Strawberry Seduction Black Tea from Shanti Tea

by liberteas

strawberry-seduction

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Shanti Tea

Tea Description:

Think of a big jucy strawberry covered in warm liquid chocolate. Sounds delicious, right? Now think of that taste captured in a warm cuppa black tea. Completely irresistible? We thought so too.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Ohhhh YUMmmmm!

Chocolate covered strawberries!

Forgive me a moment as I sit here and indulge in this yummy tea!

The aroma wafting from my teacup is that of chocolate and berry, with notes of earthy black tea.  Shanti Tea has managed to capture the essence of chocolate covered strawberries in this Strawberry Seduction Black Tea quite well.  It not only smells like a strawberry that has just been dunked in chocolate fondue, but, it also tastes like that chocolate enrobed strawberry has been liquefied and stirred into a cup of rich, satisfying black tea.

There is a nice amount of chocolate to this cup (sure, it could use more, but, then, that’s the chocoholic in me talking!  As it is, it has a fair amount of chocolate, but, more chocolate always equals better), and the strawberry notes are not overpowered by the chocolate or the black tea.  There is a good balance of flavors here.

The strawberry is sweet with a barely there tart note at the finish.  (You know that little tingly feeling you get on your tongue after you’ve eaten a fresh, ripe berry?  Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.)  It’s a very flavorful strawberry note, I like that it doesn’t taste like fake strawberry.  The black tea is not overly assertive, but, it is strong enough to stand up and be tasted as I sip this tea.  Strong … but not overpowering in any way.

Overall, this tea is a real winner – if you like chocolate covered strawberries, this is a tea you should try!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Black Tea, Shanti Tea, Tea Company, Type Of Tea

Snow Maple Flavored White Tea from Shanti Tea

by liberteas

snow-mapleTea Information:

Leaf Type:  White

Where to Buy:  Shanti Tea

Tea Description:

A winter tradition for Ottawa residents, sugar bush season! The silver lining to the cold winter months and a great introduction to spring. It is a chance to see the production of pure Canadian maple syrup and enjoy the many delicious uses. Possibly the most memerable part of joining in is the taffy in the snow where children (and people of all ages) get some warm maple syrup to pour into the snow and make their own snow maple taffy.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This Snow Maple Flavored White Tea from Shanti Tea is AWESOME!  I love maple … and it’s been my experience that far too often with maple flavored teas that the maple flavoring just isn’t strong enough to satisfy me.  That is not the case with this maple tea!  This tea brings the maple, and brings it on loud and proud!

Well, as loud and proud as is appropriate for a white tea, which is, in itself a fairly delicate tasting tea.  And the maple flavoring does not overwhelm the tea … but it is strong.  This tea is less about the tea and more about the maple, but, I’m not minding that because I’m loving the way the maple is represented here!

It is sweet and deliciously maple-y!  The white tea gives notes of earthiness to the cup that I think really accentuate the maple notes deliciously.  It tastes warm and delicious – very autumnal!   It is a very crisp and delectable maple tea.

If you like maple teas … this is one you MUST try!  It’s oh-so-good!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Shanti Tea, Tea Company, Type Of Tea, White Tea

Green Elephant Tea from Shanti Tea

by liberteas

green-elephant

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Shanti Tea

Tea Description:

A pleasantly sharp green tea, lively, light sweetness with some astringency.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I am really enjoying this Green Elephant Tea from Shanti Tea.  It’s one of the more unique, pure green teas I’ve encountered in some time, and I’m really liking how unique it is!

The sip starts out relatively smooth and pleasantly sweet.  I was expecting some sharpness to present itself right at the onset, based upon the description, but I didn’t get that at first.  By mid-sip, though, I noticed a slight sharp bite to it, and by the finish, there was a unique spiced note that develops in the aftertaste, imparting a tingly sensation on the tongue that is quite interesting.  It definitely is “lively!”

I really enjoy how this tea develops on the palate.  I love the soft sweetness at the start, it doesn’t prepare you for the surprise you’ll get when you reach mid-sip … that really took me by surprise.  I had expected more of a bite at the start, and when I didn’t get it, I sort of relaxed and enjoyed the sweet tone, and then this sharp, snappy flavor just sort of hits the palate.

Truly an interesting and inspiring cup of tea … I expected no less from Shanti Tea!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Green Tea, Shanti Tea, Tea Company, Type Of Tea

Midnight Magic Green Tea from Shanti Tea

by liberteas

midnight-magic

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Shanti Tea

Tea Description:

It is usually at the strike of midnight that the world begins to unravel into the beautiful and magical creation that it truly is. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this blend while the world’s magical nature reveals itself to you.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

The dry leaf of this Midnight Magic Green Tea from Shanti Tea has a strong floral note with a distinct vegetative note and just a hint of citrus.  Once brewed, the rose remains strong, and the citrus emerges just a bit.

What I’m noticing immediately with this tea, and what I’m liking best about this particular tea from Shanti Tea, is that it is first and foremost a green tea.  That is to say, this tea isn’t a strongly flavored tea where the taste of the tea has to compete with the flavoring.

The vegetative notes of the green tea are strong without tasting sharp.  Yes, it is a grassy note, but its not a bitter grassiness.  It’s actually quite smooth.  It is lightly sweet, but I find that this tea tastes more savory to me than many green teas.  It’s pleasantly brothy and my palate finds it very agreeable.

The rose is a faint note – it is much more distinct a scent than it is a flavor in this cup.  It offers a touch of floral sweetness, but I’m not finding this cup to be overtly floral.  The same is true of the citrus … the orange is delicate … oh, I can certainly taste it and it tastes really nice … but it doesn’t overwhelm the cup.  I find that as I continue to sip, the sweet orange flavor reveals itself more, and by mid-cup, there is a really lovely orange-y flavor that accompanies the grassy notes of the green tea.  The rose never really becomes more than an accent flavor, but it is quite lovely the way it is.

I found this to be an enjoyable cuppa – sweet, flavorful and one I’d be happy to sip on anytime!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Green Tea, Shanti Tea, Tea Company, Type Of Tea

Irish Cream Black Tea from Shanti Tea

by liberteas

Irish_CreamTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Amoda Tea

Tea Description:

The Irish love strong black teas, so be ready! There’s an enticing aroma of cream and a malty, earthy, creamy sweet flavour. It’s brisk and full-bodied. And organic to boot.

Learn more about this tea here.

Learn how to subscribe to Amoda’s Monthly Tea Tasting Box here.

Taster’s Review:

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

This is the first tea that I am sampling from this month’s Amoda Tea Tasting Box.  This box seems to be focused not only on St. Patrick’s Day, but also on spring.

When I first brewed this Irish Cream Black Tea from Shanti Tea, I thought it might be an Irish Breakfast type blend that has been flavored with a vanilla cream flavor … but as it turns out, it is more like an “Irish Cream” flavor … and I taste very subtle hints of cream liqueur along with the overtones of vanilla cream.  YUM!

And this is indeed yummy!  The cream note is well-defined, and it enhances the overall cup really nicely.  It adds a pleasing creamy taste, eliminating the need to add dairy to the cup for that desired creamy note.  The vanilla also accentuates the malty tones of the Assam tea in this blend.  (At least, it certainly TASTES like Assam is in this tea!) The liqueur note is subtle, but, I like how it weaves its way in and out of the sip.

Because of what I believe IS Assam in this blend, it’s important not to over-steep this tea.  I steeped my cup for 2 1/2 minutes and I’d say that is just about perfect.  Any longer and I think this would have a slightly bitter tone, but, as it is, this is tasting just right.  There is a moderate astringency to the cup.

This is an extraordinarily rich cup of tea – a great tea with which to start your day.  Just enough sweetness to it … and a whole lot of gusto!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Black Tea, Shanti Tea, Tea Company, Type Of Tea