With a name like Lemongrass Vanilla Herbal I was assuming it was a straight-up herbal tisane but when I finally checked out the package I noticed it also contained Green Rooibos. While I realize that rooibos is still technically in the realm of tisanes and not an actual tea we still have categories for Rooibos here at Sororitea Sisters. Without further jibber-jabber here’s my review for Lemongrass Vanilla Herbal from Aromatica Fine Teas.
Lemongrass Vanilla Herbal from Aromatica Fine Teas received 2nd Place at the 2014 North American Tea Championship. That’s a wonderful accomplishment! So of course I wondered WHY all of the high praise? I had to taste Lemongrass Vanilla Herbal from Aromatica Fine Teas for myself! And I’m glad I did!
Dry – prior to infusing – I thought Lemongrass Vanilla Herbal from Aromatica Fine Teas smells like vanilla flavored cereal. It was a very pleasing smell! Once I infused for about 5 minutes the scents of sweet vanilla and lemongrass filled my cup and the surroundings! The taste of Lemongrass Vanilla Herbal from Aromatica Fine Teas was very nice, too! First and foremost I could taste the lemongrass then the orange and vanilla!
Not only was I happy to see the use of GREEN Rooibos over regular Red Rooibos I was also delighted to see Vervain used in this herbal blend. Henry Beston’s ‘Herbs and the Earth’ which was written in 1935 said the following of Vervain…”To those interested in magic and religion, there is no herb in the garden more worthy of attention, for this simple plant without fragrance, without an outer look of power, without a flower of significance, was singled out from among all other plants and herbs as the most sacred of the growing things of earth between the Pillars of Hercules and the roots of the Caucasus.” Again…pretty high praise, right? So…YES…I enjoyed the ingredients in this tisane, I really liked the aroma and taste, and I can see why Lemongrass Vanilla Herbal from Aromatica Fine Teas was an award winner and it was well deserved!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal/Tisane
Where to Buy: Aromatica Fine Teas
Description
North American Tea Championship: 2nd Place – Flavored Herbal Blends category – 2014 Spring- Hot Teas Division
Bright, fresh lemon taste in a healthy herbal blend. Makes a great iced tea! Apple pieces, lemongrass, green rooibos, orange pieces, vervain, flavour, vanilla bits.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Earl Grey Cream Tea from Aromatica Fine Teas
Just what my morning needed…Earl Grey Cream Tea from Aromatica Fine Teas! This is a mighty fine Earl Grey Cream! Upon opening the package I could clearly see the ingredients of Ceylon Black Tea and Cornflower Petals. The aroma was what you would expect for an Earl Grey with a bit of sweet-cream to boot!
Once I added my hot water to this Earl Grey Cream Tea from Aromatica Fine Teas the tea in the cup infused to a medium shade of brown and filled the air with a creamier Earl Grey aroma. The aroma was ‘just right’ it wasn’t overly strong to make your eyes water but it was certainly pleasing!
On the taste buds – Earl Grey Cream Tea from Aromatica Fine Teas – lived up to its name! The Earl Grey flavor was a solid strength and followed by just the right amount of smooth from the ‘cream’. This tea was fantastically done!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Aromatica Fine Teas
Description: Ceylon black tea, cornflower blossoms, flavour.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Earl Grey Manhattan Tea from Aromatica Fine Teas
Earl Grey Manhattan Tea from Aromatica Fine Teas is one of those teas that I have been searching for and didn’t even know it! This eye-opening Earl Grey is much more than that – Earl Grey Manhattan Tea from Aromatica Fine Teas – is the 2015 1st Place Winner of the North American Tea Championship – and I can see why! It’s everything you want in an Earl Grey and more!
Earl Grey Manhattan Tea from Aromatica Fine Teas provides your stereotypical Earl Grey flavor at first sip but then morphs into a bit more floral and ends on a smoother note than most. Something that I noticed in the aroma but not-so-much in the taste was a speck of sweetness. This intrigued me. I appreciate that they not only used sunflower blossoms – but mallow blossoms, too! They were both a lovely addition.
Eventho Earl Grey Manhattan Tea from Aromatica Fine Teas is the first of their teas that I am reviewing here – I have tried their Walnut Green Tea, too, (and will be reviewing that soon) and have REALLY enjoyed both offers already! I’ve already had 2 glowingly-positive tea experiences with this company and I can’t wait to jump in to their other offerings! I know that their other teas have also received awards but after tasting 2 of them I think they need to get a bigger shelf for all of their awards they will start collecting! Earl Grey Manhattan Tea from Aromatica Fine Teas was FABULOUS! My morning my start the RIGHT WAY now!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Aromatica Fine Teas
Description:
North American Tea Championship: 1st Place – Earl Greys category – 2013 Fall – Hot Teas Division
Also known as “Manhattan Earl Grey” yields a bright taste and extremely fragrant cup. Black tea, sunflower blossoms, flavour, mallow blossoms.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Lavender Cream Earl Grey Black Tea from Aromatica Fine Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
This tea is available from Amoda Tea.
Tea Description:
This tea brings together the best of all the earl grey worlds – bergamot, vanilla, cream and lavender. Why have them in 4 separate Earl Greys!? This is a sweet, creamy, delicious black tea with floral hints. The vanilla and cream soften the bergamot citrus edge. You can still enjoy this variation with milk.
Learn more about subscribing to Amoda Tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I received my Amoda box a few days ago and this is the first tea that I’ve tried from the box! While it’s not a surprise that I should reach for the tea that would be my clear favorite in the box, I generally like to save the one that I think will be my favorite for last. Like dessert, right? You save dessert for after the meal, but sometimes, you have to give in to the inner child and have dessert first!
So, I gave in to the inner child and drank the tea that I was sure would be my favorite in this month’s box first. So, it should come as no surprise that I’m loving this Lavender Cream Earl Grey Black Tea from Aromatica Fine Teas!
To brew this, I used my Breville One Touch. The entire sampler packet appeared to be just enough tea for one small pot of tea from my tea maker, so I poured the contents of the packet into the basket and added 500ml of water to the jug. I set the parameters for 205°F (I like to go with slightly lower than boiling temperatures when I have herbs in the tea – in this case, the lavender and hibiscus) and 2 1/2 minutes.
Then I let the tea cool for about three minutes before sipping. I’ve got to tell you that they seem the longest three minutes ever when you’re waiting to take a sip of something so aromatically alluring!
Mmmm! I’m loving this tea!
Rich! The black tea is a vibrant tasting tea – it’s good and strong. There is a fair amount of astringency to this tea, and if I’m to offer any complaint about it at all, that would be it. I would like the astringency to be toned down just a bit.
The flavoring, though, is spot on! The bergamot is strong and flavorful. The vanilla cream notes are pretty evenly matched with the bergamot, with maybe just a little bit more bergamot than cream. The combination of the two is sweet, creamy and tangy with a bright flavor of crisp bergamot.
Then there is the lavender. Ah … I do adore lavender. Lavender is a lot like bergamot, in that it can be overdone in a tea and end up tasting a bit more like soap than a flavoring. Here, the lavender is done nicely, not tasting even a bit soapy, instead, it has a touch of floral to this cup. It’s a pleasing contrast, the floral notes of the lavender with the silky sweetness of the vanilla cream and the energetic flavor of the bergamot. It’s a compelling flavor combination that keeps me sipping and makes for one very happy tea sipper.
So, this is definitely a win. My only real complaint is – again – the astringent black tea base. But this is something that I can overlook because the flavors are so delightful! And those who detest hibiscus like I do, take note: I can’t taste the hibiscus here! Yippee! That’s a win right there!
Ginger Cream Black Tea from Aromatica Fine Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Tea Information:
Rich, malty, full-bodied Assam black tea makes this a bold tea, but the delicious cream flavour really smoothes it out. If you’ve never experienced ginger and cream together, you’re in for a treat. Spicy, yet sweet, this tea is heavenly.
This tea is available from Amoda Tea.
Learn more about subscribing to Amoda Tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Yum!
As I’m sitting here, marveling over the amazing flavor of this tea, I’m trying to recall ever trying another “ginger creme” tea like this. No, I can’t say that I have … or if I have, it’s not a tea that I remember. And if it tasted anything like this, I’d like to think I would have remembered it because this is delightful!
Really delightful!
The flavors all come together in a very pleasing way. The richness of the malty Assam tea, the sweet, creamy notes of the vanilla and the hint of peppery warmth from the ginger. It’s a well-crafted combination of flavors that unite in a seamless way – tasting less like “individual” flavors and more like a delicious harmony of tastes.
The black tea base is a second flush Assam. It’s a robust, smooth, and sweet tasting tea with lots of malt. There are Assam teas that are “wine-y” and there are Assam teas that are “malty” and then there are some Assam teas that are somewhere between. This Assam is MALTY! Rich and sweet with caramel-esque notes. It has a strong, hefty quality to it – this has plenty of gusto and would make a good tea for that first cup of the day.
And what a delicious way to start the day this tea would be!
The malty notes of the Assam marry with the vanilla notes in a very luscious way. The vanilla enhances the caramel-y tones of the Assam while those smooth, rich notes of the Assam perfectly complement the vanilla.
Then there is the ginger! How the ginger was added to this blend is key to it’s success as a flavor. Too much ginger would have ruined the delightfully melodious flavor that the Assam and vanilla have created. There is just enough ginger to add a hint of spice to the cup. Just a hint. It’s a little warm but not overly zesty. There’s just enough ginger to keep the cup interesting.
I LOVE this tea. It’s warm and cozy and fluffy – like a favorite blanket on a cold winter’s day. An awesome choice for this month’s Amoda Tea box!
