Like many other tea companies, Lupicia offers specialty teas for Christmas. This is one of those specialty teas and I was delighted when I came across this tea bag. For one thing, I have had this before and from what I remember I enjoyed it, so I was happy to revisit it once again. And, for another thing, Lupicia has some of the most adorably packaged tea bags out there (second only to Tea Trunk’s super cute elephant teabags perhaps). This particular tea bag depicts a chipmunk and a cat working together to make a strawberry shortcake so that’s pretty awesome.
Sipping on it now, it reminds me just how much I don’t love Lupicia’s black tea base. Lupicia makes delicious rooibos blends and they have some of the best flavored oolongs on the market but for some reason their black tea always tends to take over their softer and more subtle flavorings. It is somehow smooth yet astringent and creates a heaviness that is out of place next to the more delicate notes of strawberry and vanilla. Those flavor notes, however, are this tea’s saving grace. The vanilla is creamy while the strawberry is more like strawberry flavoring, the sweet and artificial candy-like flavor that is akin to strawberry milkshakes.
Ultimately, this has a good flavor to it but the base takes over and pulls out the more processed quality of this tea. I enjoyed the cup though I have had much better offerings from Lupicia in the past. In fact, I have had a strawberry/vanilla green tea from Lupicia that I recall liking a great deal. All in all, it makes for a nice cup of tea but I don’t think I will be seeking this out anytime soon.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Say Aloha from Harlow Tea Co. . . . .
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!
Strawberry Shake from DAVIDsTea. . .
I have been (im)patiently waiting for DAVIDsTEA to come out with some new “summery” teas. It has finally happened! Yay! So their new collection they’re calling “Malt Shop” and all the teas are based off of ice cream. They not only have ice cream themed teas, but new tea tins and mugs with ice cream print on them. Talk about cute! I definitely went all out during my DAVIDsTEA shopping spree, and I am happy I did because I am loving the teas!
The first one I tried was Strawberry Shake. It is described as a green tea with strawberry and yogurt flavor. The initial thought that came to my head when I saw the description and smelled the tea was that this is a caffeinated version of Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait. However, this tea was not tart and does not contain hibiscus (phew!). So thankfully, in taste, there was no comparison to Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait.
The dry leaf’s smell does remind me of a strawberry milkshake. However, once steeped, it smells like fresh cut up strawberries. Seriously, if I closed my eyes and smelled the steeped tea I would likely say “hey, is someone cutting up some strawberries in here?” It is very realistic. I don’t know if I like the name “strawberry shake” for this tea, though. It more so reminds me of the strawberry syrup that you would drizzle on your sundae. You know, that syrup that has real strawberries in it? That stuff is good. Well, thats what this tea reminds me of. So, even though it doesn’t live up to the milkshake “vibe” that DAVIDsTEA is trying to give off, the tea itself is still good.
I feel like the “yogurt” part that was mentioned in the description was totally lost. It definitely lost its way and probably wont be coming back. I really didn’t get a yogurt flavor, unfortunately. Which is probably why I didn’t think that the tea resembled a milkshake at all. If I was to do this tea over for DAVID’s I think I would have added some freeze-dried ice cream pieces or white chocolate. It needed another creamy component in order to be considered ice cream, in my humble opinion.
Otherwise, I did like this tea. Even though I don’t think it lived up to it’s name does not mean it wasn’t good. It is definitely worth a try especially if you like strawberry. Even though I won’t be buying more, I will happily drink up the rest of my tin-full.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: DAVIDsTea
Description
Shake up your sipping with this creamy blend of green tea, strawberry and yogurt.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Holiday Tea Alert! Carol from Lupicia. . . . .
The holiday season for me might be a bit different than most but it’s what I call my own way of doing things. I don’t decorate. I focus on gifts for my parents, my sister and her husband, and my husband’s family does a Secret Santa of sorts. My husband and I don’t really focus on gifts for each other usually. We first and foremost make sure those on our lists are taken care of. There are a few Christmas songs I like but I don’t go CRAZY for the festiveness much anymore. I do like GIVING and that is mostly what I tend to do this time of year.
But I have to say one thing I enjoy is sampling different Holiday Tea Blends. When I heard that Carol from Lupicia was back in stock and our SororiTea Sisters had some floating around I was pretty excited about having a cup of it.
I had Carol from Lupicia YEARS ago but just had another cup recently and it was pretty yummy and comforting! The strawberry, vanilla, and rose trio of flavors blended well – so well, in fact – that it seemed to create a whole new flavor of its own! It was a bit fruity, a little creamy, and a tad floral…makes sense based on those 3 ingredients, eh?
Overall, I really like Carol from Lupicia. Oddly, with all of the tea I have drank over the years I have tried very few of the teas from Lupicia considering their very large selection. I’m always overjoyed when one of their teas comes across my desk! And let me tell you – I have more on the way – so more smiles and Lucipia cups are sure to be seen here – and soon, at Sororitea Sisters! CHEERS!
And for our readers mention SororiTea Sisters when checking out and Lupicia will add in a special treat!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Flavored Tea
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Description
Tea flavored with strawberry and vanilla and elegantly decorated with rose petals.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Pretty in Pink from For Tea Sake
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: For Tea’s Sake
Tea Description:
For Tea’s Sake Pretty In Pink Loose Leaf Iced Tea Blend. Juicy and delicious strawberries are a traditional summer treat and when blended together with papaya pieces they make a pretty tasty cup of iced tea! Strawberry,3.5oz/85g Tin.
INGREDIENTS:
oolong and green tea, papaya and strawberry pieces, plum and safflower petals and natural flavors.CAFFEINE: Low
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Pretty In Pink from For Tea’s Sake is a new tea and a new tea company to me. I was enjoying lunch with my parents and hubby when we stopped into a little boutique shop afterwards. At the very front of the shop was a little display of different teas from For Tea’s Sake. I quickly squealed and picked up a few of the sample packs. With names like Pretty in Pink and Mint To Be Together, I was sold!
Pretty in Pink is a lovely blend of oolong, green tea, and fruity pieces. The dry mix had a rich and vibrant candy or cotton candy note to it. One that just made you start drooling.
Prepped this tea per the instructions they provide and I have to say the tea turned out quite brilliantly. First sip and I was hooked. This is one of those teas that a sample pack just will not do justice. Fresh bright strawberry flavors mingled with a sweetness that reminds me of a candy base or even like I said earlier cotton candy flavoring. But not overwhelming to the point of tasting fake. Add in the lovely lush oolong base, and you have yourself one fantastic treat!
This tea is one those that delivers infusion after infusion. I’ve spent a day with the same leaves and still the flavor is spot on. Sweet and spectacular. One that I could see would crave those 3pm sweet tooth cravings I have.
Pretty in Pink from For Tea’s Sake will be one that I will be picking up a larger package of. One that I will need more of soon for sure!
