This is my first tea from this company! Looking at their website, I see the reason for their name. Many of their teas are available with different labeling, and there are some really lovely options here. In addition, you can choose a tea and request custom labeling for an event or for a company – such possibilities!
This tea promises to be a smooth, Japanese pan-fired Sencha tea. Mine is in a sachet and I see some flat leaves about two centimeters long as well as a bit of crumble and dust, probably from its rough transit to my house while out of its tin. I feel sure the leaves in the tin were quite whole when the tea was received by the person who ordered it!
There were no instructions on the website as to steeping parameters so I used my usual green tea process – 175F for three minutes.
The resulting liquor is quite pale but fragrant. My first impression is of roasted chestnuts, the classic pan-fired green taste to me. It is lively and brisk without astringency. The flavor lingers well after the sip. The briskness dries the tongue and makes you reach for more, and I notice the initial roasted nut flavor shifted to a quick tingle and then a sweetness rising up into the whole mouth. This lingers for quite a while.
Eager for more, I resteeped my sachet. The liquor is about the same color. The flavor is nearly identical with perhaps a lighter roasted nut taste up front and even a little more sweetness, but that could be simply building the longer I drink this.
If you are a fan of pan-fired Japanese tea, you may want to give this one a try!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: The Tea Can Company
Description
Refreshing, smooth and high in antioxidants. Classically Japanese, sencha green tea is pan-fired for a taste that is smooth, refined and easy on the palette. With a refreshing aroma and lovely true green color, this tea is rich in antioxidants that promote well being.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Smart Tea from Wild Leaf Active Teas. . . .
I am a sucker for a tea with a magical claim, friends.
This one is a delightful green, with hints of berry and mint at the forefront. Now, I’ll be honest– I may have brewed this one up a bit too hot, as I hadn’t realized it was a green until after my water went a’boilin’. (Not my– wait for it– *smart*est moment, but I digress.)
But regardless, it was everything I love greens to be– fruity, light, grassy– and nothing I dislike– bitter, or vegetal.
Did it make me any smarter?
I can’t say for sure (and my flub on the boiling temp would surely suggest otherwise), but it was great afternoon sipping, and gave me just enough pep to make it through til the end of the day.
If I’m smart enough to know what’s good for me, I’ll be brewing this one again!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Wild Leaf
Description
Channel your inner Einstein with mental stimulating Ginkgo Biloba, Peppermint and Gotu Kola. Whether you need to tackle a job interview, a test or just figure out what’s for dinner, drink this minty flavored tea to bring out the most brilliant you!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Apple Delicious from Love Some Tea. . . .
The short of it: They weren’t lying!
This was a very pleasing, delicious cup of tea to enjoy on a rainy fall day! The green tea made the perfect pairing for the mild and smooth apple flavor. The apple was strong enough that I did not have to imagine it was there, but subtle enough that the smoothness of the green tea came through. There was a very mild tang at the end of each sip. The website (www.lovesometea.com) describes the tea as having ginger, strawberry, cherry and cranberry notes in addition to the apple. The after note of tartness I would contribute to the cranberry and ginger, but neither are overwhelming enough to overpower the apple and green tea flavors. The strawberry was a bit to subtle for my palate to pickup. The blend is a beautiful mix, with moderate sized fruit pieces visible within. It is very possible that my sample size didn’t contain strawberry pieces (I could see cranberry and apple easily), and I suspect that if you didn’t’ mix the blend before each cup, you’d have a slightly new adventure each go around.
All in all: I’d stock this as a good comfort tea, and name it as my favorite apple flavored tea yet.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Love Some Tea
Description
Green Tea Flavored with deep notes Ginger and Fruits including: strawberry, cherries, cranberry, and apple.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
LiberTEAS is Back with Another Tea Box Express Review!
I’m back with a new box (the March box) from Tea Box Express. When I think of March, I think of Easter (can’t help that, even though Easter is the 1st day of April this year, Easter stuff is still everywhere I go) and I think of St. Patrick’s Day. I don’t really think of Earl Grey – even though Earl Grey is a classic fave of mine. I absolutely ADORE bergamot – so long as it’s done correctly, mind you! I have had my share of Earl Grey gone wrong (perhaps even more than my share), but we’re not here to talk about that today. Today, we’re talking the Tea Box Express for March!
This box seems to be all about the Earl! It starts with a slight twist on the classic tea – with Green Earl Grey from BeauTea Studio on Etsy – an online shop that offers not only organic loose leaf tea but also some gorgeous vintage teacups and handcrafted botanical skincare and soy candles – which leads to the second item in this month’s box: an Earl Grey Lotion Bar – also from BeauTEA Studio! Even more than the tea, I love this bar. It smells amazing (because – bergamot!) and it feels even more amazing when smoothed over my skin. I tend to get very dry hands and a quick swipe of this bar over my hands leaves them feeling smooth and silky without them feeling wet or greasy. And the best thing about the bar is it’s portability, it makes this the perfect lotion to tuck inside my purse without worry that it’ll accidentally open and ‘moisturize’ the entire contents of my purse. So right into my purse it goes!
I wish I could say that I’m just as excited about the Green Earl Grey tea (also from BeauTEA Studio). In my many years as a ‘tea taster’ and reviewer, it’s been my experience that when green tea is flavored with bergamot, it results in a somewhat perfume-ish taste. Understandable, I suppose, since bergamot tends to be a favorite scent amongst those that manufacture fragrances – but as delightful as bergamot is to smell, I don’t know anyone who wants to actually drink perfume. The fragrance is where this tea shines: it smells amazing! But to my palate, the flavor ends up tasting too much of perfume and not enough of tea for my liking. Perhaps it is – as I alluded to earlier – the green tea base. Because green tea tends to have a softer, lighter flavor than a black tea base, the perfume-y qualities of the bergamot tend to come forward a lot more. This just isn’t working for me at all – I couldn’t even finish the cup. I’m sure that there are those that probably love this stuff – me, not so much.
The last three items in this month’s box are not so much “Earl Grey” as they are just fun! There’s a small packet of brown rock sugar from Tea & Spice Merchants along with a pair of sugar tongs to sweeten the tea. The tongs are adorable – but unfortunately, I don’t have a link on them. Finally, as a sweet treat to accompany the tea, there’s Lemon Lavender Chocolate Bark from Ticket Chocolate. While this chocolate is delicious, I was a little disappointed (at least initially) that the curator of this box didn’t go the extra mile and seek out some type of Earl Grey flavored chocolate – hey, I know they’re out there because I’ve indulged once or twice! But that disappointment didn’t last long because – wow! This is an amazing bit of chocolate! The chocolate is rich and creamy with light notes of lemon and lavender. This chocolate is just the *ticket*.
Overall, I’m happy with the contents of this month’ box even if the tea didn’t exactly do it for me. I had thought that I might end the subscription after the initial 3 months, but I might keep it going because I’ve been pretty happy with everything (with a few exceptions) that I’ve received from Tea Box Express thus far.
Here’s the scoop!
What is it: A subscription box from Tea Box Express
Where to Buy: Tea Box Express
Description: Each month brings a new selection of whole leaf tea and artisan treats.
Daily Support from Lipton . . . .
Dear Lipton, I’m sorry.
Wait, let me back up. I’m sorry that I mostly just kind of ignore you. I’m sorry that I have relegated you to the back of my brain where you barely register as tea (for the most part. DON’T HATE ME, sweet tea lovers!). Listen– it’s true that you’ve been pretty dusty and weak for most of my life. But I’m a woman who can admit when she’s been wrong: your new wellness teas are LEGIT.
I’ve tried a few of these bagged beauties before (I particularly like the green tea with grapefruit one), but the daily support tea was new to me. Supposedly a green tea base with turmeric, Echinacea, and ginger, this little blend has ALL of the things I love so much in a great herbal blend, with just a tiny kick of caffeination from the green tea.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m still not seeing ANY full leaves in this bag– it’s also kind of like tea dust. BUT– the flavors here are so on point. It’s got just a hint of earthy spice from the turmeric and ginger, but a lingering hint of something almost-lemony is just a delightful balance to the brew.
I’ve admitted before that I love to keep bagged tea at my desk at work just for ease of brew (I don’t always have the time or ability to pull out all the loose-leaf stops here), and this is yet another tea that perfectly fits into this category. A great mid-day pick-me-up with fantastic flavors, portable and surprisingly complex for a company I’d previously, um, well– ignored.
I’m sorry, Lipton. Let’s start again. Preferably with another cup of this tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Lipton
Description
An excellent source of vitamin C, this herbal infusion helps support your body’s natural defenses*. Features turmeric, Echinacea and ginger.