Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Zoomdweebies
Tea Description:
Our premium organic shou mei fannings white tea blended with organic cucumber and melon flavors. This is a seriously refreshing glass of yum. Don’t miss your chance to nab one of these.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn about SBT’s subscriptions here.
Taster’s Review:
Nice! I’m really LOVING this Cucumber Melon White Iced Tea from Southern Boy Teas! It’s so refreshing!
Having previously enjoyed the original 52Teas version of Cucumber Melon White tea and to a lesser extent, the SBT Cucumber Melon Black Iced Tea, I was excited to try SBT’s version of these flavors with a white tea base. I really think that the delicate qualities of the cucumber and melon are better suited for the softer white tea base!
To brew this, I tried something just a tad different. I hot brewed it (as usual) – heating 1 quart of water to 160°F and letting the teabag steep for 1 1/2 minute and then straining that tea into my glass tea pitcher. But for the second quart, instead of steeping it for 2 minutes (I usually add 30 seconds onto the resteep time), I only steeped the bag for 1 minute with the resteep. And the flavor is PERFECT.
I’m getting a strong melon flavor with notes of cucumber. It’s sweet with a hint of savory and the white tea base comes through nicely without overpowering the soft flavors of the cucumber and melon. A really delightful balance has been achieved here and I daresay that this is just as good as the original 52Teas version!
Cucumber Melon Flavored Iced Tea from Southern Boy Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Learn more about Southern Boy Teas here.
Taster’s Review:
I really enjoyed the Cucumber Melon Green tea that 52Teas created back in 2010 (wow! Has it really been that long?) so I was excited to try the black Iced Tea version from Southern Boy Teas.
And this is alright. I really think this flavor combination is better as a green tea (Hey, Frank, I think that you should start adding green teas to the Southern Boy Teas line!) because the lighter, buttery flavor of the Chinese Sencha just seemed to work better than the blend of black teas that is used for the SBT tea line.
I think that the stronger black tea base seems to mask some of the cucumber and melon notes. I taste some cucumber notes and the melon notes are a little more distinct than the cucumber. It’s a very refreshing taste, don’t get me wrong. I’m enjoying it.
But, if I were to sit down and drink this blindly, without knowing that this was supposed to be a Cucumber Melon flavored iced tea, I don’t know that I would have guessed that was what it was. I would have probably guessed it was some sort of melon, but I don’t know that I would have guessed that this flavor is Cucumber Melon.
It’s a tasty, refreshing iced tea. I just think that these flavors work better with a lighter base, and the vegetative notes of the green tea seemed to elevate the cucumber a little bit to better define the flavor.
Cucumber White Tea from Tazo
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Learn more about Tazo here.
Tea Description:
A replenishing blend of delicate white tea, real cucumber and lime peel.
Taster’s Review:
I had my reservations about this tea. First of all, when I think Tazo, my first thought is of Steven Smith, who started Tazo. And then I’m reminded that this company was later acquired by Starbucks and in my opinion, they ruined it.
So, now, my happy thoughts of Tazo and Steven Smith (aka the rock star of tea!) have been tainted by Starbucks and speedy, spendy coffee. But as I prepared this Cucumber White Tea from Tazo, I decided not to let my notions (be they ill-conceived or not) affect my opinion of this particular tea experience. I would do my best to go into this moment with an open mind.
When I opened the pouch, I smelled the lime. The cucumber, not so much. The taste is similar: I taste lime. I don’t taste a lot of cucumber here. I do taste some white tea notes: fresh, light, and almost melon-esque with hints of the air in the countryside after a hay field has been cut. I can also taste SOME cucumber notes … but they are diminished by the presence of the lime.
The lime tastes tart and slightly bitter. I can taste the pithy taste of the lime peel. But it also has a bright, juicy taste too … I can taste all of the lime here, as well as the crisp notes of the white tea. I just find myself wishing I tasted more cucumber. After all, this tea is called Cucumber White Tea.
Overall, it’s not a terrible tea. It has a light, refreshing taste with a bright acidity from the lime. Not bad … just not great.
Cucumber Mango Flavored Shou Mei from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Yeah, I’m guilty. I got a little mango crazy this month, but this is the last one (for now). I kept thinking about those yummy cucumber mango salsas and it occurred to me that a nice white tea with some mango and cucumber would make a super refreshing iced tea.
I do tend to think in terms of iced teas most of the time, but I know I’m not alone now that the weather is getting warmer.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The dry leaf of this Cucumber Mango Flavored Shou Mei from 52Teas smells absolutely INCREDIBLE! It smells so good that I almost want to pour the whole pouch into a bowl and put it out as potpourri.
But, I won’t do that, because, I’d rather drink it!
When this tea was announced for the week of May 20th, I was instantly intrigued. I really enjoyed the other cucumber blends that 52Teas has created, and I wanted to see how well the flavors of Cucumber and Mango stood up against such rivals as Cucumber Strawberry (just to name one of several cucumber blends that 52Teas has come out with!)
And I’d like to say that this is definitely a tasty addition to 52Teas cucumber collection. The Shou Mei is sweet, vegetative (in a hay-like sort of way) and earthy, and I like the way this tea showcases the delicate flavor of the cucumber, which has a crisp, vegetal, and sweet flavor.
The mango is the strongest component of this combination of flavors. It tastes sweet and juicy, and even though it IS the strongest flavor here, it is not so strong that it overwhelms the entire cup. I taste the other flavors. I like that.
This is really refreshing. I am sipping it hot at the moment, but I can hardly wait for my iced tea pitcher to be empty again so that I can brew some of this for iced tea! YUM!
Sandakphu White Orange Tea from Rare Tea Republic
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Republic of Tea (formerly Rare Tea Republic)
Tea Description:
This laboriously hand-plucked leaf yields a light yellow infusion and a sweet, refreshing liquor reminiscent of cucumber and honey. A whisper of woodsmoke in the finish completes this satisfying tea.
Steep Time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 180°F
Tea per 6 oz of Water: 2 teaspoons
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have been saving this sample of Sandakphu White Orange Tea from Rare Tea Republic for a while now. I wanted to sample it when I could savor it as I have high expectations for this tea, even though I don’t know why. Rare Tea Republic has some amazing teas, and I have rarely been disappointed. When I went to the website today I was redirected to their sister company Republic of Tea. It seems they have decided to merge their two companies. So while I got my sample of this tea from Rare Tea Republic, you will need to go to Republic of Tea to get yours.
Sandakphu White Orange is truly a unique and delicious cup. For a white tea it is very full bodied, one of the most robust white teas I have ever sipped. There is a very delicate smokiness deep in the core of the taste, but mostly it is a yummy honey flavor that is not too sweet, and a light taste of cucumber and spice. Yes, it is an unusual flavor but I love it.
The color of the tea is orangish brown, and there is a very slight citrus flavor as well but I would not really say it is an orange tea. Granted this is not a flavored tea obviously but there is just a hint at an orange note regardless. Don’t be too concerned about the smokiness in the tea. It is not smoky like a Lapsang Souchong at all. The smoky note is more in the woody note itself and reminds me of the quality wood that would be used to smoke meat.
This is absolutely a white tea that I would recommend and is unique enough that everyone should try it at least once.
