I don’t know what’s going on with my tastebuds lately but the spicier the tea, the better it tastes to me. I used to pass over ginger teas all the time because I just wasn’t a fan. Now, I’m searching high and low for ginger and even black pepper tea blends. Just can’t get enough of them.
Which is why Ginger Chili Tisane really fit what my taste buds were craving. Plus the fact that this blend has green rooibos in it, just makes this tea that more inviting.
Ginger Chili Tisane is a mix of green rooibos, ginger, lemon peel, rosemary, cloves, and chili flakes. So interesting and unique and as a side note, a blend that is organic. I’m so happy this blend has green rooibos as its base instead of red rooibos. Red rooibos is really the only tea that I just have trouble trying or enjoying. But green rooibos and I are the best of buds!
I brewed up this tea with water prepped at 212F and allowed to steep for 5 minutes. For my first experience with this tea, I wanted to stay on the side of safe. The instructions actually call for a 5-7 minute steep. I think next time I enjoy this tea, I’ll go with the full blow 7 minutes or even a cold brew!
The first experience of this tea is one of wonderment. The green rooibos provides and lays down a heavy rich honey flavor that is quite smooth. The ginger and chili add in that spice that isn’t overwhelming by any means. I actually wish the ginger and chili were a bit stronger which is easily remedied by a stronger steep I’m thinking. The cloves bring in that familiar chai feel while the rosemary contrasts the sweet honey by a touch of a savory note. I’m left with the feeling that if I would have added in another scoop or even allowed the tea to steep a few more minutes, if that lingering spice that is described on the website wouldn’t have been more noticeable.
All in all, just delicious. Sweet and spicy for sure but more on the milder spice. But again, the spice may increase with a longer steep. I would love to add in a touch of black pepper to this tea to see if those spices don’t kick it up to the level of craving even more!
For my first experience with Arbor Teas, I’m impressed. It seems (and I know I’ve said this before) that you find yourself in a rut, drinking the same kind of tea again, and again. Ginger Chili Tisane definitely brings in flavors to shake up your tastebuds!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Arbor Teas
Description
We are extremely excited to offer this *hot* new organic herbal tea. Naturally caffeine-free, this loose leaf tisane packs a punch! With an herbaceous nose of rosemary, citrus, and ginger, its aroma reminds of a fragrant cocktail. But, once it is consumed you’ll be surprised by the warming and lingering heat! The liquor starts off mellow and sweet and then WHAM — the chili sets in to become the predominant flavor and you are not drinking a simple herbal tea, but along for a spicy, hot thrilling ride! Add a little honey to create a sweet and spicy organic tea concoction.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Maharaja Chai and Samurai Chai Blend from Teavana. . . . .
If you’re anything like me, your friends and family know you love your tea– and have been gifting accordingly this Christmas. In a recent office secret santa swap, I hit the total tea jackpot– a brand new gravity (gravi-tea– heee :)) steeper for my desk at work, and a GIGANTIC tin of this chai blend from Teavana. Score!
Now, early on in my tea-drinking years, Teavana was an initial fave, but in the last few years as I’ve discovered amazing small-batch companies and other small businesses that I love to patronize, I don’t really shop at this iconic mall tea shop anymore. That being said, I know they’re a beloved staple for so many tea drinkers, so I was pumped to get to try one of their more popular blends this holiday season through the generosity of a work friend.
First things first: does this dry leaf ever have the SCENT! It is perhaps the strongest spice from dry leaf that I’ve ever had. Super present are the scents of anise and cardamom, which jump right out to me in the brewed cup as well. This is lovely with some cream, no sweetener needed (unless you like your chai syrupy). My only complaint is that this blend is SO heavy on the spice that I can’t taste any of the tea leaf in my cup– which is supposedly a blend of mate, oolong, and green rooibos. I’d love for this to taste more distinctly tea-ified rather than just being so strong on the spices, but if you’re a fan of spiced chai like I am, this one will hit all the notes of a good chai for you. And deliciously warming for the wintertime, to boot!
Nicely done on this blend, Teavana.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong/Mate blend
Where to Buy: Teavana
Description
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Limoncello from The NecessiTeas. . .A Hand Blended Treat!
Calling all fans of citrus, vanilla, and sugar! Come on, come all, to this lemon-meringue delight! So sweet that if it weren’t a tea, your teeth would fall out and your waistline would be DESTROYED!
Of COURSE the kids are invited to this tea! It’s DECAF! They won’t be springing around on their beds while you’re trying to sleep, ma’m. No, SIREE.
You! You back there! You say you don’t have a sweet tooth? Keep going, you monster. I can’t imagine what your life is like.
Don’t know what lemon-meringue is? How about lemonade, the sugary kind they make by hand at county fairs? Or how about those lemon lollipops they hand out at the doctor’s office? Lemon Starburst? You know you like that!
Even Starling’s picky dad likes this tea! He even went so far as to add sugar to it, which I don’t recommend doing at first, folks. Try before you sugar. You will probably find that the tea suffices on its own. Gotta hang onto those chompers. You never know when you’ll need ’em!
Thanks for coming to the tea circus, ladies and gentlemen! Enjoy your day.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal/Green Rooibos
Where to Buy: The NecessiTeas
Description
The Italian dessert drink has made its way into a tea. Imagine lemon meringue teasing your taste buds, while sweetly melting in your mouth with a blend of vanilla and brown sugars. The lemony brightness shines through with lemongrass and a sprinkling of golden marigold petals, all topping a green rooibos tea.
Your tea is hand packaged in an airtight tin at no additional charge.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Holiday Tea Alert! Snickerdoodle from Simpson and Vail
Snickerdoodle from Simpson & Vail was a sweet, simple blend, perfect as the weather gets cooler. The tea has true cinnamon-stick flavor– not at all like cinnamon candy– definitely the cinnamon flavor of baked goods. The warm, spice flavor goes well with the gentle dry grass and honey notes of the green rooibos. Let me put the emphasis on “green” rooibos. Unlike red rooibos, which can have a tendency to get a little medicine-like, or cloying, the green rooibos always stays smooth, sweet, and mellow, so feel free to brew this gentle decaf cinnamon blend as long as you like.
In fact, I had to brew a much stronger cup to get beyond the simple, warm cinnamon notes and find more nutty, vanilla-cookie flavors. Don’t skimp on the leaf amount or brew time with this blend: steep it strong for the best Snickerdoodle flavors.
It’s no secret that I love teas with lots of bold spices like ginger and cloves, but I do realize these are not everyone’s favorite flavors. If you want something comforting and festive, but without all the overdone pomp and circumstance of a holiday chai, Snickerdoodle might just be the perfect tea for you.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal/Green Rooibos
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Description:
When we were kids Jim came home from elementary school with some recipes his teacher had given him (perhaps for an upcoming bake sale). I’ll never forget the day our Mom made a batch of Snickerdoodle cookies. They were an instant favorite in our house! The recipe was lost for awhile and we would continually ask Mom for “those lovely cinnamon cookies”. You never saw four happier kids than when she found the recipe again.
If you are a cinnamon lover then this Rooibos blend is for you! When you open the bag, the aroma of cinnamon cookie happily greets you. The brewed cup is amber colored with the taste of fresh baked snickerdoodle cookies. The sweet cinnamon taste lingers deliciously on the tongue.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Peach Dream from Nelson’s Tea #VeganMoFo2016
Don’t you just LOVE colors that compliment each other? That is today’s Vegan MoFo prompt and since the Sororitea Sisters is doing-up Vegan MoFo TEA Style we decided to jump into the mix with Peach Dream from Nelson’s Tea. When you look at the dry mix of ingredients you will see olive green, khaki, cream, orange-yellow, and a few specs of darker brown because of the green rooibos, orange peel, marigold petals, and other flavors in this herbal blend.
Peach Dream from Nelson’s Tea infuses to a orange-light brown and smells incredible because of the peach. The flavor is peachy, sweet, creamy, and a bit like a sweeter nut – almost like cashew, perhaps! I completely agree with the use of green rooibos here and the peach is plump and pleasant and not overdone in the slightest. Peach Dream from Nelson’s Tea makes for easy sipping and is tasty hot or cold. If you try this iced – word to the wise – do a double dose of loose and steep for double the time! YUMMO!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Rooibos
Where to Buy: Nelson’s Tea
Description:
Ingredients: Green rooibos, orange peel, marigold petals, natural flavor
Brewing Instructions: To brew this tea, utilize 1-2 teaspoons of tea/8 oz of boiling water and should be steeped 5-6 minutes to unlock its full flavor and benefits. To make the iced version, double the amount of tea and brew the same way. When finished pour over ice.
*Note: 4 oz of tea equals 50-60 teaspoons or between 30 and 60 cups of tea.
Benefits:
- Anti-inflammatory Properties
- Protects the Nervous System and Brain from Free Radicals
- A bronchodilator, Aiding the Respiratory System and an Antispasmodic
- Antibacterial, Antiviral, and Antifungal
- Hypoallergenic and Utilized to Treat Various Skin Conditions
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
