Hello from the ISLANDS, friends! It’s me! Sipping delicious passionfruit tea from under a flowering palm! Attractive, tattooed men are fanning me! I’m going to ride a dolphin later!
Oh wait, I’m in Pennsylvania, and it’s raining.
Sad but true: I’ve been sitting on this sample for, like, a month. I haven’t reviewed it because the word “Hawaii” makes me sad. One of my best friends moved to Hawaii half a decade ago and basically disappeared from my life altogether. I miss them so much that, like, seeing a reference to Lilo and Stitch feels like a laceration to my spirit.
But hey — YOU don’t have a weird thing about Hawaii! It didn’t steal any of YOUR pals! You probably like Hawaii (on principle — who can afford to fly there?).
And oh gosh, this tea really is tasty. No joke. It’s juicy and ripe and fruity and has a very robust black base. Wow. It genuinely is one of those beefy beach boys showing up with a platter of fruit. Thanks, Mr. Muscles, for this lovely dish. SAVORY.
This tea is so delicious it’s ALMOST making me forgive the entire state.
Almost.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Hawaiian Islands Tea Company
Description
Anyone who’s traveled to the Na Pali coast of Kauai understands the majesty of the mountains standing against the pounding of the sea. It is this boldness that inspired the name of our bold and practically perfect passion fruit tea.Made with classic Camellia Sinensis tea leaves and natural flavoring. Rich in polyphenols (antioxidant), our Passion Fruit Tea has lasting flavor, even after prolonged storage.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Morning Pick-Me-Up from Tocha Teas
Good morning, Sisters and Friends! Today I’m trying a tea called “Morning Pick-Me-Up,” which is a thing I very sorely need. I had a 
misadventure this morning involving getting a bag of dog poop on my house’s roof, plus it’s pouring cats, canines, elephants, giraffes, and squirrels. I was good until the squirrels. My jacket isn’t rainproof. I also slept through my morning workout. To sum it up: you have NO IDEA how a Pick-Me-Up is required. ONE CANNOT FATHOM THIS DAY. And it’s only 11 a.m.
This tea is super-interesting, combining a deep, smoky tea with floral elements. The ingredients for this tea just say “black tea;” I suspect the tea is Lapsang souchong.
It’s like a see-saw of emotion. When Pick-Me-Up is on the tongue, you get the smoke, but there’s a floral finish toward the end. There’s something here for everybody. Smoke/leather isn’t usually my thing at all, but the floral touch at the end somehow ties it together. This works.
I kind of see this tea as a rough cowboy sort who likes his Parliaments and meat, but then comes home to his wife in the garden and sits with her while she’s working. He occasionally does the tough stuff with the edger and the trimmer. He prunes the trees, and she makes him a pie. His Harley is parked next to her Prius at the end of their gravel driveway in the country. They’ve got an opposites-attract thing that works for them. All of their friends at Bluegrass Open Mic Night are jealous of how independent they are of each other but how beautifully they mesh.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Tocha Teas
Description
The fragrance of purifying Osmanthus flowers is the perfect complement to the subtle sweetness of whole leaf black tea. Quench your thirst and revitalize your spirit with this smooth, full-bodied blend; ideal for kick-starting your morning or uplifting your afternoon.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Blue Lady from Zest Tea
Blue Lady from Zest Tea instantly caught my eye with the modern packaging and the idea that there is extra caffeine in the blend. I have tried Zest Tea in the past and have really loved the tea. I had high expectations for this blend.
Black tea, cornflower petals, hibiscus, orange, lemon, and passion fruit flavors are lovely packaged into each sachet. This blend has a lovely citrus slightly fruity note while steeping. I steeped the tea with boiling water and allowed the tea about 3 minutes to create the lovely brew.
My first sip was a solid sturdy black tea presence with subtle hints of citrus and a nod to a tartness that I enjoyed. Sip after sip, this tea sachet delivered a sturdy full bodied flavor. Here is my only complaint with this tea. Drink this tea while it is warm, because as the tea cools, the black tea becomes very astringent and the hibiscus starts to overwhelm with tart notes.
Even though I did enjoy this tea hot, I think this tea would be best presented as an iced tea. By cold brewing I think the tart and astringent notes would calm giving way to a softer and gentler tea.
All in all, yes this is a solid tea to keep on hand, but I can’t say this would be an every day tea for me. But this could be that great tea to keep in your desk for when you start to feel that 2pm crash start to happen. . .. . .
Here’s the Scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Zest Tea
Description:
Our Blue Lady Black blends a sultry South Indian black tea base with an aromatic mix of orange, lemon, passion fruit, and hibiscus. A peppering of vivid blue cornflower petals and bits of orange peel make for a visual spectacle. Blue lady will excite all of your senses. No wonder this is a favorite among hot and chilled tea drinkers.
Learn more about this tea here.
Morning Pick Me Up From Tocha Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tocha Tea
Tea Description:
The fragrance of purifying Osmanthus flowers is the perfect complement to the subtle sweetness of whole leaf black tea. Quench your thirst and revitalize your spirit with this smooth, full-bodied blend; ideal for kick-starting your morning or uplifting your afternoon.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
A few months back, I won a contest that Tocha Teas was having on their Instagram page. I was ecstatic! I didn’t know a whole lot about their teas, but just by the name alone, I couldn’t wait to try them. Morning Pick Me Up was one of the blends I was sent.
First lets start this off by saying Tocha offers their line up in tea sachets, not as a loose leaf tea. I rarely drink anything but loose leaf. There are times-I will admit-that a tea bag or sachet is just easier to steep than loose leaf. But these sachets are full of gorgeous looking tea blends. Especially this one!
Morning Pick Me Up is a blend of black tea and osmanthus flowers. Almost a floral black tea if you will. But this tea isn’t a dainty floral tea by any means. My container of this tea is just about empty and I can feel myself wanting to buy more!
Steeped like a black tea with the recommended parameters offered on the package, this tea yields a gorgeous dark liquor full of malty notes mingled with a sultry subtle sweetness that yields almost a floral hint now and again. Really well done and one that gives you that full-bodied experience you look for in a brilliant black tea blend. I’m quite surprised by the fact this tea is a tea sachet and not a flavor I’m getting from a loose leaf. These pyramid sachets are packed full of robust marvelous black tea flavor that sticks with you.
So what I’m trying to say is what a gorgeous way to start your morning or afternoon off right- I need to steep up another cuppa to finish off my day for sure!
Awake from Tazo Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tazo
Tea Description:
A breakfast-style black tea of malty boldness and bright flavor, invigorating any time of day.
The sun peeks over the horizon through the clouds, a star streaks undetected across the sky and the world begins anew. This bold and flavorful blend of black teas will send you down the day’s path wondering where it will take you and if it’s possible to bring along a friend.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is another tea from my tea stash that for some reason I seem to have a lot of it. I think at one time, this was my go to tea in the mornings at work. I rarely drink it anymore but I’m on my mission to drink up some of this tea I have so here we go!
Awake is one of the better Tazo teas in my opinion. Just be careful with it. It turns on you quick and becomes very bitter.
I brewed the tea up like I do my black tea-212F-3 min. I let this cool off for a few minutes and took my time enjoying the tea.
This may not be the black tea around, but its tasty! I like the bold yet subtle nature of the tea. There is a nice malty feel in each sip and there are no hints of astringency around. Just smooth rich black tea. Another no mess no fuss tea that is perfect for those busy mornings or when you just need to do a grab and go kinda tea. What is also great is that most grocery stores carry this tea so it is easily accessible.
I’ll be happy when I can proudly say “SIPDOWN” (when all the teabags are gone). But this isn’t such a bad tea to drink this afternoon. It is definitely giving me a bit of a pep in my step for the afternoon.