Watermelon Mint from Trader Joe’s. . . .

by Mary

You know how every once in a while, you stumble across a tea that is LITERALLY PERFECT? (I know, it doesn’t happen often– but when it does, hallelujah hands, am I right?) This tea, you guys. I cannot stop cold brewing it for the summer! I grabbed a tin of it at Trader Joe’s during my grocery trip a few weeks ago, and I’ve already picked up a second– that’s how quickly I’m sipping through it.

I’ll be the first to admit that I have a weird relationship with watermelon and watermelon-flavored things– I feel abundantly ‘meh’ regarding melon as a fruit (when I pretty much love all other fruits and veg) and could take or leave fresh watermelon. But when it comes the the flavor? I am ALL about it. This one has that perfectly juicy, melon-y flavor that is spot-on best watermelon– tempered by a hint of mint with just a touch of natural sweetness from the licorice. (Licorice haters, don’t fret– you can’t taste it, it’s just there for a flavor boost). It’s perfect iced as-is, but it also takes a splash of lemonade so well. SO WELL. I’m not done gushing– this iced tea is perfect, friends.

To top it all off? This tea comes in the absolute cutest tin I ever did see, and every time you open it for a whiff, the aroma is absolutely divine. While I normally spend all summer sipping all manner of iced teas, this is one that I just can’t help but want to drink every day, the rest of my collection be darned. Who knew TJ’s would come in with the sleeper tea hit of the summer? Go get you some, stat!

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Black
Where to Buy:  Trader Joe’s
Description

This tea is not on the website but click below to find a Trader Joe’s near you.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Mary

Hi there! I'm Mary, a 27-year-old mental health professional living with my fiancé and our quirky kitten in the Midwest! I've loved tea for as long as I can remember-- in fact, I have vivid memory of being four or five in a tea shop and being mesmerized by all the tea flavors and proclaiming that I "was going to be kind of adult who drank tea, not coffee." A stint living (and tea-drinking my way through) London and twenty-some years later, I'm still channeling that sassy four-year-old and loving my tea habit. When I'm not sipping a cuppa, you'll find me reading, doing yoga, traveling, exploring my own city, planning our wedding and experimenting with different healthful and healing foods in my kitchen.

This post was posted in Black Tea, Trader Joe's

Jasmine Creme Brulee from DAVIDs Tea. . . .

by Mary

Picture this: young tea reviewer-Mary, at a fancy lunch with her dad, celebrating her 16th birthday. Side note: my parents often took us out for special one-on-one time (hello, life with siblings), especially around our birthdays– but this year was a special one, so my dad pulled out all the stops. After a particularly decadent dinner, my dad insisted we order some dessert. Who was 16-year-old-I to say no? Faced with a delicious decision, I decided to go rouge– crème brulee, a dessert I’d never tried before. All I knew was this: it looked delicious, and had some serious bonus-fun in the form of crackling that burnt-sugar topping before diving in. Sugar AND an activity? Count me in?

Needless to say, ever since that first burnt-sugar-crack, I’ve been a fan of crème brulee. So of course, when I saw this latest offering from David’s Tea, I knew this one was coming home with me. This green tea boasts creamy, burnt-sugar-and-vanilla flavors, with just a hint of floral jasmine on the side. Brewed up solo, it’s delightful– but definitely leans more heavily on those floral notes. I was looking for something creamier, something more reminiscent of the fancy-dessert-nostalgia of my youth. With juuuuust a tiny, tiny touch of honey and a splash of steamed coconut milk on top, this one transforms from creamy floral green tea to magical, burnt-sugar-esque crème-brulee-in-a-cup. In fact, I’m not sure how they manage to perfectly capture that slightly toasty creamy note (almost like a genmaicha, but without a bit of toasted-rice in sight) through flavor alone, but I love it. This is one I’ll be brewing up to share with my dad, for sure.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Green
Where to Buy:  DAVIDs Tea
Description

Meet our newest obsession: the crème brulée. French for “burnt cream,” this rich and creamy dessert is famous for its silky custard base and crunchy toffee crust. This decadent green tea captures all the vanilla-cream sweetness of a classic crème brulée – with a pop of jasmine for a light floral touch. It’s satisfying, sophisticated and downright addictive.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Mary

Hi there! I'm Mary, a 27-year-old mental health professional living with my fiancé and our quirky kitten in the Midwest! I've loved tea for as long as I can remember-- in fact, I have vivid memory of being four or five in a tea shop and being mesmerized by all the tea flavors and proclaiming that I "was going to be kind of adult who drank tea, not coffee." A stint living (and tea-drinking my way through) London and twenty-some years later, I'm still channeling that sassy four-year-old and loving my tea habit. When I'm not sipping a cuppa, you'll find me reading, doing yoga, traveling, exploring my own city, planning our wedding and experimenting with different healthful and healing foods in my kitchen.

This post was posted in DAVIDsTEA, Green Tea

Pineapple Orange Cooler from Steeped Tea. . . .

by Mary

There’s something about a fruity tea that just can’t be beat in the summertime. When this bright blend popped up in my sample stash, I knew it was going to the be the perfect leaf to cold brew this summer.

Almost immediately in the water, this one turns bright orange– though I can’t confirm, I’m sure it’s from hibiscus.

Brewed cold, this one turns into the perfect summer treat– fruity, a little tart, citrusy. I can’t detect specifically orange or pineapple (and it’s surprisingly pink for its namesake), but it is definitely fruity, sweet, and delicious. If you were making iced tea for a little one, this would be the perfect caffeine- free choice.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Herbal
Where to Buy:  Steeped Tea
Description

Ingredients: Apple pieces, Rosehip, Orange pieces, Hibiscus petals, Natural flavors.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Mary

Hi there! I'm Mary, a 27-year-old mental health professional living with my fiancé and our quirky kitten in the Midwest! I've loved tea for as long as I can remember-- in fact, I have vivid memory of being four or five in a tea shop and being mesmerized by all the tea flavors and proclaiming that I "was going to be kind of adult who drank tea, not coffee." A stint living (and tea-drinking my way through) London and twenty-some years later, I'm still channeling that sassy four-year-old and loving my tea habit. When I'm not sipping a cuppa, you'll find me reading, doing yoga, traveling, exploring my own city, planning our wedding and experimenting with different healthful and healing foods in my kitchen.

This post was posted in Fruit/Herbal Tisane, Steeped Tea

Sparkling Pineapple from Fava Tea. . . . . .

by Mary

Later last year, my husband and I took an INCREDIBLE honeymoon to Costa Rica. We saw sloths. We hiked through the cloud forest. We slept on a hammock in a rainforest canopy. It. Was. Awesome. But one thing that will stick out in my mind forever and ever til the end of time? THE PINEAPPLE. It was fresh and sweet and abundant every morning, and better than any pineapple I’ve ever had.

So you can imagine since returning, I’ve been on the hunt for any pineapple even remotely as good as our honeymoon treat. I haven’t totally succeeded yet, but it’s been a delicious pursuit. This sweet and fresh herbal tea from Fava makes a great, pineapple-y iced tea. It leans more generically-fruity than specifically pineapple to me, but it has depth of flavor that almost mimics a sweet wine– perfect for a non-alcoholic summery treat. I don’t pick up on anything sparkling, but their name suggestion has got me thinking that this would make an incredible mixer for some plain sparkling water.

Now, sipping this at home? Awesome. Sipping this on a hammock overlooking a beach in Central America? Get me on a plane, stat!

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Herbal
Where to Buy:  Fava Tea
Description

Our Sparkling Pineapple Herbal is like nothing you have ever tasted before! This light, fruity and elegant herbal tea is a delicious pineapple overload! We blend white cornflower blossoms and yellow marigold blossoms which undertone the sweet pineapple with a floral compliment. Delicious hot or iced this is one you’ll want on hand all year long!

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Mary

Hi there! I'm Mary, a 27-year-old mental health professional living with my fiancé and our quirky kitten in the Midwest! I've loved tea for as long as I can remember-- in fact, I have vivid memory of being four or five in a tea shop and being mesmerized by all the tea flavors and proclaiming that I "was going to be kind of adult who drank tea, not coffee." A stint living (and tea-drinking my way through) London and twenty-some years later, I'm still channeling that sassy four-year-old and loving my tea habit. When I'm not sipping a cuppa, you'll find me reading, doing yoga, traveling, exploring my own city, planning our wedding and experimenting with different healthful and healing foods in my kitchen.

This post was posted in Fava Tea Company, Fruit/Herbal Tisane

Lavender Ginger Mint from Yerba Buena Tea. . . . .

by Mary

Well, friends, the plague has hit our home. It feels like we’ve been sick for a thousand years, but it’s probably closer to three weeks. After having no taste for tea (WHO AM I) for the first two weeks, and drowning my coughing sorrows in all the throat coat tea in the tri-city area, I was finally feeling like branching out. This herbal blend from Yerba Buena was everything I was craving.

While all three of these particular herbals have a tendency to be overpowering, in this blend, they work PERFECTLY. Maybe it’s the softer, sweeter spearmint, or the gentle hint of lavender and ginger in the background, this cuppa is just as appropriate for an omg-get-me-some-sick-day tea variety as it would be for a bedtime wind-down. Mmm. Just the ticket.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Herbal
Where to Buy:  Yerba Buena Tea
Description

You’re a butterfly, floating gently above the French countryside, hills of purple lavender rolling for miles in the sun. The minty fresh ginger goodness from a cup of steeping herbal brew wafts up and wakes you from a daydream so joyful you can hardly believe it’s true. Could it be that this is only tea?

 

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Mary

Hi there! I'm Mary, a 27-year-old mental health professional living with my fiancé and our quirky kitten in the Midwest! I've loved tea for as long as I can remember-- in fact, I have vivid memory of being four or five in a tea shop and being mesmerized by all the tea flavors and proclaiming that I "was going to be kind of adult who drank tea, not coffee." A stint living (and tea-drinking my way through) London and twenty-some years later, I'm still channeling that sassy four-year-old and loving my tea habit. When I'm not sipping a cuppa, you'll find me reading, doing yoga, traveling, exploring my own city, planning our wedding and experimenting with different healthful and healing foods in my kitchen.

This post was posted in Fruit/Herbal Tisane, Yerba Buena Tea Co.