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Apr 30

Cranberry Orange Black Tea from Frontier Co-op

Black Tea,Flavored Tea,Frontier Co-op,Tea Review 11:00 pm | 2 Comments

Cranberry Orange Black Tea from Frontier Co-opAutumn is my favorite time of year.  And even though we are in the middle of spring, this tea offers me a glimpse of autumn right in my teacup!

The base is an Assam tea which makes for a bold, malty flavor.  It has a fair amount of astringency – I found it to be particularly astringent with my first couple of sips, but it rounded out nicely as I continued to sip and the flavors of cranberry and orange developed upon the palate.  This is a much heftier brew than most cranberry flavored teas I’ve encountered, and is strong enough to serve as a deliciously different breakfast tea, especially on crisp autumn mornings!

The cranberry flavor is juicy and pleasingly tart.  It has a light sweetness to it too, and the tingle of berry tartness lingers on the tip of tongue long into the aftertaste.  The orange is sweet yet tangy, and compliments the cranberry notes nicely.  It is a very harmonious, pleasant cup of tea.

Frontier Co-op describes this tea as:

Indian Assam tea blended with a bountiful melange of cranberry flavor and bits of real orange. Subtly sweet and delicious brew.

I like this tea hot or iced, but I generally do prefer Assam teas hot because the malty tones express themselves so much better when the tea is hot.  I like this one without milk, but a little honey is nice with this tea.  As with all Assam teas, I do recommend keeping an eye on the tea timer and taking care not to over-steep, as it may become too bitter. I recommend steeping it for just three minutes.  I found that this produced a full-flavored, robust cup without any bitterness.

Overall, this is a very pleasant cup.  I enjoyed it.



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http://hungryinportland.com


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Apr 27

Crème Caramel Rooibos from David’s Tea

David's Tea,Flavored Tea,Rooibos,Tea Review 4:00 pm | 2 Comments

Crème Caramel Rooibos from David's TeaI’m not usually over-enthusiastic when it comes to trying a red rooibos blend.  So, it took me a few weeks to finally get around to trying this blend.

But, it’s really quite scrumptious!  This is, perhaps, one of the most surprising red rooibos blends I’ve yet to come across!

Usually the mark of a “good” rooibos blend (in my humble opinion) is the lack of typical red rooibos taste:  strong woody quality with that off-putting, sweet aftertaste.  And what makes this particular blend so surprising is that I can taste the rooibos, but yet I find it so delicious.

I don’t get a lot of the aforementioned aftertaste, but I do taste the woody quality.  When brought together with the sweetness of the caramel flavor, though, it comes across as a sweet, nutty flavor rather with wood-like notes.  This doesn’t taste like rooibos – this tastes like dessert!

David’s Tea describes this blend as

There are few dessert teas more satisfying than Crème Caramel Rooibos. Smooth, sweet and creamy, it’s a taste sensation. And the best part is that it’s actually good for you. South African rooibos is caffeine-free and soothing, and it’s filled with antioxidants and essential minerals. So indulge in a caramel dream. It might be the healthiest thing you do all day.

This has to be one of the best rooibos blends I’ve yet to taste, and I’m not really surprised that it comes from David’s Tea.  I’ve been really impressed with the few teas that I’ve tried from this company, and this one is certainly no exception.  This is not only a tasty rooibos – it’s got a crave-ability factor that I don’t find often in tea, much less rooibos.  This is excellent!



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Apr 26

Social Butterfly from WhiteAugust Tea Company

Flavored Tea,Green Tea,Tea Review,WhiteAugust Tea 11:00 pm | No Comments

Social Butterfly from WhiteAugust TeaFrom the moment that I opened this package, my senses were awakened by the aroma of blueberry and jasmine!  This tea smells so fresh and lively, such a beautiful fragrance.

In comparison, the flavor is a bit more subdued than the scent.  But, that’s OK, because if the tea was as strongly flavored as it is scented, the flavors of blueberry and jasmine would overwhelm the delicate green tea flavor.

Instead, the flavor of the green tea resides in harmonious balance with the sweet, floral notes of jasmine and the ripe, juicy taste of blueberry.  I like that no one flavor tries to compete with the others here.  It is such a lovely combination that is refreshing yet soothing.  Uplifting yet calming.

The green tea tastes fresh with a delicate vegetative tone that is similar to steamed spinach.  It tastes more of vegetables than of grass, however, there is a distinct grassy tone that arrives at the end of the sip, and lingers into the aftertaste.  It gives the overall cup a crisp vibrance that is actually quite exhilarating.

The jasmine notes start out rather soft, actually, they’re almost indistinct!  However, by the time I’ve reached mid-cup, the jasmine notes are much more prevalent, and melding nicely with the sweet-tart notes of the berry.  The blueberry is one of the nicest representations of blueberry flavoring that I’ve encountered.  It tastes very authentic.

WhiteAugust describes this tea as

A tippy green tea bursting with succulent blueberries and intoxicating jasmine petals. This all organic tea yields a very complex and energizing cup.

I found this cup to be extraordinarily refreshing.  I enjoyed it hot, but I suspect this will be extraordinarily good as an iced tea (Jasmine Green teas are among my favorites served iced!)

WhiteAugust Tea Company delivers yet another winning flavor combination.  If you like jasmine tea, I highly recommend this one; it’s an exciting twist on a classic favorite.



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http://hungryinportland.com


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Apr 21

Organic Herbal Temptation from Praise Tea

Herbal Tisanes,Praise Tea,Tea Review 11:00 pm | No Comments

Organic Herbal Temptation from Praise TeaThis is yet another tisane (in a very long list of tisanes) that I held off trying because of my general “fear” of tisanes.  I worry that they will taste too herbal-y, or too medicinal, or worst of all, they will contain too much hibiscus which will ruin the whole cup.  On their website, Praise Tea lists their ingredients for this tisane as:  Organic Apple, Mango, Chamomile.  One ingredient they forgot to list is Hibiscus.  Yes, it’s in there.

But, thankfully, the hibiscus here is added with a light hand.  It adds a little bit of color and texture to the tisane, but, the flavor of the hibiscus doesn’t become overpowering.  It merely offers a faint note of tartness that melds quite well with the flavors of apple and mango.

It is the flavors of apple and mango that I like so well about this tisane!  The combination of these two well-balanced ingredients creates a delicious tisane that tastes more like a fruit tea than a functional herbal tisane.

The flavor of the chamomile starts as a very delicate flavor, but as I continue to sip, the chamomile flavor becomes more distinctive.  Fortunately, though, this doesn’t taste like the pollen-esque yellow dust that is sometimes found in teabags.  These chamomile blossoms are large and uncrushed, providing a very pleasing chamomile flavor.

Praise Tea describes this tisane as

A 100% natural blend of organic apple, mango and Chamomile. A subtle fragrance and flavor and is a great way to ease your daily tensions. A marriage of flavor that ties it all together for a healthy, caffeine-free beverage that can be enjoyed hot or on ice.

This tisane was certainly a pleasant surprise – one that I wish I would have discovered a bit sooner!  I love the mango and apple flavors together with the chamomile.  It is such a soothing flavor that accompanies this calming blend.  This is what I would recommend to those who want an herbal relaxation blend that doesn’t taste like an herbal relaxation blend!



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http://hungryinportland.com


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Apr 21

Jasmine with Flowers from Element Tea

Element Tea,Flavored Tea,Green Tea,Tea Review 4:00 pm | No Comments

Jasmine with Flowers from Element TeaI do adore jasmine tea, and this is a delightful one!  It smells almost as good as it tastes … almost!

Actually, one of the things I love most about jasmine tea is the act of inhaling deeply, meditatively, just before sipping and allowing that fragrance to permeate my senses.  This not only is a pleasurable olfactory experience, but it intensifies the jasmine flavor as the tea washes over the palate.

This medium-bodied tea is so smooth and rich in texture.  The flavor of the jasmine is sweet with sharp tones, and I like how that sharpness seems to cut through some of the mouthfeel just enough so that it doesn’t linger and end up feeling too heavy.  Also cutting through the mouthfeel is a light drying astringency at the tail.

The green tea has a soft vegetative flavor that is not what I would call grassy.  It is more like freshly steamed vegetables.  It is fresh and mellow and melds nicely with the jasmine notes – giving this cup a very springtime taste.

Element Tea describes this tea as

A green tea with surprising body and a captivating floral character accentuated by specially selected May jasmine blossoms. This tea produces a floral aroma that few other teas are capable of duplicating.

Jasmine tea does not need sweetening, and while I don’t think it would harm a jasmine tea to sweeten it, I do suggest exercising some restraint so that the tender flavors of the jasmine are not overwhelmed by the sweetener.  I love this tea served hot or iced, in fact, this is one of my favorite iced teas in the summertime!  So flavorful and refreshing!



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http://hungryinportland.com


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Apr 20

Strawberry Cream from Fava Tea

Fava Tea,Flavored Tea,Rooibos,Tea Review 4:00 pm | No Comments

  • Type Of leaves: Rooibos
  • Name Of Tea: Strawberry Cream
  • Available From: Fava Tea

Strawberry Cream from Fava TeaAs I’ve said here before, I’m not a big fan of rooibos.  Now, I do drink rooibos blends – quite a bit of them, actually.  But the ones that I enjoy most are the blends that don’t taste much like rooibos at all.

For the most part, I don’t find rooibos terribly unpleasant, and as long as the blend is skillfully created, I find a bit of the woody and/or nutty flavors of the rooibos to be a charming asset to a tisane.  It’s that sweetness that I don’t like.  It usually comes across as this funky aftertaste that reminds me all too much of the saccharine-sweetened soft drinks I used to drink as a kid (my step-mother never sweetened our drinks with sugar, it was always those tiny saccharine tablets.  Oh how I despised those – they tasted awful!)

So when I try rooibos blends, one thing that I desire is a masterfully crafted blend that manages to disguise that aftertaste so that I don’t taste it.  And, I have enjoyed many a rooibos blend that has managed to do just that.  This Strawberry Cream from Fava Tea is one such blend.

The nutty and woody tones of the rooibos dominate this cup, although I am happy to say that I am not tasting that somewhat unpleasant sweetness that I sometimes get from rooibos.  Perhaps the strawberry notes either mask that sweetness or meld so well with it that it becomes unnoticeable.  Either way, I certainly appreciate that I cannot taste it.

But what I’m really enjoying about this particular tisane is the strawberry flavor.  During the sip, the strawberry flavor seems to be almost missing.  I can taste hints here or there, but it isn’t a dominating flavor as I sip.  It’s in the aftertaste when the strawberry really hits the palate.  It is as though I just ate a juicy, sun-ripened strawberry.  It is a vibrant and true berry taste.  YUM!

Fava Tea describes this rooibos blend as

Rooibush tea with natural flavor, strawberry leaves and pieces.

This tisane is tasty served hot, but I prefer this one iced.  It is thirst-quenching and delicious, and because it is caffeine free, I can sip on this all day long.

This is the first tea/tisane that I’ve tried from Fava Tea, and I must say that I’m happy with what I’ve tasted.  I look forward to my next experience with them!



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http://hungryinportland.com


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Apr 20

Pumpkin Pie from Art of Tea

Art of Tea,Flavored Tea,Rooibos,Tea Review 8:00 am | No Comments

  • Type Of leaves: Rooibos & Honeybush
  • Name Of Tea: Pumpkin Pie
  • Available From: Art of Tea

Pumpkin Pie from Art of TeaPumpkin Pie in a teacup?  YUM!

There are actually quite a few pumpkin pie flavored teas and tisanes out there.  Some are better than others.  Here’s what I like about this one:

First of all, I really like that this has a blend of both rooibos and honeybush.  I am not wild about rooibos on its own, but when its blended with honeybush, this pairing seems to bring out the best qualities in both ingredients.

The rooibos and honeybush both add a nutty background to the flavor, and the honeybush adds a nice honey-esque sweetness to the cup.  Rooibos is often sweet tasting – and its often an “off” sweet taste – but here I am not getting that off taste.  There is a woodsy, sort of rustic yet smooth kind of taste to the combination of rooibos and honeybush that works very well with that “homemade” kind of feeling that pumpkin pie inspires.  It gives it a “crust-like” taste which is just what this pumpkin spice blend needs.

The spices are a bit stronger here than the pumpkin flavor, and I do wish it was the other way around.  While I do enjoy spice flavored teas, when it’s a pumpkin tea, I really want to taste the pumpkin, and here I am tasting the spices more.  That being said, the spices are balanced well, and I don’t notice one particular spice over another.  They aren’t competing with one another, they are working together to make a great tasting tisane!

The pumpkin flavor does develop as I continue to sip, and by mid-cup, the pumpkin is more evident.  This is a very nice dessert tea, and a great way to avoid the calories of pumpkin pie without avoiding the great taste of it!

Art of Tea describes this dessert tisane as:

Indulge in the flavors and aroma of fresh baked pumpkin pie and holiday spice with our select herbal blend of exotic cloves, cinnamon, ginger, rooibos and honeybush. Enjoy this delectable infusion as a start to the holidays or to add warmth through the changing seasons.

This was actually quite tasty, and I find myself enjoying it more as I continue to sip it.  I like it best hot, as it does have an autumnal feel to it.  It is naturally caffeine free and has its own, natural sweetness.  It tastes quite good straight, but adding a little honey or sugar won’t hurt it, either.  Delicious!



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http://hungryinportland.com


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