Wow, this tea really packs a flavor punch! This is a combination of matcha green tea with other goodies like ginger, ginseng, peppermint, lemongrass(my favorite) and cayenne! I can definitely feel the little kick of cayenne. I’ve never heard of a green or matcha tea pared with cayenne, and it totally works! I smelled the tea before adding it to my tea ball, and was surprised at the spicy scent.
First of all, it made a nice smooth cup and did not get clumpy like some matchas. When I took my first sip, I tasted ginger and citrus right away. Then, afterwards I felt a slight spice at the back of my throat. I was surprised to see on their website that it contains cayenne! It doesn’t burn your tongue or throat, but it does provide a little after burn. It’s a gentle heat that doesn’t overpower any of the other flavors. I really enjoyed this cup, and I feel like it woke up my senses and my brain!
According to their website, this tea increases energy and improves circulation and I definitely believe them! I feel much more alert and energized, but not in an overly stimulated, caffeinated way. But I feel refreshed and alert. This would be a great tea to have when you get that midday slump.
This tea is made with all organic ingredients, and is gluten free for those with allergies. It’s really refreshing and seriously energizing! I think I’m going to make some over ice next time. I bet it would be amazing after a workout!!
I love matcha tea, and this is one of the best I’ve tried. I also think this would be good for someone who finds matcha a little too grassy. The ginger and cayenne really mask the earthiness.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Matcha
Where to Buy: Sportland Tea Co.
Description
Sportland Tea Co.’s Endurance Blend is a unique mix of matcha green tea and herbs. With ginger, mint, and ginseng. This blend is an invigorating option any time of the day.
Drink approximately 15-30 minutes before a workout, run, or when you are having a long day at the office. Try it over ice for an even more refreshing and hydrating option!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Chai Houjicha from 52Teas . . . . .
I was so excited to try this tea. I love love love Chai tea. I love Chai green tea especially since I’m working on cutting back on caffeine.
And doing some Googling I discovered that Houjicha is green tea that has been roasted. The roasting process cuts down on the earthiness of green tea, making it more caramel like in flavor, and also cuts down on the caffeine. This makes it a nice tea to serve in the evening.
Bonus!!
As soon as I opened the packet, I could smell cardamom, which excited me because with a lot of Chai tea the cinnamon and nutmeg kind of take center stage, which is fine but it’s nice to let other flavors play a role.
This blend also has pepper and long pepper, so it is nice and warming. I wouldn’t say spicy, but it is nice and zesty and flavorful. It has a perfect balance of flavors. As I read the ingredients, I noticed that I could taste every single ingredient, including ginger which often gets lost in the mix.
This is one of the best Chai teas I’ve had, and at this point I’ve had a lot. I really enjoy the flavor of roasted green tea, it goes very well with all the Chai spices. I had mine with a little bit of raw sugar and a splash of coconut milk. It was a wonderful thing to have first thing in the morning, especially on this grey winter day. It made me feel warm and cozy.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
As I sit here, tasting this, it’s just a couple of days past the first day of FALL – my favorite time of year! There are a couple of reasons why it’s my favorite time of year. First, I love the change in temperature. The change of color outside with all the beautiful orange, red and yellow leaves is wonderfully inspiring but the main reason fall is my favorite season is the change in temperature. That cool, crisp air of autumn is certainly a welcome respite from the heat of summer (and in August around here, it usually gets down-right unbearable!) And the cooler temperatures not only mean it’s time to start wearing warm, fluffy sweaters and cozy wool socks but hot tea is much more enjoyable this time of year – and especially “chai” teas. (Yes, I know that “chai” translates simply to “tea” and means all tea types but around here when I think “chai” I think of a nicely spiced tea.)
If I had to narrow my ‘flavored’ tea choices to just three or four favorites, chai would certainly make that list (as well as Earl Grey and probably chocolate – or possibly vanilla?) Fortunately, here at 52Teas – we don’t have to narrow our choices when it comes to tea! We’re all about celebration of flavor here! But that doesn’t diminish my adoration for a well-spiced chai!
I decided for my first ‘official’ chai of this fall season, I’d make a Houjicha based chai! I started with an organic, roasted green tea (aka Houjicha) and added cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cardamom, black pepper and a little bit of long pepper.
Mmm! The toasty flavor of the Houjicha adds a delightfully warm, nutty flavor to the cup and it is beautifully matched with the warmth of the spices. Not a hot spice – but comfortably warm. The kind of tea you want to curl up with while cuddling up under a a soft blanket and a good book.
Large size is approximately 50g.
organic ingredients: roasted green tea, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper, long pepper and natural flavors.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Supreme Matcha Green from Pukka. . .
A friend got a bunch of sample teas at her job and was so kind to send me some. The brand is Pukka, which I’ve seen at a few specialty shops, but never tried myself.
This morning I decided to try the supreme matcha green, which according to the packet has the finest organic green tea leaves and the finest matcha powder. The first thing I noticed was the amazing, crisp smell of the tea. It made me want to start drinking right away. I almost could smell ginger, although it has no ginger. This is going to sound crazy, but this tea smelled beautiful.
Hands down this is the best green tea I have ever had. It has such a distinct, fresh flavor that I’ve never tasted in any green tea. It was so crisp you would almost think it has citrus, or ginger.
This really made my morning. I got two bags of this type, so I’m going to make a batch of iced tea with the other bag. My guess is that it will be the best, most refreshing green tea ever.
I have noticed when I see this brand of tea at the shops it is a little pricier than other teas, but I can say hands down it’s worth it. I was seriously blown away.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Pukka
Description
The super hero green tea in our revolution for sometimes our superpowers can run low. Welcome in pure emerald Matcha powder – our magical super-ingredient blended with the goodness of three fairly-traded whole leaf greens: Chinese Sencha, Indian Oothu and Vietnamese Suoi Gang. Shazam – superpowers recharged. Welcome to a magical new world.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Earl Grey from Clipper Teas. . . . . .
I haven’t had Earl Grey tea in quite awhile. I’m not sure why, I guess usually when I buy a tea that isn’t green, I go for the splashy, spicy Chai. Well, I’ve been reminded that splashy isn’t always best.
This Earl Grey was nice and smooth and delicious. I love how Earl Grey tea manages to be both floral-y, and citrus-y but not overbearingly so. The first thing I smell is a slight floral-y smell which is very inviting. When I take a sip, it’s the same. I taste the floral notes, and then I get the slight citrus taste. I prefer my Earl Grey with a little sweetener and a splash of plant milk.
Earl Grey reminds me of cozy, rainy days curled up with a good book, and maybe some great conversation. I enjoyed this tea myself on a cool, rainy morning curled up reading my favorite vegan blogs, and my cats curled up against my legs. It was perfect. Clipper tea is fair trade and organic, and it is reasonably priced on their website.
If you’re a fan of Earl Grey tea, you should definitely try this tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Clipper Teas
Description
A high quality tea which is both light & refreshing with the distinctive citrus flavour of bergamot.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Earl Grey from Virginia Tea Company. . . . .
I knew I was going to love this tea as soon as I opened the packet and smelled it. It has the familiar floral scent of Earl Grey teas, but it was much milder.
I have had some really delicious Earl Grey teas, and some that are too overpowering with the floral notes. I usually have my black teas with a little coconut milk and some raw sugar, but today I was out of sugar. So I brewed the tea and added a little almond milk. I expected it to be a little meh with no sweetener, but I am happy to report I was wrong about the meh.
It was delicious with just the almond milk. The floral notes were there, but subtle.It had almost a toasted flavor, with just a hint of floral. It was a perfect cup to help gently wake me up on this cold, blustery morning.
This is like Earl Grey for beginners, and I mean that in the best way. It’s subtle and gentle, not over the top and aggressive. It feels very sophisticated, and as I breathed in the scent and closed my eyes,
I pictured myself somewhere fancy having a cup of tea and stimulating conversation. If you like earl grey tea, I can’t recommend this blend from Virginia tea Co. enough!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Virginia Tea Company
Description
This organic tea is delicately flavored with bergamot in order to give it that rich, dark taste that is easily appreciated by all those with strong taste buds. Earl Grey pairs amazingly with ice in the summer.
Ingredients: Fair Trade, Organic Black Tea, Bergamot Flavor
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!