Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Naked Teas Galore
Tea Description:
This tea shares aromatic notes with merlot wine – chocolate, cherries, dried fruit and flowers. To taste, this blend is classic chocolate and cherries. Ceylon makes for a light black tea base – the backdrop for a fudge-y chocolate start and cherry on the finish. Add a splash of milk and a little sugar to mimic the whipped cream topping.
Learn more about this blend here.
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Taster’s Review:
When I read the name of this tea: Black Forest Tea Blend from Naked Teas Galore, I got excited. Black Forest to me means the cake – you know what I’m talking about, right? The dark chocolate cake that’s topped with a glazed cherry topping and whipped cream. YUM.
But then I read the ingredients. Carob? Ick. Why carob? Why not cacao shells? Such an amazing chocolate flavor can be extracted from cacao shells. I’m a chocoholic and I don’t like carob because carob DOES NOT taste like chocolate … at least not a good chocolate. It tastes like carob. It tastes like a poor man’s chocolate. It tastes like imitation chocolate. Ugh.
So, now my expectations are not all that high when it comes to this tea. I’ll still try it and hope for the best. Let’s see what happens.
OK … so this isn’t too bad. It’s actually kind of tasty. The chocolate flavor is a little weak (then again, this is a usual complaint of mine when it comes to chocolate teas, right?) The cherry flavors come through nicely. It’s not a super strong flavor, but, it’s enough to let you know it’s there.
The juniper berries offer a sharpness to the cup, again – not an overly strong flavor, but it does add some “focus” that I think this tea would lack if it wasn’t there. I am also enjoying the rose notes that I taste. Not something I’d normally expect in a Black Forest cake, but, I enjoyed it in the tea.
The black tea base is smooth and flavorful. There is a sort of creaminess to the cup that develops as the tea cools, and I find this particular aspect of the tea quite enjoyable. It is a medium-bodied black tea, so there’s not a lot of gusto to it, but, the flavors and tea meld well together to create a palate pleasing taste.
Overall, it’s not a bad tea. I taste cherry, I taste a creaminess, I taste black tea. I even taste a hint of something that could be chocolate if you don’t try to hone in on that particular note. It’s certainly not as terrible as I thought it might be given that it’s flavored with carob rather than chocolate; I was able to finish the cup without grumbling.
I do still wish that Naked Teas Galore chose to employ cacao shells or nibs rather than carob, but, this tastes alright. Not something I’d buy again, but I’d drink it again if it were offered to me.
Energy Green Tea Blend from Byron Bay Tea Company
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Byron Bay Tea Company
Product Description:
Brighten your day with this clean, balanced and lively infusion of Green tea, Siberian Ginseng, Gotu Kola and mixed berries. A perky and delightful tea to pick you up in the morning, inspire your afternoon, or energise your evening. A healthy alternative to coffee. Enjoy!
Learn more about this blend here.
Taster’s Review:
I am liking this Energy Green Tea Blend from Byron Bay Tea Company, even though I really didn’t think I would like it. It’s got two strikes against it right at the start: hibiscus – yikes! ginseng – ugh! But I’m enjoying it … it would seem that it’s a hit even though it started out with a lot going against it.
The berry flavor is strong. I can taste the currants and the strawberries and hints of blackberry. And yes, I do taste the hibiscus, but somehow, when paired with berries, hibiscus is less … difficult for me to drink. Hibiscus seems to highlight the tart notes of the berry and somehow make the berries taste a little more like berries.
The green tea is tasted in there too, although I will say that the flavor is slightly obscured by the rest of the ingredients. I taste the fresh vegetal tones of the green tea though, and I like the way all these ingredients work together – yes, even those ingredients that I’m less than enthused about!
Overall, this is a refreshing drink, and it lives up to its promise as stated in its name – it’s an energizing beverage that will help get you going when you need that snap of vitality.
The Fifth of November from The London Tea Room
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black, Green
Where to Buy: The London Tea Room
Tea Description:
We invented this blend in honour of our childhood memories of Bonfire Night in England. Smoky gunpowder, wild winter berries, vanilla bean and a touch of lapsang souchong. Remember, remember…
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The fifth of November from The London Tea Room is not a tea I would drink all day every day, but there is something so special about it that every now and then I get an intense craving for it.
This tea just makes me happy. Reminds me of the Renaissance – woodsy smoky flavors with a light berry undertone which is perfect. Add a little sugar in the raw or not – its great both ways. It has a wonderful Lapsang Souchong base that is not over the top. I have sampled many Lapsang Souchong, some far smokier than others, this one lays politely in the middle range of smokiness. The berry notes are balanced perfectly so that you get a good taste of berry without it becoming a directly berry flavored tea. The vanilla really helps to meld the two opposing worlds and brings all of the flavor notes together in harmony.
I have had this specific tea in my stash for over a year now and it has not lost any flavor so it is hardy and one of those teas you can in fact buy for the every now and then cup without fear that it will go stale on you. I have found gunpowder green to be that way, lasting much longer than other teas, especially green teas, so maybe that is one of the reasons.
WIth today being a rather gloomy day, in spring, even though I do not mind the weather being this way, this tea was exactly what came to mind. It is warming, toasty, roasty, and friendly. Yes friendly, tea can be friendly right? It just makes you smile, kick back, and enjoy the moment you spend with it. This is the tea to have when you may otherwise have hot cocoa, you know, a cuddly tea for a cuddly moment. It does make you think of bonfires, or campfires, melting marshmallows, good friends, and good times. Or romantic moments in front of a fireplace. Yeah, I really love this tea, even if I have to be in the “mood” for it, I am so happy that I have it in my tea stash when those moments come along.
Ebony Wine from White August Tea Company
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: White August Tea Company
Product Description:
Assam black tea garnished with black currant leaves and sweet berries. We recommend enhancing this tea with a lemon zest or cream for an outstanding smooth and lightly fruity morning beverage.
Taster’s Review:
What a delightful tea with which to start my day!
The black tea base is an Assam, so it is rich and bold! Very flavorful with a nice malty quality to it that compliments the wine-ish notes of the berries quite well. The black currant notes does give this a wine-like taste that is further emphasized with the slightly dry astringency at the end of the sip.
The aroma and flavor is very berry-like, and it has a pleasantly sweet-tart taste. It reminds me of late summer when the berries are ripe and bursting with flavor! On this rainy spring morning, that is certainly a welcome thought, and with the deep, rich flavor and strength of the Assam, this tea gives me the energy I need to get up and start the day.
This would definitely make for a deliciously different breakfast tea for those days when you want something a little special! And don’t you deserve something a little special every day?
Matcha Sendo from Camellia Sinensis
Tea Type:
Matcha (Green Tea)
Where To Buy:
Camellia Sinensis
Product Description:
This Matcha has an aroma of berries and dark chocolate. On the palate, you’ll be seduced by the rich and full texture, and the surprising notes of Jerusalem artichokes.
Quantity of leaf / 250ml of water
Infusion Time
Infusion temperature 75 °C
Tasters Review:
Matcha is fun to experiment with and Matcha Sendo from Camellia Sinensis is no exception!
I tried a 2nd test right after the first attempt because I was missing the dark chocolate aroma the first time around.
I used 3 tsp for the first cup and it was in a standard size mug. I could pick up on the berry notes in the aroma tho.
As for the taste…it’s mellow but marvelous! I could taste the artichoke comparison mentioned in the product description but I was picking up on fruit like tones too! I really like this! REALLY like this!
For my 2nd attempt I used 5tsp of matcha powder.
The dark chocolate aroma isn’t loud but it is there. Oddly…if I try and smell it with my nose right up to the mug I can’t really pick it out but if you take a step back I can smell it.
As for the taste with this much powder it is very vegetal and grassy. Still pretty yummy but I like the fruity notes I tasted in the first attempt better so I think I will stick with the 3 tsp.
Regardless from one attempt to another I stand firm in giving this Matcha Sendo middle 90’s rating! It’s really Marvelous!
