick more of this up, but I definitely favor this bagged tea over others. I’m curious now about this brand and want to try some more. Looks like they have some interesting flavors on their site. I do have to say it is nice to have a reliable tea on hand for when guests are around or when you don’t want to mess with loose leaf tea. This one could fit that bill pretty well!