I haven’t had too many Yerba Mate Matcha’s to date so I always welcome them when the come along. Recently I sipped on Organic Yerba Mate Matcha Tea from The Kent & Sussex Tea & Coffee Co. In short, it was a pleasant sipping experience.
But let’s expand on that a bit. I took 1 flat teaspoon of matcha to a tea bowl and mix with a couple of drops of water to make a smooth paste then whisked more water to fill my matcha cup. I followed the instructions on the company website. Personally – I could taste a strong Yerba Mate first and foremost. So it tasted like a green grass and green pea type taste to me. It was a little bitter but the bitterness was welcome. According to the company website it’s best for mornings which makes sense because Yerba Mate is a natural energy booster. (More on that below) It does have an intense flavor.
Next time I am thinking about adding a slight squeeze of lemon juice to it. Another way I can see myself drinking this is iced. This was a pleasant sipping experience. I look forward to experimenting more with this and sharing it with the other Sororitea Sisters!
Now let’s get to the additional information about Yerba/Yerba Mate and how it works in this Matcha Blend.
The caffeine found in Yerba is said to provide a coffee-like buzz but without the unpleasant jitters or the crash afterwards. It’s a myth that is does not contain caffeine and the stimulating effects come from a compound called Mateine, In actual fact the term Mateine is actually coffee and it said to have derived from the Mate plant. Yerba also contains theophylline and theobromine similar to cacao, which are natural vasodilators and helps relax blood vessels and is used to combat high blood pressure. Yerba is said to have over 90 per cent more antioxidants than green tea, with immune boosting capabilities, it can also slow aging, reduce stress and insomnia. Using Yerba as as Matcha is a fast, and efficient way of squeezing it in to your every day routine, whether you sprinkle it on your cereal, smoothies or soups or use it as an every day drink. Using the whole Mate leaf will put a spring in your step for the whole day!
All of this info is also mentioned on the company website! I found the additional info wonderful! I LOVE learning!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Yerba Mate/Matcha
Where to Buy: The Kent & Sussex Tea & Coffee Co.
Description
Yerba does contain caffeine! However, the caffeine in Yerba is said to provide a coffee- like buzz but without the unpleasant jitters or the crash afterwards. It is a myth that is does not contain caffeine and the stimulating effects come from a compound called Mateine, In actual fact the term Mateine is actually coffee and it said to have derived from the Mate plant. It also contains theophylline and theobromine similar to cacao, which are natural vasodilators and helps relax blood vessels and is used to combat high blood pressure. Yerba is said to have over 90 per cent more antioxidants then green tea, with immune boosting capabilities, it can also slow ageing, reduce stress and insomnia. Using Yerba as as Matcha is a fast, and efficient way of squeezing it in to your every day routine, whether you sprinkle it on your cereal, smoothies or soups or use it as an every day drink. Using the whole Mate leaf will put a spring in your step for the whole day!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Dragonfruit Fusion Teabags from Simpson and Vail.. . . .
June was National Iced Tea Month so I thought a few Iced Tea attempts were surely in order! To kick things off I brewed some Dragonfuit Fusion Tea Bags from Simpson & Vail.
As many of you know Hibiscus scares me and Rosehips are creeping on that list as well. When I saw how intensely pinkish-red this was after brewing I ASSUMED it was going to be that dreaded tarty-sour Hibiscus I was so frightened of. BUT…I don’t know how S&V did it but it worked well here! It wasn’t overly tart or overly sweet. Perhaps it was the Green Rooibos base that helped even it out?
Ingredients include Organic green rooibos, organic rosehips, organic hibiscus, organic orange peel, organic lemon peel and natural flavors. I will say that I could taste the citrusy peels mentioned in the list of ingredients and that seemed to really contribute to the overall flavor of this tea!
The rebel that I am – I sipped a half of a cup of this tea hot before icing and it was pretty good hot, too!
I have a very large thermo container that I will be traveling with a lot this summer and I can see myself keeping iced teas in there very soon! I’m looking forward to Iced Tea Season. Are you?
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal/Tisane
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Description
Perfect for lazy summer days, this organic herbal blend brews to a ruby red color with a tropical fruit taste. Caffeine free and bursting with flavor, this “tea” will be enjoyed by young and old alike. Add a little sweetener or seltzer to brighten up the taste!
Ingredients: Organic green rooibos, organic rosehips, organic hibiscus, organic orange peel, organic lemon peel and natural flavors.
To brew:
Put teabag in a gallon container. Pour boiling water over the teabag to cover, steep for 5 minutes then remove the bag. Add cold water to fill the container and stir. Refrigerate. Serve over ice as is or with your choice of sweetener.
Iced tea in the refrigerator may turn cloudy. If this should occur, pour a little boiling water into the tea after removal from the refrigerator.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Turmeric Chai from The Whistling Kettle. . . . .
The experience I had recently with Turmeric Chai from The Whistling Kettle is something I would like to share with you today!
‘ This isn’t your average chai! Why? Because it goes above and beyond with the addition of BOTH turmeric and Tulsi (holy basil). A little bit of each of those ingredients goes a long way! You can see and taste the specks of turmeric and the tulsi is just as wonderful! The dynamic duo surely makes this blend of flavors what it is. And it IS wonderful!
This is a blend of black tea, ginger, and cinnamon, Tulsi (known as Holy Basil), and turmeric.
Tulsi has been used for thousands of years for a variety of purposes – from use in Hindu worship and the healing practices of Ayurveda, to flavoring in Thai cuisine and even as an all-natural insect repellent! Perhaps I should look into some tulsi for my kitchen because the fruit flies are crazy this year!
Turmeric is an integral spice in curry and I adore it! It has been found to contain anti-inflammatory compounds and can increase your body’s antioxidant capacity. Curcumin, the compound that’s responsible for the bright yellow hue, is particularly effective in preventing heart attacks, delaying diabetes, and even fighting cancer.
Black pepper, found in this tea, is often used to boost the amount of curcumin (an active compound in turmeric) that is able to be absorbed into the blood.
Of course we aren’t making any claims here because we aren’t doctors – we are just tea loving beings, folks!
If any or all of this intrigues you THIS is a flavor chai you will WANT to try!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Whistling Kettle
Description
What’s better than a piping hot spiced tea? Warm and spicy, this is sure to be a favorite among chai drinkers.
Featuring a blend of black tea, ginger, and cinnamon, this chai incorporates Tulsi (known as Holy Basil) and turmeric for added flavor and health benefits.
Tulsi has been used for thousands of years for a variety of purposes – from use in Hindu worship and the healing practices of Ayurveda, to flavoring in Thai cuisine and even as an all-natural insect repellent!
Turmeric, an integral spice in curry, has been found to contain anti-inflammatory compounds and can increase your body’s antioxidant capacity. Curcumin, the compound that’s responsible for the bright yellow hue, is particularly effective in preventing heart attacks, delaying diabetes, and even fighting cancer.
Black pepper, found in this tea, is often used to boost the amount of curcumin (an active compound in turmeric) that is able to be absorbed into the blood.
Like with all chais – we recommend this with milk and a small amount of sugar to bring out the flavors.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Bright Eyed from Art of Tea. . . .
It’s been TOO LONG since my last cup of tea from Art of Tea. I was so excited to try Bright Eyed from Art of Tea recently and while I was checking out this herbal tisane in their online shop I noticed it’s currently out of stock but still wanted to mention it because it’s pretty awesome!
What is described as an invigorating blend of turmeric, ginger, and other fragrant spices on the Art of Tea website and shop – this tea draws from Ayurvedic principles to energize and awaken your mind and body–all without caffeine! This was exciting to me because ONE – I LOVE Turmeric, TWO – it’s a colorful blend of herbals and I try to eat and drink COLORS because they are full of life, and THREE – I’m trying to incorporate more low caff or no caff teas and tisanes into my daily regimen.
This autumnal tisane brews to a beautiful copper hue and can be enjoyed year round, and at any time of day according to Art of Tea…and I totally agree with this, too! You really can’t go wrong with Bright Eyed from Art of Tea! It offers a nice spice in liquid form in a cup!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Tisane
Where to Buy: Art of Tea
Description
An invigorating blend of turmeric, ginger and other fragrant spices, this tea draws from Ayurvedic principles to energize and awaken your mind and body–all without caffeine! This autumnal tisane brews to a beautiful copper hue and can be enjoyed year round, and at any time of day.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Black Ruby – Taiwan – Sunmoon Lake from Terroir Tea Merchant. . . .
I don’t think I have disliked any of the teas I have tried so far from the Sunmoon Lake region of Taiwan! Lucky for me I had another one to examine! This time it was Black Ruby – Sunmoon Lake – Taiwan – from Terroir Tea Merchant!
Back Ruby from Terroir Tea Merchant is a low altitude black tea of Sun Moon Lake origin. It’s an ECO Cert organic certified legendary black tea with a smooth, sweet, and intriguing flavor. There are specs of cinnamon and mint to provide a natural yin and yang of sorts. It’s malty and sugary…naturally-speaking…there is no added sugar to this…it’s a straight-up black tea, folks!
In the product description it says this tea is Harvest Ruby #18 cultivar, Hand picked in small batches in the summer, Certified Organic, and the processing is Hand picked and natural withering for 12 hours in partial sunlight. Black Ruby is grown in a forested area of central Taiwan under natural conditions through organic cultivation.
This tea offers a sweet, smooth, and rich flavor with a deeper and more complex character that develops as you continue to drink it. As I stated before this pure tea has a natural fragrance of cinnamon and mint. PLUS a distinctive sweet malt flavor that is reminiscent of bourbon or even brandy. There is NO astringency and has a lingering taste that is very pleasing!
According to the company website and product description Black Ruby is unique and versatile because it can be enjoyed with any meal at any time of the day. Foods with spices like cinnamon and mint would complement the flavor profile of the tea. For more specific food pairings they suggest a cinnamon bun or pancakes with maple syrup for breakfast or a decadent chocolate mousse served in a brandy snap basket to enhance the tea’s sweet malt flavors.
I LOVE that they offer suggestions and pairing with this tea! What a great all around tea experience!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Terroir Tea Merchant
Description
ECO Cert organic certified legendary black tea with a smooth, sweet and intriguing cinnamon and mint flavour. This tea is guaranteed to excite even the most jaded taste buds.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!