Being honest, i’m scared of molasses. I use it when i’m baking gingerbread, but I just refuse to eat it on its own. I don’t know how some people just pour it over their pancakes, I feel like it smells salty and weird and it really just freaks me out. So when I saw the name of this blend I totally held off on trying it. Although, the blend did smell like spice cookies….so I decided to give it a try anyways.
I could really smell the honeybush once this tea was steeped. I absolutely love honeybush and I actually tend to favor it over rooibos. I feel like it is so much sweeter and less woodsy tasting. Its a bit hard to describe but once you’ve tried it a few times, you’ll be able to point it out without even knowing that its in the tea. The sweet/honey/nutty flavor of the honeybush really blended well with the spices and cookie flavor in this tea. I can’t really speak on how accurate the molasses flavor in here is because I’ve never actually tasted molasses on its own, only in cookies or gingerbread.
I do know, however, that the flavor of honeybush was very strong here, and the spices and cookie/vanilla flavor (and the molasses) was very much in the background. That’s not to say that this wasn’t still enjoyable, because it was. I just think that the honeybush was the most dominant flavor here. I added a little agave, and then a little more, and I definitely think that that helped bring out the cookie flavor and spices flavor a bit.
Either way, if you like honeybush I think that you would find it difficult to not enjoy this blend. I do wish the spice cookie flavor was a little stronger but this was still a yummy blend.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This blend is no longer available but click below for blends that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Mary Enjoys Cease & Desist from 52Teas. . . . .
With a name like Cease & Desist, I knew this tea had to have a good story. And with a company like 52 Teas? I knew it had to be a good tea!
Apparently, this tea was originally named after a favorite alcoholic horchata-esque treat (that rhymes with Thumb-chata), but after being served with a cease & desist letter, the name had to be changed. Lo and behold! We’re left with this tasty, cheekily-named delightful genmaicha.
First things first: this tea is a treat to brew. Big green leaves and toasty popped rice, it was ever-so-fragrant– my mouth was watering on the smell alone. I’ll admit I took a sip of it straight and while it was tasty, I knew a bit of cream + sweet could really take it to that next, crumb-chata level of deliciousness. Sure enough, a touch of coconut milk + maple syrup and I couldn’t slurp up this sweet, cinnamon-y treat quickly enough. My only note is that this one didn’t quite hit on the alcoholic horchata notes for me as much as it did straight-up milk-of-Cinnamon Toast Crunch. (Or in keeping with brand-name avoidance: Flinnamon Boast Lunch. Maybe?)
I’d wager that this is even better than its original intention– the flavors were spot on breakfast cereal for me, and I loved every second of it. I think this probably has something to do with the addition of the toasty popped rice making it a genmaicha that really pushed those cereal-y notes over the top.
Fun flavors and a touch of anti-establishmentarianism? Count me in.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Sophia Takes On Watermelon Houjicha from 52Teas. . . .
I love watermelon, especially watermelon slush and especially in the summertime! So, when I saw Watermelon Houjicha by 52 Teas in my sample box I was psyched. I have never had a watermelon flavored tea before. I have, however, had houjicha before and I love it. Houjicha generally has a very warm and toasty flavor to it. It is a very comforting green tea. I was curious to see how that would work with watermelon flavor.
I’m not sure if I would say that the smell of the dry leaf or steeped liquid was “watermelon”. I think that what I could smell most was the houjicha, that toasty and comforting scent. When it comes to taste, though, wow on watermelon! I was actually wondering how the watermelon flavor would translate and if it would taste similar to a jolly rancher or lollipop. Actually, it wasn’t tart like candy at all! In fact, I would say that it was pretty realistic! I swear it tastes like I just took a bite out of a watermelon slice, seeds and all!
As if someone squeeze a watermelon over my teacup. . . . . . .
While the flavor was spot on and completely realistic, I don’t know if I would say that houjicha was a good base. I think I would prefer this tea if it was a nice sencha green tea as the base instead of houjicha. Either way, I will finish my sample in hopeful wait of hot summer days when I can sit outside by the pool and eat some watermelon slush! Until then, watermelon houjicha from 52 teas will be in my cup!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
Tea Description: I’m not sure exactly what inspired me to combine the distinctive flavor of of Houjicha with the essence of watermelon except for, perhaps, hearing from customers that a) I don’t make enough flavored Houjichas and b) I don’t make enough watermelon flavored teas. So I guess I thought – why not combine them?
And really, why not? The warm, toasty flavor of the Houjicha may not seem like a natural pairing with the sweet, luscious notes of watermelon but I’m enjoying the flavor combination. It’s definitely toasty but the watermelon is there too and it has adds a light, refreshing sweet taste to the warmth of the Houjicha.
Definitely interesting and tasty!
organic ingredients: roasted green tea, amaranth petals and natural flavors.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Chocolate Banana Flavored Tea? We’re Listening. . . . #52Teas
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!
Coconut French Toast with Cardamom Maple Syrup from 52Teas. . . .
French Toast Tea. I’ve had a few. The ones I have tried I have adored. More than one of the French Toast flavored teas have been from 52 Teas whom I also adore. Today I want to tell you about Coconut French Toast with Cardamom Maple Syrup from 52 Teas.
The name in itself is a thinker. Coconut French Toast with Cardamom Maple Syrup. My dyslexic brain converted the name to Coconut French Toast Cardamom with Maple Syrup. Either would have worked, I suppose. But I guess the Maple Syrup was Cardamom Flavored and not necessarily the French Toast.
Regardless – this was wonderful. And it didn’t stay in my stash for long. Just a few short days, actually.
The black tea base was on the stronger side. There was a pretty spot-on liking to a French Toast flavor that is for sure. The Cardamom was present and pleasing. The Maple Syrup sweetness was subtle but true. The coconut added to the overall sweetness but also provided a separate and stand alone sweetness standing beside the sweetness of the Maple Syrup flavor. There is even a speck of cinnamon to top things off!
52 Teas has SURELY done it again with this wonderfully flavored black tea!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
