Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Learn more about Southern Boy Teas here.
Taster’s Review:
Before writing this review, I searched for my review of the Monkey Fart Honeybush from My Sweet Honeybush. But I couldn’t find it – I guess I never wrote one! I guess that means I’m going to have to procure another pouch of said honeybush! (Yes, I realize I’m merely justifying my tea shopping, but, whatever works, right?)
Anyway, I have tried the Monkey Fart Honeybush on several occasions, and I enjoyed it, but it became a big hit with my oldest daughter who really loves the stuff. So, I was confident I’d enjoy the black iced tea version of it.
And I do. It is sweet, banana-y, and very refreshing. It reminds me a little bit of the Banana Fanta Slurpees from 7-11. This has a similar sweet-banana kind of taste, almost “candy-like”. Now that I think about it, what this really tastes like to me is banana cotton candy! It’s got that light, wispy kind of sweetness the way cotton candy does.
The banana is distinct, but the black tea is not just sitting off in the background. It is a strong, vibrant flavor, and melds well with the banana flavoring.
This first tasting is the result of cold-brewing the tea bag (I love the size of these teabags. They’re HUGE! Certainly roomy enough to accommodate the tea’s expansion, and there is still room to spare, no worries about the tea not having enough room in this bag!), and I’m really loving these Southern Boy Teas for cold-brewing. But I thought I’d do a little experiment and try hot-brewing the bag this evening for tomorrow’s iced tea and see how the second infusion turns out.
And as it turns out, the hot-brew resteep turned out pretty darned good too. It’s not quite as strong or flavorful as the first cold-brew infusion, but, it is still very tasty and refreshing… which means that you can double the amount of tea and the value of the purchase price of these teas! Definitely take the time to resteep!
Fruity Cherry Banana Tea from Kally Tea
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Fruit/Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Kally Tea
Tisane Description:
Herb and fruit tea in some circles is considered a new type of tea. We formulated this blend to accommodate tastes of people who wanted to experience a refreshing healthy new style drink without caffeine. What we got was a terrific ‘tea’ that is unbelievably delicious and enjoyed Hot or Cold! This tea has a very exotic flavor profile. The delicious blend of cherries and bananas combined with the natural flavors and tartness of the other dried fruits create a summertime cooler or a wintertime summer reminder.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
Knowing this was a fruit tisane with hibiscus, I steeped it for just five minutes. And even after five minutes, the liquor looked very hibiscus-y. Very deep, ruby red. I was worried.
And yes, I taste the hibiscus too, but, it works in this blend. In fact, I think that the hibiscus is good in this cup. Yep, I said it. This tisane would not be the same without the hibiscus. The hibiscus gives the cup a pleasant body and keeps the liquid from tasting and feeling too thin. And the tartness of the hibiscus gives a nice contrast to the sweetness of the cherry, banana and other fruits in this tisane.
And thankfully, the hibiscus is not overdone. It is there, but it doesn’t overpower the flavor of the fruit. I taste the sweet banana and cherry flavors, as well as the orange, apple and strawberry. It’s a bit like a sweet-tart ambrosia without the whipped cream and mini-marshmallows.
I really enjoyed this tisane. It tasted great served hot, and I think it would be even better iced. For a real treat, try freezing it for a tasty ice pop!
Organic Monkey Business from The Rabbit Hole
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: The Rabbit Hole
Tea Description:
This little treat will have you swinging from the trees in no time. White tea mingles with banana for an easy to sip treat. Boost the sweetness with an extra dollop of honey if you’re feeling naughty.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When it comes to bananas, I never really considered them to be a favorite fruit. However, my actions seem to tell a different story. When I go to Cold Stone Creamery, I seem to order the same thing: Cake Batter ice cream with banana, caramel and almonds. And I love banana cupcakes and ice pops.
But I don’t really like to eat them on their own. And I don’t like banana Runts, in fact, on the rare occasion that I happen to have a bag of Runts candy (maybe once a year, if that? I’m usually just sneaking a couple out of my daughter’s package of candy) I never eat the banana ones. Interestingly enough, many people often say that banana flavored teas taste like banana runts, but I totally disagree with that, because I LOVE banana flavored teas!
And this banana flavored white tea from The Rabbit Hole may just be one of the best banana flavored teas I’ve tried yet. It tastes like the fruit, only sweeter … but it doesn’t taste like banana runts. It tastes more like the banana that I’d enjoy as its surrounded by the Cake Batter ice cream from Cold Stone.
The white tea tastes sweet with a hint of nutty flavor to it. It has a smooth and creamy texture which lends itself very well to the ice cream comparison I made a moment ago. I like that while the banana flavor is very distinct, it doesn’t overwhelm the flavor of the white tea.
Served hot, it has a warm, soothing kind of effect: like comfort food in liquid form. Served chilled, it has a very refreshing, invigorating taste that both adults and kids enjoy.
I LOVE this tea!
Banana Cherry Green Yerba Maté from 52Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Green Yerba Maté
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tisane Description:
So, I’m on a bit of a banana kick lately, but trust me, you won’t be disappointed in this week’s tea of the week. Here’s some green (non-roasted) yerba mate blended with real freeze-dried bananas, and natural banana and maraschino cherry flavors.
If you haven’t had green mate (or any yerba mate) before, you’re missing out. The un-roasted variety is a bit vegetal; it reminds me of a nice green tea, except it doesn’t get bitter. Yerba Mate also has the extra benefit of being VERY caffeinated. A lot of people who have issues with side effects from other caffeinated beverages report that they do not experience the same side effects when drinking yerba mate.
This blend of bananas, maraschino cherry and energy is going to become a welcome addition to my morning routine.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I wasn’t too sure about this blend when I first tried it, and even now, I can say that it isn’t my favorite blend from 52Teas. Even so, I am enjoying it, so I can’t say that it’s a disappointment, either.
The dry leaf aroma is spectacular. The fragrance of bananas fill the air every time I open the pouch – and I happen to love banana. I can also detect hints of cherry as well as the vegetative, earthy tones of the yerba maté. Once brewed, the infusion emits an aroma that is quite a bit softer, but still very much banana with faint cherry notes and the slightest whisper of that earthy quality.
Which I guess is what threw me off … because I had expected the fruit flavors to be stronger than the yerba maté flavor, but, my first couple of sips, what I tasted most was the earthy, vegetal, and even slightly smoky presence of the yerba maté. I could taste the banana; I could even taste the cherry. But neither were as strong as I had expected from the aroma.
But as I continued to sip, I noticed the flavors starting to develop. Now, as I am halfway through my second cup of this tisane, I am enjoying the flavors. I like the way the sweet flavor of the banana marries with the earthy tones of the yerba maté, and how the cherry notes weave their way in and out throughout the sip. The cherry becomes especially pronounced in the aftertaste, when I taste a distinct cherry flavor that is sweet and even just a little tart.
Not exactly what I expected when I first opened the pouch, but it is still tasty!
Raspberry Banana Honeybush from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tisane Description:
For this week, we’ve decided to create a new honeybush blend, this time a fusion of raspberries and bananas with real freeze dried raspberries and banana slices and natural flavors. It’s a great fusion of sweet and creamy, tart and smooth. Of course, it’s also caffeine- and calorie-free!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
OK, the moment I tore open this pouch, I knew I was in for a treat. It smells AMAZING and tells of the banana raspberry yumminess inside. As I scooped out the tisane into my Breville, I saw tiny bits of freeze-dried raspberries and big slices of freeze-dried bananas. YUM! Now the hard part… waiting! I typically steep honeybush blends for 10 full minutes to extract as much flavor as possible. And while it’s difficult to wait for 10 minutes sometimes, my patience is usually rewarded.
Wowza! This is very flavorful. My first reaction was “this reminds me of a smoothie, only hot,” which tells me that this is going to be amazing iced.
The honeybush is sweet and slightly nutty and offers a delicious background for the flavors of banana and raspberry. The raspberry is sweet yet tart, and what I like best is how the banana flavor really mellows everything out and makes it all taste remarkably smooth and sweet and very yummy. Very fruity and sweet, but just enough tangy flavor and nutty notes in there to keep it balanced and from tasting too much like an overly sweet kid’s drink (although, I’m pretty sure kids would love this too).
It looks like there are only 2 pouches of this tea left in stock, so, if the idea of juicy raspberry and sweet banana flavor appeals to you … you should definitely not wait any longer to order some for yourself! This one’s going to be GONE soon!