Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Tulsi
Where to Buy: Just.Organic.Tea
Tisane Description:
Tulsi, Lemon Myrtle, Ginger, Peppermint, Cinnamon & Pepper
Learn more about Just.Organic.Tea’s stance on Social Responsibility here.
Taster’s Review:
Just Tulsi with a Twist is a blend that isn’t currently available on the Just.Organic.Tea.’s website, but I really like this company, and since they did send me this sample, I figured I’d try it and tell you what I think about it.
Here’s why I like this company: I like that they are a company that isn’t just “talking” about making this planet a better place for us and for future generations, they’re doing something about it and their products prove that. They strive toward selecting organic and sustainable products, and they choose those products that are Fair Trade certified. Sure, it’s easy to find products that are less expensive, but, I like that this is a company that won’t compromise like that. I appreciate that.
And I’m really enjoying this Tulsi blend! It’s sweet, lemon-y, and with just enough of a warm spice kick to keep the taste buds happy. I’m a little surprised that I’m not tasting more from the peppermint than I am, usually, peppermint is a very assertive flavor. But the blenders at Just.Organic.Tea. have blended this in such a way that it has a gentle minty note that plays well with the other flavors in this blend.
I like that I’m tasting each component in this blend. I taste the basil-like notes of the tulsi. The slight “minty” note of the tulsi is accentuated my the soft peppermint-y flavors. It tastes herbaceous but not overly so. I can taste the cinnamon and the ginger and the pepper, and these give the cup a pleasing, soothing warmth.
What I taste most is the Lemon Myrtle, and it gives a really lovely lemon-y note without the pucker. It’s like that sweet-tart lemon flavor you’d find in a lemon curd.
A really nice blend from Just.Organic.Tea. I hope that this will eventually return to their collection of teas that they offer, because it’s one that I think that many tea drinkers would enjoy. It’s a tasty caffeine-free alternative, especially nice after dinner. I found it to have a calming effect on the tummy after a meal … bonus!
Just Awesome Assam Black Tea from Just.Organic.Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Just.Organic.Tea
Tea Description:
A bold, malty black tea. Looking for a stronger black? You’ve found it. A great breakfast tea with a caffeine kick that won’t leave you groggy. Our Assam tea is sourced from the famous Banaspaty estate in India. Fair trade & organic certified.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This tea was Just.Exactly.What.I.Needed.Today! OK, yeah, that was corny. Sorry. But, corny or not, the sentiment is true. I needed a good Assam kick and this tea delivers!
The description above pretty much nails it. This is a bold, malty black tea. The kind of tea you want for that first cup of the day. The kind of tea that helps you shake the sleepies, and gets you moving!
Because it is an Assam, I recommend steeping it with some care. I bring the water to a boil and I steep it for just 2 1/2 minutes. I find that if I go any longer than that, the tea starts to hint at becoming bitter, and the longer it steeps, the more bitter it tastes. Assam is one of those “persnickety” type of teas but it’s worth the extra effort because it delivers a really solid, hefty flavor that is malty, sweet and delicious when brewed properly.
And this tea is all those things: malty, sweet, and delicious! It’s got a solid, hefty flavor that would take the additions of milk and honey well if you like to add those to your morning tea. It also tastes great straight up. When I encounter a lovely Assam like this, I sometimes indulge and add a drizzle of real maple syrup to the cup and Mmmmm! Heaven!
I’m not only loving this tea, but I’m also loving that it’s organic and fair trade certified. And I really love that Just.Organic.Tea. focuses on these things. This is a company I feel really good about supporting!
Organic 2014 Risheehat Darjeeling First Flush from Happy Earth Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Darjeeling)
Where to Buy: Happy Earth Tea
Tea Description:
A fragrant tea with floral-fruity notes and a classic Darjeeling first flush briskness from one of the most popular Organic tea gardens of Darjeeling.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Another HAPPY SPRING first flush Darjeeling from Happy Earth Tea. The aroma of the brewed tea is beautiful – a fruity scent mingling with notes of flower and hints of wood. It is a wonderful celebration of spring.
And it tastes so lovely! It is sweet with notes of fruit and flower, and it has a light, crisp body. The fruit notes are somewhere between sweet peach and apple, with the crispness of a green apple but the sweeter flavor of a red. It is very smooth and there is only a mild astringency that is slightly dry, sort of like the finish of a dry wine. The aftertaste is cool and clean.
The description on the Happy Earth Tea website suggests a hint of vanilla too, and after a few sips, I started to pick up on the soft vanilla undertones. It is sweet and silky … not so much ‘creamy’ as it is silky.
There are hints of vegetation to this cup too, as well as woodsy tones and earthy flavors. I would describe the complexity as a balance between masculine and feminine notes: Imagine crisp, light airy notes that deliver whispers of flower that rustle the leaves as you’re walking through a fruit orchard while the trees are blossoming.
A remarkable Darjeeling from Happy Earth Tea. I love that this is Organic, it’s also Fair Trade Certified and Rainforest Alliance Certified! I love that these things are important to Happy Earth Tea.
Just Pure Green Tea from Just.Organic.Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Just.Organic.Tea
Tea Description:
A light and flavorful green tea, bio-dynamically produced in South India. Full of antioxidants. Plays well with honey. Tastes great hot or iced. Organic certified.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a mighty fine pure green tea. Most of the green teas that I encounter are either Japanese or Chinese, so I’m really happy when I come across a green tea that’s grown in another country. This Just Pure Green Tea from Just.Organic.Tea was produced – organically! – in South India.
And there is a notable difference in flavor. It has that fresh and exhilarating “green” flavor, but it’s not quite as buttery. Still sweet and vegetal, but this has more of an invigorating flavor. The finish is clean and the aftertaste is more subdued.
The texture is broth-y, reminiscent of a light, nourishing soup. The flavor is smooth and nicely round and as the sip nears the finish I start to pick up on lively citrus notes that perk up the palate. It’s a very bright and refreshing taste and a nice way to end the sip! There is a moderate astringency at the tail.
Another wonderful, organic cuppa from Just.Organic.Tea. I’ve been pretty pleased with what I’ve tried from them thus far!
Just Epic Earl Grey from Just.Organic.Tea.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Just.Organic.Tea
Tea Description:
We’ve blended our premium black teas with a generous amount of oil of bergamot for a rich sensory experience. If you like Earl Grey, you’ll love Earl Greyest. Fair trade & organic certified.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Yay! Earl Grey! Since Earl Grey is a beloved favorite of mine, I decided to schedule this review for my birthday. A good way to celebrate the day, right? With a cup of Earl Grey!
The bergamot notes are a bit softer than I would like them to be – both in aroma and taste. That said, I do like this blend quite a bit. The tea base is a rich, robust, full-flavored black tea, and it is nicely complemented by the tangy-sweet notes of bergamot.
The black tea base starts off strong. As I continue sipping, the flavor of the bergamot develops on the palate. The bergamot never becomes incredibly strong, and even though I usually prefer a stronger bergamot presence in an Earl Grey tea, I am liking this the more I sip it.
I like how the bergamot builds. I also like that the bergamot tastes like something more true to the fruit, although, I’ve never actually eaten a bergamot orange. So I guess it would be more accurate for me to say that it tastes more like something that I think is more true to fruit. It doesn’t taste fake, chemical-y, or perfume-ish. It has a tangy overtone with sweet undertones, and it tastes like a citrus fruit. It doesn’t taste artificial at all.
A pleasant Earl Grey. This is the Earl Grey I’d recommend to those who want a subtle bergamot note to their Earl Grey tea.