Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Harney & Sons

Tea Description:

We are introducing our SoHo Blend in honor of our new shop in Manhattan. Emeric Harney, the shop’s host, came up with this flavored black tea concoction. Our SoHo Tea is a beautifully delicious blend of black tea with chocolate, coconut and vanilla flavors, and amaranth petals.

Learn more about this blend here.

Taster’s Review:

When I read the description of this SoHo Black Tea Blend from Harney & Sons, I really wanted to try it.  Chocolate?  Coconut?  And Vanilla?  That sounds too yummy to pass up.  It sounds like … a candy bar in tea form!

The fragrance of the brewed tea is incredible.  I can smell all the components:  the rich chocolate notes, the creamy vanilla, and the sweet scent of coconut.  I can even smell the earthy notes of the black tea in the background. I even smell very faint hints of flower, although these are somewhat obscured by the chocolate-y tones, which seems to be the most prominent aroma in this cup.

And this is a tasty tea.  Unfortunately, it’s just not … quite as rich as I expected it to be.  The body falls kind of flat and thin.  Perhaps a more robust black tea base would help … something rich and malty like an Assam?  Something with some heft that will not only support the chocolate, vanilla and coconut flavors, but also elevate them.

It’s not a bad tea.  It has an agreeable flavor … I can taste the chocolate and the coconut and the vanilla notes.  I can even taste the black tea.  But, everything is just sort of … lacking in gusto.  It’s a thin chocolate taste and you know me, I like a rich chocolate-y flavor.  The coconut and the vanilla meld together to create a unified creamy note that’s a little bit coconut-y and a little bit vanilla-ish, but both of these flavors have the capability of producing a really rich, creamy flavor and I’m just not getting that from the sip.

Like I said, it’s a tasty, decently flavored tea, but, it’s just … not as amazing as I expected it to be.  A little bit of a let down, and not one I’d buy again.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Brew La La Tea

Tea Description:

Enjoy the taste of juicy blueberries with the smoothness of green tea.  And don’t forget the health and antioxidant effects!

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

As this Organic Blueberry Green Tea from Brew La La Tea steeps, it emits an aroma that is so very blueberry.  My kitchen was filled with the scent of blueberry.  Mmm!

The flavor is very blueberry too.  The flavor is sweet with a hint of tart.  The tea is actually just a tad sweeter than the actual berry, which tends to be just a little more tart than what I’m tasting here.  But, I’m not going to complain, I like the sweetness of this.

The green tea is very smooth.  It has a silky, buttery texture and flavor.  There is some vegetative taste to this, but it’s a mellow vegetal flavor.  It’s not really what I’d call “grassy,” instead, it tastes more like a serving of steamed, mild veggies that have been lightly drizzled with melted butter.  It marries in a very agreeable way with the bright flavor of the blueberry.

Overall, a very pleasant cuppa.  This one might just be my favorite from Brew La La Teas thus far!  It earns two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Zhi Tea

Tea Description:

Our unique Coconut Chai begins with organic coconut pieces and our top-quality organic Assam Black whole leaf tea. 

Accompanying this superb pairing is a medley cinnamon, ginger, and whole cardamom. Bursting with the essence of the tropics, this handcrafted blend will soothe, nourish, and uplift your spirits. Share a steaming mug with a good friend. 

Learn more about this chai here.

Taster’s Review:

The aroma of the dry leaf is tempting with notes of sweet coconut and spicy cinnamon and ginger.  I waited anxiously for this Coconut Chai Black Tea Blend from Zhi Tea to finish steeping … three minutes seems like forever when you can’t wait to taste the tea!  (And then there’s the cooling time!  Argh!  The anticipation!!!)

But this chai is well worth the wait!  YUM!  It’s a delicious way to warm you up.  The spices are sweet yet spicy, and mingle in a very enjoyable way with the sweet, creamy coconut notes.  I like that the coconut adds just the right creaminess to the cup; no dairy is needed to enjoy a latte-like experience.  However, if you want to enhance those creamy tones, a splash of milk will do that for you.

The black tea base is an Assam tea, and I can taste the richness it provides.  It has a smooth texture and a malty flavor that melds well with the sweetness of the coconut.  The tea is full-flavored and has a sweet, caramel-esque undertone, and it is moderately astringent.  It is bold enough to stand up to the strength of the spices, and I like that I can enjoy the flavor of this Assam as well as the other ingredients of the blend.

This is not an overtly spicy chai.  The cinnamon tastes sweet, the ginger adds a pepper-ish kick to the cup while the cardamom adds a touch of warmth to the cup.  It isn’t what I’d call a hot or spicy chai, rather, I would call it warm and inviting.  This is the kind of chai that I think most people could enjoy – even the ones who tend to shy away from chai because they’re a bit too much for them.  I think that the coconut mellows out the spices just enough to make this a warm chai but not a spicy one.

Tisane Information:

Leaf Type:  Herbal Tisane

Where to Buy:  Herbal Infusions

Tisane Description:

An exotic and spicy blend of ancient Mexican vanilla, forest garden cinnamon, spices using a base of authentic Mayan cacao shells – truly medicine for your soul.

Learn more about this blend here.

Taster’s Review:

Oh my goodness.  This Vanilla Cacao Tea from Herbal Infusions is incredible!  When I was perusing their website and saw that they had authentic Mayan cacao shells in this blend, I knew I had to try it.  I’ve tried a tisane of pure cacao shells before and I loved it, and so I was really excited to try this blend that is cacao shells, vanilla and cinnamon.

YUM!  This tastes a lot like a “Mexican” hot chocolate.  The chocolate is rich and decadent tasting and the vanilla adds a sweet, creamy element to the cup, while the cinnamon adds just a touch of spice.  It’s not overtly spicy or hot.   The three components in this tisane work in a synergistic way to deliver a flavor that is warm, sweet, and deliciously chocolate-y.

The best way I can describe this is that it’s like a really good hot chocolate, except that it’s a little thinner in body than a hot cocoa.  It’s not milky,although I suppose you could steep this in a combination of hot milk and water like stove top prepared chai.  I prepared this the way I would prepare most tisanes, using 195°F water, and instead of steeping it for 6 minutes (my usual time for a tisane with hibiscus) or 10 minutes (my usual time for rooibos or honeybush blends), I went with a 15 minute steep for this.  And it’s perfect!

Rich with chocolate flavor.  Just enough cinnamon and vanilla to add some interesting contrasts to the cacao flavor.  If you’ve ever had an authentic Mexican hot chocolate, this tastes a lot like what you might have tasted … although I find that this is not quite as spicy as some of the Mexican hot chocolate drinks that I’ve had (I think that they also sometimes use cayenne pepper in them.)

This is a tisane for chocolate lovers.  Like I said before, it doesn’t have that heavy, milky body.  But, I personally prefer it this way.  I rarely fix myself a cup of hot chocolate/hot cocoa because I find it to be too heavy and too sweet for my liking, but, this is just right.  It’s a little thinner, and not quite as cloying.  It’s just right!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Teavivre

Tea Description:

In Taiwan Oolong Tea, Dong Ding Oolong Tea is an excellent kind highly praised by the world. Dong Ding is originally planted on Dongding Mountain, which is a branch of Phoenix Mountain, in Lugu Village, Nantou County, Taiwan. The tea is planted in the area at the altitude of 1000 meters. So this is also a High Mountain tea, which is known as its obvious floral fragrance. This Dong Ding Qing Xiang Oolong Tea is made of the tea leaves from Qing Xin Oolong tea tree. This tea has thick and soft leaf, refreshing tea liquid, with strong osmanthus scent. Meanwhile it has strong sweet aftertaste, which makes High Mountain tea more excellent than low altitude tea.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This Superfine Taiwan Qing Xiang Dong Ding Oolong Tea from Teavivre is absolutely lovely!  It’s so sweet and lush, with a creamy mouthfeel and an intriguing flavor that has exotic floral notes as well as hints of fruit. I’m enjoying the complexity and the soft texture.

I brewed this Oolong in my gaiwan.  First I did a quick “rinse” or awakening of the tea leaves, by steeping them in hot water for 15 seconds and then straining off and discarding the liquid.  Then I steeped the first infusion for 1 minute (I meant to infuse it for 45 seconds, but I got distracted and missed the 45 second mark, so it steeped for a full 60 seconds), and the second infusion for 1 minute 15 seconds.  I poured both of these infusions into the same cup.  Subsequent infusions were prepared the same way.

The first cup was lighter in texture than those that followed, but, it still possessed a pleasantly creamy mouthfeel.  It is so silky and smooth.  I taste notes of peach, hints of vegetation (just a slight “grassiness” in the background), and a overtone of floral notes.  There is a faint astringency that is most noticeable at the very end of the sip.  I start to notice a slightly dry sensation.

The second cup was my favorite, and this seems to be typical of my Oolong experiences.  It seems that I always love the second cup best.  It felt soft and smooth to the palate, and it had a flavor that was both floral and fruity.  The vegetative notes have emerged slightly and they added an interesting contrast to the sweet fruit and floral tones.

In subsequent infusions, the flavors became more of a harmonious taste.  The flavor remained sweet, and I started to notice an almost “honey-esque” note in the third and forth cups.

I enjoyed my afternoon spent with this Dong Ding from Teavivre.  An excellent choice for the Oolong enthusiast!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Single Origin Teas

Tea Description:

While Kenyan teas are lesser known, they are quite popular.  The majority of tea bag tea actually comes from the flat growing areas of Kenya:  in a recent UN food estimate (see below), the country’s tea production represented around 13% of the world’s supply.  However, it is rare to find a non-CTC tea.  CTC, otherwise known as Crush Tear Curl, is the production method used for turning tea leaves into tea dust, for more rapid brewing in tea bags.  Kenya Kaporet is rare in that orthodox production methods are employed, allowing for a more distinct flavor than a standard tea bag will offer.

Kenya Kaporet produces a bold, robust malty flavor often associate with black teas.  It brews quite strong, and can handle milk well.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I know I’ve probably said this before, but, the more I try teas from Kenya, the more I’m loving them!   This Kaporet Keyna Black Tea from Single Origin Teas is so rich and flavorful!

I am in complete agreement with the last paragraph in the above description, this tea is indeed bold and robust, with a delightful malty tone.  It does brew strong!  I tend to usually add a little extra leaf when I brew teas because I like a good, strong flavor, but that wasn’t necessary with this tea, because it brewed up strong and full-flavored without the 1/2 teaspoon or so of extra leaf!

And while I believe this tea would stand up well with the addition of milk, I am liking it served straight up with no additions.  It has a powerful flavor – the kind of tea with which I like to start the day because it has that GUSTO I look for in a morning black tea.  It’s invigorating, but, it also has a gentle smoothness to it that nudges you awake rather than rudely screams in your face.  It’s the nice way to wake up!

In the distance, I taste notes of fruit.  A little further off, I taste faint hints of flower.  There is some sweetness to the cup from these two characteristics, but, most of the sweetness I taste is a burnt-sugar caramel sweetness that melds with the malty notes really well.

There is that chewy, freshly baked, bread-y type of flavor that I enjoy – vaguely reminiscent of a high quality Assam tea, but without the bitterness that is often associated with Assam.  There is a savory quality to this tea as well, and this savory note hits the palate at about mid-sip, just as you’re nearing the finish.  This isn’t an overly astringent cuppa, but, there is some dry astringency toward the tail.

Overall, an excellent black tea from Kenya.

Tea Type:
Red Tea
(Black Tea)

Where to Buy:
Yezi Tea

Product Description:

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Pu-erh

Where to Buy:  Life in Teacup

Tea Description:

Production Year – 2005
Season – Spring
Production Region – Yunnan
Factory – Lao Lin Cang Tea Factory
Style – Sheng

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review: 

The dry leaf aroma of this 2005 Lao Lin Cang Ancient Arbor Sheng Pu-erh Tea from Life in Teacup is a gentle, earthy scent.  Generally, I find myself kind of put off by the strong earthy notes of Pu-erh but, this is such a subtle earth scent that I’m not finding it off-putting at all, and the sweet tones are very intriguing.

I steeped this the way I would typically steep a Pu-erh – in my gaiwan.  I steeped the first infusion for 45 seconds (following a quick 15 second rinse), and the flavor was earthy and sweet, with a woodsy note to it that is sweet.  There are hints of a fruit-like note to this as well.  It’s a mellow tea with a pleasant sweetness.  There is also a cleansing astringency to this that I don’t usually find in a pu-erh.

The second (1 minute) infusion delivered a flavor that is less earthy and more sweet.  The woodsy note has developed and I am tasting more of the fruit taste now too.  The finish is sweet and the aftertaste is clean.

The next two infusions, I noticed that the earthy tones began to develop, and these tones meld together with the fruit and woodsy notes, and are softened by the sweetness.  Subsequent infusions, some of the earthiness begins to taper, and I find a nice balance of fruit and sweet wood tones.

Overall, a pleasant Sheng – mellow and relaxing.  The sweetness of this one keeps me sipping!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Simple Loose Leaf

Tea Description:

For the first time, the bold, aromatic flavors of coffee are introduced to our smooth South Indian black tea. This marriage is celebrated with spicy cocoa and creamy yogurt chips, surprising our senses and delighting anyone who thought they would never savor the best of both worlds. Incredible hot.

South Indian Flower Orange Pekoe Black Tea, Ground Coffee, Cocoa Powder, Yogurt Chips, Creme Brulee Flavor

Learn more about this tea here.

Learn more about Simple Loose Leaf’s customized subscription program here.

Taster’s Review:

I think that I should have read the description and the ingredients in this Cocoa Cream Black Tea before I added it to my subscription with Simple Loose Leaf – it has ground coffee in it!  Yikes!  I don’t drink coffee because it tends to make me upset to my stomach, and I’m hoping that this tea has enough polyphenols in it to buffer the effects of the coffee!

When I opened the pouch, I was blown away at how much it smelled like coffee!  Again, I smelled the tea before I read the description, so, I thought it was a little weird to be smelling coffee in a chocolate-y tea.  Then I saw the ingredient list on the package and saw “Coffee Grounds” listed.  Yep … that’s why I smell coffee!  Fortunately, I really like the smell of coffee.

And I can definitely taste the coffee too.  The coffee flavor is – disappointingly – stronger than the chocolate notes, and I was hoping that the coffee grounds were added to enhance the chocolate flavors, but it seems to me that it’s obscuring them.  I can still taste chocolate; however, the coffee is stronger.  I don’t taste a whole lot of “creme” from the yogurt or the creme brulee flavoring although I do taste a hint of sour/tangy from the yogurt.  I do taste a slight creaminess, but again, I feel like it’s being overpowered by the coffee.

Even the black tea notes are dominated by the coffee notes.  The coffee seems to have vanquished every other flavor in this cup, and while I do taste subtle notes of the other flavors,  the coffee permeates every sip strongly.  I would like for the coffee to be a more subtle flavor.  Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

I was lured in by the name of the tea:  Cocoa Creme.  I mean, it sounds amazing, doesn’t it?  I mean, as a chocoholic, why wouldn’t I want to try a tea called Cocoa Cream?  But I think that this tea suffers from a misnomer.  It should be called MOCHA Creme.

So far, I have tried three teas from Simple Loose Leaf with this subscription order, and this is the first one that I found disappointing.  I’m still not disappointed in the service … but this tea is just simply not up to par with the other two I’ve tasted.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Kally Tea

Tea Description:

Organic green tea with white downy tips.  Chinese green tea grown on the slopes of the Taimu mountains in the Fuijian province of China.

A light cup with a slightly natural sweetness from the green tea.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

When I opened the pouch of this Organic White Monkey Green Tea from Kally Tea, I could smell the vegetative notes immediately, along with a sweet note, and a hint of floral notes in the background.  It smelled really lovely, like a sunny spring morning.

The flavor I first noticed with my first sip was a sweet, nutty note.  Having tried a few White Monkey teas in the past, I found myself trying to recall if I normally experienced a nutty flavor.  The aroma of the dry leaf suggests a somewhat leafy or grassy taste, but, it’s not there.  I don’t get a strong “vegetal” note here.  In fact, I think that this would be an excellent tea for those who are new to green tea and just a little bit intimidated by the grassy taste of some other green teas out there.

The floral notes are also not as pronounced as I expected them to be.  Instead, I’m tasting a sweet, buttery and nutty flavor at the start of the sip.  When I slurp the sip, I even pick up on some hints of cacao!  Lovely!

Overall, this is a pleasant, delicate tasting tea.  Toward the finish, I notice a slight fruity note – it is sweet and complements the nutty tones well.  A nice complexity, and I like that I’m not picking up on any bitterness or astringency to this.  It’s just a mild, relaxing cuppa!