A few weeks ago, my husband and I were hit by the literal plague (okay, fine– influenza. But there was a moment there that I was certain it was the end for me. #dramaqueen). After the first week or so of having no taste for tea (who am I?!), I finally started to feel well enough again to crave my favorite, comforting hot treat. A fresh stash of tea samples arrived at my front door, with this one sitting tantalizingly right on top. My husband loves chamomile when he’s sick, and I love a tea with a fun twist, so I knew this one would be perfect to cure our sick day blues.
Wise Ape’s teas hit the sweet spot of what I love in a good herbal (or traditional tea) blend– interesting, health-supportive herbs, but not at the expense of great flavor. Too often, herbal teas can fall into the all-the-same category– this one certainly did not. Packed with great, sleep-supportive herbs like valerian root, chamomile and skullcap, this blend still boasted deliciously creamy, dreamy orange flavors that felt like heaven on my sick-y throat. The perfect cup to wind down with (and clear those lingering flu-y sinuses) while still feeling like a little treat, this one was a total hit for both my coffee-loving hubs and myself.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Wise Ape Tea Co.
Description
A dreamy blend of chamomile flowers with subtle hints of orange and cream, combined with adaptogenic super-herbs to support your nightly zen. This relaxing elixir is designed to calm the mind, ease the body, and help you sink into a restorative night’s sleep.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Chocolate Hustle from Wise Ape. . . . .
My introduction to Wise Ape’s Chocolate Hustle tea was a sister suggesting we brew it cold, in coconut milk… all of which I had no idea was even possible but wow, such a great idea for lazy mornings!!! This has since overturned my ugh totally “basic” hot water regimen. I was tempted this morning to liven up my bland, healthy cereal by putting it in here, but the scientist in me needed to have a control group first before I went too far down the rabbit hole testing the bounds of FLAVOR! (Cue that stoned cook from Blake Lively’s movie, Acceptance.)
Overnight the creamy liquid turned cocoa colored, though I saw no obvious powders in the sachet, a la the matcha plus tea leaves trend. It also definitely smells like chocolate but tastes more earthy with a hint of true mint. Oh, it’s a maté blend, that explains it. I bet hot brewed in milk would perk up more flavor. The sweet coconut taste seems to overpower some of the other flavors, let’s see what else is in here. Oh chicory goodness! Hmmm ashwagandha… but I didn’t dislike it like other mind boosting teas. Stevia?! That normally tastes “off” with chocolate recipes but I don’t notice that in this concoction.
I can’t say I necessarily felt Planet of the Apes wiser, but it did boost my alertness during my carb-coma 3 hour block of post-lunch Biology slide shows! I’m learning our bodies can be unpredictable, but fortunately advances in science can help us live full, worthwhile lives. Another great note: A portion of their profits is donated to the brain tumor society. I HIGHLY recommend trying this tea, and that’s not the cook from Acceptance talking again.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Yerba Maté
Where to Buy: Wise Ape
Roasted yerba mate tea with hints of chocolate and mint, blended together with natural brain boosting herbs. Designed to heighten your focus, energy, and clarity.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Sencha Green Tea Mini Cube from Cérémonie Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Cérémonie Tea
Tea Description:
Our Signature Cérémonie Mini Cubes are unique tea experiences in individually wrapped, beautifully crafted cubes, combining enchanting flavors with unique design. The distinctive cube packaging holds a mesh tea sachet that is bursting with the bold taste of whole leaf tea, fine herbs and spices.
Cérémonie cubes convey luxury and attention to design in boutique hotels, fine dining establishments and quality catering venues worldwide.
Available in 80 count cartons.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Today I’m reviewing the Sencha Green Tea Mini Cube from Cérémonie Tea. I’m not one to get overly enthused about a bagged tea but this one is different. Cérémonie Tea offers what they refer to as mini cubes and I find they are a wonderfully functional tea to add to any collection. The mini cubes are made up of a mesh tea sachet and some of their popular look leaf tea offerings…in this case…Sencha Green Tea Mini Cube from Cérémonie Tea.
I received one of the gift sets from the company and I have to say the design of it alone intrigued me. I know I shouldn’t judge a tea by its packaging but this was lovely to see and taste!
The taste of this mini cube was nothing less than impressive, too! I seriously forgot I was sipping on a mini cube the tea quality was so good! I figured sencha was the perfect one to put to the test, too! Most bagged green teas really turn me off but this one was a real winner! It was quite fresh, wasn’t bitter, and reminiscent of a greener green tea, sweet peas, and floral notes.
If you are looking for a delicious green tea that is both tasty AND functional try Sencha Green Tea Mini Cube from Cérémonie Tea.
Lemon Elation Yerba Mate from Guayaki
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Yerba Mate
Where to Buy: Guayaki
Tea Description:
Lemon Elation has a brisk lemony mate flavor. It’s easy drinking and clean tasting, and not too sweet.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Well, this is the third and final canned Guayaki Yerba Mate drink I picked up.
I was excited about this one; one of my favourite mate blends is a citrus based one so out of the three flavours I thought that this was the one that would be my favourite. Obviously I should have read the ingredients though; had I I’m sure I would have had much different preconceptions. Instead I got to taste the ingredients first – and it was definitely a shock.
Apparently this uses roasted mate and, of all things, ginger. Now, ginger and lemon is a pretty common pairing so I know I’m in the minority for disliking it – ultimately that boils down to my own personal distaste for anything with a strong ginger flavour. And man was it strong; arguably stronger than the lemon for which the drink was named after! As well, I don’t like the pairing of roasted mate with lemon; for me a green pairing with a brighter grassier earth tone is more preferable. The lemon also tasted kind of like furniture cleaner to me – I was very turned off.
That said, I shared the portion of the can which I could not finish with a friend who, while never having tried yerba mate before, absolutely loves lemon and ginger and she really enjoyed the whole thing; which again goes to point out that it’s not that this is a bad tea it’s just that it’s composed of ingredients that I personally do not really like at all.
As a whole (out of the three flavors I purchased), I think that Revel Berry was my favourite and the one that would most widely appeal to people. I’m happy I took the time to explore these tisanes though, and I hope that if these become more widely available that will lead to a more mainstream knowledge of yerba mate. Because let’s face it, as a ‘hardcore’ tea nerd there’s never enough people to talk tea with.
Revel Berry Yerba Mate from Guayaki
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Yerba Mate
Where to Buy: Guayaki
Tea Description:
Revel Berry has a delicious raspberry and blackberry flavor. It’s easy drinking and clean tasting, and not too sweet.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
For those who don’t know, I work in a grocery store. It’s not uncommon for us to start carrying different, less common drinks but it is uncommon for them to be tea-related so when we picked up some of this brand’s flavors of iced/canned Yerba Mate I got really excited! I knew I’d seen at least one of this brand’s products reviewed on Steepster so I took the plunge and a bought a can of each flavor to try out.
I don’t know what I expected when I tried this one, maybe a little more yerba mate flavour? But this threw me off a little bit; it definitely tastes distinctly of raspberry and even has a tinge of sharper tartness however I can’t taste anything specifically blackberry flavoured. If anything, I almost want to say there’s more of a blueberry flavor present. Regardless, this does seem pretty watered down and I’m missing any distinctly earthy notes from the yerba mate – which is kind of the best part of mate other than the caffeine. I absolutely appreciate that this is not overly sweet though!
I don’t know if I’d personally buy this one again because I know I enjoy a stronger Yerba Mate flavour but I do look forward to trying the other two flavours I picked up and I’m all for the idea of this if it gets a more “mainstream” consumer experiencing Yerba Mate – which I know it’s been doing at work since some my coworkers have taken to drinking this during break instead of other popular and more “conventional” energy drinks. Plus, the convenience of it being canned it always a plus.