Sencha Mint from The Cozy Leaf. . . .

by VariaTEA

I don’t love green teas but I enjoy mint teas and typically my like for mint teas outweighs my dislike of green teas so when I come across something like this, Sencha Mint by Cozy Leaf, I am willing to give it a try.

From the description, I thought this was just sencha and peppermint though the ingredient list is just a touch longer than that, incorporating elderflowers and calendula petals into the mix.

Given the sample size I had, I decided to try this both hot and iced since mint teas tend to be good both ways. I brewed each cup for 1 minutes in water heated to 160 degrees.

The hot tea tastes like sencha and mint. Big surprise. It is a touch vegetal and yet refreshingly minty, with the two ingredients sharing the spotlight. Nothing too out there or unique but what more do you need than a tea that delivers on what it promises?

Iced, the sencha is a bit more overbearing. Adding more vegetal notes than it did to the hot tea which is making for a grassier cup. At the end of the day, this is called SENCHA mint, so you would expect that sencha would be the more prominent flavor and that is certainly true here. The peppermint also takes on a different life in the iced tea, picking up on the temperature and coming off more cooling. Alas, the mint is also drawing from the grassiness of the base and making for a tea that is more earthy and medicinal than I personally would like.

For me, I think I would more quickly reach for a plain mint tea, though this is certainly a nice option for those who enjoy a green tea base. It was also a nice introduction to Cozy Leaf, a company I have never even heard of, let alone tried before.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Green
Where to Buy:  The Cozy Leaf
Description

Smooth & full Sencha green tea with refreshing & invigorating peppermint

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

VariaTEA

Hey there! My name is Rachel. I’m a twenty-something from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who loves dogs and has a bit of an obsession with tea. As a child I hated the stuff since all I ever knew was Red Rose (no offense to Red Rose). However, a few years ago that all changed. I was on a diet and desperate for new flavors without adding calories and that’s when I turned to tea. I started off by going to DAVIDsTEA and Teavana for all their dessert-inspired flavors, and since I didn’t know any better, I bought 100 grams each of about twenty-something different teas. This was okay for the teas I liked but for those I didn’t I needed to find some way of getting rid of them. Enter Steepster.com. This is where I met some incredible tea friends, discovered tea swaps, and learned of so many amazing tea companies. My desire to try all the teas grew and since joining three years ago I have tried over a thousand different teas. I have learned what ingredients I love and I have learned what flavors I don’t like. I determined my go-to brewing method is Western-style with no added milk or sweeteners, though I also enjoy cold brewing, iced teas, teapops, lattes, and smoothies. I have yet to brew gong-fu style but I hope to do so just as soon as I get the proper teaware to do it. About a year ago, I actually stopped drinking tea but as my stash of over 200 teas started aging I decided I needed to respark my interest. I chose to take a 365 days of tea challenge on Instagram in which I post a new tea picture every day. So far it has been rather successful as I find myself drinking (and buying) more and more tea each day. Plus it enabled CuppaGeek to find me and invite me here to SororiTea Sisters.

This post was posted in Cozy Leaf, Green Tea

Peace from A Quarter To Tea. . . . .

by VariaTEA

April’s A Quarter to Tea monthly tea box certainly had an interesting selection: Rose Water Shortbread, Strawberry Rhubarb Salad, Cacao Cashew Beet Cake, and this tea, Peace.

This tea is a herbal but one that is based on Olive Leaf, which I personally have never seen before, though that would explain the name. In light of that, I was certainly intrigued. In addition to the olive leaf, this tea has ginger, lemon, and rose “for a calming experience”.

Now that I am actually drinking the tea, I will say it is both familiar and unique. The lemon, like that of lemon zest, is by far the strongest flavor. The ginger is contributing to the taste as well, though it lingers in the back of the sip. However, there is no ginger spice/kick in this tea, which seems to actually work better with the other ingredients. There is a little sweetness from what I imagine is the base, or maybe the rose, and also a touch of dryness from those components as well.

If I didn’t know any better, I would probably think this was a lemongrass and ginger infusion, with something added to keep it smooth and slightly sweet. This is because the lemon and ginger flavors are by far the most prominent and bright.

It is good for a herbal blend and definitely fun to try something new. Like I said, this tea is simultaneously unique while also remaining familiar.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy:  A Quarter To Tea
Description

A slightly sweet and floral full-bodied tisane featuring olive leaf and brightened with lemon and ginger.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

VariaTEA

Hey there! My name is Rachel. I’m a twenty-something from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who loves dogs and has a bit of an obsession with tea. As a child I hated the stuff since all I ever knew was Red Rose (no offense to Red Rose). However, a few years ago that all changed. I was on a diet and desperate for new flavors without adding calories and that’s when I turned to tea. I started off by going to DAVIDsTEA and Teavana for all their dessert-inspired flavors, and since I didn’t know any better, I bought 100 grams each of about twenty-something different teas. This was okay for the teas I liked but for those I didn’t I needed to find some way of getting rid of them. Enter Steepster.com. This is where I met some incredible tea friends, discovered tea swaps, and learned of so many amazing tea companies. My desire to try all the teas grew and since joining three years ago I have tried over a thousand different teas. I have learned what ingredients I love and I have learned what flavors I don’t like. I determined my go-to brewing method is Western-style with no added milk or sweeteners, though I also enjoy cold brewing, iced teas, teapops, lattes, and smoothies. I have yet to brew gong-fu style but I hope to do so just as soon as I get the proper teaware to do it. About a year ago, I actually stopped drinking tea but as my stash of over 200 teas started aging I decided I needed to respark my interest. I chose to take a 365 days of tea challenge on Instagram in which I post a new tea picture every day. So far it has been rather successful as I find myself drinking (and buying) more and more tea each day. Plus it enabled CuppaGeek to find me and invite me here to SororiTea Sisters.

This post was posted in A Quarter To Tea, Fruit/Herbal Tisane

Oregon Breakfast from Plum Deluxe. . . .

by Sophia

I really am in love with anything that includes hazelnut, hazelnut makes everything better. However, if you follow any of my reviews you’ll know that i’m not always too keen on orange or citrus. The ingredients in this delectable blend by Plum Deluxe include: black tea, honeybush, orange peel, and hazelnut essence. Tell me that doesn’t sound yummy and i’ll be looking at you like you have ten heads! It sounds heavenly, so of course I bought it. Typical me.

As soon as I opened the package and took a whiff of this mix, I knew id love it. In all honesty, the orange was so subtle I don’t think I could have picked it out if I didn’t know it was on the ingredient list. What I could smell was the hazelnut- nutty and creamy right off the bat. I’ve got to say that their addition of honeybush to their black tea blends really is smart, especially when the blend has a nut inclusion. Honeybush and nuts is a great combo, they accentuate each other and bring out the best in each other- a match made in heaven! The orange here is so subtle on taste just like on smell and I really can just barely detect it, which is more than okay with me. This blend is absolutely amazing and it is the PERFECT summer (or fall) tea for a sunny morning drive to work (or wherever you may be going on a sunny morning). I completely recommend you give this blend a try!

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Honeybush
Where to Buy:  Plum Deluxe
Description

This breakfast tea is how Plum Deluxe folk like to start their day. The earthy base helps center you; the ping of orange helps wake you and get you excited about today’s possibilities. It’s a simple tea and yet it is rich with subtle flavors.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Sophia

Hi, my name is Sophia. I am a first time mother to a beautiful little girl who will be 1 in July 2017. I spend my days at home with her and when I get a minute to myself, I usually spend that time making, drinking, or researching tea! My love for loose leaf tea is relatively new. When I was pregnant with my daughter, my mother (a tea addict herself) brought me to DAVIDsTEA. I enjoyed a cup of their Coconut Cream Pie Oolong and was instantly hooked! Since then, my addiction has grown to fill entire cabinets, and shows no sign of stopping. I am the creator of the Facebook group CommuniTEA where we have one big tea discussion. It is a great group for those new to the tea-world. I feel strongly about spreading the joy of loose leaf tea. I like making instructional videos and helping those that are new to the art of tea-making so that they, too, can share in the happiness that tea brings. I am excited to see where this hobby takes me and I will continue to spread the joy!

This post was posted in Black Tea, Plum Deluxe

Peanut Butter Cup from The NecessiTeas. . . .

by Sophia

Anyone who knows me knows I love peanut butter, especially Reese’s cups. The best ones are the ones for the Holidays, the eggs for Easter or the pumpkins for Halloween or the trees for Christmas. They seem to have more peanut butter! I have kind of always stayed clear of teas that attempted to replicate the delicious Reese’s candies though because I always figured they would end up tasting like stale hot chocolate mixed with goopy peanut butter. I don’t know why I thought this, but I did, up until now.

I spotted Peanut Butter Cup by The NecessiTEAs and I took a whiff of it- wow. Cue the mouth watering! It smells so peanut buttery and as if I just opened up a package of Reese’s. I brewed this one with near boiling water for the full 7 minutes- I wanted flavor! Well, flavor is what I got! Boy was I wrong about this blend, though.

I could totally taste both chocolate and peanut butter, but neither was overpowering. The liquid wasn’t thick and goopy either. Quite the opposite, actually. This blend was very light but still packed with flavor. Not only could I taste peanut butter but I could taste a simple nuttiness from the almonds. I could detect a bit of the apple pieces too, and this just added a nice sweetness to the overall cup. The chocolate, while present, was not overpowering and there was just enough to give the illusion of a true Reese’s cup, but not too much as to make me feel like this was a chocolate beverage. There are also caramel pieces included in this blend, and I have to say I just LOVE that! The caramel added a very small touch, just the right amount to give the drink a creamy mouth feel and some extra sweetness.

I’m telling you this was really well done. I literally drank it down in less than 5 minutes and then I was sad because that’s all I had! I can not wait to order my own tin of this. I really recommend you try it. It is a totally guilt free version of Reese’s cups and perfect for an after dinner delight! Total win. Thanks, NecessiTEAs.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Herbal/Tisane
Where to Buy: The NecessiTeas
Description

This blend is seriously addicting, over the top yummy and double-delicious. It’s quite amazing and tastes just like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup! To sweeten the deal, this chocolate peanut butter bliss is completely guilt-free!

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Sophia

Hi, my name is Sophia. I am a first time mother to a beautiful little girl who will be 1 in July 2017. I spend my days at home with her and when I get a minute to myself, I usually spend that time making, drinking, or researching tea! My love for loose leaf tea is relatively new. When I was pregnant with my daughter, my mother (a tea addict herself) brought me to DAVIDsTEA. I enjoyed a cup of their Coconut Cream Pie Oolong and was instantly hooked! Since then, my addiction has grown to fill entire cabinets, and shows no sign of stopping. I am the creator of the Facebook group CommuniTEA where we have one big tea discussion. It is a great group for those new to the tea-world. I feel strongly about spreading the joy of loose leaf tea. I like making instructional videos and helping those that are new to the art of tea-making so that they, too, can share in the happiness that tea brings. I am excited to see where this hobby takes me and I will continue to spread the joy!

This post was posted in Fruit/Herbal Tisane, The NecessiTeas

Say Aloha from Harlow Tea Co. . . . .

by VariaTEA

In theory, Spring is upon us. As the weather heats up, it is time to say goodbye to heavier winter teas and say hello or perhaps Aloha to lighter spring teas. So what is a lighter spring tea?

Well for me fruity greens come to mind. They are lighter in color and lighter in flavor. And Harlow’s Say Aloha with its strawberries and pineapple and other fruits sounds like a spring tea to me.

One misstep I think they took with this tea was using both a hojicha base and hibiscus. Both are such strong ingredients that they wrestle to take center stage, drowning out the fruity flavors in the process. Personally I think the hojicha base would have provided enough of a foundation to give this tea body and depth while allowing the other ingredients to play a bigger role.

As it is now, there is a roastiness from the green tea, a tartness from the hibiscus, and then a generic fruity sweetness from all the various fruits here. Plus, since candied fruit was used, the sweetness is strong, making for another contender in the wrestling match. These components are making war, when they should be blending harmoniously.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Green Tea
Where to Buy:  Harlow Tea Co.
Description

Houjicha green tea, hibiscus flower, myrtle leaf, strawberry leaf, dried strawberries, dried pineapple, dried plums, and cinnamon dried apples.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

VariaTEA

Hey there! My name is Rachel. I’m a twenty-something from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who loves dogs and has a bit of an obsession with tea. As a child I hated the stuff since all I ever knew was Red Rose (no offense to Red Rose). However, a few years ago that all changed. I was on a diet and desperate for new flavors without adding calories and that’s when I turned to tea. I started off by going to DAVIDsTEA and Teavana for all their dessert-inspired flavors, and since I didn’t know any better, I bought 100 grams each of about twenty-something different teas. This was okay for the teas I liked but for those I didn’t I needed to find some way of getting rid of them. Enter Steepster.com. This is where I met some incredible tea friends, discovered tea swaps, and learned of so many amazing tea companies. My desire to try all the teas grew and since joining three years ago I have tried over a thousand different teas. I have learned what ingredients I love and I have learned what flavors I don’t like. I determined my go-to brewing method is Western-style with no added milk or sweeteners, though I also enjoy cold brewing, iced teas, teapops, lattes, and smoothies. I have yet to brew gong-fu style but I hope to do so just as soon as I get the proper teaware to do it. About a year ago, I actually stopped drinking tea but as my stash of over 200 teas started aging I decided I needed to respark my interest. I chose to take a 365 days of tea challenge on Instagram in which I post a new tea picture every day. So far it has been rather successful as I find myself drinking (and buying) more and more tea each day. Plus it enabled CuppaGeek to find me and invite me here to SororiTea Sisters.

This post was posted in Green Tea, Harlow Tea Co