Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tisane Description:
Earl Grey’s lesser known cousin, Earl Pink preferred an herbal tea with raspberry and bergamot. In honor of him, we’ve created this blend of caffeine-free green rooibos blended with freeze-dried raspberry bits (lots and lots of them) and natural and organic bergamot and raspberry flavors. Thanks to my lovely wife for help with the name. I’m not sure I have the skills to Photoshop a tongue onto the portrait of Earl Grey for an “Earl Raspberry”.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
I find that I’m always a little hesitant to try rooibos blends that have been flavored with bergamot … and such was the case with this Earl Pink Tisane from 52Teas. I think I must have had an Earl Grey Rooibos blend at some point that I found really disappointing, although, I don’t remember where it came from now.
Fortunately, I do not find this Earl Pink Tisane to be disappointing. The dry leaf is beautifully fragrant, with lovely bergamot and raspberry notes. It smells very fresh and inviting. Once the tisane is brewed, the fragrance wanes. I still smell hints of raspberry and a barely-there note of bergamot, but it is nowhere near as aromatic as the dry leaf.
The flavor is deliciously sweet. The green rooibos has a light, fruity flavor that almost sparkles on the tongue, and this seems to pair remarkably well with bergamot. Not as well as black tea pairs with bergamot, of course … that’s a classic! But, the light, crisp flavor of the green rooibos together with the invigorating, tangy flavor of the bergamot just seems to meld together really nicely.
And then there is the raspberry! There are LOTS of little bits of raspberry in the dry leaf, and the raspberry flavor is sweet and tart, and has a pleasing fruit taste. I don’t know if it’s because it is combined with the bergamot – which sometimes does come off tasting a little bit “perfume-y” – or if it’s because of the flavoring used, but, it does taste just a tad artificial to me. It doesn’t taste like true raspberry … in fact; it tastes sweeter than the fruit … like maybe raspberry candy that has been made with “real and artificial flavors.” That’s not to say it’s bad, I’m really enjoying it, but if you’re looking for authentic, true-to-the-fruit raspberry flavor, you might be a tad disappointed with what you find here.
As for me, I’m not disappointed by this tisane. It’s not my favorite tisane from 52Teas, but it’s certainly tasty and one I’ll enjoy again in the future. I suspect this one will be awesome iced … so I think I’ll save what I have left for iced tea.
Pink Sonoma Wine Infused White Tea from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
We are proud to introduce our newest wine infused tea, the Pink Sonoma!
Thoroughly saturated with the flavor of a light cabernet, Pink Sonoma is based on the sweetness of a strong white tea. We have given this base a powerful floral aroma and body by adding a good measure of rose petals, as well as a light touch of jasmine. Try steeping Pink Sonoma in boiling water for a little over two minutes, at a ration of one teaspoon tea leaf each five ounces of water.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I know I’ve said on many occasions that I’m not a big wine drinker. My husband has been trying a few wines lately and has been enjoying them, and is trying to get me back in to wine (I used to drink them more some years ago, but now I prefer my tea, thank you very much!) But I must say that if I were given a glass of wine and I took a sip and it tasted like this, I’d happily finish the glass and might even consider another.
This is a beautifully floral tasting tea – I like that it’s floral but it isn’t overdone. Notes of rose with hints of jasmine add a lovely sweetness to the cup without tasting perfume-y or soapy. These floral notes accent the wine notes as well as the flavor of the white tea.
The wine is pleasant, with fruit tones – a soft grape, maybe a hint of apple in there. Crisp and enjoyable, a flavor that seems to glide over the palate easily.
The white tea is not overpowered by these flavors, either. It is a soft taste, not vegetative, exactly, and not of hay or other notes that I often taste with white tea … it just tastes of white tea – soft and delicate.
Served hot, this tea has an agreeable flavor, but I think I prefer it iced. Even though the weather is such that I seldom enjoy iced tea right now, after trying this one hot, I decided I’d let it cool and try it iced. And I must say, this is so much more refreshing chilled. The fruit notes really pop, and the overall cup is very sweet and flavorful … this is one I might stock up on when the warm weather returns!
Pink Earl Grey Green Tea from Fusion Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Fusion Teas
Tea Description:
The classic idea of bergamot turned into a very enthralling new blend on this green tea base. Invite your sweetheart to this pink version of the traditional English Tea Time and the wonderfully fruity and sweet rhubarb flavor will put your two hearts in tune!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I do love Earl Grey, however, I tend to be less excited about green Earl Grey (and other types of tea other than black tea flavored with bergamot) because I am of the opinion that bergamot pairs better with black tea. And while this Pink Earl Grey Green Tea from Fusion Teas did not change that opinion … I am still finding this to be really quite enjoyable.
I think what makes it enjoyable for me are the characteristics that are present other than the bergamot notes. Oh, the bergamot notes are still there, certainly, and they provide a pleasantly crisp, tangy flavor, but, I think that it’s the rose and the rhubarb (yes, that’s what I said: rhubarb) that makes this tea stand out.
The green tea offers a lightly sweet, smooth base for the flavors, and the bergamot is not overpowering. It doesn’t come off soapy or perfume-y, it’s actually quite mild as far as Earl Grey teas go. There’s just enough bergamot to give it that distinctive citrus-y flavor without coming off as artificial.
The rhubarb … well, I have a confession. I’m not all that familiar with the flavor of rhubarb. I have had a few teas with rhubarb in it, and I may have had a dish or two that has had rhubarb in it. And quite recently, my husband and I selected a rhubarb soda when we were at our local “natural food” market. When we go there, we like to choose one of those fancy sodas. You know what I’m talking about, right? The sodas that cost like six bucks for a four pack … but in the refrigerated drink section, they usually sell those sodas individually so that you can buy one bottle and not go too broke. Anyway, we chose a rhubarb soda, and it took about a half a sip for me to realize that I did NOT like it and wasn’t going to give it a second chance either. My husband did give it a second chance, and his second sip wasn’t any better than the first.
But that experience hasn’t soured me on rhubarb, but it did sour me on that particular brand of sodas. But … I digress.
Let’s get back to the tea, shall we? The rhubarb here gives the cup a very interesting … strawberry-ish taste. Quite unexpected. Is rhubarb supposed to taste like strawberry?
And then there is the rose. The rose is so nice in this, offering a sweet, floral taste … but again, it doesn’t go overboard. Like a little kiss of rose (Kiss from a Rose?) Or perhaps two kisses. Just enough to give it a very enjoyable rose essence without tasting too rosy.
I love the way the components of this tea come together. The green tea … light and sweet. The rose … sweet and floral. The bergamot … an undertone of bright citrus-y flavor. The rhubarb … strawberry-ish.
Yep … another winner from Fusion Teas. I’m not surprised… they always seem to impress me!
Oh Christmas Tea from Tealish
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tealish
Tea Description:
A little bit spicy and a little bit sweet, this tea is the perfect treat to share with loved ones over the holidays. Rich black tea is blended with orange slices, cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, cloves, apple pieces, and pink peppercorns.
Taster’s Review:
As I sit here, writing this review, it is July. The sun is shining brightly outside, and the thermometer reads 71°F outside, and I wonder what it will be like when this review actually publishes, as I schedule it for December 13 … a little closer to Christmas.
A Steepster friend sent me a bit of this tea so that I might enjoy a little Christmas in July, and yes, it is very Christmas-y indeed. It is warm with cheery spices and a hint of orange, and while a spiced orange tea is nothing new or out of the ordinary, what I’m liking here is how well-balanced it is. It has a nice, rounded flavor that enlivens the palate with spices that are gently warm – not hot or what I’d call spicy – a touch of delicious, juicy orange and a robust black tea base.
The black tea here is rich yet somewhat understated. It doesn’t attempt to overpower the blend, but it is substantial enough to hold its own and be tasted. It doesn’t taste like it’s just there, barely standing up to the spices somewhere off in the background. It tastes solid and strong without being bitter. It has a mild astringency that complements the orange notes quite well.
The only ingredient that I don’t really taste much of is the apple. I suppose it probably adds a hint of sweetness but a strong sense of apple doesn’t really come through – but then again, I don’t think it is supposed to. It may be there primarily for appearance sake, or as I mentioned, for a hint of sweetness to accent the spices.
A really enjoyable holiday tea – very nice during the holidays, or any time of year that you wish to bring a little bit of the holiday joy to your teacup.
Orange Danish from Trail Lodge Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Trail Lodge Tea
Tea Description:
You’ll feel like you visited the bakery when you taste this tea! The vibrant green tea leaves are joined with the sweet taste of orange, almond, and spice to taste like an orange danish.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Yum! I’m loving this tea.
It has a very bright and sunny orange-y kind of flavor to it, but I can totally taste the “danish” connection too. There is this sort of nutty, buttery, pastry-like taste to it, very rich and almost creamy, that provides that danish-y type flavor.
I like the mellowness to this cup as well. Even with the bright flavor of orange, there is sort of a calmness to this cup, very sweet and gentle. It would make a great dessert tea, or a mid-day cup for those times when you want something a little bit sweet that won’t weigh you down or cause you to feel sluggish.
The taste of the green tea is not as distinguishable as I normally would like it to be, however, I think that the way the flavors all sort of meld together into a seamless taste works out well. While the green tea is not as sharp or distinct as it could be, instead, it becomes sort of soft and buttery, providing a nice background for the pastry flavor. It all comes together in a very unified way, and it’s quite enjoyable.
Cheers!