Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green & Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
We had some discussion about what base tea would be used in a Smaug tea, but clearly it had to be a DRAGON Well. For those unfamiliar, Dragon Well (aka Longjing, aka Lung Ching) is a green tea from the Zhejiang province in China. Legend has it the tea derives its name from the beneficent dragon said to live in a local well.
Our Smaug tea is a blend of Dragon Well, cinnamon chips, a hint of lapsang souchoung (I only used a single ounce in five pounds of Dragon Well, just enough to give it a little smoky character), some cayenne pepper and organic flavors. It’s a fiery feast for your tastebuds!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh WOW! This Smaug Tea from 52Teas is amazing!
I love the level of spice here – it is spicy, in fact, my first few sips, I could feel it in my sinuses! That’s how you know it’s got the spice! But, it isn’t SO spicy that I feel like I need to put out a fire on my tongue. I’m not running for a drink of water to dilute the spice, nor am I needing a bite of something dairy-ish to extinguish the flames on my palate (my personal favorite in instances such as these is ice cream). So … it is spicy and just a little smoky, but not to the point where I find it uncomfortable to drink. On the contrary, I’m really enjoying the burn!
The Dragon Well tea offers a light sweetness and a hint of vegetal taste. If I had any complaint about this tea at all, it would be that the Dragon Well almost seems a little overwhelmed by the flavors of cinnamon and cayenne pepper … almost, but not quite. I can taste the Dragon Well, but, the flavor does seem to be competing with the other flavors here.
The Lapsang Souchong is a barely there addition … there is just enough to give the cup the faintest insinuation of smoky undertones.
Another idea would be to use Chipotle pepper which would provide smokiness in addition to heat … Frank, if you’re reading this … how about a Chipotle Raspberry Chocolate tea? Spicy Love! YUM!
The cinnamon offers a nice, earthy character to the cup in addition to a zesty spice which compliments the cayenne pepper very nicely. The cayenne adds … just the right amount of heat here. It isn’t over done. If you’re wimpish about spices, you probably wouldn’t like this, but if you enjoy taking a walk on the spicy side now and then … I think you’ll find this tea is right up your alley!
Loving the burn! Absolutely LOVING it!
Product Review: Elixo from Domo
Product Information:
Where to Buy: Domo
Product Description:
Domo Elixo is a tea-based drink that dissolves instantly in hot or cold water.
Got a cold?
Sorry, there’s no cure, but if you drink Elixo you’ll get rid of the stuffy cold feeling in your throat and the hint of cayenne will clear your sinuses right up.Big night last night?
Rejuvinate your senses, shake off that groggy feeling and start your day with a burst of honey, vitamin C and organic tea to bring you back from zombie land.It’s all good
Elixo is made with organic tea, organic honey crystals and cayenne pepper (great for the sinuses). Elixo also contains Camu Camu, an Amazonian fruit with extraordinarily high levels of all-natural Vitamin C, much more effective and better for you than the synthetic kind found in many similar drinks.
Taster’s Review:
I am just getting over a cold, so I am tasting this at the right time! It really does help clear the throat and the sinuses, and I do feel rejuvenated and less groggy! It works!
Before I opened it, I did as the instructions suggested and I shook it first to equally distribute the ingredients. But beware when you open the package – the shaking leads to some of the dustier particles to hit you – right up the nose!
Dry, it smells very much like vitamins – like a children’s chewable vitamins! I prepared this like a Matcha, using my Chawan (Matcha bowl) and my Chasen (bamboo Matcha whisk), and I used just under boiling water to dissolve the granular powdery mix. It behaves very much like Matcha – it even has a bit of froth after whisking! And, I noticed as I made my way to the bottom of the bowl that it tends to separate, so keep your whisk handy.
This is actually quite a tasty drink. Very citrus-y, with a bit of tartness, but an ample amount of sweetness (don’t add any additional sweetener – it’s pre-sweetened with honey crystals). It is one that is sweet enough to appeal to children so it would be a good remedy for them when they’re feeling out of sorts too.
The cayenne pepper does not lend a lot of flavor to the cup, but there is a peppery bite at the finish which is further enhanced by the ginger. It is not an overwhelmingly spicy taste though, and I find it quite a refreshing taste especially when feeling sick – it seems to really rev up the palate and energize the senses.
The rooibos also does not lend a lot of flavor to the cup, in fact, I have a hard time detecting much flavor from the rooibos at all, the citrus and spice seems to mask those flavors and I’m fine with that.
This is a very pleasant tasting rooibos drink, one I’d like to keep on hand for when someone in the family is feeling down-and-out, because this will perk them right up again!