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Jul 31

Masala Chai from Chai, Baby!


Masala ChaiI loved this tea right from the first sip! It quickly became one of my favourite Chai teas and a tea in which I enjoyed having most in the morning.

One of the things I love about Chai is how invigorating they are in both smell & taste. The smell of this Chai is very uplifting and invigorating, as I have come to expect with Chai blends; this is why I enjoy having this tea so much in the morning! It is the typical Chai smell of cinnamon, with hints of ginger, clove, and other spices. I find just the scent of this tea really perks me up, especially if I feel like I need a boost.

The tea is also nice to look at. I love the mesh sachet that Chai, Baby uses! I can clearly see the tea; in this case, there are both small and large leaves and I can also see some of the different spices. The tea brews up a dark amber colour.

The taste of this tea is delicious! It is both smooth and invigorating. The thing I love about this Chai is that it is not too robust. I have encountered some Chai’s that are much too strong and robust for me. While cinnamon seems to be the most prominent taste (and I absolutely love cinnamon!), I can still taste other spices as well, such as ginger, cloves and maybe even a hint of black pepper! There is also black tea lingering in the background of all of this. Everything is so well blended together and makes for a very delicious cup of tea!

Chai, Baby describes this tea as:

We really know Masala chai — after all, we grew up watching our mothers add spice after spice to the steaming black tea concoction on the stove.  And we enjoyed the glorious scents blending and intermingling with one another.  Of course we’d like to have this leisurely, traditional experience every day. But we’re busy gals after all! We wanted the wonderful traditional taste — in a tea bag.

So, we searched. We steeped and sipped what seemed like hundreds of masala chais, but none of them really felt like home.  So, we did what anyone would do. We decided to make our own Masala Chai! We sculpted and tasted and refined blend after blend after blend, until we concocted The One. And we put it in a tea bag. It just goes to show – you can have your chai and drink it too!

Spice it up, baby! Our all-natural Masala Chai combines premium black tea leaves and traditional chai spices such as coriander, cardamom, clove, ginger, cinnamon and more.

I noticed with this tea that the flavours kept developing and getting a little stronger. It never got too strong or robust though! I also drank this Chai plain; I really did not feel like it needed milk or sugar added to it.I managed to get two steeps out of one tea bag. While my second steep was a bit weaker than the first, I still found it to be quite a delicious drink.

What I enjoyed most about this tea (besides the cinnamon), was just how refreshing and invigorating this tea was to drink. Compared to other Chais I’ve had, this one is by far my favourite! I was very impressed with this first tea I’ve ever tried by Chai, Baby! and am very much looking forward to trying their other teas as well!



mary
mary
http://missbellatrixsworld.blogspot.com/

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Jul 31

Orchid Vanilla from Tea Forté


Orchid Vanilla from Tea ForteTea Forté is a tea company that I was not very familiar with before today.  Today I received some fantastic samples in the mail from Tea Forté, and it was love at first sight.  I adore this tea company!!  Why?  Quality, taste, convenience, aesthetic value, and much more.

The first thing you notice about Tea Forté teas is their beautiful presentation.  Each teabag is created from a pyramid-shaped mesh material, so you can see and smell the high quality tea through the mesh.  The pyramids are distinctly unique, with the most adorable little tea leaf sticking out from the top so you can easily steep and throw away.  I am so impressed with the very aesthetic touches of these teas that I enjoy looking at them just as much as tasting them!

The patented design of their tea bags uses an open-weave fabric and spacious pyramid design in order to amplify the favors in the carefully selected whole-leaf blends. The infuser is capped with Tea Forté’s captivating signature leaf for a distinctive and memorable presentation.

Tea Forté describes this tea as:

Combining fine black tea, Madagascar vanilla and coconut slivers produces a smooth and luxurious indulgence. Naturally sweet.
Ingredients: black tea, coconut, flavoring

The aroma of this tea is intoxicating, with heavy sweet vanilla tones and strong black tea.  The flavor is even more delightful – again with very creamy vanilla notes derived from Madagascar Vanilla Beans.  The vanilla is the most prominent flavor, however the Chinese black tea base is so strong that you can taste the black tea along with the vanilla cream.  The coconut makes the tea smoother, and gives it a strong tropical note.  A beautiful tea expression!



The Tea Guru
The Tea Guru
http://www.teareviewblog.com


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Jul 30

Jasmine Petal from Two Leaves and a Bud


Jasmine PetalI know I’ve said this before here on this blog, but I’m going to say it again.  I love jasmine tea.  That being said, I often find myself skeptical to try a new jasmine green tea that is not a jasmine pearl, because, well, it’s not a jasmine pearl.  I am so completely in love with the perfect flavor produced by jasmine pearls that I feel like no other jasmine green tea can rival that perfection.

So, imagine my surprise when I took my first sip of Jasmine Petal from Two Leaves and a Bud!  The flavor is superb!  No, it is not the same as a jasmine pearl, but; it is VERY good, with a lovely jasmine flavor and fragrance.   And on the plus side, it’s far more reasonably priced than most jasmine pearls.

Two Leaves and a Bud describe this tea as…

Classic Chinese Green Tea dried with Jasmine Petals

Traditional Jasmine tea is green tea dried with petals of jasmine flower. As the tea dries, it absorbs the flavor of the jasmine. We leave the jasmine petals in ours for a great taste and visual experience. Jasmine tea is the most consumed tea in China. The finest is grown in the Fujian Province, where the teas exhibit a depth and complexity not found in lesser teas.

The fragrance before (and after!) brewing the tea is not unlike any other jasmine tea, possessing both the floral qualities of the jasmine flower as well as some of the grassy nature of the Chinese green tea.  What I did find (and quite enjoy) was that the grassy undertones of the tea were not overwhelming, as is so often the case with Chinese green teas, but rather, very smooth, with no detected astringency.  The aftertaste is earthy with a whisper of sweet jasmine.

This tea is very reminiscent of a tea that I might enjoy at a finer Chinese restaurant… smooth, with soft, sweet high notes.  Sweetener is not needed for this tea, so if you are one who generally reaches for the sugar with every cup of tea, you might want to taste this one before sweetening it.  This tea would also be very refreshing as an iced tea.

Overall, I would recommend this tea to anyone who is, like me, a jasmine tea fan.   Very, very good!



liber-teas
liber-teas
http://hungryinportland.com


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Jul 30

White Melon Yogurt from California Tea House


White Melon Yogurt from California Tea HouseI love this summertime treat!  The white tea leaves are of obvious high quality, lending a soft sweet tone to the undertone of the tea.  You can taste the tea first, and the flavoring secondly, because this tea really does shine in the blend.

Along with the tippy white tea leaves, there are also white melon preserves that taste and smell just like a honeydew melon.  The melon fragrance and flavor is very strong in this blend, giving it a lovely summer touch whether served hot or chilled!

Finally, the dried yogurt pieces give this tasty beverage a creamy flavor and aftertaste.  Even though they include yogurt, you shouldn’t add any milk or cream to this tea (or any other white tea), as it will easily overwhelm the blend!  Since the blend does contain yogurt pieces, it will not stay fresh as long as many other teas might – use this one up before it goes bad – but there is no need for refrigeration.

California Tea House describes this tea as:

Inspired by the frozen yogurt craze that started in Southern California and is quickly spreading across the US, White Melon Yogurt is a delicious, cream blend of rare Chinese white teas, white melon preserves and dried yogurt pieces. This one is excellent hot or on ice. This is Ani’s favorite!

Use 2 heaping tablespoons per cup of just under boiling (steaming) filtered water and steep for 2 to 3 minutes.

If you like melons and yogurt then you absolutely must try this tea!  It’s a very mild, light tea that is very refreshing and thirst quenching, especially on warm sunny days.



The Tea Guru
The Tea Guru
http://www.teareviewblog.com


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Jul 30

Flowering Pomegranate from Local Coffee + Tea


Flowering Pomegranate from Local Coffee + TeaAn extremely refreshing tea, Flowering Pomegranate from Local Coffee + Tea combines the juicy flavors of rich red pomegranate and hibiscus with a very high quality Ceylon green tea which is rolled up into small pellets which unfurl beautifully in hot water to become full, splendid tea leaves which swim gracefully through the water.

Before I tasted this blend, I wasn’t sure if I would like it or not, because I’m not a fan of hibiscus, and thought it might be tart – the very description of the teas says that it’s tart – but I tried it anyway and was shockingly pleased to find that while there is a slight tartness, it is insubstantial and only lends a minor edge to the tea which is extremely pleasing alongside the more prominent flavor of the juicy pomegranate.

The result is a very high quality and palate-pleasing tea which is sweet, juicy and refreshing.  Lovely iced as well!

Local Coffee + Tea describes this tea as:

Flowering Pomegranate Loose Leaf Green Tea from Sri Lanka is hibiscus and pomegranate, two flavors made for each other.

Tart, with floral highlights, cleansing and highly refreshing. Teeming with antioxidants. Add to this exotic blend some rosehip chips, natural flavors and lastly a superb Sri Lanka pekoe gunpowder style tea and you have a very cleansing and refreshing tea.

Legend claims the first time these two flavors were blended was on Easter Island. Polynesians sailing the Pacific introduced Hibiscus flowers to the Island, followed by slaves from Peru (around 1870) who arrived with the ruby red fruit called Pomegranate. The natives made use of all the Islands bounty and the blending began.

Please take time to enjoy this tea. After you pour hot water over the leaves, (we suggest water temperature less than 194 degrees F) stop and watch the ballet performance of unfurling leaves slowly sinking to the bottom of your glass teapot. Quite exquisite and we further suggest you steep these potent leaves at least 3 times. Infuse longer each time for more depth of flavor and color from this clever creation combining tart and sweet.

20 to 25 cups of tea can be made from 2 oz of loose leaf tea.

Store in a dry place.

The quality of the green tea leaves is apparent when looking at both the dried and used leaves.  I think the fact that the green tea is of such exceptional quality is really what makes this tea special, and different from similarly flavored teas from other companies.

This tea makes me think of sandy beaches in exotic locations.  Another summertime winner from Local Coffee + Tea!



The Tea Guru
The Tea Guru
http://www.teareviewblog.com


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Jul 29

West Cape Chai from Rishi Tea


West Cape Chai by RishiRishi is a relatively new brand for me, but the company’s high quality has really stood out.  This tea has large pieces of multiple colors and a great spice smell. You can tell this tea is fresh and there are a lot of ingredients!

Rishi describes this tea as:

West Cape Chai is a caffeine-free, herbal blend of chai spices and 100% Organic Rooibos, designed by Rishi blending experts to be prepared the same way as Rishi Masala Chai. West Cape Chai has a strong-bodied flavor with a well-balanced, sweet and spicy character. Its dark red infusion is the perfect base for a unique “Honey Steamer” beverage.

Ingredients: Organic cardamom, Organic cassia, Organic ginger, Organic Fair Trade Certified™  rooibos, Organic honeybush, Organic fennel, star anise), Organic clove, Organic black pepper, Organic {en:licorice root, Organic peppermint leaves

Another tea that tricked me! I keep saying that I don’t like rooibos yet it keeps popping up in delicious teas. This tea is slightly more “authentic” than many other chai teas I’ve tried (keeping in mind that I’ve never actually been to India and therefore have no idea what actual authentic chai is!). The spices don’t melt together into a single flavorful chai, rather the tastes explode in your mouth and offer a lot of different flavors at once. I will say that I thought the ginger was a bit too strong (not the biggest fan of ginger) but I added rice milk and sweetener which helped mellow out all the tastes.

I also like that this is caffeine-free! The taste is certainly not affected, nor is it “weaker” than other teas. In my book, this really elevates this tea as it means it is a perfect after dinner tea. This is another delicious high quality tea from Rishi. Oh, and this tea is not only all organic but fair trade as well.



becky
becky
http://www.moocowfanclub.com/

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Jul 29

Meadow Nocturne from Liber-Teas


Meadow Nocturne by Liber-TEASYou don’t even need to drink this tea to start relaxing in the evening, all you have to do open the container and take a deep breath. The soothing, relaxing scent of chamomile, lavender and lemon balm immediately made my shoulders relax and my heart rate slow down. This tea was already working its magic and I hadn’t even boiled the water yet!

Liber-TEAS describes this tea as:

My Relaxation Herbal Tea is all natural and naturally caffeine free. With all the stress in today’s world, we could all use a Relaxation Herbal Tea, right?

This tea is artistically crafted to be beautiful, fragrant, and delicious! And each and every one of the herbs is 100% organically grown: Chamomile, Lavender, Honeybush, Hops, Lemon Balm, Rosehips, and Hibiscus. Vegan!

The tea brews up to almost a clear/yellowish color with only the rosehips giving it a slight pink tinge. The chamomile flowers are huge and the tea is made of nice quality stuff. The taste is also a delight.

Chamomile is the strongest taste in this tea, but the other flavors blend well together. The rosehips and hibiscus give it a nice tart flavor while the lavender and lemon balm really mellow it out. I’m not actually familiar with hops, so I don’t know what type of flavor it added specifically.

But the most important thing is if this tea is relaxing. Well, I brewed a cup right before sitting down to watch a DVD and it wasn’t long before I wished I had waited longer because I was having trouble keeping my eyes open to watch the DVD! Chamomile works better than Tylenol PM on me, and this tea made me feel sleepy and relaxed in minutes!



becky
becky
http://www.moocowfanclub.com/

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