558 Tasting Notes
Thanks SoccerMom for this sample! I got it today. This is actually my first green loose leaf tea experience. I probably should have started with a plain green sencha or Gunpowder or something, but this is what I have. I didn’t know how to measure the leaves as they are so large, and I don’t have a food scale, so I did a few pinches of tea to 16oz. I heated my water to 180F and steeped for 3 minutes.
Wow do these leaves get ginormus when steeped! I was quite surprised. Makes me want to order some green tea pearls to watch those unfurl. Anyways, back to the tea at hand (in cup?). This tea smells like junior mints and hay. I don’t know if hay is my way of saying “vegetal” but it definitely has a hay aroma. Thankfully this doesn’t come through in the taste. The flavoring is definitely flavoring as there are no chocolate nibs or cocoa in this tea. I believe the mint is an flavor and not in here in any form either. I think they probably could have thrown in some peppermint leaves but maybe the cocomint is all one flavor combination.
Tastes alright, glad to have tried it, not sure I’d order more.
I had some hot water in my kettle and wanted some tea with out the fuss of loose leaf. Added 1 bag to the remaining water (roughly 6oz). This tea brews up some powerful tart berry. I can definitely taste the hibiscus, but there is a stronger, more tart berry flavor to it which I think is the acai. Tastes like the acai smoothy I tried at Caribou Coffee. Pretty good for a late night tea.
Grabbed a cup of this at Barnes and Noble, was excited to see they carried a tea other than tazo (because it’s starbucks inside). I’ve been looking for some herbal alternatives for evening tea, and thought this description sounded appealing. I tried a few sips and enjoyed the berry tartness of it. The rooibos really seems to do well with berry. I remembered enjoying a little cream with my rooibos teas I’ve tried previously. Adding cream, the tea curdled.
I don’t know what element it is in this tea, if it’s one of the ingredients, the fact the half and half is not super cold at starbucks, or possibly a reaction to the high heat of the water? This has happened to me with two rooibos blends before. Cream blends wonderfully with Tazo Vanilla Rooibos, but not the two berry blends I’ve tried. I remember raspberry syrup curdling in lattes when I worked at a coffee shop, maybe it is the cranberry?
Anyways, I took the tea home, tried a few sips and dumped it. I rinsed the bags and tried steeping a longer time 6-7 minutes with near boiling water. Taste was weak, barely there so I dumped it out.
Will rate again after I pick some of this up. I think its worthy of being an evening tea.
Another sample I received from AmazonV today.
I was so excited to try this one as I could smell it immediately once I opened the package. It smells delightful, raspberry, cream, baked goodness.
I brewed it for 8 minutes with nearly boiling water. The liquor is a brilliant red brown in my clear glass mug.
It smells divine, fruity bake-y with a hint of creaminess to it. The taste is berry, but not a tart ripe berry, more of a calm baked in raspberry coffee cake with cream cheese in the middle. I think this tea gets across its flavor quite accurately, I just don’t think it’s the tea I was craving this evening. May add a tad of sweetner to see if this improves.
There is about 1tsp of sediment at the bottom of my cup even after straining with a fine mesh infuser. Rooibos/Honeybush teas sure are dusty. If that’s what it is.
What did you use to steep it? For Rooibos and Honeybush I’m sure to use a paper filter (I use the ones from Adagio) and that eliminates a lot of the sediment/dust/grossness at the bottom of the mug.
I used one of those tea balls that is fine mesh screen. I’ll try paper filters next. Also have a finum basket on the way, so maybe that would help too.
Drats, I thought that might solve it. As long as the leaves don’t still get through. I need something to infuse the tea other than a teaball when my french press is in use (i’ve been using it to cold brew tea).
Received a sample in this in a package from AmazonV today.
Steeped 2 bags in boiling water for about 6 minutes (MIL called while steeping and couldn’t get back to the tea).
Tried first few sips with out additives, tasted pretty watery with a slight note of spice and a bit of citrus tang at the end. I added a splash of cold cream which gave the tea more body and spice upfront, after notes of citrus. (Maybe the apple is the tarty citrus?) Not sure where it is from the ingredients, but definitely there.
This tea is alright, but I like something with more oomph.
I think you and I are the only 2 that got citrus from this! I thought it was good for a black bagged tea, neither of which I normally like.
It reminded me of an Orange Spice tea weaker on the orange then the spice. It’s definitely there…maybe they left out an ingredient?
Found this tea in the local grocer’s organic section today. I was impressed that they also carried a few mighty leaf teas, although not loose.
I bought this to compare with the Thai tea (Teavana) and Thai Chai (Adagio). This tea has a light orange brown liquor with a spicy aroma. I really can smell the coconut in the dry tea, but once steeped, I’m not getting much smell or taste of coconut. I definitely enjoy this blend of Chai better than my Tazo Chai. It gives me that spicy tickle in the back of my throat. I added just a spash of Vanilla Soy, and think it may be better without it.
try doing 2x bags with a splash of soy and honey (8 ounce mug) – or if you have it coconut milk instead of soy
Think I’ll put my kettle back on and try what you suggested. No coconut milk, but I’ll try with just the honey and 2 bags first. Seeing I’m using a 12oz mug, 2 bags will probably be better!
This tea is great iced! I cold brewed this overnight in my french press and poured it this morning. Before cold brewing, I awakened the leaves with a quick 20 second steep. This really let the flavor unfurl overnight.
Back to the tea, this tea tastes like the traditional black iced tea I’ve had at tea shops prior. I’m not sure it tastes like true, fresh peaches, but it tastes just like how I enjoy my peach iced tea. No added sugar needed. I may try blending it with another ceylon based flavor tea such as raspberry or ginseng, for more flavor.
The black tea leaves in this are smaller than I thought, they look crushed or broken maybe? I believe that is intentional in this tea though.
I made this as a tea latte using 2 cups of water and 2 cups of Vanilla Soy to 4 teaspoons chai tea. I brought the water to a boil and then added the tea, boiled for 5 minutes and lowered heat to a simmer, then added the soy while stirring frequently. I let the soy mix simmer another 10 minutes and then removed from heat, letting it cool with the tea still in the mix for another 20 minutes. Then I strained and left in the fridge overnight.
I think I need to do this with water: soy in a 3:1 ration, too much soy in a 1:1. The chai holds up well, but not quite how I want it. I still have some tweaking to do.
I also purchased chocolate soy to try with the chai…excited to try this one hot!
I know this is an old note, but I was just reading up on the tea before trying :) I’m pretty sure the weird little ball shape of the leaves is because they’re CTC, Crush-Tear-Curl, processed; it makes the tea taste harsher but steep faster, from what I’ve read and tasted.
As far as measuring, I used 1 teaspoon of leaves per 6oz before I got my scale. This is by far my favorite dessert tea. I almost cry whenever I see someone not like it lol.
I think I’m just not used to green tea in leaf form. I’ve had such horrible green teas (lipton bagged green) up until recently it takes alot for me to get over the vegetal/hay/freshness to it. I’m sure they will start to grow on me and I will revisit them, but currently my tastebuds crave Chai blends and Fruity blends. Even flavored blacks.
You’ll find that your tastebuds will go in cycles. For instance, I started my loose tea experience by adding mint to *every*thing. Now the only mint tea I have regularly is this and I also add flavored mints to the water I use to make matcha.
I agree with Cofftea on this one. I still consider myself new to the world of loose leaf teas but I find myself going in cycles with my favorites.
SoccerMom, I think that happens w/ everything- not just tea. Look at what you did/didn’t like as a kid and what you do/don’t now.