The weather is warmer which means more and more reaching for summery blends. That means a lot of fruity blends become more appealing and I start picking up lemonade for a super refreshing beverage, tea lemonades.
Tea lemonades are actually how I got my sister to drink tea. Technically, I suppose it was the staff at DAVIDsTEA who got her to drink tea by giving her a sample of their Frozen Raspberry blend, iced and mixed with some lemonade. She liked it so much, she actually purchased the tea and it is one of two blends she keeps stocked. Personally, I am not the biggest fan of that tea so instead I reached for this one, Melonade, to go with my lemonade craving.
I was not sure what to expect from this green tea with apple, melon , carrot, roasted chicory root, sweet blackberry leaves, apple pomace, lemon peel, beetroot, passion fruit granules , marigold blossoms, citric acid, and natural and artificial flavouring. I was a little hesitant mostly because I usually don’t like chicory or blackberry leaves. With that said, I am happy to report that as a tea lemonade, this is really quite nice.
This tea lemonade can only be described as juicy. It is like sweet, fresh melon just overflowing with juice. I have actually had a lemon drop melon before which is a melon version of lemon drop candies and this tea lemonade reminds me so much of that – sweet melon, kept from being too sweet by slightly tart lemon. It really is refreshing and just Summer in a cup. Yum!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: DAVIDs Tea
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Yuzu Ginger Macaron Cookie White Tea from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
The inspiration for this tea is actually one of our start-up Kickstarter backers that purchased a “create a tea of the week” option when she contributed to that campaign (thank you!) – she wanted a Yuzu Ginger Macaron Cookie Tea and she wasn’t sure if she wanted that with our White Peony base or our green tea blend. She told me that she’d leave that decision to me so I tested out both bases with these flavors and I ultimately decided that the White Peony tea made a better base for these flavors. The Yuzu fruit notes were not as well defined with the green tea – but with the white tea you get a juicy, citrus-y burst of flavor that’s tart and tangy, a wee bit sweet and a wee bit bitter – just like the Yuzu itself.
The ginger adds a warm dimension of flavor and I’m even getting a slight almond-y meringue note that evoke thoughts of a delicate macaron cookie. I gotta admit that when I was given this cookie tea challenge, I was more than just a little worried because Yuzu is not a flavor that I’m very familiar with and I worried that I wouldn’t do right by the Yuzu fruit. And whether or not I actually have done that – I’ll leave it for you to decide after you’ve tasted it. As for me, I’m quite pleased with how this turned out.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn about subscribing to 52Teas Tea of the Week program here.
Taster’s Review:
I will be honest. I am not a fan of ginger teas. Never have been. I find that the overwhelming flavor of the ginger just hinders the rest of the tea. But that was until I discovered this tea.
At the beginning, this tea had me at the word “Cookie”. I am not a huge cookie fan either but I love trying any tea that has a dessert or baked good flavor and feel to them. This tea came in my last order with 52Teas and was (I believe) a last minute add in.
While I was combing thru my tea stash tonight, I noticed it and thought, I feel adventure some this eve, let’s go with it! I brewed the tea up per the instructions on the package. All the while the tea was steeping, I was enjoying this lovely ginger baked good aroma. This is one of those smells you want to bottle up and put in candle form.
After a few minutes of steeping, I poured myself a really large cuppa and sat down to let the tea cool for a few minutes. (The package indicated to do this). I couldn’t wait the full time it said to wait because the aromas were just mouth watering and I needed a sip.
First impression of this tea? This tea is a muted gingersnap cookie where the flavors are subtle and not overwhelming and smack you in the face. More or less a subtle ginger note surrounding by this cookie almost buttery like flavor. I didn’t pick up any of the Yuzu and to be honest, I had to research the fruit anyway. I guess the fruit is sour so I was glad it was a hidden flavor. I was quite surprised by how I couldn’t pick out the white tea base. Usually with 52Teas, I can always pick up the tea base, but this one I really couldn’t. All I was getting was this lovely light gingersnap cookie tea. I mean this tea made me want to eat a cookie and I can’t tell you the last time I ate a cookie.
Anne from 52Teas has always told me that the second infusion of a white tea is the best so I eagerly prepped my tea kettle up for the second infusion. I let the tea steep for just a minute or two longer before I sat down to enjoy. I instantly starting drinking the tea this time around instead of waiting. Which turned out to be an great decision!
The brew this second go around had a much richer and deeper flavor to it. The ginger was still not overwhelming but the spice wanted your attention. That buttery cookie like undertone was more prominent really giving your taste buds that cookie baked good like flavor. I still didn’t pick up any of the Yuzu or white tea but at this point I really didn’t mind. This tea was amazingly rich and full of flavor. This is one of those teas that wakes up your tastes buds.
I’m eagerly awaiting my third infusion now to see what happens with this round. Can’t believe how much I’m enjoying this tea!
Lilith’s Fabulous Tea from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Since it’s the week of my youngest daughter’s birthday, I decided I should create a tea inspired by her. Two of her favorite fruit flavors (especially fruit tea flavors) are Lemon and Blueberry. And she has felt a special love for cotton candy ever since she portrayed “cotton candy” in her ballet company’s rendition of Hansel & Gretel. So I put those three flavors together with her favorite tea base – white tea – and came up with this “fabulous” blend.
Now, lemon, blueberry and cotton candy may seem a little weird, but, it actually tastes quite FABULOUS!
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn about subscribing to 52Teas Tea of the Week program here.
Taster’s Review:
This tea from the start was absolutely gorgeous! I adored the huge chunks of fruit and the gorgeous presentation of the tea overall. The pops of color really gave this tea a vibrant overall take. Just lovely!
Brewed this up at work and was excited to treat myself to a tea that had any kind of connection to cotton candy. I mean c’mon. Cotton Candy is amazing! With that in mind, I couldn’t wait for this tea to finish steeping so I could take my first taste.
Took my first sip and I was sad to say that I didn’t get bulled over and wowed with lemon or blueberry flavors. They were present and delicious but it was like something was missing. So I cold brewed this tea.
Cold brewing sometimes can really pull out flavors that you would never expect from a tea. I cold brewed this tea overnight and my goodness, this tea was simply one of the best cold brewed teas I have ever have. Delicious all the way around. Beautiful lemon notes with a vibrant blueberry undertone. The white tea base laid a nice groundwork of subtly sweet and lightly floral like notes. Heaven in a glass. I added in some fresh lemon slices and a few blueberries . . . can’t get much better than that. It looks like there is still some of this sweet lovin’ tea on the site . . . If you want some of this amazing lemon blueberry white tea. . .you should probably check it out soon before I do!
39th Parallel Pear Iced White Tea from Teakoe Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White & Green Teas
Where to Buy: Teakoe
Tea Description:
Inhale the fresh air and let your spirit soar while sipping this uplifting infusion of crisp pear, lemongrass & chamomile. Admire America’s scenic landscape, cruising a mile high with a bird’s eye view.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
It has been crazy hot these last few days. Time for iced tea!
I love the idea of throwing a tea bag into a pitcher over night and in the morning you are greeted with a gourmet iced tea to take along with you on the way to work. This is something I have been doing with my loose leaf tea quite a bit lately, but I love the idea of the tea already being in a bag for me.
Recently, I discovered Teakoe, a company in Colorado that creates their teas in small batches. I couldn’t wait to try them and this was one I had my eye on from the start. The packaging is fantastic. I love the overall look of the pouch. So very cool.
I followed the instructions on the back of the pouch and away I went. In the morning, I poured myself two pretty nice sized travel mugs for the start of my day. I couldn’t wait to try this fun combination of white tea, green tea, chamomile, lemongrass, and pear. The one ingredient I hadn’t counted on was stevia.
Unfortunately, my first go around with this tea, the stevia was the first flavor that popped and really dominated the cup. But fortunately for me, I brought along the tea bag, so I just finished what I had brought with me while I was steeping the tea bag again in a pitcher I keep at work.
The second infusion was a lot better. I think a lot of the stevia poured it’s little heart and soul into the first infusion so there were just traces of it in the second. This infusion was full of flavor. Bright crisp pear, vibrant lemongrass, a delightful herbal note of chamomile, a rich buttery green tea with a sweet white tea to finish off the sip. You can’t get much better than that. I ended up getting two more infusions out of the tea bag. The next infusion was just as good as the second one where I was able to really pull out those bright flavors. By the fourth infusion, I knew I had tried my luck one too many times. The flavors were weak and barely there. But hey, I was on my fourth infusion. I was expecting this sort of flavor from the 3rd infusion.
I am quite happy with this tea even with the stevia issue. I found myself wanting more of the tea the next day so the stevia must not have darkened my opinion of this tea too much. I think this was a great first experience with a new tea company (to me at least). I hope all my experiences are this great with Teakoe!