There is definitely no mistaking that I don’t love banana- banana bread, banana tea, banana pancakes, banana smoothies. I just love bananas! I actually made chocolate covered bananas the other day. I dipped them in milk chocolate and covered them with crumbled graham crackers, crushed peanuts, sprinkles, chocolate chips, and shredded coconut. They were really really good. Sometimes I don’t always have the time to freeze, coat, and roll out chocolate covered bananas. Naturally, tea would be the next best option! You can always rely on 52 Teas for creativity and I know Anne (the mad tea artist at 52 Teas) is a huge fan of banana tea, so I had high expectations for this one.
My expectations were certainly met! This tea was a honey bush blend. I definitely prefer honey bush to rooibos, any day. It does still have a nice nuttiness to it though, just isn’t as woodsy or earthy. The nuttiness of the honey bush almost gave the illusion that this was more of a chocolate covered banana rolled-in-pecans tea. Either way, its delicious. The chocolate adds a creamy component and of course- the taste of chocolate! And who doesn’t like chocolate? The banana flavor is present but not overpowering or artificial. It is quite delicious and realistic!
I would definitely recommend this blend. I know not everyone is a fan of banana flavor, but even if you’re not I would suggest you try this. It is really good. A great after-dinner treat!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This blend is longer available but click below for blends that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Smooth Strawberry Dream from Tea Gschwender. . . .
This honeybush blend has caramel and strawberry in it. Can you say “nom nom nom”? Try it. Say “nom nom nom.” I will not continue this review until you do.
Okay, I’m now going to assume you’ve done it. I trust you.
This is a vibrant, creamy confection that tastes like frozen yogurt. Like a “strawberry cheesecake” flavored frozen yogurt. The effect is doubled if you ice your cup.
This blend tastes like it should be loaded with calories, but I don’t think tea comes with calories.* So you have a great dessert substitute right here. If you don’t think about it too hard, you’ll feel the same joy.
*Listen, Weight Watchers says tea is free unless you add other stuff to it. Oprah would not lie to us. She loves us all.
I’m probably going to buy a vat of this and drink it iced whenever I want to throw junk food down my gullet. I don’t know how successful it’ll be, but I need to try.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: Tea Gschwender
Description
Discover new depths of sweetness. Caramel and strawberry swirl effortlessly with South African honeybush for a guilt and caffeine free dessert blend.
Ingredients: Honeybush tea from Africa, caramel bits, flavor, strawberry pieces and strawberry leaves.
*Contains lactose.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Pumpkin Chipotle Cream Honeybush Tea from A Quarter To Tea. . . .
Talk about being SURPRISED and HAPPY! From what I can see THIS Pumpkin Chipotle Cream Honeybush Tea from A Quarter To Tea appears to be VEGAN! Woot! I have been eyeballing some of their teas but they seem to contain dairy (butter) in most of them. This one doesn’t! YAY!
According to their website this contains: honeybush tea, cocoa nibs, apple pieces, rose hips, red peppercorn, pumpkin mini sprinkles (icing sugar (vegan), modified corn starch, corn starch, fractionated palm kernel oil, cellulose gum, soya lecithin, vanillin, polysorbate 60), cinnamon bark, orange peel, cloves, safflower, natural flavors.
I will say that the TASTE is comparable to a flavored Chai. So if you like Chai – Pumpkin Chipotle Cream Honeybush Tea from A Quarter To Tea – will probably be right up your alley!
The spices are nicely done. They are of medium strength but linger for quite a while. The cocoa nibs are subtle but important to the overall flavor. The vegan candies make this a bit on the sweet side. The vanilla flavors – of course give it a curved creamy edge.
It’s hard to believe this is ‘just a honeybush’. There flavors are so lovely you almost forget about what is being used for the base. This was a neat surprise and nicely done flavored tisane!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honebush
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
Smoky and spicy with just a touch of lapsang, but ultimately sweet and pumpkin-y with plenty of custard notes. Definitely brings flavor to the tea party.
If you liked Smoky Sweet Potato Pie last year, you’ll definitely like this as well.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Creme Brulee from The Toni Glass Collection. . . . .
My sister went to South Africa for her honeymoon and since my family is a bunch of enablers who like to feed my addiction, she, of course, brought me back tea. However, since she does not drink tea at all, she doesn’t really know what to get so she often goes the safe route and gets variety packs. I am definitely not complaining about that.
This tea was one of sixteen Toni Glass teas she brought home. The variety pack she gave me is mostly simple flavors such as Earl Grey or Rooibos and each silken teabag is individually packaged in adorable little boxes. If nothing else, the collection is fun to look at – colorful and bright.
I grabbed this tea because I wanted sweet. This IS sweet but more honey sweet than sugary custard and I think that is because of the base tea. It is also a little bit peppery and woody, again because of the base tea. Unfortunately, I find myself searching for what makes this creme brulee. I am getting a hint of vanilla if I focus, but I am also getting cinnamon, which seems out of place. I just find myself wanting more. More creme. More brulee. More flavor.
So this one didn’t really work for me as I hoped it might but I have 15 other varieties to try and I am sure I will find at least one winner in the mix.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Flavored Honeybush
Where to Buy: Toni Glass Collection
Description
This exceptionally smooth an decadent blend is a remarkable infusion of the naturally sweet notes of local Honeybush and a gorgeous blend of our warm rich vanilla. A true taste sensation…once you’ve tasted it, there is no going back!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Vanilla Creme from Teavana. . . . A Honeybush Blend
Every August in my childhood, my family would spend a week or two at my grandparents’ cabin in the north woods of Wisconsin. My sisters and I would spend days catching sand toads, splashing in the river, hiking through pine forests, gorging ourselves on cheese curds & ice cream, and staying up way too late to stargaze and– even more importantly (to 6-year-old Mary), make s’mores.
I was obsessed with roasting the perfect marshmallow– brown and toasty on the outside, nice and gooey on the inside. Never burnt (yuck)– those got immediately relegated to my dad’s plate, undiscerning-marshmallow-eater that he was. I think I torched my marshmallows more than I got them that perfect, brown-and-toasted consistency, but it was always a celebration when I nailed it.
And this tea, simple and unassuming thought it may be, perfectly captures that roasty brown, toasted marshmallow flavor of my youth. Slightly sweet vanilla, creamy and understated with hust a touch of woodiness, it’s balanced and tasty without being overdone. With just a little milk and a touch of honey, it’s a decadent (and caffeine-free) treat worthy of any campfire.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal/Honeybush
Where to Buy: Teavana
Description
Indulge in dessert-inspired sweetness that brings out the wild honeybush and tames it into a creamy confection. The South African honeybush is grown in the wild and carries soft, clear honey tones when it’s blended with sweet vanilla beans. The result is a smooth, warm and friendly, creamy dessert tisane.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
