Mint Green Tea from Compass Teas

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Compass Teas

Tea Description:

The refreshing taste of spearmint blends perfectly with Green tea to provide a minty pick-me-up that is full of anti-oxidants, helps with digestion problems and may help relieve heartburn. Try it hot or iced.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

When I first tasted this, it tasted a little … different.  Not bad, really, just different than many of the mint green teas I’ve tasted.  Then, I read the description for the tea (provided above) and realized what it was:  this tea has spearmint, while most green teas I’ve had are made with peppermint.  My palate can definitely tell the difference.

And while I would usually select peppermint over spearmint, I’m enjoying the change.  It not only challenged my palate but it also invigorated it, as it was prepared to taste peppermint and sometimes my palate “preps” me for what I’m about to eat or drink… and spearmint was just different enough for my palate to perk up and take notice.

It’s still minty, of course, but, I find that there is plenty of green tea to make this a green tea with mint… rather than a minty green tea.  That is to say, the green tea is stronger than the mint, and I like it that way.  I like that it doesn’t taste as though I’m sipping a cup of hot mouthwash.

The green tea is mildly sweet with a hint of vegetation which complements the herbaceous notes of the spearmint nicely without making it taste too herb-y.  Overall a very pleasant cup:  cool and crisp, but, also calming in its own way.

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 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

The S. S. Blueberry from Compass Teas

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Rooibos

Where to Buy:  Compass Teas

Product Description:

This Ship is Good!  This naturally Caffeine Free blend is sure to be a favorite!  Amazing hot or iced, it is highly recommended.  We suggest trying it with our Amber Sugar Gems.

Ingredients:

Green Rooibos– Aid in digestion, high in antioxidants, rich in vitamins and minerals, Naturally Caffeine Free

Blueberry Leaves– Contains antioxidants

Natural Flavoring – Enhances the natural goodness of the tea

Taster’s Review:

Mmm!  Blueberry!

The taste of this tisane reminds me of warm blueberry pie filling!  It is sweet and loaded with blueberry flavor!

For those who may be wondering what the difference is between red rooibos and green:  green rooibos is the raw version of rooibos, while red rooibos have been oxidized.  Kind of like the difference between black tea and white tea.  As far as taste goes, the green rooibos has more of a fruit-like quality to it, while I find that the red rooibos has sort of a nutty/woody kind of taste.  I personally prefer the green rooibos, especially for fruit blends such as The S. S. Blueberry.

The green rooibos base provides a very crisp and unmuddled taste to the warm blueberry flavoring.  It is sweet and juicy and there is very little tartness to the overall cup (just a bit of tartness at the finish).

I prefer this tisane warm (probably because it tastes more like warm blueberry pie filling when its actually warm).  I steep it in my Libre Mug!  I put the rooibos directly into the mug before screwing on the filter cap, and I allow the tisane to continue to steep as I sip!  The tisane never gets bitter, the flavor just gets better and better!

This is also quite tasty chilled too.  This is a tisane that kids would LOVE – and because it’s naturally caffeine free and loaded with antioxidants, it is one that you’ll feel good giving them.

An awesome rooibos blend from Compass Teas!

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 Rooibos

Vanilla Cinnamon Bun from Compass Teas

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Rooibos & Honeybush

Where to Buy:  Compass Teas

Product Description:

Our most popular tea by far!  Exclusively unique to Compass Tea Company.  Slip on your fuzzy robe and slippers and warm up with this yummy tea version of your favorite dessert.  We suggest sweetening it with Amber Sugar Gems.

A great tasting and natural alternative to drinking decaf tea or coffee.  (Could also be used as a low calorie,  fat free alternative to desserts late at night.)  *Naturally  CAFFEINE FREE

Taster’s Review:

When I first opened the package of this tisane, I was blown away with how good it smelled.  The cinnamon was strong, as was the vanilla, and the combination of these two aromas was postively breathtaking!  It really does smell like cinnamon buns!  YUM!

That’s why I was just a little disappointed by the flavor.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s quite tasty!  But, I am sitting here, wishing that the flavor was more like the fragrance.  More cinnamon and vanilla, and a little less in the orange flavor.

The flavor of the red and green rooibos together with the honeybush creates a very pleasant tasting base that is honey-sweet with a nice nutty flavor that lends itself well to a baked kind of taste.  It compliments the cinnamon and vanilla flavors and overall, there is a cinnamon bun flavor going on in this cup.

But… why the orange?  It is as though the orange washes away some of the flavor rather than enhances it.

This is a very tasty blend … and yet, disappointing.  I do like the flavors as they are in this tisane, but… I think this tisane could have been so much more that what it is!  It could be a Vanilla Cinnamon Bun flavored tisane, and instead I have a creamy orange spice tisane.  Tasty, but just not what I expected!

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 Honeybush, Rooibos

Chill Pill from Compass Teas

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Herbal

Where to Buy:  Compass Teas

Company Description:

Need to take a Chill Pill to calm you down?  This infusion is full of Vitamin C, antioxidants, and the wonderful soothing benefits of high quality herbs. You’ll love the orange / chamomile flavor that’s sure to calm you down on your stressful days, and help slip you off into sweet dreams at night.

Taster’s Review:

This is a very pleasant blend from Compass Teas.  If you’re like me, you cringe at the thought of chamomile.  As I’ve confessed before, I used to really dislike chamomile, but, I have developed an appreciation for it.  I still don’t like the chamomile dust that is sometimes found in substandard tea bags from the local grocery store, but, in whole leaf blends like this one from Compass Teas, the whole chamomile blossoms are quite agreeable.

In fact, if I hadn’t read the ingredients and saw the chamomile blossoms in the blend when I measured it into my smart tea maker, I wouldn’t have known that this is a chamomile tisane!  The flavor of the chamomile is quite soft and melds almost seamlessly with the citrus flavors of this blend.

The overall flavor of this tea is quite mild and in keeping with the “Chill Pill” kind of attitude.  I previously reviewed this tea, and I am finding it every bit as enjoyable now as I once did.

This is a nice alternative to those who are looking for a soothing, relaxing tisane before bedtime but think they don’t like chamomile!

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 Fruit/Herbal Tisane