I know we all know this…but…COVID has changed EVERYTHING. One of the few things I can still find welcoming, familiar, understanding, and comforting is a great cuppa tea.
For this review – I have decided to jump back in the ring with Yorkshire Harrogate from Cup of CommuniTea (formerly TeaLeafs in Williamsville, NY).
The origin of Yorkshire Harrogate – a bold black tea – is from regions in India, Kenya, and China. It has a RICH fullness and flavor to it that also offers a slight astringency.
BOLD…I NEED BOLD these days. I need a solid start to my day. I need a good, swift kick in the pants to continue many of these days. Yorkshire Harrogate from Cup of CommuniTea.
I long for the day when this virus is over. When people don’t have to worry about whether or not they are going to ‘get it’ or ‘pass it on to a loved one’. When we can function like we used to – eventho I think there will be a ‘new normal’ but whatever that ‘new normal’ might be. I can’t wait to get out and about again. When I can travel to some of my favorite tea shops again and discover new ones, too. For now, a simple yet flavorful tea is where I can find normalcy in something.
Another hope I have – is to hear back from Cup of CommuniTea and see if I might be able to do an interview about the name change and business as a whole. In the meantime, I will continue to write reviews of their amazing tea!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Cup of Communitea
Description
Origin: India, Kenya, China Ingredients: Black tea Rich fullness and flavor. A light astringent cup becomes golden bright with milk
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Almond Papaya/Dollar Tea Club -Just Tea-Zen
This tea smells so delicious when you open the package! Even though I associate papaya with summer weather and tropical vibes, this tea has such a warm aroma. It’s totally acceptable as a Fall tea!
This tea reminds me of trail mix. The aroma and flavor have that nutty-fruity flavor combo that you find in a good quality trail mix with the big chunks of dried fruit. I do love a good trail mix!
Not every flavor blends will with rooibos, but this one is perfectly balanced. Rooibos has a mild sweetness and a slight nutty flavor with just a hint of vanilla; all perfect flavors to blend with almond and papaya.
If you haven’t checked out Dollar Tea Club, give them a try. It’s a convenient and inexpensive way to explore the world of tea and try new tea types and flavors. Watch for upcoming reviews on a couple of their other blends!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Dollar Tea Club
Description
Almond Papaya, What a tea! Premium Moroccan almonds give the German inspired marzipan a magnificent boost. Rooibos and marzipan were meant for each other.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Chaga Mushroom Tea/Life of Genki -Just Tea-Zen
That’s right, mushrooms…in your tea cup. Don’t get excited; it’s not THAT kind of mushroom, LOL!
I’ve actually tried chaga tea before, but it was in a blend with cacao and it was very bitter. So, I have to admit, I was a little skeptical when I was brewing this tea. I was fully expecting earthy, bitter,….dirt.
I brewed and steeped exactly as the directions recommended. Twenty minute steep! It’s dark and there’s just a hint of earthy essence.
Ready? IT’S SO GOOD! I took a couple sips before I added anything. At first, it reminded me of a very mild coffee. Great flavor, but I’m not in love with plain, black coffee. The package suggests honey or maple syrup so, about a half teaspoon of my favorite honey and…something magical happened: now it tastes like tea! Just a standard, good old fashioned, black tea. I could still smell just the slightest hint of coffee and there was a very mild earthiness. Not bitter, not bold, just a very nice cup of tea; smooth and delicious. I can’t wait to brew another cup!
If you’ve never heard of chaga, do some research on these magic mushrooms. The list of health benefits is pretty impressive and the vitamin and mineral content puts these mushrooms high on the superfoods list. They are believed to lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, and even fight cancer! I’m not doctor so, always check with your own physician before trying alternatives.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Life of Genki
DescriptionLearn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Organic Gold Ceylon/Teakruthi -skysamurai
A bit underwhelmed by this one at first. My first go at it was in my favorite mug, water at 140, steeped for around 2 minutes. Definitely not enough time.
Then tried again at around 4 minutes. Still not quite what I was hoping for… Ah. But wait. As the taste of my cereal subsided the flavor of the tea truly came out.
It is a true Ceylon with its slight tannic after taste. Good woody and slightly earthy notes. Second round will be 150 F in a smaller glass cup.
Change in temp hasn’t affected it as much as I was hoping. A bit more tannic, which is to be expected in the second brew of a CTC tea.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Teakruthi
Description
Savour the taste of a deliciously strong flavoured tea with this Organic Broken Orange Pekoe Special (BOPSP). This single estate tea high grown in the Dimbulla region which has been producing premium quality teas since the 19th century. The certified organic tea is grown using traditional organic-only fertilisers and labour-intensive yet traditional methods of harvesting where the growers’ hand pluck only the bud and top two tender leaves, giving you the finest quality of tea grown here. The tea is processed to give you a strong flavoured brew that has a deep amber brownish-gold colour and woody, slightly burnt after notes.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Hot Mama Jama/Bird and Blend Tea Co -variaTEA
The weather is quickly cooling down and though I am glad to see the humid days behind me, I am going to miss not having to walk a half hour in the freezing wind to get to/from campus. In light of this conflict over the weather, I went with a hot/spicy tea that also has a tropical vibe, Hot Mama Jama by Bird and Blend Tea Co.
This tea is a Chinese green tea blended with lemongrass, lime leaves and pieces (large pieces at that), chili seeds, hibiscus, rosehip, apple pieces, orange peel, passion fruit pieces, mango pieces, and flavoring. I steeped it for 3 mins in 175F water and I am drinking it plain.
The chili has a strong scent as I lift the mug to take a sip and though the flavor is definitely present in the cup, I wouldn’t say this tea is particularly spicy. Instead I get the flavor of chili upfront and a tiny bit of warmth in the back of my throat throughout the sip. That chili flavor melts into a (mostly tropical) fruity flavor that comes out exceptionally sweet in contrast. Sweet but not cloying. The lemongrass can be more prominent than I like at times but mostly there is just a bright citrus note thanks to the lime and orange. I also definitely get a lot of mango with some bursts of passion fruit here and there. The foundation flavor here keeping everything grounded and underlying the entire sip is the familiar hibiscus/rosehip flavor that is found in so many fruity teas/tisanes. Thankfully it is not strong here as it typically is.
This makes me think of a mango sprinkled with chili powder as the two flavors are both present and compliment each other just as well in tea form as they do when enjoying that treat. With that said, this isn’t necessarily the highest quality tea or the best tea but it is unique and tasty. It is the type of tea that I can enjoy every now and then because it is something different than my usual go-tos.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Bird and Blend Tea Co
Description
Turn up the chilli tea heat and join the tropical carnival with a cup of Hot Mama Jama chilli green tea. But be warned… this blazing remix of refreshing reggae limes and calypso chilli beats will have your taste buds dancing all night long.
Hot Mama Jama is well-loved by our fans in the Brighton Gospel Choir for its amazing abilities to soothe a sore throat. It is the ultimate sore throat tea and when you mix it up with lemon and honey, see sore throat tea recipe it is the best natural remedy for a sore throat that you can find!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
