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Mar 28

Organic Japanese Matcha From Vitalife Matcha

Green Tea,Matcha,Tea Review,Vitalife Matcha 5:53 am | 1 Comment

  • Type Of leaves: Japanese Matcha
  • Name Of Tea: Organic Japanese Matcha
  • Available From: Vitalife Matcha

Vitalife Organic Matcha 30g

Good Morning tea-lovers.

Today I am going to review my most favourite brand for Japanese Matcha.

This is Vitalife’s Organic Matcha-Ceremonial Grade.

I have tried the other Matcha’s in their range but when this little number landed in the post I was extremely excited.

I love all elements of Japanese Matcha. I love the fact that it tastes great, is good for you and has numerous health benefits…really I could go on.

If you haven’t tried Vitalife’s Japanese Matcha it is worth noting that the tea is powdered so you are drinking the beverage in its entirety and not wasting any of the green goodness.

Vitalife advise the following for brewing-

 Measure 1g of Vitalife Matcha (1 Quarter of a Teaspoon) and sift into a large mug. Add warm water and whisk until frothy. Store in a cool dry place.

My kettle has now boiled so I take my bamboo scoop and dive into the green powder just taking enough so that the scoop is filled.

I pop the Matcha into my cup and wait a couple of minutes for my freshly brewed water to cool down.

5 minutes later I return to the kettle and pour the hot liquid over the Matcha.

When the hot liquid hits the Matcha I see instantly the water turning green (very similar to the colour of barley grass).

I take my handheld whisk and whisk until frothy.

I take a sip of the tea and I am reminded of the outstanding quality that Vitalife’s Matcha’s have. The tea tastes clean, fresh and very tea-like, this is definitely not bitter like ordinary green tea and most certainly doesn’t leave you feeling queezy. This tea leaves you hydrated, alert and ready for the rest of the day. I must say that when I drink 2-3 cups of Matcha per day I feel very focused and in control of cravings and moods (which for a woman can only be a bonus).

I would also like to point out that in the past when I have bought Vitalife’s Matcha I liked it that much that I decided to buy the cooking version and made some absolutely delicious banana, pecan and green tea muffins.

Vitalife describes this tea as-

- 137x antioxidants of standard green tea

- Certified Organic

- High in L-Theanine (the ‘feel good’ amino acid derivative)

- Improved mental focus and awareness

- Metabolism boost (burn fat faster and easier)

- Detoxifying and anti-aging properties

Matcha is a powdered green tea grown in exclusive regions of Japan.

Our certified organic matcha green tea 30g ceremonial grade is perfect for those who demand only the best.

Ceremonial grade matcha, in comparison to lower grades, uses only the smallest, youngest tea leaves on the bush – giving it a distinctly smooth, almost sweet, flavour.

Beginner’s grade, on the other hand, uses more mature leaves from further down the tea bush.

Ceremonial grade is perfect for those who dipped their toe with our beginner’s grade matcha and want to take the next step to an even higher quality cup of matcha green tea.

Overall I have to say that this tea is outstanding and is certainly going to feature in my cupboard for a long long time. Thank you Vitalife.

 

 

 

 



The Tea Guru
The Tea Guru
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Mar 21

Jasmine Green Tea from Tea Story

Flavored Tea,Green Tea,Tea Review,Tea Story 5:13 am | 1 Comment

jasmine-green-tea- Tea Story

Good morning tea-lovers!

Today I am going to sample Jasmine Green Tea from Tea Story.

I was sent this from Tea Story a little while ago and I miss placed it.

I am really excited to try this.

I cannot explain how much I love Jasmine and Green Tea so I think this is going to be special.

I prepare my kettle, take out my china cup and savour the teas aroma from the pack.

There is an almighty Jasmine scent coming from the specially designed pyramid teabags.

At this moment I can only smell Jasmine but that’s fine by me as it makes me think of fresh flowers in the summer (just perfect on a gloomy cold English day!)

My kettle has now boiled so I leave it for a couple of minutes just to cool off a bit.

Tea Story advise to use 1 pyramid bag per cup, steep for 2-3 mins and to infuse at 70 degrees.

I am now ready to pour the hot liquid over my teabag and leave to infuse.

3 minutes later I am now ready to try my flowery brew!

I take a sip and its like summer in a cup. This tea is powerfully Jasmine scented yet now the green tea is pulling through quite nicely just taking a bit of an edge off the Jasmine.

Tea Story describes this tea as-

The cup is bright orange with light jasmine taste.

Box consists of 16 individually wrapped pyramids.

Perk yourself up with this fragrant tea. The naturally sweet jasmine blossom generates a positive mood whilst the green tea pleasantly invigorates. When drinking it, you are sure to enjoy various subtleties within its taste.

medium caffeine

Brewing Instructions: 1 pyramid per cup, 2-3 min, 70 °C

 Overall I would give this tea 10/10 for freshness, taste and quality.

 

 



The Tea Guru
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Mar 11

Loving from Shoti Maa

Chai Tea,earl grey,Flavored Tea,Green Tea,Tea Review 4:33 am | 2 Comments

  • Type Of leaves: Green Tea
  • Name Of Tea: Loving
  • Available From: Ancient Healing Ways (www.a-healing.com)

[Loving from Shoti Maa]Have you ever thought to yourself, gee, chai and Earl Grey are my two favorite flavored teas; I wonder what they would taste like together? Wonder no more!

Although the subtitle of this tea is “Green Tea, Cinnamon and Earl Grey” it has more spices in it than just cinnamon; in fact, it has the full assortment we think of as typical for chai – cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and black pepper – plus a few more!

Since the base is green tea rather than black tea, one needs to be careful in brewing. Don’t use boiling water as you would with black tea; on the other hand, if you use water at only 175 degrees F, the way many people do for green tea, you won’t get the full flavor out of all the spices. A compromise is water at about 190 to 200 degrees F.

The result is a spicy brew that tastes like chai with a bit of bergamot added – which tastes more like another spice, in this setting, than it does like a citrus flavor. The aroma of the bergamot is a bit stronger than the flavor of it, so if you like that nice Earl Grey aroma, you’ll be pleased with this one.

Although chai teas are frequently drunk with milk, I wouldn’t advise it in this case – not only does bergamot not play well with milk, in my opinion, but green tea definitely doesn’t take milk well – and there’s some research that indicates that adding milk can reduce the anti-oxidant benefits of drinking tea. You’ll want to add some sugar to this, sure, but not milk!

Shoti Maa describes this tea as:

We are connected through the heart. Whatever happens with you happens with me. We are ripples in the same sea.

Green tea bancha* (65%),cinnamon* (10%), anise*(5%), barley malt*, bergamot orange extract, elderflower*, cardamom*, linden flowers*, ginger*, cinnamon extract, black pepper*, cloves*.

* = organic

I should tell you that the company is German (though its mailing address is in The Netherlands) and the English version of the web site, which the picture at the beginning of this review links to, is incomplete compared to the German version of the web site. But then, you aren’t going to be ordering this directly from the company; that’s not where we at the Tea Review Blog got it. We received ours, and you can order your tea, from Ancient Healing Ways, a web company that sells the full line of Shoti Maa teas as well as several other brands of tea.

The German name for this particular tea is In Liebe. The web site’s description of the tea in German is a bit longer than the description in English:

Ein Mensch, der seine Liebe hinausfließen lässt in die Welt, macht sich selbst zur Quelledes Glücks. Mit dieser Mischung aus grünem Tee, Bergamotte und Zimt verfeinern wir unsere Wahrnehmung für die ständige Gegenwart der Liebe. Denn wenn wir die Welt anlächeln, lächelt sie zu uns zurück.


BunRab
BunRab
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Feb 12

Afternoon Black Leaf Tea from Whittard

Black Tea,Green Tea,Tea Review,Whittard of Chelsea 4:03 am | 1 Comment

Whittard Afternoon Black Leaf Tea

I have been thoroughly looking forward to reviewing this tea along with others that I received from Whittard.

This blend is Afternoon Black Leaf.

I get the impression that this is going to be a light blend with beautiful tones of bergamot and green tea.

I feel very privileged to have been sent this tea as this blend has received a Great Taste award (these awards are based solely on taste so this must have something special to offer). The judges at the Great Taste said-

“Good quality leaves delivering rich, warm eucalyptus notes.”

I had better get my kettle on and see what all the fuss is about.

I open up the pack and my nose fills with an extraordinarily refreshing zesty aroma.

I prepare my kettle for boil.

Whittard advise the following for brewing-

Use fresh water from a kettle. Water left in the kettle loses vitality and makes tea taste dull. Rinse the pot with boiling water to bring out the tea’s flavour. Add 2-3 teaspoons of tea to a 6-cup pot. Pour in boiling water and leave to brew for 3-4 minutes. Brewed lightly, this tea is best served black or with lemon.Stop what you are doing and savour.

Here goes…I pour the freshly boiled water into my rinsed teapot and let the flavours infuse.

You may already know that I particularly like to leave my teas infusing for the maximum time to make sure I achieve maximum flavour.

After 4 minutes I decide rather than trying the tea straight away I am going to firstly savour the teas aroma.

This tea gives off a delicately light orange aroma that smells so warm and comforting.

I am now ready for tasting. I take a small sip and bang! The tea is rich, warm, comforting and zesty. I agree with the Taste Award judges in that the tea also delivers warm eucalyptus notes and these seem to come through very nicely towards the end of the flavour delivery.

This blend contains 89% Black Tea, 10% Green Tea and 1% Bergamot Flavouring.

I have to say I absolutely adore this blend. This is a hero afternoon black tea that could actually be consumed anytime of the day and it would be sure to leave you feeling light and refreshed.

Whittard describes this tea as-

Mr. Whittard created this house blend in the 1940′s especially for those long lingering afternoons when tea taken on the lawn was the most British of rituals. This aromatic blend of fine black and jasmine green tea is combined with the distinctive flavour of bergamot.

Overall I would say for me this is just simply perfect to enjoy anytime. Thank You Whittard for giving us a flavour sensation in Afternoon Black Leaf Tea, it is definitely worthy of a Great Taste award.



The Tea Guru
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Feb 11

Energising Green Tea from Vitalife

General,Green Tea,Tea Review,Vitalife Matcha 3:25 am | 1 Comment

Guarana, Lemon & LiquoriceHere we have a perfect little number.

This is Energising Green Tea from Vitalife.

This special blend contains a cocktail of scrummy, energising ingredients sure to give you a spring in your step. This blend contains Green Tea, Guarana, Lemon Peel and Liquorice root. Nothing else. Wow… I know what your thinking what a mixture!

I found out about this tea from a good friend of mine who I go to the gym with. She said that she drinks this before her morning workout and whenever she feels tired and is in need of a boost.

I have been experimenting with this tea for a week prior to this review to see what all the hype is about and I can honestly say it does exactly what it says on the tin it really is a fantastic energiser to drink any time.

I have been having this tea first thing in a morning and throughout the day whenever I feel I need a boost (best avoiding close to bedtime though).

It really works, after drinking I feel more alert and the alertness seems to be consistent which doesn’t end up with you feeling like your energy levels are crashing down.

Here’s what Vitalife say about their tea-

“ Energising Ingredients, Combined for Maximum Effect

We all do it. When we’re feeling a little lethargic at work, we reach for the coffee pot.

However, what if there was a pick-me-up that gave you the energy boost you were looking for, without the caffeine ‘crash’ afterwards.

Vitalife Energising Tea is blended to deliver exactly this.

With a carefully balanced mix of green tea, guarana, liquorice, and lemon, all ingredients are designed to work synergistically – delivering a beverage that provides energy but in a more sustainable way to coffee”.

The tea comes in bagged form just like a lot of Vitalife’s other blends so it is very convenient to pop in your bag for work or to have before the gym.

Vitalife advise that you serve the tea with freshly boiled water and infuse for 4 minutes. They also advise that you leave the bag in the cup whilst you drink the tea and that you should drink 2-3 cups a day for maximum effect.

As I write this review I am sipping the tea and I have to say I absolutely love it. I love the cocktail of ingredients and cannot stress enough how well they work together.

There really are too many teas out there that have too many flavours that are just too much. This combination is perfect, a delicate balance of green tea with all of the other ingredients coming together nicely not overpowering each other makes this a perfectly balanced brew.

Vitalife describes this tea as-

Energy tea – get energised and enjoy a great-tasting brew at the same time.

This delightfully refreshing combination of green tea, guarana, lemon, and liquorice delivers a great-tasting pick-me-up to get you through the day.

Formulated using all-natural ingredients, Vitalife ‘Energising’ tea provides your body with a sustainable release of energy.

Why Choose Vitalife Energising Tea?

There are countless energy products on the market, so why choose Vitalife Energising Tea?

Well, aside from its great flavour and cool packaging, Vitalife Energising Tea is developed to provide a more sustainable release of energy throughout the day – making it a great direct replacement for coffee.

Whilst the guarana in this drink provides the caffeine boost, amino acids in green tea – theophylline and L-Theanine – work together with the caffeine to help prolong the release of energy for up to 6 hours.

Overall I would simply just say… perfect! Thank You Vitalife for making my mornings and afternoon slumps enjoyable with this fantastically tasting brew.



The Tea Guru
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Feb 07

White Monkey from Tea Story

General,Green Tea,Tea Review,Tea Story 5:06 am | 2 Comments

white-monkey

Today I have decided to review this tea.

This is White Monkey from Tea Story.

I was told about this tea from a good friend of mine so I thought I had better give it a try.

My friend did tell me that she thought the tea tasted clean and fresh with very small notes of flowers (sounds like she should start tea reviewing!)

White Monkey is a green tea that is cultivated in the famous district of the seven mountains in the province of Jiangxi.

This tea is only harvested once a year in April which is a rarity.

I shall now begin my review.

I tear open the sample pack seal and undo the security seal and the aroma that comes out of the pouch is very tea-like, slightly grassy which includes woody undertones. I must admit with those aromas I wouldn’t expect that the tea would taste flowery and fresh, but here goes.

Tea Story advise that you use 1,5 teaspoons of tea leaves for 200ml and brew for 2-4 minutes at 70 degrees.

I prepare my kettle for boiling.

My kettle has now boiled so I pour the hot liquid into my teapot and let the leaves infuse.

4 minutes later I pour out the hot tea into my favourite china cup. The liquid is clear, fresh smelling and the leaves have unfurled and are pale green in colour.

I take a sip and I am pleasantly surprised with the taste. It is sweet, it is clean tasting, it is fresh and flowery but most importantly it is a palatable yummy green tea that would be suitable for all day drinking in my opinion.

Tea Story describes this tea as-

A green tea cultivated in the famous district of the seven mountains in the province of Jiangxi. The annual production is limited. This makes this tea, which is only harvested once a year in April, a rarity. During that time the tea leaves and buds develop the special freshness that offers the perfect tea indulgence.

These delicate leaves are gently and gingerly steamed and dried. The dried leaf is said to look like that of a monkey’s paw. Legend has it that this tea originally grew on treacherous, rocky slopes, making tea-picking a perilous task. The local people grew tired of risking injury for their tea and trained monkeys to forage for the tea leaves instead, rewarding them with food. In honour of the indispensable role of our resourceful cousins, the tea was named ‘White Monkey’.

medium caffeine

Brewing Instructions: 1,5 tsp for 200ml, 2-4 min, 70 °C

This particular tea is very good for multiple infusions. Just add fresh hot water to the pot and increase the steeping time slightly for each subsequent infusion. Repeat until the flavor starts to fade.

 

How many cups of tea there is:

20 grams – 13 cups*
50 grams – 33 cups*
100 grams – 66 cups*
150 grams – 100 cups*
250 grams – 166 cups*

* – on average, based on 200 ml cup and one infusion

 

Overall I would say this tea is perfect for any time of the day, when you feel you need to be refreshed and for when you want a clean tasting mildly sweet green tea.



The Tea Guru
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Feb 06

Huang Shan Mao Feng from LuLin Teas

General,Green Tea,LuLin Teas,Tea Review 7:41 am | 2 Comments

huang_shan_mao_feng_380x380Hello Tea-Lovers!

Today I have decided I am going to go for a light yet sharp and fresh tasting tea. Here’s where this little treasure  comes in.

This is Huang Shan Mao Feng from LuLin Teas.

This is said to be a clear light and tasty green tea.

According to LuLins website this is one of the Chinese top 10 teas. I cant wait to give it a try.

I pop open the foil sample pack and I smell the freshness of the tea, almost grassy and floral but also with a slight hint of white chocolate! I must say it smells divine.

I prepare my kettle for boiling.

LuLin advise that you use 3-4g in an average sized teapot, use boiled water cooled to 75 degrees and infuse for 2-4 minutes. They also advise that the tea can be re-steeped.

My kettle has now boiled so I pour the hot liquid into my teapot.

4 minutes later I pour out the clear liquid into my cup. At this moment the liquid is very pale and I would guess that this is going to be a very mild green tea.

I take a sip and get a lovely smooth and grassy flavour.

This tea tastes slightly floral, clean, fresh and is a very exceptionally mild green tea. This for me is a winner as I prefer the milder green teas.

I am pleased that the tea is not too harsh and I like that fact that the tea has a few different flavours to it that just seem to come together so nicely. You take a sip and firstly get a slight grassy taste, then you get a smooth clean taste then finally you finish with a sweet floral flavour that compliments the whole drink entirely.

LuLin describes this tea as-

When infused this tea produces a clear liquid with a sharp and a fresh floral fragrance. But is easy on the palate making it a very drinkable green tea.


From the Huang Shan Mountains, in the South of the province of Anhui in Eastern China Another name for this tea is Hairy Peak Tea or Yellow Mountain Fur Peak because of the small white hairs that cover the leaves and because the shape of the leaves once processed resemble a mountain peak.

This is one of China’s 10 famous teas. The name Mao Feng is a term in tea manufacture denoting the picking of a bud and two leaves of equal length or a bud and a single leaf. It is harvested in early spring, pre-Qing Ming.

This tea has recently been chosen as a National Gift Tea to be presented to foreign VIPs by the Chinese Foreign Affair Board.

The myth surrounding Mao Feng states that a young man and a beautiful young girl who worked on a tea plantation fell in love. One day an evil dictator decided he would like to have the young girl for himself so he kidnapped her. When she escaped she discovered that the tyrant had killed her love. She wept so much that she turned into the rain and her lover’s body grew into a tea bush. This is said to be the reason why the area is so cloudy and humid all year round.

Overall I would describe this tea as light, fresh, floral, grassy and perfectly balanced. I will definitely be ordering this again. Thank You LuLin.



The Tea Guru
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