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.
Organic Buttered Rum from David’s Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: David’s Tea
Tea Description:
Hot buttered rum is so delicious we want it all day long. Unfortunately, most employers frown on workplace drunkenness, so we came up with this rich and creamy alternative. Toasted coconut and vanilla beans mingle with black tea in a caramelized caress of flavours. Decadent hot or iced, it also blends perfectly with dark rum, brown sugar and a dash of milk – so go ahead and indulge your inner pirate, off the clock. (MK Kosher).
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Back in my newbie tea drinking days, I would stalk David’s Tea Web Special Page. I was seriously addicted to it. I couldn’t get enough of their teas and I swore their teas were the best ever.
Fast forward several years, I still enjoy David’s Tea but I don’t obsesses over them like others do. More or less because there isn’t a store anywhere near me and I have to order about $50 to get free shipping. If one looks tasty to me, I’ll wait around and see what people say on Steepster and then might order it, but I seriously can’t remember the last time I ordered any teas from them. Anymore it seems I’m drinking teas that I find on Etsy.
Digging thru a box I received from a fellow Steepsterite, I noticed that this little guy was hanging out and I thought yes. I’m in the mood for some David’s Tea.
Brewed this flavored black tea up with water at 212F for about 4 minutes. I instantly could pick up the coconut aroma. Yum!
Took my first sip and this is pretty good. I’m actually surprised I like it as much as I do. The coconut is the flavor you really get from beginning to end. There is also a nice sweet vanilla flavor that mixes well with the coconut. I bet this would be an amazing tea iced or even cold brew where the vanilla could potentially really become the star. That would be amazing!
Overall, this wasn’t so bad but I can’t say that I’m dying to get my hands on more. If any would come my way, I would drink it without question. Just not sure it would be one I would reach for on a consistent basis or one I’d try to track down.
Glad I was able to try it!
Organic Assam Breakfast from The Republic of Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Republic of Tea
Tea Description:
Back In The Body Tea – The robust, malty character of this tea comes from pure, unblended Assam leaves grown in Northern India. Plentiful golden tips on leaves & hearty body qualify this tea at the top of its class.
Winner in the North American Tea Championship Assam Tea category.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve tried several RoT blends before, but I can’t say that I’ve ever had them in loose leaf form. I just always seem to associate RoT with tea bags, something that I shouldn’t do now that I’ve tried this blend.
After having a few herbals and green teas today, I thought I would pull out this one to try it. I needed a good pick me up after my lunch. Around 2pm seems to be when my body says “Hey, silly head. It is nap time”. Unfortunately my office would frown upon me pulling out a nap mat and taking a snooze so I have to find something to perk me up.
I brewed this up with boiling water and let it steep for about 3 minutes. Took a sip and I’m sad. This didn’t have a nice black tea flavor to it. More of a muted flavor, so I put the tea back in my cup to steep just a bit longer. Unfortunately I think I oversteeped trying to bring out the flavor. Now I have a tea cup filled with an astringent bitter brew. Sad. I probably left it in just a bit too long. This is not a forgiving tea.
This tea really didn’t have anything that made me go WOW I’m loving this. More or less, this tea had me wishing for something else. Something with that “Wow” factor. I’m glad I was able to try it, but I don’t think this will be a re-order.
Cold Comfort Tea from Karma Blends
Tea Type: Herbal Tea
Where To Buy: Karma Blends
Product Description:
Cold Tea – Spicy Ginger Mint Eucalyptus
For a coldONE BOX MAKES 12 TEA BAGS
Caffeine Free
Contains Natural and Organic Ingredients
Daily Use Recommended» When can I drink it/What is it for?
– Anytime or For Cold, Cough, Allergies, On a cold day, Iced on a warm day.
» What does the tea taste like?
– The Cold Comfort tea is very flavorful with mint and ginger as the prominent flavors. The tea tastes mildly sweet as it contains stevia, the naturally sweet herb. How do the ingredients work in my system?
• Eucalyptus opens the lungs and encourages breathing by increasing oxygen in the cells. Eucalyptol, found in many over-the-counter remedies, loosens phlegm in the chest and helps to open clogged nasal passages.
• Lemongrass is a refreshing herb that helps to relieve exhaustion, clear headaches and combats stress.
Ginger is used to dispel pathogens via its ability to induce sweating.• Licorice is the best known natural expectorant and anti-inflammatory herb. Licorice helps to soothe the mucus membranes. It also acts as the bodys natural corticosteroid and decreases generation of damaging molecules called free radicals. Licorice is commonly used in Ayurvedic Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Not recommended for people suffering from high blood pressure.
• Peppermint opens up the respiratory passages.
» Are Accompaniments Recommended?
– The taste can be enhanced with lemon and honey. Honey increases the efficacy of the other herbs.
» Is it safe for children?
– Yes, only in a mild or diluted form. For children, the tea can be made using one tea bag in 14oz of water. However, not more than half a cup should be fed to the child in a day.
Tasters Review:
I’ve held off on trying and reviewing this herbal tea from Karma Blends because I haven’t been sick…but I can’t hold off any more! I NEEDED to try it!
I thought it would be good to have right now because of the astringent tasting tea I just consumed…I thought the mint and eucalyptus would freshen my breath!
I will say this is very minty and refreshing aroma-wise!
Of course the primary taste is mint/eucalyptus but I am getting a good deal of licorice which I normally find distracting in most cases but not this one! It works well as the 3rd noticeable flavor here!
Then the ginger pops in to say “hello” and again with ginger I am ‘hot and cold’. I want to say I dislike it in teas more than like it BUT, again, it really works well in this herbal blend!
I can taste the Stevia. It’s adds a nice natural-sugary undertone to this that I think helps tone down the ginger.
As it cools at room temperature the lemongrass is a little bit noticeable but it’s one of those ingredients I probably wouldn’t have noticed in a blind taste-test. Same thing with the Mango. I can’t really taste the Mango at all. I think it would be interesting if I could taste more of that. Maybe more of that and a little less licorice would be the ONLY thing I would change about this one. BUT…I am NOT complaining because I am really enjoying this.
If you are afraid of medicinal-type herbal teas…and enjoy mint…give this one a whirl! This one really surprised me! It’s quite good.
I’m having the bagged version of this right now and it is very flavorful for a bagged tea! The box suggested to try with honey and lemon to enhance the flavor. I didn’t do this but I may try that in the future!
I have to say…this is probably on of my FAVORITE Medicinal-Type Herbal Tea/Tisanes I have had to date!
