Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Raspberry Truffle Matcha is the perfectly designed treat that literally melts in the mouth with its mix of sweetness and Matcha undertones. This treat can make the perfect in-between meals treat that is perfect for enticing the taste buds to want much more. It can also make the perfect desert when people want to sample the different alternatives that are available for the palate to partake. For children, this exceptional treat can be one of many favorite offerings on their special occasions.
Learn more about this Matcha here.
Taster’s Review:
OK… how could I NOT try this matcha from Red Leaf Tea? Raspberry Truffle flavored Matcha? It sounded way too good, you know had to try it!
I went with my “usual” specifications for this Matcha, using the classic grade of green Matcha and the distinctive level of flavoring. The first time I prepared it, I was a little bit disappointed because I could taste an artificial taste to it. Then I decided to prepare it differently for my second attempt … and make it into a latte.
And as a result, I’ve come to the conclusion that this Matcha should be prepared as a latte. That chemical-y, artificial taste is gone now, and all that I taste is sweet, creamy, raspberry and chocolate truffle with Matcha! YUM!
To make my latte, I used 1% milk – primarily because it was the only milk I had in the house. I don’t typically like 1% milk, but that’s what my husband likes, and since he’s the milk consumer in this house … that’s what we get. Usually, I enhance the 1% milk with some half & half (using a ratio of 2 parts milk to 1 part half & half) to keep the milk from tasting too much like creamy water. But I didn’t even have half & half on hand, so, I just went with the 1% milk … and it worked PERFECTLY for this application.
I heated the milk, then sifted the flavored matcha powder over the milk and used my hand-held frothing tool to whisk in the matcha (I prefer not to use my chasen when I make lattes, because I fear the milk will impart bacteria on my bamboo whisk) and the result is a yummy, creamy, delicious bowl of Matcha goodness. I taste the matcha – it is slightly vegetative and sweet and smooth. The raspberry comes through and it tastes sweet-tart and bright … and then I taste the creamy, rich taste of chocolate. Because of the milk, it tastes more like a milk chocolate to me than a dark chocolate … but it is delicious all the same.
Now, the milk doesn’t exactly make this as low calorie as it would be if it were prepared with water, but, given that the water preparation didn’t taste as good as the milk preparation, I’ve still got to recommend you try this as a latte. You won’t be sorry!
By the way … keep watching the SororiTea Sisters blog … I’ll be giving away a pouch of this exact Matcha … same specifications – a full 30g pouch of it – very soon!
Chocolate Chili Truffle from Spire Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Tea Description:
Unveil the sweet and spicy layers in our Chili Truffle tea made with Ceylon black tea; chili, chocolate and peppercorns.
Learn more about Spire Tea on their website.
Taster’s Review:
This tea isn’t technically a “chai” by what we here in the United States have come to call chai, however, the spiciness of this tea is very warming and reminds me of a chai, so I decided to categorize it as such.
I really like this a lot! Then again, that should not be surprising, given my love for chocolate. And when I shop for chocolate, I often find myself looking for (and purchasing) chocolates that are chili infused … I love the combination of sweet (or bittersweet) chocolate with spicy foods. The sweetness of the chocolate tempers the heat from the spice just enough while the notes from the spice cut through some of the sweeter notes of the chocolate to keep it from tasting so sweet. I love that contrast.
And that contrast has been captured perfectly in this cup of tea.
The black tea is a mellower black tea base – a Ceylon – but, it does its job here well. It supports the flavors of chocolate and chili very nicely without getting in their way. It is a strong enough Ceylon to be tasted without overpowering the spicy chocolate notes.
The chocolate – while it could be stronger (I do love my chocolate!) offers a rich, creamy taste that is more like dark chocolate than of milk chocolate … although if you prefer a milk chocolate taste that can be easily remedied by turning this into a latte. It adds a nice texture to the cup too, it tastes really rich and decadent!
And the chili adds just the right amount of heat. I would classify it as a mild-to-medium heat, it isn’t super-spicy, even as the heat builds as I continue to sip, I never feel it becoming TOO spicy for my mouth. Just a really enjoyable, warm heat.
A really lovely tea from Spire … this one might be my favorite yet from them!
On the Fourth Day of Christmas, Della Terra Teas sent to me …
Good day, and welcome to day four. Oh … wait, I guess I should save that for day twelve, right? (Anyone who is unfamiliar with Bob and Doug McKenzie probably don’t get that. For those of you who want to know what I’m talking about, click here.)
And now that I’m sitting here, listening to that, I think maybe I should have used “French Toast” as my inspiration behind the the 12 Days of Christmas tea swap I told you about yesterday. I should have been able to find a French Toast tea. Right?
Anyway, on to today’s tea that Della Terra Teas sent to me . . .
Chocolate Raspberry Truffle
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Della Terra Teas
Tea Description:
On the fourth day of Christmas your the calling birds will be calling for some of your Chocolate Raspberry Truffle!
A festive blend of the rich chocolate and tart raspberries create a decadent truffle in your cup. Being it’s the holidays, it’s perfectly fine to overly enjoy this one. Grin away!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I opened today’s package I was really excited! I mean, Chocolate Raspberry Truffle??? Hello? YUM!!!
I had very high expectations for this tea, because Della Terra Teas has one of the very best chocolate teas that I’ve yet to taste (which I’ve just realized I misspelled … it should be “Dubbele Chocolade” … sorry Della Terra Teas!) so I wanted chocolate – lots of it – and true raspberry flavor. I wanted liquified Chocolate Raspberry Truffle!
And that’s just what I got! 
This is rich and chocolate-y, and with just the right amount of raspberry flavor. The raspberry is sweet and tart. The sip starts out smooth and sweet and chocolate-y, and then about mid-sip, the raspberry comes in … it’s almost as if I were biting into a Chocolate Raspberry Truffle … I’d notice the chocolate first, and then the raspberry would come in. The finish is sweet with that berry tingle that tickles the tongue.
And, with all that flavor going on, you might be wondering if there is any tea to taste … and yes, I do taste the tea. It is a fairly mellow black tea base, it doesn’t really come forth in a very strong or powerful way. It seems kind of content to just work the background, and it does provide a very solid background.
Overall, this is a very satisfying Chocolate Raspberry Truffle flavored black tea. And certainly a treat that is perfect to enjoy this time of year … I’m really happy this was part of Della Terra Teas’ 12 Days of Christmas tea box!
Chili Chocolate Truffle from Della Terra Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Della Terra Teas
Tea Description:
A delicious chocolate tea recipe spiked with the perfect amount of chili pepper! Just like the classic chocolate chili recipes from Mexico, this wonderful blend will give you the slight spiciness of chili pepper and the richness of chocolate. This is a must try for every chocolate lover out there!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The name of this tea is very alluring. I love the combination of chocolate and spice. The contrasting of flavors is always something that tempts me, and this tea certainly captured my attention with the promise of spice and bittersweet chocolate.
The chocolate is delicious. It is very much like a dark chocolate, very rich and deep in flavor. There is a slight artificial note to the cup that I notice when I really focus on the flavors, it doesn’t really disrupt the flavor of the cup with a “casual sip” but its when I try to identify the flavors I’m experiencing that this note really becomes noticeable. It is very slight and sort of rests in the background.
It is the chili pepper that is this tea’s best quality, I think. I really like how it plays in this cup. It takes a little while to really develop. It was noticeable at the very first sip, of course, but, it was mild in temperature. But now that I’m about halfway through the cup, I notice the twinge of a burning sensation on my lips, tongue and upper palate, and the heat seems to radiate all the way to my throat.
It is a very pleasurable burn … it isn’t the kind of heat that is sending me to the kitchen in search of something to extinguish the fire … it is more like a warm ember that warns of a fire that may erupt if it is tampered with, and that’s the kind of heat I really like. The type of heat that is just on the verge of getting really spicy, hinting toward that heat, making this sipper anticipating and even hungering for the flame and encouraging me to continue to sip.
The black tea is a mellow tasting tea, and I think it works perfectly for what this tea is. A stronger or bolder tea would have possibly interfered with the progression of the heat from the chili pepper. Then again, it may have complemented the chocolate in such a way that it came across as richer or smoother… but as it is, I really like how this tea reveals itself. I imagine that this would make a very interesting latte, too.
An enjoyable tea, one I wouldn’t mind drinking now and again for that exciting flirtation with the chili pepper’s heat.
Coconut Truffle from Inspired Leaf
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black Tea & Honeybush
Where to Buy: Inspired Leaf
Tea Description:
Cocoa nibs and indulgent flavors of the islands. Brew up a vacation!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
YUM!
This is the first tea that I’ve tried from Inspired Leaf, but I must say that I’m a fan. My experience with them has been very positive, and this tea is like the cherry on top of the sundae! I would say coconut on top of the sundae but that didn’t seem as illuminating as cherry on top.
The base is a blend of black tea and honeybush which I find enjoyable because I have the rich flavor of the black tea – lightened somewhat by the presence of the honeybush, but not too much. It is light enough to enjoy the complexity of the tea while adding a delicate sweetness from the honeybush. There is a hint of nutty flavor to this as well, and this compliments the coconut in this blend.
The chocolate flavor is at a pleasing level, but, I (being the chocoholic that I am) still find myself wanting MORE chocolate. Some cacao shells would give this more of a truffle-ish flavor, I think. As it is, it is quite delicious, but even more chocolate would make it over-the-top indulgently awesome. (Remember my simple equation? more chocolate = better)
The coconut is creamy and sweet and luscious … and definitely the star of this cup. Sure, I love the chocolate, but, its the coconut that makes this so remarkably good.
And that’s exactly what it is!