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Apr 04

Christmas Bakery from Tea for All Reasons

Flavored Tea,Rooibos,Tea For All Reasons,Tea Review 3:37 am | 2 Comments

[Tea for All Reasons]This is a seasonal tea, one of many that Tea for All Reasons (TFAR) makes. And as with many of their teas that are made for holidays, the very first thing one has to do when one opens the package is just look at it. Because TFAR’s teas have several features that make them some of the most attractive teas to look at! In this case, the tea has one of TFAR’s signature features, “sprinkles.” These aren’t sprinkles like ice cream sprinkles; they are little candy bits, usually shaped and colored. The sprinkles in this one are little gingerbread men (and by little, I mean that they are about a quarter of an inch) in red and brown. They look so cute! The sprinkles dissolve a little bit when steeped in hot water, so they add the tiniest amount of sweetness to the tea, but really not much. Since I prefer my tea unsweetened, I am glad that candy sprinkles don’t make it too sweet, and that also means that you’ll be able to add the sweetener of your choice, if you like your tea sweeter, rather than treating it as pre-sweetened. Rooibos has a little bit of a sweet-ish taste itself, and that’s what the base of this tea is; rooibos also tastes just a bit spicy, and that complements some of the spices in the tea.

The gingerbread sprinkles give away one of the flavors in this tea – there are slivers of dried ginger root in there; another flavor is almonds, and one can see the almond slivers in the loose tea. One can also see the bits of cacao, tiny pieces of cinnamon, and the seeds of other spices in the tea as well. Over all, the taste is not quite as spicy as a chai tea, but it conveys the impression of spiced baked goods quite nicely – I always feel as though the addition of almonds to a tea makes it taste more like cookies!

Since this is a specialty tea for the Christmas holiday, it isn’t always available – as I write this review, a couple of months after Christmas, it is not on TFAR’s web site, nor are any of their other Christmas teas. The link that occurs on the picture above is to the “Specialty teas” page of TFAR’s web site, where you’ll find the current offerings – perhaps one with a sprinkle of candy shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day will be there, or one with little candy flowers for spring, or little candy yellow ribbons in the Returning Heroes blend. And then, after fall comes ’round again, there will be more Christmas teas there.

TFAR describes their specialty teas like this:

Tea For All Reasons offers a wide selection of the freshest premium teas for the most sophisticated tea lover, as well as custom blends for special occasions.

The specialty teas they offer include custom blends for weddings, and teas for birthdays, children’s tea parties, and other special occasions that aren’t exactly holidays.



BunRab
BunRab
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Jan 23

Organic Christmas Tea from Tea District

Black Tea,Flavored Tea,Tea District,Tea Review 5:06 am | 2 Comments

Tea District Organic Christmas Tea by Tea District

Title: Organic Christmas Tea

Ingredients: Organic black tea, cinnamon chips, ginger, orange peel, rose petals, almonds, apples, and peach pieces.

Company: Tea District

Tea Name: Organic Christmas

Tea Type: Black

Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: Cup/ loose leaf

Liquor Color: Reddish amber

Leaf Characteristics: Tea leaves are a medley of very fine straw like leaves with chunks of cinnamon chips, orange peel, almonds, ginger and bits of peaches.

 

1st Steeping:

Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit

Time:    5 minutes

I missed having this tea on Christmas day, although I had put it aside but somehow never got to it. Instead I am having it now.  Better later than not at all.

I like the tea’s mixture and heady sweetness coming from the tea packet upon opening it. I scoop it all out and put it in my tea mug and pour over the boiled water. I leave it to steep for a good five minutes.

The teas aroma is fruity and spicy. I can smell the cinnamon and ginger right away, with hints of orange peel and peaches. When I sip the tea it is sweetly piquant from the ginger chunks. Once I get past the obvious flavors of cinnamon and ginger topping with another layer of fruits like the orange peels and peach, I can discern the almond flavoring as well since the tea has that grainy nutty texture from the almond chunks.

In all this is a very rich tea; filled with a lovely medley of different spice and fruit blending nicely to make this a most memorable cup of tea.

2nd Steeping:

Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit

Time: 5 minutes

I am able to have another good steep of this tea and the results are similar to first cup.

Overall tasting notes observed: This is a fun tea and drinking it is more like having a cup of herbal tea than black tea with the fruits and spice from the ginger and cinnamon bark.

Tea color: reddish amber

Characteristics: flowery aroma with a sweet, ‘piquant’ liquor.

 Tea District describes this tea as-

A beautiful blend of black Chinese tea, cinnamon chips, orange peels, rose petals, blanched almonds, apple, peach and ginger combined together to create a scrumptious Christmas blend. Many of our fans drink this one year round, however it is most popular during the winter and holiday season.

Overall even though Christmas is now over I feel this tea is still very appropriate for the time of year. A great big hug in a mug and I will certainly be happy to drink more of this!



seule771
seule771
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Jan 17

Organic Citrus Ginger Guayusa from Tea District

Green Tea,Guayusa,Tea District,Tea Review 4:49 am | 2 Comments

Tea Name: Organic Citrus Ginger Guayusa

Company: Tea District

Ingredients: Organic Amazon Guayusa, Organic ginger, and Organic orange peel.

Tea Type/Varietal: green/herbal

Region: Amazon

Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf:  cup/ loose leaf

Liquor Color: darken brown with orange base

Leaf Characteristics: very bright green leaves, finely cut with bits of ginger and orange peel.

 

 

1st Steeping:

Water temperature:  195 Fahrenheit

Time:    4 minutes

I took one teaspoon of this tea and put it in my cup and poured in the boiled water. I then covered it and left it  to steep for several minutes. When I remove the cover from the tea and strain out the tea leaves, I find that the tea’s color is darken brown but when held under the light it is bright orange. The  teas aroma is of ginger and orange peel. When I take a sip of the tea, I taste the ginger which is very strong (piquant/spicy) a bracing note even and the orange peel hovering in the back ground.

2nd Steeping:

Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit

Time: 3 minutes

Using the same leaves I take freshly cold tap water and put this in my cup and microwave the tea’s mixture in the cup for two minutes with an extra steep without the oven on.

The tea is simply hotter and more of the ginger spiciness is revealed which adds to the warming effect of the ginger and the orange peel. Guayusa botanicals are filled with energy to awaken the senses.

Overall tasting notes observed:

Tea color: darkish brown with an orange base under the light

Characteristics: a sweet herbal aroma mixed with the guayusa botanicals and herbs like ginger and orange peel.

This is a wonderful tea good for when it is especially cold and needing warmth or to aid with ones digestion as ginger has a soothing effect in coating the stomach.

In all, the ginger in this tea is invigorating and adds pungency in the tea’s flavor; in that it has that peppery ‘bite’ to it, while the oils from the orange peel softens the tea’s pungency.

Tea District describes this tea as-

An Amazonian blend of energizing guayusa with loads of orange peel and ginger.

Health Benefits of Drinking Guayusa*:

  • Boosts Metabolism
  • Traditionally used to support weight loss programs
  • Aids digestion1
  • Traditionally used to balance blood sugar and support diabetics2
  • Boosts Physical Energy
  • Increased mental clarity and alertness

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Balanced Energy

Guayusa does contain caffeine – more than other teas but less than coffee. One cup of guayusa offers 90 mg of caffeine. Interestingly, guayusa also contains other stimulants in the same family as caffeine, known as methylxanthine alkaloids. Theophylline is a clarifying and uplifting compound also found in green tea. Theobromine is the stimulant found in dark chocolate that offers that pleasant whole body feeling many are familiar with. Theobromine is known to offer a settled and bodily energy. Guayusa’s unique mix of caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine is what gives the balanced energy effect without any jitters, crash, or jolted buzz.

Overall I would describe this tea as a sweet herbal aroma mixed with the guayusa botanicals and herbs like ginger and orange peel.



seule771
seule771
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Jan 14

Full Moon at the Sands (Toasted Coconut Chai) from Gullah Girl Tea

Black Tea,Flavored Tea,Tea Review 5:35 am | 3 Comments

  • Type Of leaves: Black Tea
  • Name Of Tea: Toasted Coconut Chai
  • Available From: Gullah Girl Tea

gullah girl

Charmaine sent me a few samples to review.  Before I begin to talk about the tea itself, let me first say a few words about the brand and presentation.  I was curious to know how Charmaine came up with the name Gullah Girl.  According to Wikipedia, the Gullah are descendants of slaves in South Carolina and Georgia.  Charmaine chose the name to honor her culture and her grandmother, whose herbal remedies inspired the teas Charmaine has created.  As you can see above, the samples came in adorable mini mason jars with a scrap of burlap.  Much more charming than the typical plastic resealable bags we see so often these days.  I’m already plotting ways to reuse mine!

I wanted to start with the one described as a toasted coconut chai, because well, let’s face it.  Who wouldn’t?

The dry tea itself looks like a typical black tea with bits of coconut, peppercorns, cloves, and cardamom.  It smells rich and spicy.   As this is a handcrafted tea, and carefully packaged in the mason jar so it doesn’t get crushed, there are none of the usual bits of “tea dust” in the jar.  I brewed this one at 212 for about three minutes.  I think I’d steep a bit longer next time.  I typically add skim milk that I’ve already microwaved to a chai, so I didn’t get to try this one plain.

Once brewed, flavors that stand out are cardamom and vanilla.  Ginger and clove are a bit more mild, but still come out to play in this delicious blend.  To be honest, I wasn’t sure that I tasted any coconut, but it may have been lost in the mix, especially with milk.  With milk, it is a medium bodied tea, bright and smooth.  She clearly used a high quality Assam tea base.  It made me feel like cuddling up in a warm blanket and reading a book by the fireplace.

Gullah Girl Tea describes this tea as:

The sands is a beach in Port Royal, South Carolina, where many people go to fish and once went to crab. It is also a place to go and revel in the stars and full moon a space for families and couples alike. Full Moon at the Sands is a twist on the original High Tide at the Sands, Fresh Chai.

Full Moon at the Sands is a deliciously spicy blend of fresh ginger, toasted coconut, Assam black tea, cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, peppercorns and cardamon in this warm spiced blend. This blend is perfect as you get cozy and warm and snuggle up to the ones you love. This blend is excellent warm with the milk of your choice and goes great as an iced tea as well.

There are a myriad of fine chais out there to experiment with, and this is certainly one of them!  While I didn’t think the coconut in this one was particularly pronounced, I still found it a delightful blend, and will enjoy sipping it this evening, and sharing it with my fiance, another chai enthusiast.  I can’t speak to the caffeine content just yet and don’t see mention of it on the website, but I would assume an Assam black would have medium caffeine content.



kimlovestea
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Dec 07

Gingerbread Black Tea by Simpson & Vail Inc.

Black Tea,Flavored Tea,Simpson & Vail,Tea Review 1:49 am | 1 Comment

When we think of the Christmas season, we are of course reminded of all the delicious treats that are served this time of year.  Simpson & Vail have put together this black tea blend that, as the name suggests, fits right into the holiday season with a favourite of many people: gingerbread! You can now indulge in the spiciness we have come to associate with gingerbread cookies but without all those added calories.

I thought this was quite a nice tea to look at – black tea leaves blended with bits of cinnamon, cloves and ginger. The aroma upon opening the package is spicy and exactly what you would expect with a gingerbread tea blend. The aroma is not over powering at all but what I would describe as pleasant.

Simpson & Vail have described this tea as follows:

When the weather turns chillier and the days are growing ever shorter, the smell of fresh baking gingerbread is just what you need to feel cozy and content. Winter is a great time. A time to snuggle in with good books, a time to enjoy the slopes or the skating rink, and a time to delight your senses with aromatic spicy goodies

Warm yourself from the inside out with this aromatic black tea blend. The brewed tea emits a heady, spicy aroma and the cup is perfectly proportioned. The flavors of gingerbread spices dance on your tongue, with no one spice overwhelming the others. Destined to be a spice lovers new favorite tea!

I most definitely agree that this tea is aromatic!  As I mentioned earlier, it is quite a pleasant, spicy scent without being overwhelming and it does remind me very much of spicy holiday cookies and other goodies. As someone who does love a good spicy tea, this is one I certainly did enjoy!

The taste is subtle and not overpowering at all. The black tea flavour balances well with the various spices and makes for a wonderful cup of tea. The addition of a tiny but of coconut sugar brought out the flavours of this tea although it is still quite pleasant to sip without the addition of a sweetener.

This is a great tea to share with your guests, to sip while doing some holiday baking or simply relaxing while reading a good book. It will warm you on a chilly winter afternoon and would be great to take along with you on a walk!



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

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Jul 13

Ginger Peach Flavored Black from The Tao of Tea

Black Tea,Flavored Tea,Tea Review,The Tao of Tea 11:00 pm | No Comments

Ginger Peach Flavored Black from The Tao of TeaI received this tea in my monthly tea trade and was excited to try it.  I doubled the strength to drink iced since it is 99°F here in Tampa today!  It has such a different flavor that I can’t put it down.  This is my first experience with a ginger flavored tea and I had no idea what to expect.

The dried leaves are a pretty blend of black tea with bursts of yellow ginger and flowers.  I steeped the tea using 2 tsp of tea to 8 oz of water.  I steeped at 212°F for 5 minutes.  I poured over a full glass of ice and the ratio seems perfect!  The color of the tea is a traditional black with a hint of red to it.  Initially, I found it didn’t need any sweetener (an absolute first for me), but after drinking half of my glass, I added just a touch of Agave syrup just to give it that southern sweet tea taste.

The Tao of Tea describes this tea as:

Ginger Peach is a blend of fine black tea, organic dried ginger, calendula (marigold) flower petals and natural peach essence. Together, they blend to make a refreshing tea that can be enjoyed either warm or iced. Native to China and India, Peach has its roots in Persia, Greece and Spain. In the 16th century, it became cultivated in America. Peaches are low in calories and a good source of healthy carbohydrates. We use dried ginger root with mildly spicy flavor undertones to balance the sweet lushness of peach in this blend. Ginger is known to be a good remedy for digestive problems.

I definitely taste the ginger in the tea. Although I didn’t really know what ginger tasted like before this tea, I can now recognize the flavor. I taste just a hint of peach undertones, but the prominent flavors are the black tea and ginger. The black tea is very smooth, there is no astringency that comes through, which suits me well.



QuiltingDiva
QuiltingDiva
http://quiltingdiva.etsy.com


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Jul 05

Peach Ginger Maté from Tea Embassy

Flavored Tea,Tea Embassy,Tea Review,Yerba Maté 4:00 pm | 2 Comments

Peach Ginger Maté from Tea EmbassyThis tea is more of a pure Maté to me than a flavored tea.  I enjoy drinking Maté to give me that little “kick” that I need when replacing my morning coffee.  This tea has a very light flavor with slight undertones of peach.  The adjective that comes to mind as I sip the tea is “pleasant”.  I enjoy an intensely flavored tea, and although this is very subtle, it is enjoyable.

The dried leaves are small pieces of green leaves that resemble a light-colored parsley blended with little black pieces.  The smell of the tea is rather “woody” with slight scent of sweet peach.

I steeped the tea at 180°F for 4 minutes.  I used 1 tsp of tea to 8 oz of water and added ½ tsp of German Rock Sugar.  The color of the steeped tea is a creamy caramel color.  I am underwhelmed with the peach/ginger flavor of the tea, but it is a nice morning cup.  I may try it without sweetener next time, just to see if the flavors shine through more.

Tea Embassy describes this tea as:

Forest Grown Wild Harvest Yerba Maté from Paraguay, flavored with peach and ginger.

Although this may not be a tea that is a must have staple in my tea collection, I will finish my bag or maybe I will pass it along for someone else to enjoy.  Ultimately, I would recommend this tea to those tea drinkers that like a mild tea but enjoy a good cup of Maté.



QuiltingDiva
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