Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Tea Description:
From the Wonderland series, this is One Tart Queen of Hearts! The flavor isn’t as tart as the name would lead you to believe. A fun medley of cherry green (40 percent), raspberry green (40 percent) and pomegranate green (20 percent) teas make up this ode to one of childhood’s favorite characters. If you don’t like too tart teas, try with sweetener (sugar or Splenda).
A Carolynne Keenan Custom Blend.
Learn more about this custom blend here.
Find more of Carolynne Keenan blends here.
Taster’s Review:
This is really tasty. Despite the name of the tea – One Tart Queen of Hearts – a custom blend from Adagio Teas as created by Carolynne Keenan, it isn’t as tart as I thought it would be. It is tart, but it’s not pucker-y or sour.
I’m learning that I prefer the green teas from Adagio versus the black teas, which tend to be just a bit on the harsh side. With this green tea blend, though, I’m not experiencing any of the usual brash taste that I get from many of Adagio’s black teas. This green tea base is light and slightly buttery and adds a hint of sweet, vegetal flavor to this fruity blend.
The fruit flavors come together in a very harmonious way. I taste mostly raspberry and cherry, with only hints of pomegranate, but, I like the way these three fruit notes unite. It’s a little more tart than sweet, however, I kind of expected that from the name of the blend, you know?
But it’s not TOO tart. I tend to have kind of a sensitive palate when it comes to tarty, sour flavors, and I don’t really care for teas (or anything, really) that are too tart. I’m talking that it’s so sour that I pucker when I take a sip. Not into that. I know that there are lots of people out there who dig on that, but I’m not one of them. So, I’m happy that while this blend created by Carolynne Keenan is tart, it’s not overwhelmingly so.
A really tasty blend. I’d definitely drink it again!
Peppermint Ice Custom Black Tea Blend from Adagio Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Tea Description:
I wanted something to help break away from the heat and humidity of summer so I opted for cool peppermint candy (candy cane) tea. I also wanted to be enveloped in a silky creamy sweet dream so I added cream and vanilla flavored black teas. I want this to be comforting, relaxing, a tea that can transport you to fresh powdered snow atop a serene mountain. An escape from reality to a place you dream of.
Learn more about this custom blend here.
Taster’s Review:
This Peppermint Ice Black Tea Blend from Adagio Teas is a custom blend created by one of my favorite Adagio Tea custom blend creators, Rachana Carter. I’ve “chatted” with her a few times via Steepster, and she’s one of the coolest people that hang out at Steepster (and that’s saying something because there are a lot of cool tea drinkers who hang out at Steepster! I call Steepster the facebook for tea drinkers, which probably makes me more nerdy than cool, but that’s OK, I guess.)
Anyway, I’m not really sure how long I’ve had a sampling of this tea on hand, I was going through some of my stash and came across it, but I’ve got to say that it’s held up very well over the course of time. This is really tasty.
I’m not a big fan of Adagio Teas, as I’ve mentioned at least once or twice. Their black tea base that they use for their flavored black teas tends to be very … aggressive and harsh tasting. However, I’ve found that when the flavors are blended like they have been in this Peppermint Ice blend – a blend of candy cane, cream and vanilla flavored black teas – the black tea tends to taste less harsh. I’m not sure why that is. But, it’s been my observation, and so far, of the various teas that I’ve tried, I’ve found this to be true more often than not.
This is a lovely blend of sweet creamy, vanilla-y flavors and just a hint of peppermint. Really, with a flavoring like peppermint, that’s all that’s needed because peppermint can really overpower a blend very quickly. Here, the peppermint is soft and while it does have that crisp, minty taste to it, it doesn’t overwhelm the cup nor does it give the cup a mouthwash-y sort of taste. It’s really nice.
The black tea is strong, but with this flavor combination, I’m not finding it to be a harsh tasting black tea base. Invigorating, sure. But not so astringent that it leaves my palate feeling as though it’s been dried off with sandpaper. (Yeah, that’s the way sometimes a black tea can taste from Adagio. Fortunately, it wasn’t the case here.)
Overall, I’m finding this to taste a bit like someone had melted a scoop of peppermint ice cream and then added it to my morning cup of black tea. It’s rich, smooth and creamy. Minty and fresh! I like this one – another great blend from Rachana Carter!
Branson’s Private Blend from Tea For All Reasons
Tea Type:
Black Tea
Where To Buy:
Tea For All Reasons
Product Descriptions:
This custom blend is another addition to our Downton Abbey Collection. Branson’s loyalty to Ireland extends to his love of a good, strong cuppa tea. We’ve given it unique character, just like his rebellious streak. In this case, his private blend is an Irish Cream tea with a hint of chocolate and whiskey taste (though, no worries, there is no alcohol content in this tea).
Tasters Review:
I’ve been wanting to start watching Downton Abbey for a while and still haven’t. All I know is – this specialty blend smells AWESOME!!!! Creamy Chocolate Whiskey? YES PLEASE!
I’m so grateful to be sipping on this! I’m so excited to have received a package in the mail from Tea For All Reasons! I’ve always admired their blending ability and lovely themes and names for teas! They truly live up to their name – TEA FOR ALL REASONS!
The post-infusion color of this tea is a bit lighter in color than I thought it would be. It’s a orange-ish brown about medium in color. The black tea base is a gentle medium flavor, too. It doesn’t taste like cream, persay, but it has a creamy texture. If you have ever had those chocolate covered whiskey shots (candies) before that is what this tastes like. It’s pretty awesome, I must say! Very yummy!
This is a MUST TRY Tea!
Sweet & Sassy SororiTea From Uniq Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Uniq Teas
Tea Description:
Sweet caramel notes are accented with a touch of spice and hint of almond. This is LiberTEAS blend.
Learn more about creating your own blend here.
You can order this blend here.
Taster’s Review:
Not too long ago, we (the SororiTea Sisters) were contacted by Uniq Teas and invited to each create our own blend which we could then sample and review. Well, of course we took them up on it! It sounded like fun!
And it really is fun! The Uniq Teas website is so easy to use! You just create an account, then choose from their selection of 40 different Organic and Fair Trade teas to create a blend. You choose the teas, and you choose how much of each blend is used to come up with your own unique blend. Then, you name the tea, design the label, and you write the description. You even decide if you want the tea to be a public tea (available for everyone to purchase) or a private one.
It was a blast to put this blend together. It is a blend of black teas: Caramelicious, Black Chai, and Almond. I then chose the name Sweet & Sassy SororiTea because caramel and almond is sweet, and I thought that the spices would add a certain sassy attitude to the cup without coming off as being too spicy.
And I’m really happy with this! The black tea offers a strong background of flavor – it is rich, assertive and slightly astringent. I’m not experiencing any bitterness, but, I also think that this is a tea that you don’t want to over-infuse, because I think it could become bitter if it’s left to brew too long. I steeped this for 3 1/2 minutes and it came out just right.
And even though the black tea base is strong, it doesn’t overwhelm the flavors which I find to have just the balance I was looking for. The caramel comes through as the strongest flavor, and there are hints of almond in the background. The spices are loud and indeed sassy, but they aren’t overly spicy. It was my intention that even though a chai blend was being used as part of my tea blend, I didn’t really want it to come off as a chai. I wanted it to come off as a spiced caramel blend with a touch of almonds, and that’s just what I got! This blend is great served straight … but I like it even better as a latte as it helps to bring out the creamy notes of the caramel and the sweetness of the almonds.
I am definitely going to be returning to Uniq Teas in the future to create another blend … maybe a twist on Earl Grey next time!
Tibet Dream (Pure Tibet Spring Flower Tea) from In Nature Teas
Tea Type:
Red Tea (Black Tea)/Flower Blend
Where To Buy:
In Nature Teas
Product Description:
A new blend of red and flower teas, Tibet Dream has evoked the imagination of many as its red deep colors remind the Chinese of the deep red robes of the Tibet Monks. This blend is an exceptional combination of a red/black tea with a floral after-taste. Sweet in the palate and mild, this is a must-drink blend to the ones that can appreciate the qualities of superb tea, from the region of Fujian.
Tibet Dream is a great relaxing drink that is said to refresh your mind and body.
Tasters Review:
This has to be one of the most unique and interesting teas I have had in a LONG TIME…
Where to even begin?
Well…
Dry – It looks like dried Marigold Flowers or something similar. Maybe even a mini Dark Daisy or something. It’s incredibly light-weight and fluffy. It smells like Flowers, Fruit, Hibiscus, and Herbs. BUT…there isn’t any Hibiscus IN the loose leaf mixture! VERY interesting!
Once I poured water on top to infuse this I noticed the centers of the ‘flower’ puffed out even more. Much like a tea I once had from teaNY long ago! The yellow-orange flower petals expanded from the water and flopped-out and drooped over the puffy center.
Post infusion – the tea liquor is that of a light-medium red-brown. A very nice shade!
The tea taste itself is rather different than I anticipated. It’s Creamy and floral…not an old-lady flower-perfume type floral, but not a Jasmine either. I want to say it somewhat resembles a “cousin” to a chamomile type flavor but that might be a stretch as well as hard to comprehend unless you were to try it yourself. It has gentle fruity notes as well as some sort of likeness to the most mellow and most pale hibiscus you’ve ever tasted…BUT…REMEMBER…I really don’t see any hibiscus in here! And I’m not saying it’s that stereotypical tarty hibiscus flavor either…I’m just not completely sure how to describe it…it’s just the closest comparison I can make to it, I guess. It’s really pleasant and really different. As it starts to cool a bit I’m picking up semi-sweet and semi-dry wine type flavors in the aftertaste but not before I pick up a refreshing celery type hint in mid-sip! Again, this is quite the roller coaster ride and I LIKE it! The cooler it gets I can taste more subtle fruity flavors underneath floral/herbal combo’s.
I have to fess-up! I would certainly have identified this as a flowering-type tea because it’s obviously flower contents but I was surprised they have it listed as a Black Flowering Blend as I don’t ‘see’ actual black tea in there – BUT – when you infuse the loose leaf…it’s that of a milder black tea! Very unique…very interesting…VERY strange…I really thing that is why I like this tea because it really made me think…it really surprised me…and it REALLY threw me for a loop! Well Done on this tea!
As far as the name goes! Tibet Dream. I certainly have been sitting here – sipping on my new tea from In Nature Teas thinking of the Tibetan People, the Tibetan Monks while looking at my Windhorse Pray Flags displayed on my wall. I dream of peace, love, joy, happiness, and freedom for all! This is a great tea to assist with those positive thoughts and meditations – hopes and dreams – for everyone across the lands!