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May 13

Decaf Momo from Lupicia Tea

Black Tea,Flavored Tea,Lupicia Tea,Tea Review 8:00 am | 2 Comments

Decaf Momo from Lupicia TeaI have mentioned in the past (on more than one occasion) that I’m hesitant to try decaffeinated teas.  But I really shouldn’t be.  I am discovering that most decaffeinated teas (at least those from reputable companies) are quite delicious.

This Decaf Momo is the perfect example.  Having tried their caffeinated version of Momo tea, I believe that if I had the two teas, side by side, it’d be difficult to tell which one was which.  Difficult, but not impossible.  The black tea base in the caffeinated version is a bit richer tasting, but, it is not that noticeable that I would refuse to sip on this decaf version. 

The black tea base is smooth.  It doesn’t taste chemical.  It doesn’t taste thin.  It doesn’t leave a weird aftertaste.  It tastes … well, for lack of a better way to say it … it tastes like black tea.  Plain and simple.  I don’t taste this and think to myself:  “this tastes like decaffeinated tea.”  The peach flavor is sweet and tastes just like a fresh, juicy peach.  Yummy!

Lupicia describes this tea as:

A decaffeinated black tea flavored with the fruity scent of white peaches produced in Japan.

Something about peaches (and peach flavored teas) screams summer to me, and this tea is no exception.  It is fabulous iced!  And because it is decaffeinated, you can drink it all day without worry that it will keep you up all night!



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


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May 12

Maté Chocolatté from Guayakí Yerba Maté

Flavored Tea,Guayakí Yerba Maté,Tea Review,Yerba Maté 11:00 pm | No Comments

Maté Chocolatté from Guayakí Yerba MatéThey had me at chocolate!

What this actually reminds me a bit of is a thin Mexican hot chocolate.  The chocolate and spices come together very well in this blend.  It isn’t overly spicy, but it is just enough to add depth to the chocolate. The cinnamon notes seem to develop as I continue to sip, gradually becoming warmer as I near the end of the cup.

The Yerba Maté does not have an incredibly strong presence in this cup, but I can’t really complain about that because I really enjoy the strength of the chocolate and spice here.  If the Yerba Maté were stronger, it might interfere with the lovely balance of cocoa and spices.  As it is, it offers a lovely flavor that is sure to appeal to chocolate lovers.

Guayakí describes this blend as

Mate Chocolatté is a decadent blend of yerba mate, cocoa, and spices. A blissful blend for chocolate lovers

The cocoa tastes rich and smooth.  Without milk added to this blend, it tastes like a dark chocolate.  If you prefer milk chocolate flavor, that can be remedied with a splash of milk.  But, if you do choose to add milk to the cup, I would recommend brewing this to a more concentrated strength, or you may find that you’ve washed away all the flavor of the tisane with the milk.

This was actually quite good, especially considering it was a bagged tisane.  If I were to offer a criticism about it, it would be that it was a little too thin for me.  If you’d prefer a more robust flavor, I recommend using two tea bags per cup rather than just one.



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


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May 12

Downy Pearl Jasmine from Mark T. Wendell

Flavored Tea,Green Tea,Mark T. Wendell,Tea Review 4:00 pm | No Comments

Downy Pearl Jasmine from Mark T. Wendell Nowadays it seems as though every tea company has at least one jasmine tea in stock, and it is usually a jasmine pearl.  But that’s quite alright with me, because I love jasmine pearls!  There was a time when, if asked the classic question if I were stranded on an island with only one type of tea, what type of tea would it be?  The answer would have been jasmine pearls.  And although I think I may have found other favorites since then, jasmine pearls continue to be among my favorite teas.

There was also a time when I thought that a pearl was a pearl was a pearl.  I have since learned that this is not true.  While most pearls are very similar – so much so that it is difficult to discern one from another – there are some that are better than others, some that are just average, and while I have yet to find a jasmine pearl I don’t like, I am sure they are probably out there somewhere too.

I like this Downy Pearl Jasmine from Mark T. Wendell.   These fluffy soft pearls render a liquor that tastes soft and creamy.  Yes, I said creamy.  It has a beautiful jasmine aroma and flavor that is smooth, not sharp.  This is a sweet, delicious pearl that is welcome in my teacup anytime!

Mark T. Wendell describes these pearls as

A rare tea produced by hand rolling green tea buds and silvery tips into a tight, pearl shape. The tea is then scented repeatedly with jasmine, creating a wonderfully fragrant bouquet. Upon brewing, each “pearl” unfurls to show the entirety of the tender tea leaves.

When steeping pearls, I highly recommend steeping in a gaiwan.  By using many short steeps, you will extract the best flavor as well as get the most tea from your pearls.  I don’t recommend sweetening these – they don’t need it!  They have a beautiful sweetness without additions.

Such a refreshing, luxurious tea!



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


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May 12

Chai Chi from Compass Teas

Black Tea,Chai Tea,Compass Teas,Darjeeling,Rooibos,Tea Review 8:00 am | No Comments

Chai Chi from Compass TeasWhile I consider chai blends to be favorites to enjoy in the autumn and winter months, I still drink them year round.  I really love chai – that spicy warmth is so comforting and welcome no matter the weather!

This chai from Compass Teas is deliciously different.  The combination of the black tea and chicory offers a solid base for the spice flavors.  These two ingredients make for a strong, deep flavor for the chai, while the rooibos lightens the base just enough so that it doesn’t come across as too heavy.

The spices are somewhat mellow in this blend, but they are evenly balanced.  This isn’t a particularly spicy chai, and it is one that I’d recommend this chai to those who want a good, strong tea that’s mildly spiced.

Compass Teas describes this blend as

Talk about comfort in a teacup! This delicious Chai tea is a perfect afternoon tea.   It could easily be considered a ‘dessert tea’ that could help you cut your calorie and fat intake by substituting this fragrant cup for your normal dessert.  Scrumptious as is, but tastes amazing with a spoonful or two of our all natural Amber Sugar Gems (made of pure Cane Sugar) and a dash of milk, if you like.

This chai is delicious hot or iced, although I do prefer it hot.  But as summer is rapidly approaching, I thought I’d give you some great ideas for warm weather enjoyment:  prepare at a concentrated strength, allowed to cool, and then prepared as a frappé in a blender with crushed ice and whole milk.  Add sweetener if you wish.

Another delicious idea is to prepare at concentrated strength and add a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream for a delicious Chai Float!  YUM!



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liber-teas
http://hungryinportland.com


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May 11

Luigi Amaretto from TeaGschwendner

Flavored Tea,Rooibos,Tea Review,TeaGschwendner 11:00 pm | No Comments

Luigi Amaretto from TeaGschwendnerThis is yet another tea that appears to have been discontinued that I probably would have never had the opportunity to try were it not for my dear tea friends online!

And that would have been a shame, indeed, because this is a really tasty fruit tea.  Upon opening the package, the fragrance of amaretto fills the room, and as it brews, this aroma intensifies.  It smells so delicious that my mouth was watering as I waited impatiently for this tisane to steep.  Rarely am I this impatient to try a fruit tisane, but, this one smells so irresistible!

And I am happy to report that the flavor is just as nice as the scent.  The flavors of caramel, apricot and almond dominate the cup, but I can also taste background notes of apple and raisin.  There is very little taste to the rooibos in this blend, but I have to admit that I’m quite happy about that.  I think that the woody notes of the rooibos would spoil the wonderful fruity amaretto flavor that’s going on here.  As I sip, I can taste an ever-so-faint hint of rooibos peek through every once in a while, but, I am glad that the rooibos does not have a strong presence with this tisane.

TeaGschwendner described this blend as

Caramelized sugar and oil of apricot characterize the bittersweet almond taste of Amaretto, brought to life by a medley of apple, raisins and creamy Rooibush.

This is a delicious blend, very soothing and relaxing to sip.  But then, that should come as no surprise, as TeaGschwendner doesn’t usually disappoint me when it comes to the flavor of their teas and tisanes.  The only real disappointment with this tisane is that it is no longer available!



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liber-teas
http://hungryinportland.com


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May 03

Apricot Caramel Torte from Teavana

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

  • Type Of leaves: Green Tea
  • Name Of Tea: Apricot Caramel Torte
  • Available From: Teavana

Apricot Caramel Torte from TeavanaI tried to find this tea on the Teavana website, but couldn’t.  Perhaps it’s been discontinued.  I was fortunate enough to have a sampling of it sent to me by a friend.

The aroma of this tea is positively delectable – not to mention strong!  I could smell it in the padded envelope before I opened it.  The fragrance of the brewed tea is not quite as strong as the dry leaf, but, it is still quite delicious with notes of caramel and fruit.

The green tea base is a little masked by the fruity flavors of this cup, but it is still quite enjoyable.  I can still taste the distinctive fresh notes of the green tea, but none of the grassy tones.  The apple and apricot are pretty evenly matched in this blend, with the apricot flavor only slightly stronger than the apple.  The tea finishes sweet with very little astringency, and there is a whisper of tartness that lingers on the tongue in the aftertaste.

Teavana described this tea as

Like dessert in a cup, the sweet and tart combinations of this tea acts as a guilt-free ending (or beginning, we won’t tell) to your day. Featuring caramel mixed with apple, apricot, raisins and more, it is a decadent cup of tea that you will enjoy time and again! And the green tea base makes it more than healthy.

This is a very sweet blend.  The fruit flavors are naturally sweet and the caramel and beetroot also add a certain amount of sweetness to the cup.  So, if you’re turned off by sweet teas, this may not be the blend for you.  But if you have a sweet tooth like I do, you’ll probably enjoy this as I have.  This makes for a nice dessert tea after a meal, or a refreshingly different iced tea.   I’m really glad I had the chance to try this one.



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liber-teas
http://hungryinportland.com


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