Fleur de Geisha from Le Palais Des Thés

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Le Palais Des Thés

Tea Description:

Inspired by the Japanese Hanami tradition of cherry blossom viewing, Fleur de Geisha is a refined Japanese green tea, delicately flavored with cherry blossom.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Without having read the description of this tea and knowing only that it was a green tea, I brewed it and served it hot.  The aroma of the dry leaf was very cherry-like with beautiful floral background notes, making me think that this was a cherry blossom tea.  A spring-time favorite, I couldn’t have “blindly” chosen a better tea to enjoy this afternoon.  (By “blindly” I mean this:  as Le Palais Des Thés is a company based in France and the labels on this gift set are all in French, I didn’t know which tea I was choosing, only that “vert” meant that it would be a green tea)

The brewed tea maintains much of its cherry-like fragrance.  The flavor is delicate, especially when served hot.  As the tea cools, the flavor intensifies.  Served hot, the tea has a very soft balance between cherry blossom notes and hints of sweet cherry flavor mingling with a fresh, sweet vegetative tone.  It is very sweet and evokes thoughts of the beautiful cherry blossom trees.

Once the tea has cooled, the cherry flavor becomes much stronger, while some of the floral tones diminish somewhat.  The flavor of the green tea remains very sweet and lush, balancing out the sweet cherry flavor with a hint of vegetation.

While I personally prefer this tea hot, I can see how this would be a big hit as an iced tea … especially for those who enjoy cherry fruit notes over those of the cherry blossom.  I do like cherry, but I think I like better being able to taste those delicate cherry blossom notes that seem to subside as the tea cools.

A beautiful spring-time treat!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Green Tea

Jasmine Citrus Blossom Green Tea from Ovation Teas

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Ovation Teas

Be sure to check out Daily Gourmet’s Special Offer on this tea!

Product Description:

Green tea blended with jasmine pearls, orange peel, jasmine blossoms, and marigolds, with tangerine flavoring.

Taster’s Review:

This is awesome!  A real treat for the taste buds as well as the eye and nose!

The dry leaf is beautiful.  Not only are there long spears of green tea leaves in this (Sencha, perhaps?) but there are also jasmine pearls.  In addition to the two different types of green tea, there is an abundance of petals and blossoms, as well as pieces of citrus peel.  This not only looks beautiful, but it smells amazing too.

But none of that would really matter if it didn’t also taste good… and this does.   The addition of the pearls help to give this blend a really beautiful jasmine essence.  The jasmine is light and sweet, with hints of floral sharpness.

The green tea is a fresh, clean taste.  It is slightly grassy, but mostly what I taste is that sweet, exhilarating freshness.  It marries well with the lively citrus notes and the exotic jasmine flavor.

And as much as I’m enjoying the flavors of jasmine and green tea, the real star of this cup is the tangerine flavor.  It is sweet with just the right amount of “tang” to it.  Those tangy notes add a very intriguing contrast to the cup that is also sweet and floral.

I have tasted this tea a few times now, and I have to say that while it is delicious hot (and it is!) … it is even better iced.  It becomes pure, light, crisp refreshment in a glass.

And now through the 28th of August,  Daily Gourmet is offering of 50% savings on the Ovation Teas Summer Set of Teas.  This collection includes this thirst-quenching tea – as well as four other spectacular teas!  Don’t miss out on this special offer!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Green Tea, Jasmine Tea

White Cherry Blossom from Compass Teas

by liberteas

 

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green & White

Where to Buy:  Compass Teas

Product Description:

An exquisite blend of high quality Green tea, White tea, cherry pieces, chrysanthemums, and flower petals.  Makes a delicious tea whether hot or iced.  (Tastes almost like a light fruit punch when sweetened)

Taster’s Review:

I’ll be honest, this isn’t my favorite tea from Compass Teas, but, I don’t dislike it.  It has a pleasant enough flavor, but I am finding it just a wee bit too sweet.  It doesn’t taste a lot like tea to me; rather it is a bit more like cherry juice mixed with rose water.  That being said, I do really enjoy the interesting contrast of flower and cherry flavor.  The cherry flavor is lightly tart.  That tartness is enhanced by the addition of hibiscus to the blend, which also adds a hint of color to the cup.  The hibiscus is not an overwhelming presence though, and I’m thankful for that as I don’t usually care for a strong hibiscus-y flavor.

The cherry is also sweet and has a plump, juicy fruit flavor.  I also taste a strong presence of rose that is particularly distinguished when the tea is hot (as the tea cools, the floral presence tapers.)  The sweet floral notes seem to add an interesting depth of flavor to the cup.

The tea base is a combination of white and green teas, and not surprisingly, I taste more from the green tea than the white.  The green tea tastes lightly vegetal and has a fresh undertone, while the white tea is like a breath of fresh air – giving an overall sense of lightness to the flavor of the cup.

I enjoyed this tea, and I am glad I got the opportunity to try it.  Do I see myself ordering this in the near future?  No, but I certainly will enjoy the supply that I have, and I wouldn’t turn it down if it were offered to me.  Put simply:  its good, just not my favorite.

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Green Tea, White Tea

Linden Blossom Oolong Tea from Aftelier Perfumed Teas

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Aftelier Perfumed Teas

Product Description:

Gui Fei oolong tea has an intense dark, spicy perfume with a textured, nutty, floral taste. The tea’s floral complexity marries perfectly with the honeysuckle notes of the organic linden blossom essence. These rolled leaves provide up to 4 infusions.

Taster’s Review:

I have had the amazing opportunity to try all four of Aftelier’s perfumed teas, and enjoyed each for their unique properties.  Of the four, I think that this one may be my favorite.

The aroma is intense, but in comparing this with the other three Oolongs from Aftelier, it is quite subtle … if that makes sense.  The flavor follows suit, as it is not as powerful in flavor as the other three.  But make no mistake in assuming that because this one is a bit softer in flavor and fragrance than the others that this one lacks in any way, because it certainly does not.

The flavor is absolutely divine.  The Gui Fei Oolong has a very pleasing nutty flavor with a soft, creamy texture.  The nutty flavor of the Oolong melds seamlessly with the honeysuckle-esque tones of the linden blossom.  It is sweet, nutty, and refreshing.

In case you might be wondering (I know I would if I were reading this review instead of tasting the tea), it doesn’t taste perfume-y … or at least what I might imagine drinking perfume would taste like.  It doesn’t taste like soap.  It tastes like tea that has been treated with the meticulous care and flavored with painstaking precision.  It is amazing!

This tea is a tribute to the passion that Aftelier has for their product, and that attention to detail makes this tea worth every penny – and then some!  This tea would be the pride of any tea collection!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Oolong