Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Amoda Tea
Tisane Description:
Ingredients: German chamomile, mint, orange peels and blossoms, malva and lemongrass.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is the third tea that I received in my December Amoda Box (Yeah, I am behind, I
know) The other two teas that came in December’s Amoda Box were Black Tea Merlot from Vintage TeaWorks, which I did not review after receiving this box because I had reviewed it previously, and Minty Winter Wonderland from Tiesta Tea.
This Orange Blossom Chamomile from Petali Teas is a surprising blend. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a big fan of herbal blends, preferring teas with the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant, but, I must admit that I do find herbal tisanes to be a nice, caffeine free alternative for evenings. And this herbal from Petali Teas is really tasty.
When I opened the pouch, I was astonished at how good the dry leaf smelled. It smelled sweet and orange-y … reminding me a bit of orange slices (you know those jelly candies that are an orange gel that is covered in sugar? Yeah, those … that’s what this tisane smells like to me) and since I love orange slices, my mouth started watering when I first smelled this … and I started craving orange slices. Since I didn’t happen to have any in the house, I decided to brew a cup of this to see if it would help curb my craving.
Sadly, it did not curb the desire for candy, but, I will say that it is a tasty cuppa. Citrus notes are strong, and it’s not just orange that I taste. I taste hints of lemon and even a touch of lime. The orange is the strongest note, but, I like how this is almost like a citrus punch kind of flavor, rather than focusing just on the orange. I also taste a very light floral note to this.
The ingredients list peppermint, and while I don’t taste a distinct minty note that screams PEPPERMINT to me, there is a certain zesty … crisp, cool note to this that I attribute to the peppermint. That is to say … this doesn’t taste overwhelmingly minty … but there are qualities to this that are minty. Perhaps the strength of the citrus is such that it overpowers the peppermint … and for this particular tisane, that works for me, because it is … after all, called Orange Blossom Chamomile and not Peppermint Chamomile. It should be about the citrus. But I do like the minty characteristics in this blend.
Overall, I found this to be enjoyable … one I’d be happy to enjoy again.
Annoucing Another Giveaway – It’s our Season of Giveaways!
This giveaway is now closed, and a winner has been selected. Please watch our blog, though, because another giveaway is on its way … SOON!
The response to our Season of Giveaways has been HUGE! So, let’s keep it going, what do you say?
This week, we’re giving away December’s Tea Tasting Box from Amoda Tea! (Value $15 plus shipping!) I heard about Amoda Tea on Steepster, they started out with tea tasting box that was exclusively for Canadian tea drinkers for their first month (October) and expanded to the US market in time for their November Box. I received their November box and I squealed with delight when it arrived. I love the the packaging and I love being able to try three brand new teas that I had not tried before.
These boxes are FUN, FUN, FUN – Of course, when is it NOT fun to receive tea in the mail? Second only to drinking the tea, it is the best part of my job as a tea reviewer! – and the boxes would also make a great gift or stocking stuffer for someone special (even if that someone is you!) It’s also a great opportunity for you to see what Amoda is all about. I love this company – and I think you’ll love them too!
Here are the teas that were in the box in November:
And you can bet there will be some fabulous teas for their December Box – the box you can win just by entering this giveaway! This contest allows you to get in on the fun for the month of December. The winner of this contest will receive the tea tasting box from Amoda Tea for the month of December!
To enter:
- Comment on this blog post. Sounds simple enough right? Well, it is! Be sure to include in your comment a way for us to get in touch with you should you be the lucky winner of this week’s contest.
To earn additional entries:
- Tweet this contest. Be sure to include a link to this blog post so that those that read your tweet can enter to win too. Also, be sure to add @SororiTeaSister on your tweet so that we can easily find it. This will help us verify the tweet, and plus we like to see our name on tweets. It makes us feel important and special.
- Follow Amoda Teas on Twitter. Really simple, and it earns you an entry into the contest. Be sure to come back here and let us know that you’ve done this.
- Add a link to your Facebook Page. Just mention this contest on your facebook page and include a link so that your Facebook friends can enter. Be sure to add a comment to this blog post with a link to your facebook page so that we can verify the Facebook entry.
- Like Amoda Teas on Facebook. Again, really simple, and it earns you an additional entry into the contest. Be sure to come back here to let us know you did this.
- Follow our Blog! This is really simple to do too. Just click on the button on the bottom right hand side of the screen, and enter your email address. Do that, and then let us know that you’re subscribed to our blog and you’ll earn yet another entry!
So you can earn an additional five entries in this contest, for a total of six entries to win! It’s really easy!
Now, for the fine print: This contest is open from today, December 11, through December 17. A winner will be drawn via Random.org on December 18 and will be contacted privately before the name of the winner is announced. If we are unable to reach the winner within three days, an alternate winner will be drawn until we can contact the winner to obtain their shipping information, which will then be forwarded to the staff at Amoda Tea.
This drawing is opened to US and Canadian residents only, because at the moment, that’s where Amoda Tea ships. If you are a SororiTea Sister, you’re not eligible to win – then again, there’s only three of us, so if your name is not Anne, Jennifer, or Joely, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re not a SororiTea Sister. The same goes for the staff at Amoda Tea. For the rest of you, please enter and join in on the fun!
This Giveaway is now closed, and a winner has been selected! Congratulations to eugaet … he is the winner of this week’s giveaway sponsored by Amoda Tea!
Watch our blog for another giveaway … coming soon!
Zulu Chai from Assam Tea Company
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
As Sold By: Amoda Tea
Also Available At: Assam Tea Company
Tisane Description:
This is a fantastic chai blend, a bit on the spicy side (black pepper!), but nice and full-flavoured. The spices are well-balanced though. There’s a cinnamon blast on the nose, enhanced by the natural cinnamon qualities of the rooibos. For us here at Amoda, a chai blend is taken to the next level when orange peels are thrown into the mix.
Learn more about the Monthly Tea Tasting Box from Amoda Tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is my third and final from “The Last Days of Autumn” tea tasting box from Amoda Tea. While I was excited to try a tea from this company (I don’t think I’ve tried one from them yet), I wasn’t overly excited about yet another rooibos chai blend (it seems like EVERYBODY’S got one!) But, I have to admit that after trying it, I can see why Amoda Tea decided to include this tea in this Autumn themed box. Chai blends tend to be rather autumnal, but something about this rooibos chai speaks of autumn in a very special way.
Dry, this is a beautifully fragrant chai. That shouldn’t be surprising, as most chai blends tend to be wonderfully aromatic. The spices that stood out to me most when I smelled the dry leaf was the anise and the cardamom, and given my love for anise (and cardamom!) it was a very rewarding scent, indeed!
Once brewed, my olfactory nerves are treated to the aroma of cinnamon and clove, with background notes of orange and ginger, and just a hint of anise in the distance.
This is a warm and tasty chai. It is not what I’d call a “spicy” (as in spicy-hot) chai, instead, I find the spices to be more soothing and mild. The spices are strong enough to be felt in the nasal cavity (this is one of those chai blends that is GREAT for when you’re feeling under the weather and need something to help clear that passage way!) and it gets to work to gently warm and soothe the throat and back of the palate.
The rooibos here can be tasted, but, it isn’t a strong flavor. Instead, I taste a hint of nutty flavor that sort of mingles with the notes of orange in the background. I expected the orange to actually be much stronger than it is here, as there are lots of little chunks of orange peel in the blend. Instead, the orange acts as an accent note, adding a touch of brightness to the cup and highlighting the spices in a very appealing way.
The anise is my favorite part of this chai, it gives an exotic sweetness to the cup and I love the way this spice melds with the others in the blend. They all seem to work together very harmoniously to create a delicious taste that is spicy without being hot, and very comforting. A perfect cup for these last days of autumn.
Darling Darjeeling from La Petite Cuillère
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Darjeeling)
As Sold By: Amoda Tea
Also Available at: La Petite Cuillère
Tea Description:
Cherry flavoured teas can often conjure up bad thoughts of cough syrup, so finding this gem was a happy surprise. The base for this tea – Darjeeling black tea, is soft and round and has been matched perfectly with a sweet and subtle cherry flavour. Adding a touch of milk to this brings out an incredible strawberry cream flavour.
This tea was part of the November Tea Tasting Box from Amoda Tea.
Taster’s Review:
This is the second tea from the Amoda Tea Tasting Box for November, and of the three teas, it was the one I was most excited to try for two reasons: first, it is the only one of the three that was an actual TEA and not a tisane. Second, it is a flavored Darjeeling!
Of the many different black tea types, Darjeeling seems to be the one that I see least often to serve as a base for flavored teas or tea blends. So, when I do happen to come across a flavored Darjeeling, I am eager to try it.
This Darling Darjeeling is a strawberry and cherry flavored Darjeeling, and I must say, I am really enjoying it. Sometimes cherry flavoring ends up tasting a bit like cough medicine, but, it doesn’t taste that way with this tea. It is a very pleasant taste: smooth, sweet and well-rounded. There is just enough tartness to it to keep it tasting authentic and not medicinal, and enough sweetness to keep me from puckering with every sip!
The strawberry is very subtle. And by very subtle, I mean almost absent. It does not come through strongly during the sip, although the flavor does develop somewhat as I continue to sip. But, where I notice the strawberry – a strong, delicious strawberry taste – is in the aftertaste. About five seconds after finishing the sip, I find a lovely strawberry taste come through, leaving my mouth tasting as though I had just bitten into a ripe, juicy strawberry. It is sweet and has that characteristic berry tartness. It’s quite enjoyable.
I am so glad that I had this opportunity to try this tea. Thanks, Amoda Tea!
Honeybush Haze from Amoda Tea
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush & Rooibos
Where to Buy: Amoda Tea
Tisane Description:
Apple Crumble with a hazelnut topping anyone? That’s definitely what this tea smells like. Green honeybush is the main ingredient and brings strong aromatics and a sweet apricot flavour to this blend. Combined with the dried apple this tea offers a lingering sweetness. And yes… there’s raisins in your tea.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
Not too long ago, Steepster decided to put it’s “Steepster Select” program on hiatus. For those of you who do not remember, the Steepster Select program was a monthly subscription, and once a month, subscribers would receive a box of three different teas, all three teas pertaining to a particular theme, like “Around the Clock” or “Migration”. I loved this program because not only was it about TEA but it also enabled me to try some new teas from companies I might not have tried before. Plus, it was a lot of fun to see what theme would be explored and which teas were selected for that theme. Sure, I tried several of the teas that they had sent over the course of the program (I think it lasted for about a year!) but, for the most part, I was able to try quite a few teas that I might not have otherwise tried … or even heard of!
Well, Steepster ended it’s program in August of this year, and I was sad. I wanted another program like this one! Recently, I heard about Amoda Tea, a brand new company that focuses on monthly subscriptions – very similar to what we were getting from Steepster Select! The prices are comparable too!
The one difference: Amoda is in Canada, so I was unable to get the first box as it was limited to Canadian subscribers only. But, for the second box – November’s Box! – subscriptions opened up to the United States. Yay!
The theme of the first box is “The Last Days of Autumn” and this Honeybush Haze is the first tea that I’m sampling from the box. This tisane is blend that was created by a Tea Sommelier and chosen for Amoda Tea based upon the personalities at Amoda Tea! That is exciting in itself, because it’s a chance to try a new tea from a new company.
And this is really, REALLY good. First of all, it smells amazing. It smells like freshly baked apple crumble – piping hot, right out of the oven. And that’s what it tastes like too!
The tisane base is green Honeybush blended with green rooibos. This brings a fruitier flavor with only hints of nutty tones to the cup, which allows for the hazelnut flavor to really shine through and not be masked by the nutty tones of the herbs. The fruitier tones of the herbs also enhances the apple-y flavor really nicely. The raisin notes are off in the background, but, it does add a nice sweetness to the cup.
Overall, this is very much like a fresh apple crumble in a teacup! All that’s missing is a scoop of vanilla ice cream! I’d say that this monthly subscription program from Amoda is off to a GREAT start!