Sensiblyscript’s Tasting Notes on Passion Berry Jolt by Tiesta Tea. . . .

I steeped 1tsp tea for 4 min. in one cup of water at 200-205 degrees, which  produced a cup of tea with a nice dark amber color. Though there’s no berry coloring, there’s plenty of berrylike fragrance. The tea leaves themselves are attractive, with marigold and cornflower petals providing some nice color contrasts.

The berry smell blends with the black tea fragrance surprisingly well. (On a side note, I’m glad they used a high-quality black tea for this blend, as I tend to tire easily of “black tea” bases that have no actual tea flavor so that all you can taste is the flavoring.)

First sip: Not too astringent or acidic, which is nice. There is a bit of astringency, though. The berry flavor I’m finding in this tea is a bit friendlier, somehow, than most berry flavored teas I’ve tried. Perhaps a bit smoother? I’m sensing a rich, strawberry-like flavor here, and maybe a bit of raspberry as well. Maybe that’s why it’s less astringent and acidic than other berry-flavored teas that are heavy on the raspberry and blueberry. (It turns out that the strawberry-like flavor must have been from the “natural passion fruit flavors” in this tea. I guess I’m just not that familiar with passion fruit.)

It’s also not bitter at all, which I appreciate.

While the black tea flavor is present and isn’t overwhelmed by the berry flavor, it’s not super prominent either and doesn’t overwhelm the berry flavor. They exist side-by-side rather elegantly.

When I add a little sugar, it enhances the berry flavor and makes me want cream to complete the berries-and-cream effect.

When I add milk, it tastes like berries and cream just as I’d hoped. MMMMmmmm! I like it best this way. (Okay, that’s not really a surprise.)

This is a friendly, approachable berry/fruit tea, and it’s great for delivering that berries-and-cream dessert sensation without too many calories. I didn’t find it to be at all violent as suggested by the name (“Jolt”), but that’s okay because I really prefer nonviolent teas in most instances.