SipsBy introduced me to Teeccino, a company that specializes in coffee alternatives and roasted herbal teas. More than just roasted herbal teas, they seem to focus on dandelion herbals teas which is an ingredient I have yet to see before. In addition to dandelion root, Teeccino’s Dandelion Mocha Mint is made of carob, chicory, dates, almonds, natural mocha flavor, cocoa powder, peppermint leaf, figs, and peppermint oil. It is also classified as a “Medium Roast” which again is not something I have seen in reference to tea before.
Flavorwise this is both good and bad. The front of the sip is very herbal and has a lot of chicory flavor, which I do not love but others might enjoy. That chicory then smooths out into the cocoa richness that ends with a cooling burst of peppermint. In the aftertaste, under the peppermint, the chicory lingers. Again, if you like chicory, this could be great but if you are like me and don’t like chicory than it is not so great.
All in all, I am surprised by how rich and flavorful this tea is. I don’t personally love all the flavors in this cup but I think the medium roasting of this tea really gives it the vibrant coffee-like profile that could be great for those who are using tea to try and drink less coffee. I also think the cocoa flavor here is a lot more distinct than I have tasted in a while. In fact, it is one of the better cocoa mint teas I have tried in a while. Not sure what the dandelion contributed here which is disappointing but it was definitely a fun tea to try.
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Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Teeccino
Description
Sip the coolness of peppermint leaves infused into deep roasted dandelion and chicory roots with the lush richness of cocoa powder to give this brew a chocolatey finish
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Kenya ‘Rhino’ Premium White Tea/What-Cha
Many of my tea drinking friends tend to have preferences for black teas. Black teas are usually bolder and richer than other types of teas. In contrast, white teas and green teas are among the least preferred of the tea drinkers I know. These kinds of teas tend to be lighter and more delicate. They are the teas that need to be brewed at cooler temperatures or they risk being burned and bitter. There is an exception to these teas though, the White Rhino.
White Rhino is a type of white tea that is more akin to a black tea. It is more robust and can be brewed more harshly without risk of bitterness. It is richer and more malty than most white teas. What-Cha’s Kenya ‘Rhino’ Premium White Tea is no different.
What-Cha’s Kenya ‘Rhino’ Premium White Tea is brewed in 90C water for 2-3 minutes. The end result is a delicious hybrid between typical white tea and black tea flavor profiles. Zero bitterness or astringency. Slightly caramel, slightly hay, slight stone fruit, slightly melon. A whole lot of natural sweetness and freshness. It truly is the best of both worlds.
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Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: What-Cha
Description
A white tea unique to Kenya which attains its gold and white appearance through a hand-rolling process. It is fuller than typical white teas with smooth sweet stone fruit and melon notes with caramel hints and no trace of bitterness or astringency.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Cherry Rose Green/Elmwood Inn Fine Teas
I have never been a lover of floral teas. Normally rose or lavender or jasmine or any other floral ingredient got me groaning. However, that all changed when my university roommate bought me teas from Camellia Sinensis for the holidays. Among the teas she bought me was a blend called Des Roses et Des Bonbons. It was a cherry rose tea and it was amazing. One of my favorite teas EVER! And it’s sadly been discontinued.
Since trying Des Roses et Des Bonbons, I have been all the more open to rose teas. Since its discontinuation, there has been a hole in my heart (and stash) and I have been in search of a cherry rose tea to fill it. Perhaps Tea Sparrow could end my search with their delivery of Cherry Rose Green by Elmwood Inn Fine Teas in one of my monthly subscription boxes…
Cherry Rose Green is a Japanese Sencha Green Tea blended with rose petals, cherries, and natural cherry flavor. I steeped the tea for 2 minutes in 175F, the temperature my kettle recommends for green teas given the company suggestion was a rather vague “not quite boiling water” instruction.
At first sip I am disappointed to report that this is not the replacement I have been hoping for. Des Roses et Des Bonbons was a sweet candy-like black tea blend. Cherry Rose Green is just that…a green tea. Where I want candy, I am getting nature. It’s not bad, just different.
Cherry Rose Green has a fair quality green base, its a little grassy and slightly bitter at the end of the sip. The rose does provide a natural sweetness that is fresh like the green tea base but brighter. The cherry comes in at the end and is a little medicinal when combined with the bitterness of the base tea.
It is not a bad tea but it is not my favorite either. I think the bar was set too high going into this tea because what I wanted and what I got were two drastically different things. I could see this being a nice transition tea for those trying to make the leap from flavored to plain teas. It has flavor but the base tea is really the star here.
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Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Elmwood Inn Fine Teas
Description
We’ve blended Japanese sencha green tea with rose petals and cherries to give you all the flavor and aroma of a springtime orchard. Try it cold-steeped as well!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Strawberry Crepes with Cilantro Cream/A Quarter To Tea
There is a new craziness in my life and it is called law school. Yay! But also boo! One step closer to my dreams but a whole lot of miles farther from my friends and family. I do have one great comfort from home though and that is my tea. My tea and (almost) all my teaware which is now proudly displayed on a bookshelf for all to see.
With this new chapter of my life beginning, I have been thinking about the past chapters and I think that’s what made this tea, A Quarter to Tea’s Strawberry Crepes with Cilantro Cream, stand out to me. Crepes have always said Montreal to me, my home for so many years during one of the best times in my life…my undergrad. Here’s hoping this tea is as delightful as the crepes I remember…and also that law school ends up being as amazing as my undergrad.
Drinking the tea, it is definitely a tasty tea however it is hard to discern any particular flavor at first. As I continue to drink, I am picking up some of the strawberry, sweet like a puree you’d find in/on a crepe. Though cilantro isn’t fully clear, there is a savory note at the end of the sip that is different but I can’t decide if I like it or not. The oolong seems to be bridging the gap between the sweet strawberry and the savory end note. At the top of the flavor is baked goods that is light and could be crepes but it could also be a puff or a bun or whatever bakery concoction I am told to look for by A Quarter to Tea.
This is a good tea but I don’t know if this stands out. A Quarter to Tea has made some outstanding blends but this seems to be more middle-of-the-pack. I am enjoying what I have and I am glad I have another cup worth of leaf remaining but at the end of the day, I don’t think I would reach for this tea over another tea.
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Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
It appears A Quarter To Tea is taking a short break but check out their FB page for updates.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Ceylon Gem/Teabento
I am currently drinking attempt two of Ceylon Gem by Teabento. Attempt one was brewed and then immediately after the tea finished steeping, I tossed the leaf, washed the infuser, and took the garbage out. I then managed to knock over my 16 ounce mug of freshly brewed Ceylon Gem, sending tea racing towards all the appliances and the power bar situated on the butcher’s block where my kettle now resides. In my panic to save the electronics, I knocked over the mug again. Needless to say, after all of that, my mug was empty and I had Ceylon Gem all over my floor.
So here I am with attempt two. No spillage so far. Fingers crossed it stays that way.
Anyways, I brewed the tea per the recommended steeping parameters of 3 minutes in 190F water. I then let the tea cool a bit to a more easily drinkable temperature.
Teabentos website claims this ceylon flower black tea has a “delicate taste with hints of honey, berries, citrus and caramel” so I was surprised when the tea was quite brisk/tannic. I suppose that is fairly common in Ceylon teas though so I shouldn’t have been too surprised. Looking past the briskness, I am getting honey and some caramel. I am not getting much in the way of berries and other than that briskness being akin to a citrus pithiness, I am not getting much citrus either.
I don’t think I am the intended audience for this tea. The description lured me in with so many of my favorite flavors but at the end of the day, Ceylons tend to be too strong for my tastes and this is no exception. I want smooth. I want dessert-like. This is sweet but it’s definitely more of a pick-me-up/morning tea.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Teabentos
Description
Ceylon Gem is another brilliant black tea from Amba estate, the twin-sister of our lovely elephant CEYLA. Hand-crafted and carefully blended with flowers from the camellia sinensis tea plant, which give the tea a natural mild sweetness. The beautiful look and the delicate taste with hints of honey, berries, citrus and caramel make the tea a true gem. Its delicious nature deserves to be appreciated on its own.