What a bold and dramatic name for a white tea: White Thunder. So many white teas get paired with desserts, like ice cream flavors or berries, so I was intrigued to try out this flavor just from the brash name alone. Besides, it doesn’t hurt that this tea is from Love Tea, one of our ChariTea companies. Learn more here.
The White Thunder blend features white tea, peony, spearmint, and peppermint. I brewed it both hot and iced, and preferred the flavors chilled. There’s something about drinking an iced mint tea, like Moroccan Mint, that just feels best suited over ice on a hot day.
Back to White Thunder, for a tea without any fruit ingredients, there is a delectable peachy flavor mingling with all the mint. This is a well-balance blend, despite mint making up half of the ingredients list. The white tea and peony really get a chance to shine and be tasted, and bring forward that bright stone-fruit taste. The white tea adds a sweet, mild, earthiness, and the peony compliments those tones with floral, blossoming notes of its own.
The spearmint and peppermint add a touch of frost to even out all the flowers and fruit. The balance of sweet and crisp feel like sitting on fresh green grass that has been cooled by the shade. White Thunder might be my new favorite summer iced blend, bringing just the right balance of cool mint and breezy florals.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: The Love Tea Company
Description:
Bai Mudan, also known as White Peony is a type of white tea made from pluckings of one leaf shoot and two immediate young leaves. Bai Mudan is sometimes preferred by white tea drinkers for its fuller flavor and greater potency than other major types of white tea. For an extra kick, peppermint and spearmint are added to this blend. Boom, crack, that’s the sound of your taste buds loving this blend.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Kashima: Monoucha Genmaicha ‘Tsukihime’, Ishinomaki Brown Rice Tea From Kashima Tea Garden/Yunomi.us & Kumamoto Earthquake Tea Fund Announcement
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Yunomi.us
Tea Description:
Sencha from the town of Monou in what is now Ishinomaki City brews into a deep forest green with a strong astringency. With a 400 year history of tea farming, the town of Monou is the northernmost tea region, and the field managed by Sasaki-san is the northernmost tea field in Japan.
Monoucha Genmaicha blends Sasaki-san’s sencha with toasted rice grains as well as rice cracker balls (plain and matcha flavored) for a uniquely toasted nutty flavor.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This review will be one of the my lengthiest reviews to date here are Sororitea Sisters and it’s because of Kashima: Monoucha Genmaicha ‘Tsukihime’, Ishinomaki Brown Rice Tea From Kashima Tea Garden/Yunomi.us & Kumamoto Earthquake Tea Fund Announcement. Yes! It serves a duel purpose. The tea review will be of the Kashima: Monoucha Genmaicha ‘Tsukihime’, Ishinomaki Brown Rice Tea From Kashima Tea Garden/Yunomi.us and then you will see an announcement about The Kumamoto Earthquake Tea Fund to follow.
Upon opening the package of Kashima: Monoucha Genmaicha ‘Tsukihime’, Ishinomaki Brown Rice Tea From Kashima Tea Garden available for purchase at Yunomi.us I found the aroma to be somewhat subtle but pleasant. To the eye – this tea looks just like you think it would for a Genmaicha. You see popped rice, flatted green tea leaves, matcha coated balls – you name it!
Once I infused this eye and nose pleasing green tea I noticed the post-infusion water was murky grey-green which isn’t surprising for a Genmaicha. The aroma of the tea once infused is more roasted than prior to infusing. Again it’s a lovely smelling tea!
As for the taste it is very green tea tasting with strong roasted notes! It’s somewhat reminiscent of a broth but a bit heavier and I’m ok with that. I’m more than ok with that! I’m enjoying this quite a bit. This is one of the most well-rounded Genmaicha’s I have tried in a long time. It seems to offer everything I’m looking for without it being lopsided on one characteristic over the others. This Kashima Monoucha Genmaicha ‘Tsukihime’, Ishinomaki Brown Rice Tea From Kashima Tea Garden (available atYunomi.us) is one for the ages!
Now…I would like to bring something to your attention. And I’m pasting info below straight from the source(s).
“IMPOSSIBLE TO REMAIN STANDING” – JAPAN TIMES
The Kumamoto Earthquakes were a series of earthquakes between April 14-16, 2016, with the main shock at magnitude 7.0. The earthquakes have resulted in 63 deaths, 3000+ injuries, and nearly 200,000 people evacuated to shelters in the aftermath.
Affect on Kumamoto Tea
Kumamoto is also a tea production region, and while we don’t believe tea production was affected in any major way by the earthquakes, tea producers and merchants, particularly small-scale operations that rely on local business for their livelihoods, will be affected as the region attempts to recover from this disaster. Merchants with shops in the most heavily damaged regions for example, experienced major damage to their buildings.
Tea people helping tea people
As part of the global tea community, we wish to contribute to the recovery of the region by creating this tea fund for the purpose of buying tea from these companies. While information is still coming in, we suspect the small tea shops in the hardest hit towns will benefit most from this fund rather than tea farmers or factories, but we will keep you updated on the contribution page.
TEA FUND – We would like to stress that while the sentiment is to help the region, this is a for-profit business effort. Suppliers, the small tea companies who we buy from, will make a profit, and profits we make from this specific fund will be used to buy more tea from these suppliers. This shifts the financial risk of the inventory from these tea companies to ourselves. A full accounting of funds will be updated regularly on this page (see below).
CHARITY – If you choose the option to donate to charity, 100% of your funds after transferred into Japanese yen will be donated Civic Force, a non-profit organization established in 2009, and was active after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in rescue and relief efforts. They sent staff immediately to earthquake hit regions in its aftermath to aid in the search for survivors trapped in collapsed houses and buildings. Images and video from Civic Force. **We are unaffiliated with this non-profit organization but have received permission to use their images and video. Contributions will be aggregated and donated in full at a rate of 110 yen / USD (transaction fees and any other expenses paid by Yunomi).
THE TEA FUND – HOW IT WORKS
- For every $10 contribution, you will receive 30 grams (3.52 oz) of Kumamoto-grown tea.
- Tea will be shipped to you beginning in July by Standard Airmail without tracking (buy tracking here if necessary).
- Tea will be sourced from a Kumamoto tea producer or a tea merchant in the most heavily affected areas.
- We will procure tea at retail price. Purchasing will be made in June at the earliest. The first few days after an earthquake are focused on rescue, then relief in the weeks following the disaster. Allowing for at least 1.5 months should be enough time for life to return to some semblance or normalcy and beginning of recover. However, we will monitor the situation and adjust accordingly.
- Messages will be translated and sent to the companies we buy from, and to Civic Force.
Again…if you would like to donate please CLICK HERE for the Kumamoto Earthquake Tea Fund.
Children’s Hospital Vanilla Black Tea from The Secret Garden Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Secret Garden Tea Co.
Tea Description:
A playful blend of baby rosebuds, vanilla, and bergamot that reminds us of childhood tea parties. Proceeds go to BC Children’s Hospital.
Ingredients: Black tea, rosehip pieces, rose petals, blackberry leaves, natural flavors.
Learn more about this blend here.
Taster’s Review:
After reading the ingredients listed and then opening the sample pouch of this tea, I was a little surprised to immediately recognize a chamomile blossom. I see the rosehips and rose petals and blackberry leaves, but they need to update their ingredient list to also include chamomile.
This is a tasty blend. The black tea base has a robust flavor and it melds nicely with the notes of vanilla to create a really rich, creamy flavor that is both malty and vanilla-y sweet. The sip starts out really smooth yet strong, and it remains smooth to the finish where I pick up on a slightly dry astringency.
The bergamot is a little less distinct than the vanilla and even the floral notes in this blend. When one reads the description of this tea, they might be led to believe that this is a “Earl Grey Creme” type of tea, but I wouldn’t call it that. It’s more of a flowery cream type of tea than it is a creamy bergamot type of tea.
The floral notes are soft and sweet. I like the way they contrast with the silky vanilla tones. I don’t taste a lot from the aforementioned chamomile blossoms, not even that distinct apple-y flavor that I usually pick up on when I drink something with chamomile. The strength of the black tea and other flavors seems to cancel out the chamomile – but that certainly doesn’t disappoint me. What I do taste is the rose and it’s quite a nice flavor. It starts out rather delicate and by the time I made my way to mid-cup, I was noticing more and more rose essence emerge in every sip.
I’m also so pleased to find that this tea is a tea that benefits the BC Children’s Hospital. I like that Secret Garden Tea Company has found a few favorite charities and offers help to them through the sales of their lovely tea blends.
This is a really nice tea. It has many different layers of flavor and what I think I’m realizing now that I’ve just passed the mid-cup point is that every sip seems to be just a little different than the one that preceded it. I might notice a really strong presence of the black tea in the first sip and with the next sip, I pick up on more vanilla. The sips that follow allow my palate to explore other flavors: hints of bright bergamot notes, a rose essence that develops, and the creamy-malty flavor of the vanilla and black tea flavors.
It’s quite an interesting tea – I’d recommend this to anyone who is looking for a blend that’s a little less ordinary!
Wild Forest Black Tea from Choice Organic
Tea Type:
Black Tea
Where To Buy:
Choice Organic Tea
Product Description:
Awaken your senses with this rare tea, rich in flavor and history, from ancient tea trees growing deep in the forests of Southeast Asia. Generations of local people have climbed these wild tea trees to pluck their leaves. Now you can enjoy this refreshing cup that’s smooth, yet hearty. Drink in its enduring energy.
An energizing rare wild tea with a smooth, yet hearty flavor. Leaves are plucked from ancient tea trees (500 years old or more) growing deep in the forests of Southeast Asia. Only recently have these teas been made available to the rest of the world due to recent efforts by NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to develop a positive alternative economy for the region as a solution to the illegal drug market.
Tasters Review:
I think this is a great way to start your day if you are short on time or on-the-go! This is a bold and burly black tea in a bag! It’s pretty strong, fairly malty, rich and robust! It has hints of that bakey or crusty type tea that I so much love, too!
Wild Forest Black Tea is a winner in my book! And I really like that Choice Organic Teas support the Jane Goodall Institute!
About Choice Organic’s GOOD FOR ALL Campaign and Efforts:
Choice Organic Teas is delighted to present five extraordinary teas – Oothu Garden Green, Wild Forest Black, Decaffeinated English Breakfast, Yerba Maté Mint and Rooibos Superfruit. This well-rounded collection of flavorful teas sourced from four different continents celebrates the universal passion for tea while supporting the Jane Goodall Institute and our continued leadership and commitment to social and environmental sustainability.
Sales from each purchase benefit the Jane Goodall Institute, a global leader in the effort to protect chimpanzees and their habitats. The Institute is also recognized for establishing innovative community-centered conservation programs in Africa, as well as Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, its international environmental and humanitarian youth program.
Choice Organic Teas is proud to support the Jane Goodall Institute as we share its commitment to conservation, sustainability, and being responsible stewards of the earth. Since 1989, our mission has been to improve the world one cup of tea at a time. As the first exclusively organic tea crafter in the United States, the first to offer Fair Trade Certified™ tea in the United States, and most recently, the first tea company to acquire Non-GMO Verification, we craft all of our teas the with conservation of the planet and its creatures in mind. www.janegoodall.org
Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) and UN Messenger of Peace, is world renowned for her groundbreaking chimpanzee behavioral research—research that transformed scientific perceptions of the relationship between humans and animals. Founded in 1977, JGI is a global leader in the effort to protect endangered chimpanzees and their habitats. The Institute and its iconic founder are also committed to empowering people to make a difference for all living things. Consistent with this mission, JGI created the “Good for All” brand to recognize companies and environmentally conscious products that reflect Dr. Goodall’s core values.
Green Tea and Honey – Bob’s Mellow Mood from Marley’s Beverage Company
Tea Type: Green Tea
Where To By: Marley’s Beverage Company
Product Description:
Marley Beverages have developed a special blend of ingredients that will calm your soul and ease your mind. Marley Mellow Mood is not an energy drink but a relaxation drink. With all the chaos around the world we feel that it is important for everyone to be able to relax, whether your stressed or wanting to mellow down, Marley Mellow Mood is your premium relaxation drink.
Marley Beverage Company has launched a premium line of natural and healthful beverage products to coincide with the iconic cultural image and universal recognition of Bob Marley. MBC first launched 100% all natural relaxation beverages followed by high quality teas, carbonated beverages, and soon we will have juices and coffee drinks. MBC is currently has supplied products in select North American geographic regions and plans to launch additional international markets in Fall 2010.
Ingredients: Green Tea, Valerian Root Extract, Lemon Balm, Chamomile Flower Extract, Hops Extract, Passionflower Extract, Melatonin, pure cane sugar, honey
Tasters Review:
It’s rare that I review a Bottled Tea but this one was just too interesting to pass up!
I want to start of by saying…I’m a fan of his music and his family’s charity work. I have been to the Bob Marley Cafe in Orlando. I have over 14 of his CDs. Yeah…I guess you could say I’m a Bob Marley fan.
My parents recently surprised me with a groovy lil glass bottle of Bob Marley Iced Tea waiting.
I’m not going to lie…I was a little skeptical. BUT…this iced tea was REALLY GOOD. I mean REALLY GOOD. Sure, it was sweet from the pure cane sugar and honey but it was mellow or what I like to call a “more pale type of sweet”. It wasn’t overly sweet nor was it artificial tasting like many bottled iced teas can be. I might say this is my new favorite bottled sweetened iced tea! I am looking forward to trying the other 3.
This was a mellower juicy green tea that was sugary-sweet and didn’t leave a weird aftertaste, thankfully. I ended up REALLY liking this and was very surprised!
Because this is a MELLOW MOOD tea – I will say that it lives up to its name. It’s not often anything makes me drowsy but this actually did. I will say that on the back of the bottle it does say not to exceed more than 2 bottles in one day and to space them out so they aren’t back-to-back.
I’ll leave you this morning with ONE LOVE by Bob Marley…