Date Nut Muffin Rooibos from 52Teas

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Rooibos

Where to Buy:  52Teas

Product Description:

Here’s our caffeine-free African rooibos, blended with sweet, dried dates, walnuts and natural flavors, including a touch of natural butter flavor (just a little pat on your muffin)–and yes, this tea is still 100% vegan.

Taster’s Review:

This one scared me when I first opened the pouch, because the aroma of the dry leaf isn’t all that great.  But once the tisane is brewed, the smell becomes quite delicious.  It smells like freshly baked muffins!

I taste the date, I taste the walnut.  I can even taste a cake-y kind of flavor with a hint of butter.  So far, so good.  This tisane delivers what the name of it says it will.  And I can see where the rooibos melds with the other flavors to help build the muffin flavor.

Unfortunately, as I’ve said before, I’m not wild about rooibos.  However, when flavored/blended, more often than not, I can enjoy the tisane even though it’s rooibos.  Sadly, though, this happens to be one of those times when I can’t get past that rooibos flavor.  It’s just not working for me here.

Yes, 52Teas is still my favorite tea company, and I’m really glad that I got to try this blend.  This tisane DOES have all the flavors it suggests in its title, so it is what it says it is.  So if the idea of a Date Nut Muffin in a teacup appeals to you, then I hope you’ll try it for yourself (and if you do like it, please comment here, I’d love to have some positive remarks about this tea here!)

That being said, I can’t say I liked something if I didn’t, and I’m just not digging it.  I guess they all can’t be winners… and more often than not, 52Teas’ blends are winners with me.  This one just isn’t a win for me.  (Sorry Frank!)

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in 52Teas, Rooibos, Tea Company, Type Of Tea

Pancake Breakfast Black Tea from 52Teas

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  52Teas

Product Description:

I’m tempted to start this post with, “You’re not going to believe what we did this week!” But we’ve created enough unique, one-of-a-kind blends, that I imagine our unique-ness is getting rather ho-hum.

But seriously? Who else would bring you a PANCAKE BREAKFAST tea? With the essence of hot, buttery, maple-syruped pancakes infused through our premium black teas (a bit heavier on the breakfast teas this week). Who else, really?

Taster’s Review:

Well, it’s Sunday, and Sunday means pancakes!  Well, it used to mean pancakes.  I fear I have slacked off when it comes to fixing the big Sunday morning breakfast.  But, as I sip this tea, I am not missing that stack of fluffy pancakes in the least.

The first flavor I notice is the maple.  Sweet, rich maple.  About mid-sip, a creamy, buttery taste comes through, while a bake-y, cake-y undertone continues to develop.  The sip finishes with a satisfying sweetness.  This tea has all the elements of a stack of golden brown pancakes topped with melted butter and real maple syrup except for the carbs and calories!

The black tea base is the 52Teas standard base of Nilgiri and Assam teas, and it seems to compliment the sweet pancake-ish, buttery, maple-y flavors perfectly.  The flavor of the tea is strong and comes through well but without becoming too aggressive.  There is some astringency to this cup but no bitterness.

This is a tea I prefer hot.  I also prefer to eat my pancakes while they are hot.  Some sweetener is nice here, as I find it brings out some of the more delicate flavors.  I chose to sweeten this with turbinado sugar today as I like the way the molasses-y notes meld with the overall cup; however, if you really want to amplify the maple notes, try a drizzle of real maple syrup in this.  YUM!  I haven’t tried adding milk to this but I suspect it would take this addition well.

Definitely one of my favorites from 52Teas (I say that a lot, don’t I?), and apparently, I’m not the only one who enjoys this one, as it sold out in record time after the first blending, and it has been re-blended several times since, and each re-blended batch has sold out.  I recommend joining the 52Teas mailing list (if you haven’t already) and watch for the next re-blending announcement so you can get some of this for yourself!  You won’t be disappointed!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in 52Teas, Black Tea, Tea Company, Type Of Tea

Buttered Rum from David’s Tea

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  David’s Tea

Product Description:

Hot buttered rum is so delicious we want it all day long. Unfortunately, most employers frown on workplace drunkenness, so we came up with this rich and creamy alternative. Toasted coconut and vanilla beans mingle with black tea in a caramelized caress of flavours. Decadent hot or iced, it also blends perfectly with dark rum, brown sugar and a dash of milk – so go ahead and indulge your inner pirate, off the clock.

Taster’s Review:

This tea has been at the top of the Steepster ratings for some time now, so I figured it was high time that I try it!  And I’m really glad I did.

This is really good.  The rum comes through nicely, especially at the start.  As I continue to sip on this cup, I find that some of the other flavors make their way through, although I can still taste the rum notes… they are just not quite as dominate as they were at the beginning. The coconut is one of the nicest additions to this – it gives the cup a delicious sweetness and creaminess, and I like the way it melds with the rum flavor.

The “buttered” aspect is very slight in the beginning, but by about mid-cup, the flavor has developed nicely.  In fact, I am finding it to be the dominating presence now, perhaps because it has united with the vanilla and coconut.  By the time I’ve finished with the cup, I find that the cup is actually quite heavy in texture, coating the palate with a creamy- buttered presence.

If I were to offer any complaint about this tea at all, it would be that the black tea isn’t a strong presence in this cup.  I think that if it were a slightly stronger tea (an Assam, perhaps?) it might have a bit of cleansing astringency which would make the finish a bit cleaner.  But, then again, I actually quite enjoy the heavy creaminess of this tea.  It is such an indulgent pleasure, but a guiltless one!  The best kind!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Black Tea

PRODUCT REVIEW: Green Tea Butter Caramels from Fusion Sweets

by liberteas

Where to Buy:  Fusion Sweets on Etsy ~or~ Fusion Sweets website

Product Description:

For some, the taste of childhood is Hershey bars and marshmallow fluff. For me, it is green tea caramel.

Reminiscent of vintage Japanese milk candies, our green tea butter caramels burst with the bright, fragrant, grassy notes of high quality green tea powder.

Taster’s Review:

These are oh-so-delicious!

The caramels are very soft and smooth in texture, although there is a little bit of “grit” (for lack of a better word) from the Matcha green tea.  This in no way detracts from the pleasurable texture of the caramels, though.

The Matcha gives these caramels a delicious twist on the classic caramel taste.  There are creamy, milky sweet tones from the caramel that meld so perfectly with the vegetative and vibrant notes from the Matcha.  It tastes … well, it tastes like Matcha and caramel!  And what a wonderful way to enjoy the health benefits of this green tea.

Yes, that’s right.  This is health food.  It’s good for me.  They’re Super-Candies! So, it’s quite alright to indulge in another … and another … and even another.  (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it)  My only lament about these “uper-candies is that now, they are gone…

If you love Matcha, these treats are a MUST TRY!  And buy a bunch, you’ll be glad you did!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Green Tea, Matcha, Tea Products and Accessories