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This is one of Verdant’s Intelligent Nutrients teas that I received when I was subscribed to their Blends box. This is no longer listed on their website. In fact, I was unable to find any of the Intelligent Nutrients teas so I’m assuming they are no longer making these. I don’t even think they are doing a Blends box anymore actually. It looks like they are doing a CSA box for each of the farmers they support which sounds like a really cool thing. I’ve participated in a CSA before and really loved everything about it. To see that they are doing the same with tea farmers is really exciting. I am curious to know what happened with the Intelligent Nutrients collaboration, whether it had run its course or just didn’t fit in with their new vision after moving to China. There were a few I enjoyed, some that I did not, and one that I absolutely loved. I still have quite a bit of each left so I thought I would have a cup of this one today.

The dry tea is long, dark, and twisty with a few small berries mixed in. Before steeping, it smells a little spiced. Not like a sweet spice, more like a spicy root. I can’t quite place it. After steeping, the aroma and taste is more of a roasted flavor. I can taste the lavender too, blending with the roast, but I probably would not have picked up on it if I hadn’t looked over the ingredients. It’s kind of drying but also sweet.

My husband had a cup of this tea over the weekend mixed with Teavana’s Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls green tea. I didn’t mix the two this morning, but his smelled and tasted so good that I probably will in the future. This tea has become a go-to for when I’m feeling a little under the weather. The bright citrus really wakes up the senses. I’m not sick today but really just wanted a comforting drink. It becomes even more refreshing as it cools.

Teavana has revamped their website recently and it really looks great. It’s cleaner and much easier to move around in. Even the tea photos are new and bright, and there is a comment for each tea to let you know how many times it is able to be steeped. I think that’s a really great addition. The suggestions for which of their teas blend well together are now easily seen on each tea’s page. It’s where I found the idea to mix this with the Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls green tea, and it seemed to me to be a successful pairing. I did notice that the steeping parameters are now different. For example, with this tea, the recommendations on the bag say to use 1.5 teaspoons per 8 ounce cup and to steep for 5-6 minutes. For the same tea, the website says to use 3 Perfectea scoops (which Teavana describes as “exactly one teaspoon” for each scoop) per 8 ounce cup and to steep for 5 minutes. I haven’t tried this yet though undoubtedly it will make for a stronger cup. Perhaps with these instructions, the tea at home will taste closer to the tea they serve in their stores. That is a complaint I’ve heard on a few occasions, that the tea doesn’t taste the same when made at home. I will certainly try it to see what the difference in flavor might be.

Sweet vanilla tea on this sleepy day.

Second Steep
8 ounces water + 212 degrees + 8 minutes

We have tons of this tea. When we found out it was being discontinued, we bought 4 ounces because my husband really enjoys it. We still have a little over 2 ounces left so I thought it might be good to start drinking some of it. The open pack we have is mostly made up of lemongrass and pieces of dried fruit. I can also see whole green cardamom pods and hibiscus.

The dry tea smells a bit muted, but the lemongrass is coming through now that I’ve poured the hot water over. I think I remember reading that this uses a green rooibos, though I’m not sure of the difference in taste between the green and the red. It seems like quite a few people prefer the green to the red. I don’t suppose I have a preference. I like them both.

It appears that what I thought was hibiscus is actually rose petals so I’m glad for that. I don’t mind hibiscus too much, but I wasn’t in the mood for it today. This is much better than I was expecting. I haven’t had this tea in a while. It’s light and I can taste the lemongrass.

Working late tonight. Brewing this strong. Or at least, long. I really like this one, but I still don’t taste any spices. After steeping for two minutes longer, there is a slight astringency that I didn’t notice in my first cup of the day.

Thank you to Nichole for sending this along with some other fun Geeky Teas samples in a surprise Halloween package last week. So sweet and thoughtful!

This tea is strong and very good. I’m not necessarily able to taste pumpkin, but there is definitely something fall-flavored about it. Even though I’m not tasting the spices, I’m really enjoying the black tea base. The dry mix is mostly tea leaves with a few yellow flower petals and some small pieces of bark tossed in. I’m guessing cinnamon. It smells fruity sweet.

Second Steep
8 ounces water + 212 degrees + 4 minutes

This cup is still dark after a 3-4 minutes steep. The taste is lighter but still has flavor.

Thanks, Nichole, for sharing!

The smell of the dry tea is undeniably cloves. Cloves aren’t usually my favorite spice in chai (not a least favorite or one I dislike, just not something I find myself craving), but it really works here. This is a little bitter today for some reason. Maybe I steeped it too long.

Second Steep
8 ounces water + 200 degrees + 22 minutes

I tried steeping this a second time for a longer time. It’s pretty light and now has an oily sheen across the top. It still smells a bit spicy though. This cup is watered down, not much flavor.

This is one of the older teas in my cabinet. We bought several Teavana teas last October and still have quite a few left so my plan is to start drinking them down. Wow, this year has gone by so fast! I’ll have to do better about finishing my teas more quickly. I wanted something creamy today so this is the one I chose. It’s very chocolaty, a deep bittersweet chocolate or cocoa. There is an oily film across the top and powdery chocolate or tea on the edge of my cup that my strainer must have missed. Not appetizing to look at but the flavor is there.