Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Yerba Maté
Where to Buy: Kally Tea
Tisane Description:
Organic unflavored Yerba Mate’. Our other Mate’ offerings are of a flavored variety. We felt that unflavored would be an excellent addition to our line.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
It’s been a while since I’ve had a pure, unflavored green Yerba Maté, so this Organic variety from Kally Tea is a welcome and inspired change from what I’ve been drinking. Not that I haven’t been enjoying what I’ve been drinking, but, sometimes it’s nice to change things up a bit.
I really don’t drink Yerba Maté all that often, maybe once every couple of weeks at the most, but that’s not because I don’t like it – I enjoy it. I suppose that the truth is that there are a lot of amazing teas and tisanes out there for me to try and … just not enough time (or bladder endurance) to drink them all!
This is a really nice green Yerba Maté. It tastes fresh and I can feel it begin to invigorate me as I sip it … I was a little sleepy before I prepared this cup of tea, and now, I can feel my eyes opening and my body feeling energized and ready to go! Yerba Maté always has this affect on me. It’s got that eye-opening ability that coffee has, but without the nauseating feeling that I get a few hours after I drink a cup of coffee. I get the best of both worlds with Yerba Maté.
And this organic green Yerba Maté from Kally Tea has a really nice flavor too. Sweet, vegetative, and earthy … but, unlike some Yerba Maté that I’ve tried, it doesn’t taste too earthy or vegetal. It has a smooth, delicious flavor. I don’t know if the difference here is that this is an organic offering or what the difference is, but I like what I’m tasting with this one.
Another awesome offering from Kally Tea’s new organic teas!
Traditional Guayusa from Runa
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Guayusa
Where to Buy: Runa
Tisane Description:
Known for its stimulating effects, indigenous hunters drink guayusa to sharpen their instincts. They call it the “Night Watchman” because it helps them stay awake and alert all night.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
This is the second tea/tisane that I’ve tried from the April Steepster Select box – themed “New Frontiers” – and while I did express my disappointment previously with this box, I have to admit that I am enjoying this Guayusa. It is nothing spectacular, but, it is enjoyable.
Since I previously reviewed Traditional Guayusa from Runa, and really, the only big difference between this cup of Guayusa and the one that I’ve already reviewed is that the previous cup was prepared with a sachet of Guayusa, while this is loose leaf. Since it’s been almost a year since I had that cup, though, I can’t really tell you if the cups are significantly different, and in what ways they differ.
What I can say, though, is that this is a tasty cup of Guayusa – rich, flavorful, and it has a very energetic quality to it that I’d expect from Guayusa. It tastes a bit like a slightly thin cup of coffee, but without the bitterness. It’s very smooth.
So, instead of going into depth about this tisane again, I thought I’d share with you the information on the New Frontiers theme card. I always enjoy these writings from the minds at Steepster:
Classical tea drinkers hold fast to the idea that “tea” only includes leaves from the camellia sinensis plant. Our vision of tea encompasses a wide variety of non-camellia sinensis plants – better known as tisanes – prepared, consumed and enjoyed in the same way as traditional tea.
So we venture forward, tastebuds first, to explore the ever expanding tea world.
Our quest introduces us to new lands and new species, but unlike previous explorers who feared the precipice at the end of the earth, we know our voyage will bring us full circle, back home and enriched with a deeper love for our favorite drink.
Raise the anchor! Hoist the sail! Join us as we set forth to explore these unique teas from non-traditional homes.
When I first opened the box and saw that it included two unflavored tisanes, I was very surprised and as I mentioned, disappointed. But, I do understand the inspiration behind these choices after reading the theme card. And while I do understand … it doesn’t keep me from hoping that next month’s theme will allow for more exciting choices!
Traditional Guayusa from Runa
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Guayusa
Where to Buy: Runa
Product Information:
Known for its stimulating effects, indigenous hunters drink guayusa to sharpen their instincts. They call it the “Night Watchman” because it helps them stay awake and alert all night.
Taster’s Review:
I haven’t consumed much Guayusa, but what I’ve tried thus far I’ve really liked. I was certain I’d enjoy this offering from Runa, since Runa is one of the principal suppliers of Guayusa within the United States. This is FRESH from the source!
This Traditional Guayusa is the plain, unflavored Guayusa – and it’s really good on its own. It has a pleasant flavor. It is earthy and vegetative, and the immediate product that comes to mind to compare it to would be green Yerba Maté – but the earthy/vegetative taste is not as prominent with the Guayusa as it is with Yerba Maté. It also has a coffee-like taste to it, but without that coffee bitterness.
Guayusa is a powerful stimulant, so I recommend drinking this one early enough in the day so that it’s not keeping you awake when you should be sleeping. But, even though it is an eye-opening cup, it doesn’t pack that caffeine JOLT that coffee (and sometimes Yerba Maté) does. It is remarkably smooth with a pleasant undertone of sweetness.
I like this with just a tiny drizzle of honey to bring out some of the sweeter notes of the Guayusa, although it is tasty served straight up too. And if you want a creamier cup, it takes the addition of milk well. If you’ve been curious about Guayusa, this Traditional Guayusa from Runa is a perfect place to start!