Tazo

I really like this. It’s milder than most green tea and has a wonderful minty aroma and flavour.

Bagged tea from Tazo, great for a quick, no-brainer, I-need-something-sweet-and-comforting kind of brew. I mostly use this while traveling because of the convenience of teabags vs. loose leaf. It’s nice and vanilla-y with a tiny, tiny hint of warm spice. Honestly, the bar was really low on this one, so it passed with flying colors. Brewed according to the instructions on the box.

This herbal tea was available at the conference when they set out the coffee/tea, so I decided to give it a try. Um… no. Just no. It tastes like orange-flavored Tums, complete with chalky mouthfeel. I’m not even sure how that happened, based on the ingredients list. I was nervous about the licorice root because I don’t always love that ingredient, but I can’t even taste/feel its presence. Just tart, orange-y, vaguely chalky unpleasantness.

The conference had coffee and tea available a few times a day, so of course I made good use of the opportunity. Alas, despite Tazo being the only brand of tea on offer, no Glazed Lemon Loaf blend! I made do with a combination of using the hot water to make tea with bags I had brought with me and this intriguing blend. I’ve never had lotus blossom, don’t know what it tastes like, and don’t think I’ve ever knowingly had it in a tea blend. And I still haven’t, because this consists of naturally decaffeinated green tea and natural flavors! But let’s benefit-of-the-doubt this situation and assume that the natural flavors include and/or approximate the flavor of lotus blossom.

To me, this smells and tastes like pear. It’s palatable enough for a conference tea, and I enjoyed its light juiciness! I wouldn’t necessarily rush out to buy a box, but I’d drink a cuppa if it’s available.

So, after my short Germany trip, Bruce Springsteen concert in Hamburg stadium being the most important reason, I came home with two new teas I have bought. I got one sample free of charge, but this tea isn’t any I have bought. Instead, when I came home, a thick envelope from Canada landed on my desk; saying “Happy Postcrossing!” so it is a tea from Canadian Postcrossing member.

There were actually 5 different tea bag wrappers and I took this one today, looking for something simple — but flavoured.

There is a text on the wrapper saying: “This bright green tea blend has a kick from ginger & a sweet note of pear.” That caught my attention, moreover seeing no pear in the ingredients list on the other side. On the other side there is also a lovely typo saying that you should use 80°F (175°C) water, but trust me, I haven’t prepared it in the steam, but used 80°C water instead.

Honestly, there is no ginger kick, but there is the pear along with lemongrass in the flavour. Green tea was mild, but also a weak in flavour, but yep, it was refreshing and non-offensive. But I don’t need getting and trying it again.

Sipdown! (2 | 191)

Cold brewed.

This is… interesting. I’ve been feeling slightly under the weather for a couple of days, so I’ve been taking Emergen-C vitamin C chewables. This reminds me of those. Very acidic and tart fake orange. Definitely tasting the citric acid.

It’s not completely undrinkable, but not something I would want to have again either.

This is my default tea and consider this classic. It is comforting and familiar enough that if made “incorrectly,” it is still most enjoyable. I add about a teaspoon of sugar and enough milk to make it beige.

This is what my ex-mother-in-law always has in her cupboard when I visit her so this is what I always drink when I’m there and I’m not sad about it. It could be far more dire! Haha
It’s a smooth white tea with a light blueberry flavour and I personally find it quite comforting and relaxing to sip on. It’s a simple “what you see is what you get” tea that I do enjoy.
When I made my tea yesterday, there was only 1 tea bag left in the box so I let her know. She said “oh that box is so old, I wonder if they still make it?” I had to chuckle. She wrote it on her grocery list so we’ll see what’s in her tea cupboard next time I go over.

I was craving some fruit tea but I found out that my box of fruit teas is almost empty. The teas which are in, aren’t what I have been looking for. I would like some citrusy, light tea, not filled with hibiscus. So, I went to my herbal box and found there this tea bag. It sounded quite refreshing, contains a spearmint, peppermint but also lemongrass, so it will be refreshing right?

Ehh. No. Actually I don’t even know how to describe the flavour after recommended 5 minutes steep. It’s quite heavy floral and yes, I would guess the chamomile. But then, some stingy note appears on my tongue which is probably mint. Lemongrass? Where? Cardboard aftertaste.

And so many other ingredients there. Sarsaparilla, I just remember it is favourite by some, but again I forgot, how it should be like?!

Ehm, I am glad to finishing the mug. I believe I have received it last summer from Amy, from postcrossing; so thank you! but it’s not my jam. Afterall, as most of chamomile and its blends.

I’ve finally tried this bagged grail that everyone seems to adore, and I feel a certain sense of accomplishment. The nose is absolutely insane on this… how do they manage that without adding flavoring?! It made me want to check my fingers for crusty little bits of white icing. The entire scent profile is spot-on without holes or extras.

The mouthfeel and taste certainly, certainly don’t keep up with the nose, but that cakey waft sorta makes up for everything else. A bit thin and empty in the middle. I think this is why I tend to not ever really dig herbal teas — there is something so special in what camellia sinensis does in the mouth, in myriad iterations, that herbs and fruits and spices and most other concocted brews just can’t. It’s not their fault.

This was my first experience with green rooibos, recommended by ashmanra. I can’t say I have big opinions about it, as I think its job here was to blend in and support everything else (which it does admirably).

May Sipdown Challenge Prompt – a tea available almost anywhere

Why does this last bag have to taste so good that I want to go straight to Publix and buy a new box? Green rooibos makes an awesome base for these lemon and vanilla flavors. I didn’t know I had any left, but found this while rootling around in the no caf box. Perfect tea for relief drinking tonight. A friend asked what makes it taste like cake but I have no idea how they accomplish it.mit can’t be just the vanilla. This is redolent of the lemon, vanilla, and cake, and is very satisfying with no milk and sugar. For me, it needs no additions. It might be really extra- desserty with them, though.

February Sipdown Prompt – a grocery store tea

No note from me? And I am about to finish our second box of this tea.

We normally drink this hot. We drink it without sweetener, but I needed a caffeine free evening beverage and since it was around 80F today, I decided to get wild and make this sweet and iced. It has a really strong vanilla aroma, so very very cake-like which is what they were aiming for, so BINGO!

I think as a sweet iced tisane, the vanilla comes much more forward and maybe even steps on the lemon a bit, but it is still quite good. I think I do prefer it hot. Next time we drink it will probably be a sipdown, although I may repurchase in the future after the cupboard gets a bit smaller. (I still haven’t added my puerh teas to the cupboard, partly because there is no hurry to drink them down.)

Plastic in these tea bags so I avoid Tazo. Try Stash chai tea, has great flavor notes!

I don’t really like the base tea here. The cream flavor is fake, but nice. I also don’t like the apricot flavor. It’s a bit too artificial for me. Thanks for sharing anyway getanzt! I wouldn’t mind seeing them use this creme flavor in some other blends.

This was in my Advent calendar from Devon today and good flavoured black tea was something I have been looking to.

And today morning, which was gloomy and rainy, it was great fit to boost the mood and enjoy something sweet.

I am very surprised that my long 5 minutes steep didn’t turned this cookie-flavoured tea bitter. It was so pleasant, however I have no experience with butterscotch nor blondie again. It was toffee, it was cookie dough, brown sugar, vanilla and a little bit much of chicory root steeped — a little bitter and burnt like. But as that happens to the sweets sometimes too, I really don’t mind that.

It was so creamy. I finished it within seconds once it was drinkable.

My beloved Twinings of London “Buttermint” was not at the store the last time I went, so I grabbed this instead. It didn’t really hold a candle to “Buttermint” (obviously, no creamy vanilla flavor) but just as a warm mint tea… meh. I can drink it (it’s mint!) but I wouldn’t call it a favorite… it was a bit muddled when I was hoping to taste more distinct spearmint notes… the peppermint was a bit dominant and also just a bit dish-raggy compared to bright Pacific Northwest peppermint.

But I have been going gangbusters on this as a coldbrew. I decided to bust out some New Year’s cleaning on my place this morning, and have been gulping this as ice cold refreshment to keep me hydrated. Somehow it has a more fresh and menthol crisp taste as a coldbrew, and I also taste the spearmint notes better that way, too.

So while it just doesn’t hit that “evening cup of peppermint curled up on the couch” appeal I was hoping for, I will definitely quickly go through this box making iced tea.

I love this blend! It was recommended by a friend on Instagram and it took me a while to track down. While I have had it in m stash for a little while, I forgot to add it to my cupboard but it’s too late now because I have two bags left. It’s sweet, citrusy, and buttery with a hint of creamy glaze. A new favorite herbal blend for sure!

I was a little cautious about trying this tea because I’m not a big fan of rooibos and this has a green rooibos base. After tasting it, I have to conclude that it’s red rooibus that I don’t like because this tea was delicious!

I didn’t bring the water to a full boil, but probably about 205°. And I steeped it for around 3 minutes. Then I added a little bit of sweetener and let it cool before taking a sip. It really does taste like a glazed lemon pound cake. I’m addicted! What makes it even more appealing is that it’s caffeine free, so this is a great way to have a warm, sweet treat that won’t keep me up just before bedtime.

It seems my love of gourmand perfumes is not replicated in a great many dessert teas. This is no exception. Kind of “funky” or off, it’s drinkable and “ok” but I will not repurchase. Something about the strong black tea with the sweetness gives a “stale” vibe. I tried it black and with cream/sweet, but either way a “meh” experience.

Really great, bright flavor. Blended well. Even brighter with the addition of some sweetener. Joyful, bright color. Tried at a friend’s house, then had to go get some for myself. Would probably be enjoyed by kids as well as adults.

Missed the mark. I love gin, but didn’t get much juniper flavor from this. It’s not undrinkable, but something about it was just off. Not much flavor, what flavor there is was “clashy.” Somewhat synthetic feel.
Oddly, I liked throwing a few bags in the bathtub for aroma more than drinking this tea.