I steeped 1tsp tea for 4 min. in one cup of water at 200-205 degrees, which produced a cup of tea with a nice dark amber color. Though there’s no berry coloring, there’s plenty of berrylike fragrance. The tea leaves themselves are attractive, with marigold and cornflower petals providing some nice color contrasts.
The berry smell blends with the black tea fragrance surprisingly well. (On a side note, I’m glad they used a high-quality black tea for this blend, as I tend to tire easily of “black tea” bases that have no actual tea flavor so that all you can taste is the flavoring.)
First sip: Not too astringent or acidic, which is nice. There is a bit of astringency, though. The berry flavor I’m finding in this tea is a bit friendlier, somehow, than most berry flavored teas I’ve tried. Perhaps a bit smoother? I’m sensing a rich, strawberry-like flavor here, and maybe a bit of raspberry as well. Maybe that’s why it’s less astringent and acidic than other berry-flavored teas that are heavy on the raspberry and blueberry. (It turns out that the strawberry-like flavor must have been from the “natural passion fruit flavors” in this tea. I guess I’m just not that familiar with passion fruit.)
It’s also not bitter at all, which I appreciate.
While the black tea flavor is present and isn’t overwhelmed by the berry flavor, it’s not super prominent either and doesn’t overwhelm the berry flavor. They exist side-by-side rather elegantly.
When I add milk, it tastes like berries and cream just as I’d hoped. MMMMmmmm! I like it best this way. (Okay, that’s not really a surprise.)
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Tiesta Tea
Description
Ingredients: black tea + natural passion fruit flavors + cornflowers + marigold petals + raspberry bits
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Berry Romantic from DAVIDs Tea. . . . .
They say to never judge a book by its cover. I know this– really, I do. But you guys. This tea is SO PRETTY. It might’ve tasted like swamp muck and I would’ve been too distracted by the big, beautiful flower buds and petals, strawberry pieces, and fairy-like flowery-somethings filling up my cup to actually notice.
Luckily, that’s not the case.
This tea delivers just as much on the palate as it does on the eyes, with creamy strawberry notes atop delicate, floral oolong leaves. With a little honey, it’s perfectly sweet– but even without, it’s a beautiful mix of creamy, fruity and just a touch floral. On a second steep, I lost a bit of the berry, with mostly that creamy floral oolong remaining, but I’m not complaining.
This tea is the perfect cup to sip in these late-winter-early-spring-but-not-quite-oh-here’s-some-more-snow-for-you days that us northerners are still plodding through. A book I’ll happily claim to live up to its cover!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: DAVIDs Tea
Description
A romantic strawberries-and-cream tea, strewn with pretty flower petals.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Tokio from Lupicia. . . . .
With all of the tea I have consumed over the years I have had very little from Lupicia believe it or not. I’m happy to say that we have some new Lupicia reviews coming up VERY SOON starting with this one…Tokio from Lupicia!
I think this was one of the first Lupicia teas I actually tried years and years ago. I thought I had already reviewed it here at Sororitea Sisters but I was mistaken. So NOW is as good as time as any, I suppose!
Tokio from Lupicia is a green tea with sweet berries. And guess what it DOESN’T have? Hibiscus! YAY! A berry flavored tea with NO Hibiscus! I could not be more excited! This tea also has marigold petals. Together they pose a very crisp tasting flavored green tea. The green tea is on the sweeter side all by itself but the berry and floral notes are a secondary flavor. They aren’t overpowering the green tea base and I LOVE that!
It’s sweet, it’s juicy, it’s berry, it’s floral, it’s refreshing, and it’s SUPER tasty! YUM! Totally terrific hot or cold! Tokio from Lupicia is a real winner!
**Edit: Lupicia’s Happy Bag Promotion is currently underway!For more details and to reserve yours today-click here!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Flavored Tea
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Description
TOKIO is a green tea delicately flavored with sweet berries. This beautiful tea with marigold petals has a very crisp taste which appeals to everyone, and is one of our best selling items. It’s delicious chilled as well. Try with a little honey when you want to perk up.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company !
Bates’ Brambleberry Black Tea from The Republic of Tea
In addition to being a fandom tea that I’m sure everyone who watches Downton Abbey will love, this tea has a wonderful flavor and is an awesome eco-friendly offering from the Republic of Tea. It comes in a round unbleached tea bag with no strings, staples or tags, and can be composted after you use it. It looks insubstantial enough that you could even throw it in your own non-industrial-strength compost pile (I understand some municipalities have compost pickup along with trash and recycling pickup, but mine is not that lucky so I do my own composting).
It smells excellently of berry, so I greatly enjoyed the fragrance as it steeped. I steeped it about five minutes using boiling water and it turned out reddish-brown with that very pleasing fragrance and a wonderful refreshing berry taste. It does, as advertised, remind me of summer and berry-picking. It’s called “brambleberry” so I would have expected mostly blackberry flavor (because those are the type of berry that people call brambles in England, right?), but there’s definitely a serendipitous raspberry tinge in there as well. The tea information says that it also has strawberry and blueberry flavors, but I found those to be less obvious than the raspberry and blackberry flavors.
I considered adding milk but then decided against it. I don’t think this tea is acidic enough to actually curdle the milk (although I could be wrong), but it’s definitely acidic enough to be interesting and I don’t want to dull that edge, which milk is likely to do.
Overall I really enjoyed this tea and wished I had more of it! I’ll definitely consider purchasing it if I ever get around to ordering from The Republic of Tea while they still carry it. (So many tea companies, so little time!)
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type:
Where to Buy: Republic of Tea
Description
This bold yet smooth premium black tea is perfectly coupled with a handful of summer fruit – blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries. A touch of sweetness to this cup will bring out the full, ripe flavor. A casual refreshment served hot or over ice with biscuits or sandwiches.
The award-winning TV series, Downton Abbey® has entranced millions of viewers and become a modern media sensation. Every episode is an explosion of drama, relationships and intrigue. Downton Abbey is home to the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. From the pen of Academy Award® winner Julian Fellowes, Downton Abbey is the most watched drama ever on PBS!
This tea is an online exclusive
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Blackberry Love from Dave and Solomons Tea
Green Rooibos and I have a completely different relationship than red rooibos and I. Green Rooibos is bursting with sweet honey tones where as (to me) red rooibos has a distinct unique flavor that has a medicinal quality to it. So when Blackberry Love arrived at my door, I was crazy excited. This blend had my beloved green rooibos in it along with gorgeous chunks of berries, orange peel, what looks like different kinds of flower blossoms. Unfortunately this blend is no longer on the site, but one that I hope comes back on the site.
First whiff of this freshly steeped gorgeous orange brew makes me happy. You instantly are greeted with a lovely blueberry/blackberry aroma with a sweet honey kick. I couldn’t stop smelling my cuppa.
Blackberry Love from Solomons Tea is appropriately named! This tea steeps up to become a gorgeous cuppa of sunshine. Bright bursting berry notes with a honey and slightly floral touch. I love the combination of the berries and green rooibos. The tea is light and yet very refreshing! Perfect for a sweet tooth craving during the day or to finish the day off with a relaxing cuppa.
I think with the reaming mix I have left, I’m going to have to try as a cold brew. I bet those blackberries and honey notes really soar and pop with a good solid cold brewed overnight. Can’t wait to experiment more with this blend!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal/Green Rooibos
Where to Buy: Dave and Solomons Tea
Description:
This blend is no longer available on the site but check out what they do have to offer below.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
