Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Le Palais Des Thés
Tea Description:
A green tea enlivened by flower petals and delicately scented with pieces of white peach, kiwi and watermelon. The green tea and the juicy freshness of the fruit are wonderfully balanced. Can be drunk hot or iced.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I am not usually one for watermelon flavored things outside of watermelon itself, but this delicate tea by Le Palais des Thes has me enjoying a watermelon blend. Granted it is not just a watermelon flavored tea, there are other wonderful fruit flavors in here accompanying the watermelon, peach is one of those flavors, and I am quite partial to peach teas! Kiwi is pretty good in teas although I have not seen it used often, so this is a really nice flavor blend.
Just as in the description offered by the company, it is in fact quite a “juicy” tea. As you sip your mouth almost waters with the burst of fruit flavors.
Also the green tea base holds its own against quite a few somewhat strong flavors. The base cold easily have been overcome, but it is not. In fact it not only holds its own, but the base is the main flavor I taste, which is good because when it comes to tea, sometimes I do enjoy a tea that is overwhelming with flavor, but for the most part I want to savor the tea over any flavorings within it.
I will say that it can be difficult to pick out any one flavor in the tea between the different fruits. One would not sip this and instantly say “Watermelon!” or “Kiwi!” for example. Rather it is more like a fruit punch flavor – a tropical punch, without the cloying sugar sweetness, yet it is nicely sweet, a natural sweet.
While this is not one of my favorite stash buster teas, it is always one that is lovely to return to. It is inviting enough that I am interested in trying more teas from Le Palais des Thes, which I intend to do in the future if this is any indication of their tea quality I should be quite pleased!
Watermelon Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
This slightly sweet Matcha treat with its watery velvety essence is an excellent accompaniment at any table of refreshment alternatives. This is because; Watermelon Matcha is a balanced treat that has something to offer to anyone with the willingness to partake of it. It brings out the taste in many foods and drinks and adds some of its own essence into any food or drink it is included. Watermelon Matcha slowly grows on the taste buds of those who choose to enjoy it.
Learn more about their Watermelon Matcha here.
Order Specifics: This is the Basic (or Starter) Grade Matcha with the Distinctive Level of Flavor.
Taster’s Review:
I have to tell you, that when shopping for flavored Matcha at Red Leaf Tea, it’s really difficult to decide which flavors to choose! There are so many different flavors, it’s hard to narrow it down to one or two! Seriously, if I could have, I would have ended up ordering a whole lot more!
Unfortunately, I needed to limit myself to two flavors, and one of the flavors that was on my MUST try list was watermelon! Not only is watermelon one of my very favorite fruit flavors, but, it also is a flavor that is not quite as common as other flavors when it comes to tea, so I think that was definitely a factor as well.
This Starter Grade Matcha is not quite as bright in color as a higher quality Matcha, but I expected that. With Matcha – you definitely get what you pay for. But, I’m OK with that too, because I actually quite enjoy the flavor of this basic Matcha. It is sweet and vegetative, with a nice creaminess to it. It has a light froth, and surprisingly it doesn’t have that chalkiness that I have experienced in some other “basic grade” Matcha. That is to say: for basic grade … this stuff is pretty darned good!
I think that at this “distinctive” level of flavor, the watermelon is just at the right level for me. I don’t think I would want it stronger, because then it would be competing with the flavor of the Matcha too much. And I don’t think I’d want it lighter, because I really wanted to TASTE the watermelon. I don’t know if I would have experienced it in quite the same way if I would have tried the “delicate” level of flavor … but as this is, it’s perfect for my palate’s enjoyment.
This is one of the nicest flavored Matcha I’ve tried in some time. Very refreshing, and definitely perfect for the summertime. I think I might even try making some ice cream out of this stuff! YUM!
Wild Watermelon from Kally Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Kally Tea
Tea Description:
You’ll love this combination of sweet watermelon, paired with smoky gunpowder green tea, with the addition of tangy lime, and natural flavors. The result is a sophisticated and refreshing cup that will surprise and delight your senses. We have found that this tea is truly enhanced with the addition of a sweetener of your choice. Try it without first if you desire, but do not deprive yourself of the experience with the addition of a sweetener.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
At first glance, this tea might cause some confusion even to the most experienced tea drinker. With so many chunks of fruit and herbs, this looks more like a fruit or herbal tisane than a tea. But, look closely, and you’ll see the gunpowder green tea.
So, I steeped this as I would most green teas – a low temperature for a time somewhere between 1 1/2 minutes and 2 1/2 minutes. I opted to lower the temperature to just 170°F so that I could tack an extra 30 seconds brew time and brewed it for 2 1/2 minutes. My hope was that I would be able to extract as much fruit flavor as I can in such a short amount of time, while still managing to keep the green tea from becoming bitter.
Success! This is very flavorful. The liquor is a pretty pale pink hue from the hibiscus, but fortunately, the hibiscus didn’t affect the texture by turning it syrupy nor did it make this cup too tart. There is some tartness to this – make no mistake – but the sour notes I taste are from the lime and pomegranate, not the hibiscus. I can barely taste the hibiscus here, and I’m certainly not complaining!
I can taste the green tea too. It offers a slightly smoky note in the distance, and I find that this smoky tone is especially noticeable in the aftertaste. Quite nice. The green tea does get a little overwhelmed by everything else that’s going on in this blend, but, it’s not completely masked by the other flavors.
And I love that I can taste the watermelon here … it is sweet, and juicy – just like the delicious fruit in the very center of the melon. I love how the tart lime brings out the sweet notes of the watermelon to offer a really delicious cuppa. This is good hot, but even better iced with a little bit of sugar, which helps to bring out the flavors even more.
These leaves can be resteeped a second time. I found that the flavor mellows a little bit with the second infusion, but they weren’t really less flavorful, the cup just tasted different than the first time. This time, I taste more of the gunpowder tea, but, not so much of a smoky note from it. Instead, I taste more of a light, fresh vegetative taste.
The watermelon is a lighter flavor this time around, tasting a bit more like the fruit that is closer to the rind rather than in the center of the melon. The lime is milder this time, and I really am enjoying how the flavors come together in this second infusion – I think I prefer it to the first!
Very nicely done.
Watermelon Lime Green Tea from Inspired Leaf
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Inspired Leaf
Tea Description:
A little sip of summer…sans seeds!
Inspiration No. 11: The next time it rains, jump in a puddle, just because.
Ingredients: Apples, rosehips, organic green tea, hibiscus, pomegranate, carrots, lime leaves, lime pieces, lime juice, watermelon seeds
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I first opened this sample pouch, I had to double check to see if it was, in fact, a green tea. It had so many fruit and herb chunks in it that I thought it was a fruit tisane rather than a green tea … but, it is a green tea … with lots and lots of chunky bits!
One might think that with so many fruit bits, that the green tea flavor would be lost – and it is a little lost. Beneath the strong fruity tones is the sweet, refreshing flavor of the green tea – it is not a strong flavor, and the tea lover in me wishes it were stronger, but the way the two fruit flavors play together in this cup tastes so incredible that it’s hard to complain!
I do recommend using extra leaf with this one, however. If you’d usually use 1 teaspoon of tea per cup, use at least 2 teaspoons of this blend.
But, it’s worth that extra effort, because it really tastes delicious! The lime is the strongest note, and it is tangy … almost to the point of being a bit sour, but then the sweetness of the watermelon comes through and softens the tart lime. The hibiscus seems to accent the lime flavor without making the tea too tart or syrupy. It also gives the cup a pretty, rosy “watermelon” colored hue. The other fruits listed in the ingredients (apple and pomegranate) do not offer strong, individual flavors. That is, I don’t taste “apple” or “pomegranate” distinctly, but I do think that these two fruits enhance the overall fruity flavor of the cup.
I am definitely going to need more of this tea for summer – it’s AWESOME iced!
Thé des Alizés from Le Palais Des Thés
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Le Palais Des Thés
Tea Description:
A green tea enlivened by flower petals and delicately scented with pieces of white peach, kiwi and watermelon. The green tea and the juicy freshness of the fruit are wonderfully balanced. Can be drunk hot or iced.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I was very excited to try this tea … it was the first that I’ve tried from this company, and I’ve heard so many wonderful things about Le Palais Des Thés that I wanted to experience their teas for myself!
And I am happy to report that this tea has certainly lived up to the reputation that this company has built for itself. This is splendid!
The green tea is the most prominent flavor and that pleases me. I am glad to find that Le Palais Des Thés does not overdo it on the flavoring! The green tea tastes refreshing! Sweet, lightly grassy, and smooth, with a soft mouthfeel. Very little astringency … just silky, sweet flavor that glides over the palate from start to finish.
The flavors of kiwi, watermelon and white peach meld together deliciously, providing a flavor that is mouth-watering and sweet … but it is a natural kind of sweetness, not a cloying, candy sweet flavor. The overall cup is light, fruity and vitalizing.
I enjoyed this hot, and as good as it is, I can’t help but think that this would be STUNNING as an iced tea … and with that warm weather approaching, this would be a good one to have on hand when you want to impress your guests with a gourmet iced green tea.