Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Learn more about Tea of Life and Amazon Teas here.
Tea Ingredients:
Organic White Tea and Organic Blackberry Pieces with Blackberry Flavor.
Taster’s Review:
I am usually someone who turns my nose up at bagged tea. That’s because I find that the bagged tea is usually inferior to loose leaf. However, I must say that the teas that I’ve been tasting from Tea of Life have been really impressive. And these are sacheted teas!
And the latest tea that I’ve tasted from Tea of Life is this Organic White Tea Blackberry. This is really, REALLY good. The blackberry flavor is really well defined and doesn’t taste artificial. It tastes like I ate a fresh blackberry – bursting with juicy flavor! – every time I take a sip. Sweet, true to the fruit flavor. Delicious!
And the sweet, delicate, somewhat earthy quality of the white tea marries nicely with the abundant blackberry flavor. They are balanced well – with enough blackberry flavor so that there’s no doubt what I’m tasting, but, not so much that it tastes like blackberry punch and not tea. I can taste the white tea here.
I received this tea sachet as part of the Organic Teas Natural Tea Pyramids gift package. The description of this tea gift package in the Tea of Life brochure says this:
A beautifully packed gift of tea. Contains 4 different Organic teas in biodegradable pyramid tea bags which are individually packed in pyramid shape boxes.
This is a really fun tea gift! The tea sachets are packaged very elegantly in slender pyramids, and there are four different teas (a black tea, a green tea, this white tea, and a rooibos blend) – something like this would be ideal for someone who is new to exploring tea, or would also be great for travel.
A really yummy tea!
Angels Dream Tea Blend from English Tea Store
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black & Green Teas
Where to Buy: English Tea Store
Tea Description:
The Angels Dream Tea blend from English Tea Store is a heavenly tea with maple sweetness, blackberry pungency, full flavored Assam and a mystery green tea. We have sought the heavens to try to find the flavor befitting all the virtues of this tea’s namesake. The natural flavours of Maple and Wild Blackberry enhance the excellent teas we have selected from the tea world’s finest regions – Sri Lanka, Formosa and Assam (India).
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Angels Dream Tea Blend from English Tea Store is one that I wish I had read the website description before I brewed the tea. Had I realized that there was green tea in this as well as black tea, I would have utilized a lower brewing temperature.
However, even with the boiling water and a full three minute steep time, this turned out really good. I can taste the sweet maple notes, the juicy blackberry, and I can taste the rich, malty Assam tea in the background. The green tea notes are a little more difficult to discern, but I will say that one place where I do notice the presence of the green tea is that this tea is lighter than a typical Assam tea.
There is some bitterness to this which is probably due to the Assam’s presence in the tea just as much a it is owing to the green tea being brewed at too hot a temperature. And while the bitterness is noticeable, it isn’t bothersome or off-putting. It’s there, but, I’m able to overlook it in favor of the other tasty flavors that are going on in this cup.
The maple is a prominent taste. It tastes the way I’d expect maple to taste: sweet and rich. The blackberry is sweet but there is some berry tartness to it too. The black tea base is rich, full-flavored and astringent. The astringency leaves the palate feeling slightly dry and clean at the finish.
It’s a good tea that would probably be even better had I brewed it properly, but it is a very forgiving tea! This is one that I think those who like a good flavored tea would find enjoyable!
Acai Matetini Mate Tisane from Teavana
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Yerba Mate
Where to Buy: Teavana
Tisane Description:
The newest craze in cocktails inspired the infusion of real fruit, herbs, and flowers with mate tea. Our mock martini is a classy notch up, first blending acai, blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry. We added to the mix crisp apples and sweet pineapple, brightened with the zesty citrus notes of orange, lemongrass, and hibiscus. Cheers! SUPERFRUIT ENHANCED
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
My very first impression of this Acai Matetini Mate Tisane from Teavana, based only on the appearance of the dry leaf, is that this tisane has a whole lot going on it it … maybe too much going on. I mean, seriously … this tisane looks a whole lot more like a fruit/herbal tisane than a yerba mate blend.
I can see some yerba mate in this, but, mostly what I see is HUGE chunks of dried fruit. Big pieces of assorted berries as well as apple and orange. I see some lemongrass as well as some hibiscus. Not a fan of hibiscus. You probably already knew that about me!
But, I decided to brew it up anyway. And it’s not too bad. It is very fruity, with lots of sweet and tart flavors going on to tantalize my taste buds. I don’t taste a lot of yerba mate – which shouldn’t be too surprising to me because I didn’t see a whole lot of yerba mate leaves in the dry blend.
I taste a lot of berry flavors, but the sweetness from the apple seems to curb some of the tarty flavors that I’d might normally experience from all those berries. It’s tart … but this is more sweet than it is tart. This tastes a lot more like a fruit drink than it does a tea.
In fact, what comes to mind as I sip this tea is my marinara sauce. Why? Because when my kids were younger, I used to puree zucchini and carrots in my marinara to add vegetables to my kids diet without them knowing it. I kind of feel like that’s what’s being done with this tisane. It’s like someone added all this fruit to the yerba mate to disguise the flavor of the yerba mate, because had I not known there was yerba mate in this blend (based on the name), I wouldn’t have guessed it by the flavor.
Overall, it’s tasty, but it’s not really my cup of tea. If you’re looking for a cup of energizing yerba mate … this is NOT the tisane for you. If you want a sweet, fruity drink that’s more fruit punch than it is tea … this might be right up your alley.
Energy Green Tea Blend from Byron Bay Tea Company
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Byron Bay Tea Company
Product Description:
Brighten your day with this clean, balanced and lively infusion of Green tea, Siberian Ginseng, Gotu Kola and mixed berries. A perky and delightful tea to pick you up in the morning, inspire your afternoon, or energise your evening. A healthy alternative to coffee. Enjoy!
Learn more about this blend here.
Taster’s Review:
I am liking this Energy Green Tea Blend from Byron Bay Tea Company, even though I really didn’t think I would like it. It’s got two strikes against it right at the start: hibiscus – yikes! ginseng – ugh! But I’m enjoying it … it would seem that it’s a hit even though it started out with a lot going against it.
The berry flavor is strong. I can taste the currants and the strawberries and hints of blackberry. And yes, I do taste the hibiscus, but somehow, when paired with berries, hibiscus is less … difficult for me to drink. Hibiscus seems to highlight the tart notes of the berry and somehow make the berries taste a little more like berries.
The green tea is tasted in there too, although I will say that the flavor is slightly obscured by the rest of the ingredients. I taste the fresh vegetal tones of the green tea though, and I like the way all these ingredients work together – yes, even those ingredients that I’m less than enthused about!
Overall, this is a refreshing drink, and it lives up to its promise as stated in its name – it’s an energizing beverage that will help get you going when you need that snap of vitality.
Blackberry Sage Black Tea Blend from Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Description:
Our robust South Indian black tea meets the intoxicating flavor of summer blackberries in this rich and decadent tea. A touch of white sage completes the blend, balancing the plump, juicy flavors of berries with its mystical, earthen essence. With each sip of this deliciously ethereal tea, find yourself closer and closer to true awakening.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about Simple Loose Leaf’s customized subscription program here.
Taster’s Review:
Recently, I was offered a chance to try out Simple Loose Leaf’s subscription program, and this is Blackberry Sage Black Tea Blend is the first tea that I received as part of my fully customized subscription.
So before I talk about the tea, I want to talk a little bit about how the subscription works. You start by checking out the vast selection of teas that Simple Loose Leaf offers (and it’s quite an impressive selection!) Find a few teas that interest you. This shouldn’t be hard, because like I said, the selection is impressive! Put the teas that you want in your cart (Simple Loose Leaf recommends a starting point of 3 – 6 teas), and pay once – including one shipping charge (I was charged $7.50 for six teas to be shipped over the course of the next six months.) In the comment field at check out, you can list the teas in the order you’d like to receive them.
That’s it! Once a month, you’ll receive a package from Simple Loose Leaf containing the tea you selected for that month. (You can also request to have two teas shipped per month rather than just the one.) It is definitely a simple process, and I like the idea of getting a new tea every month like this.
If I were to offer a criticism of the program from what I’ve experienced thus far, it would be this: I would like for Simple Loose Leaf to offer its teas in 1 ounce portions as well as the 2 and 4 ounce portions that it offers. Especially with so many unique flavors, a smaller size would allow customers the opportunity to try it before they commit to a larger amount. In addition, I think it would be a nifty idea if they chose to include a small (one serving size) sample so that customers could try something new and possibly add on to their wish list.
Now, on to the tea for this month: Blackberry Sage Black Tea!
The dry leaf is beautiful with lots of dried blackberries tossed in with black tea leaves and torn pieces of white sage leaves. The aroma is enticing with its strong fruity presence and notes of earthy sage.
The flavor is really enjoyable. The blackberry is sweet, and the sweetness of the fruit is cut by the savory elements of the sage, making this a sweet yet savory cup. Really delightful! The black tea is rich and tasty. No bitterness, but I don’t think it’d be a good idea to over-steep this tea … because I think it could become bitter if it’s oversteeped. (I steeped this at 205°F for 2 1/2 minutes in my Breville One-Touch.) The tea is moderately astringent.
I’ve tried this tea both iced and hot, and I personally prefer it hot (which makes me really glad that it’s autumn! Hot tea tastes so much better when it’s chilly outside!) The flavors of sage and blackberry really pop when the tea is served hot, and as it cools, these flavors become somewhat muted and less distinct.
Overall, I’m very pleased with this first month’s selection for my six month subscription with Simple Loose Leaf! Next month: Earl Grey Assam! I can’t wait!