Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Learn more about Southern Boy Teas here.
Taster’s Review:
As I’ve said before, I don’t drink a lot of alcohol. There was a time though, that I drank my fair share (some might suggest it was more than my fair share), and one of my favorite beverages back then was Jack Daniels and Pepsi. So, I was excited to try this Whiskey & Cola Flavored Iced Tea from Southern Boy Teas.
When I opened the package, I could definitely smell the cola notes. They were strong. The whisky was not quite as apparent, but I could pick up on softer whisky notes.
The same proved true once the tea was brewed and chilled. I can certainly taste the cola aspect here but I found the whisky notes a little more difficult to discern from the first couple of sips. Once I had consumed about half a glass of this iced tea, though, I started to pick up on the flavor of the Whisky.
The black tea is smooth and mellow, and melds really well with these flavors. It’s as if the three flavors are made for each other. The aftertaste I can definitely taste the flavor of Whisky and Cola. This is actually tastier than I remember my Jack Daniels and Pepsi from my younger days.
Overall, this is tasty and refreshing. Not my favorite from SBT, but certainly one I’d enjoy now and again.
On the Ninth Day of Christmas, Southern Boy Teas Edition!
Day 9, and the second day of the New Year. I can’t believe that the Christmas vacation is nearly over. I have enjoyed having my young one around these past couple of weeks … I will miss her when school starts back up.
Vanilla Cola Iced Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Learn more about Southern Boy Teas here.
Taster’s Review:
This is one I was excited to try. I have been a big fan of Frank’s cola teas, and some of you may remember that the Southern Boy Teas Lime Cola is one of my FAVORITES from the SBT lineup.
And this one is another winner! This tastes like a splash of vanilla soda mixed with a glass of black iced tea! It’s cool and refreshing and very flavorful. The black tea is brisk and melds well with the flavorings of vanilla and cola.
And as I mentioned before, Frank manages to nail the cola flavored teas. I’m not sure how he does it, but I can actually taste the “bubbly” carbonation aspect in the tea. It isn’t actually carbonated (although, I suppose you could brew this strong to make it concentrated and then mix it with club soda or something), but I can taste that uplifting, bubbly taste that you get when you take a sip of cola.
But, what I don’t get here is that overly sweet, sticky coating of the teeth sensation – and that’s a good thing. That sticky feeling is the reason why I don’t drink soda very often, I just don’t like that icky sweetness that coats the teeth. So this tea offers all the good taste of a vanilla cola but none of the stuff I don’t care for when it comes to drinking soda. Plus … it’s got tea! That’s a win-win in my opinion.
A really good iced tea from Southern Boy Teas. This is one I’ll probably buy again.
Southern Boy Teas Lime Cola Flavored Black Iced Tea from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Premium Organic black tea with organic flavors. Each 14g teabag will make one 2-quart pitcher of DELICIOUS iced tea. Re-steep the teabag and you can get a full gallon out of each one.
Ingredients: Premium Organic Black Teas, Organic Flavors.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh, this Southern Boy Teas Lime Cola Flavored Black Iced Tea from 52Teas is a wonderful, refreshing drink that has captured the essence of lime and cola very well, while still not detracting from the delicious natural flavors of the black tea.
Of the six new flavors for Southern Boys Teas that 52Teas has introduced for this summer (five black teas, one herbal tisane), I think that this is my favorite of those that I’ve tried thus far! The flavors are so spot on.
I don’t think I’ve ever actually tried a “lime cola.” I’ve had lemon-lime soda, and I know that there is a lime diet cola out there, but, since I can’t consume aspartame, I haven’t tried this soft drink. And really, I don’t drink a whole lot of colas and/or sodas … I’ll stick to my tea, thanks! However, this Lime Cola flavored tea from Southern Boy Teas is what I would expect a lime cola to taste like.
From the moment I tore into the package, I could smell the cola and the lime. I could smell that sweet, caramel-y cola note essence, and the lovely citrus tone from the lime. I cold-brewed the tea (And again, let me say that I’m loving these extra large tea bags that 52Teas uses to make the iced tea pouches … there is more than enough room for the leaves to expand – with room to spare even! I like that … and while I usually prefer loose leaf when I’m brewing hot tea, when I’m cold-brewing iced tea, I really appreciate the convenience of a sachet/pouch/teabag. It makes the whole thing so much easier.
The flavors of cola and lime are so distinct in this glass of frosty iced tea. I can almost “feel” the bubbles from the soda! The black tea is not overpowered, either, it comes through in the background: smooth, rich and robust. It’s a very refreshing beverage. It is a little on the sweet side, then again, isn’t cola supposed to be sweet? I like the way the tart, zesty flavor of the lime cuts through some of the sweeter notes, providing some balance for the palate.
A really delicious iced tea!
Cuba Libre Flavored Black Tea from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Organic cola and rum flavors combine with our premium black tea base to create a sweet-tooth treat with a twist. I’m very happy with the way this came out. I’m more of a 7 and Ginger guy myself, but this is delicious. I hope you will agree.
Learn more about this blend here.
Taster’s Review:
Having tried cola flavored teas from 52Teas in the past, I was pretty confident I’d enjoy this Cuba Libre flavored Black Tea. I’m not a big alcoholic beverage drinker, but, I don’t hate rum and coke. I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it. I can’t really think of any alcoholic drink that I really love … I’m just not much of a drinker.
But I used to be (there’s a time and place for everything and that’s college), and I’ve had a few rum and cokes in the past, and I enjoyed them.
This Cuba Libre blend from 52Teas is a fair representation of my memory of the rum and coke cocktails that I’ve consumed in the past. Granted, it’s been more than a few years, so, I can’t say that my memory is all that great … and we are talking alcohol here, so, maybe I’m way off. But, I am enjoying what I’m tasting in my teacup at the moment.
The black tea base is delicious and melds nicely with the flavors of rum and cola. It is smooth and flavorful, with a nice earthiness that contrasts well with the sweetness of the cola flavor. When I opened the package … I could really smell the cola … it was such a powerful aroma that I could almost “feel” the bubbles from the cola effervesce from the pouch!
The flavor of the cola is equally as strong, but it doesn’t overpower the black tea notes. It is sweet and caramel-y, and the flavor is very cola-esque. I can also taste the rum … and it has been a while since I’ve actually had rum so I can’t speak from recent experience here, but, it tastes like what I remember it to taste like, it tastes sweet, and has a slight sweet potato taste.
Overall, the cup tastes to me like someone took a Cuba Libre, took that “alcohol” warmth out of it, and then added the warmth of a good, strong black tea to it instead. It’s really quite enjoyable. I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to.
Cola Flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
The unique Cola Matcha can be used to make most foods and drinks acquire an interesting adventurous twist. Its deep albeit slightly sweet taste leaves many people both mystified and compelled to enjoy more. This special flavor has no equal and can be used in any occasion to make an exceptional impact on its various audiences both big and small. This flavor relies on its much loved status in the world to entice its enthusiasts to appreciate its unique offerings in the world of refreshments.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’m not sure, exactly, what possessed me to order this Cola Flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea, except for possibly curiosity. Thinking about it … a Matcha flavored cola is something that would definitely spark my interest – for purely curious reasons – because it doesn’t really seem like a suitable combination. Matcha is creamy, slightly vegetative tasting green tea. Healthy. Tasty. Invigorating. While cola seems to be on the opposite end of the spectrum. Certainly not creamy or vegetative, definitely NOT healthy … ok, sure, it’s tasty but it’s so sickeningly sweet that I can tolerate it on only rare occasions. Cola has that tooth-rotting sweetness that seems to adhere itself on the tooth’s surface and only a thorough brushing seems to remove it. I just … don’t like that!
That being said, I have encountered a few cola flavored teas that I’ve quite enjoyed. And they even tasted a bit like cola, and the best part is that they LACKED the aforementioned tooth-rotting sweetness. Cola flavored teas are my way of enjoying the flavor of cola without enduring the sickeningly sweet taste of it.
And perhaps it is that idea that lead me to order this Cola Flavored Matcha from Red Leaf Tea. Well, that and, like I said – curiosity. I’m curious how well these two seemingly opposite things taste together.
And … it’s really quite tasty! I like this flavor combination. The cola notes are sweet … but not cloying. It has the “flavor” of cola. And of course, I can also taste the Matcha. The Matcha tastes decidedly different with the cola flavoring, though. It doesn’t taste vegetative. It tastes more buttery to me here. Smooth and creamy. There is a faint “bittersweetness” to it, reminiscent of the bitter taste you’d experience from a burnt-sugar caramel that ties in very well with the cola concept.
It’s really quite a unique taste – I don’t think I’ve tried any Matcha quite like this before – but that’s not to say it’s a bad thing … on the contrary, I think it’s a really, really good thing.
I tried this first hot, prepared traditionally using my chasen and chawan. It is good this way … but, keep in mind that drinking it this way it tastes a bit like a warm, flat cola. Then I tried scooping it into a water bottle with filtered water and giving it a vigorous shake. Prepared this way – it’s really quite amazing! Good warm … certainly something I enjoyed drinking, but, not something that I’d get all excited over. But cold … that’s the way to go with this one! It might even be good as a latte – it might taste a bit like a cola float! I haven’t tried it like that yet, because I find it so refreshing as a cold drink that I haven’t felt the need to experiment further … but if you do, please do comment here and tell me about it!