One thing that I like … that’s different about the 52Teas and now the Southern Boy Teas 12 Teas of Christmas countdown packages is how the teas are packaged. Previously, the labels for the tea were stashed in the package with the teas so that you wouldn’t know what the tea was until you opened it and could remove the label to put on the sample package. However, Frank seems to have implemented a “scratcher” type of reveal system now, sort of like the scratcher lotto tickets. You scratch off the silver coating from the label, and it reveals to you what the tea of the day is. Pretty cool!
Key Lime Cheesecake Iced Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Learn more about Southern Boy Teas here.
Taster’s Review:
Given the success that I’ve had with the previous “Lime” flavored iced teas from the SBT collection – Lime Jello and Lime Cola – I was pretty confident that I’d enjoy this Key Lime Cheesecake iced tea too.
And I am enjoying this Key Lime Cheesecake from Southern Boy Teas quite a bit. The flavor is very bright with the flavor of lime: tart but not so tart that I’m puckering when I take a drink. I can also taste the creamy, tangy note of the cream cheese peaking out beneath the lime flavor. The black tea is not completely hidden behind the flavors, and I appreciate that. It has a brisk flavor that refreshes and invigorates.
Just as I have been doing with the other iced tea pouches, I cold-brewed this pouch, and I’m very satisfied with the flavor. In every sip, I get lime, I get cheesecake (although I don’t really taste a lot of pastry or crust here, I do get a hint of a buttery note every once in a while if I really focus on what I’m tasting), and I get black tea.
After I finished my pitcher of cold-brewed iced tea, I resteeped the pouch by hot-brewing it. I found this second pitcher of iced tea much more flavorful. The key lime was slightly softer, but there were still plenty of sweet-tart notes from the citrus fruit, and I could taste more of the tangy cream cheese and even more of the crust notes. The black tea was slightly less apparent in the second pitcher, but it was still discernible.
Overall, I enjoyed the Key Lime Cheesecake iced tea, although I think the Lime Cola and Lime Jello flavors are much tastier.
Ginger Pumpkin Cheesecake Honeybush Blend from 52Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tisane Description:
This week we have caffeine-free honeybush blended with ginger, cinnamon and organic flavors, including cheesecake. I figure I don’t have to say much more than that, but it is AWESOME. Get some today.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
Mmm! Tasty! I was confident that I’d like this Ginger Pumpkin Cheesecake Honeybush Blend from 52Teas, but, wow! This tisane has exceeded my expectations. It’s really yummy.
The fragrance of the dry leaf is really enjoyable – I can smell the ginger and the cinnamon, with notes of pumpkin. The nutty aroma of the honeybush complements the other notes to create a very delicious scent that made my mouth water when I first opened the pouch.
Every component in this blend marries very harmoniously together. The ginger is not quite as strong as I expected given the name of the tisane. It stands out, but it doesn’t come off as super peppery or spicy the way ginger often does, especially when it is a key ingredient in the tea blend like it is with this blend. Instead, Frank (the chief Zoomdweebie at 52Teas) added just enough ginger to add a “zing” to the cup without allowing it to overpower the balance of flavors.
The cinnamon comes through nicely, but again, this is not overly spiced. Everything is pleasantly balanced so that I can also taste the notes of cheesecake – tangy and creamy! – and even the more delicate notes of pumpkin. The nutty, sweet tones of the honeybush complete the set of flavors.
This is really good served warm as a latte (warm up a little milk and add a splash of it to your cup, you’re in for a treat!) and it is surprisingly delicious iced too. A very refreshing take on some favorite autumnal flavors!
Turtle Cheesecake Flavored Black Tea from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Our newest Tea of the Week is a Turtle Cheesecake flavored black tea. We combined premium black teas, organic roasted cacao nibs, pecans and organic flavors to create a cup of awesome. This tea is vegan-friendly! Our Cheesecake teas never last long, so get yours today.
Learn more about this blend here.
Learn more about Zoomdweebie’s fundraising campaign to reopen the Tea Bar here. (There are only a few days left to contribute!)
Taster’s Review:
OK … I was pretty much jumping for joy when the tea for the week of September 2nd from 52Teas was announced. Turtle Cheesecake Flavored Black Tea? Um … yes, please!
The aroma when I opened the package immediately enchanted this chocoholic. I could smell the notes of the roasted cacao nibs, and hints of nutty goodness from the pecans. It smelled sweet and my mouth started watering at that very moment.
Now that the tea is brewed, I can still smell the chocolate and the pecans, but, I also smell caramel! Mmm! There is also a note of earthiness from the black tea base.
The black tea is rich and substantial. It provides a nice, full taste on the tongue … a very satisfying flavor. It is a little bit sweet and a little bit earthy. There are notes of malt to the flavor as well, and these notes accentuate the caramel flavoring.
This is a really delicious tea … but, right now, it’s still quite hot, and I’m thinking it needs a couple of minutes to allow the flavors to develop. Right now as the tea is piping hot, it is almost as though there is just too much going on to be able to really focus on individual flavor profiles … so … I’ll allow it a few minutes to cool down just a bit.
After a few minutes cool time, the flavors really DO develop. Now I can taste not only the black tea notes, but, also the chocolate, the caramel and the pecan … as well as the tangy cheesecake!
The chocolate is delicious, but as a chocoholic, I find myself wanting a little bit more chocolate in this. It’s delicious as it is … but more chocolate is always better. Ha! I was just imagining myself as an assistant to Frank during the blending process of these teas. I’d be adding more cacao nibs when his back was turned.
When the tea cools to a point of still being warm but not what I’d call “hot” I notice more cheesecake flavor. It is tangy, smooth and rich. Sometimes, I swear I could even taste a hint of buttery pastry for the crust. The caramel has notes of “burnt sugar” to it and I like it, because it’s a slightly bitter intonation and it adds an interesting taste to the cup.
In one sip, I taste notes of toasted pecans, sweet caramel, rich cheesecake and decadent chocolate notes … as well as a solid background of black tea flavor. I like that I taste all of these things … and they are very harmonious. The key with this tea really is patience, because when sipped after it’s been poured from the teapot – when it’s at its hottest temperature – the flavors are a little bit muddy. But, allow the tea to cool to a drinkable temperature and the flavors really come out.
This is a very tasty tea!
Cheesecake Flavored Black Tea Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
When the much loved cheesecake is combined with exotic Matcha, the resulting Cheesecake Matcha is unforgettable and very delicious. With its creamy and buttery undertones and a hint of Matcha spiciness, a Cheesecake Matcha treat can easily take its place among the everyday favorite snack choices. This versatile treat adapts to the palate and can sometimes taste salty or creamy or sour depending on who is enjoying it. This varied taste makes this delectable treat truly exceptional and very favored among those who prefer non sweet snacks in their refreshment alternatives.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I loved the classic grade of traditional green Matcha flavored with the Cheesecake flavoring from Red Leaf Tea (see my review of it here) … so, I was a little hesitant to order the black tea version of this flavor. I mean, I was a little worried that maybe this wouldn’t be a win and that could possibly ruin the cheesecake matcha experience for me.
But, I”m really glad I decided to try this Cheesecake Flavored Black Tea Matcha from Red Leaf Tea … because, you know what? I like this even BETTER than the green tea variety! The black tea is the perfect companion for the sweet, creamy, luscious cheesecake flavors!
Just like the green tea version – this is sweet and creamy tasting – but there is just … something about the black tea base allows the tangy cream cheese notes to come out even better. This tastes MORE like real cheesecake in liquid form to me than the green tea variety. I’m getting a more focused “cheesecake” flavor with the black tea base, and I even taste more of the buttery, graham cracker-like crust notes with this blend … perhaps it’s the rich, sweet tones of the black tea that helps bring these flavors forward.
Oh, don’t get me wrong, I still have a lot of love for the classic green tea base for the cheesecake flavoring. Both are absolutely delightful. And if you liked the cheesecake green tea Matcha from Red Leaf Tea … you’ve got to try the black tea version … you’ll LOVE it. It’s so good!
Just … don’t drink it before bedtime, or you’ll find it difficult to sleep … because this really ENERGIZES!
Banana Cheesecake Genmaicha Green Tea from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Following the success of our Marshmallow Treat Genmaicha, I’ve decided to try another genmaicha blend. The toasted rice element in genmaicha seems to make it okay to blend it with flavors like cheesecake and banana. (Normally I tend to think of fruity green teas, but I think the genmaicha is more agreeable with ‘heavier’ flavors like cheesecake and banana.) Of course, you, our customer will have to be the final judge. This being a cheesecake blend, and given the historical swiftness with which our cheesecake blends disappear, I did make a little extra of this, but don’t drag your feet, it won’t last long.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
OK … not that I had my doubts or anything … but this Banana Cheesecake Genmaicha Green Tea from 52Teas is SERIOUSLY yummy.
Having enjoyed Frank’s Marshmallow Treat Genmaicha, I knew that I’d like this one too, after all, I love genmaicha – that roasty/toasty, popped rice flavor together with the sweet flavor of green tea, and I love Frank’s cheesecake and his banana teas. So I knew I’d like this. But … it still is blowing me away at how good this really is.
The banana comes through nicely. It is sweet and the creaminess of the banana melds beautifully with the toasty, nutty flavor of the genmaicha and the deliciously creamy, tangy flavor of the cheesecake notes. The nutty flavor of the genmaicha also plays to the buttery crust flavor too.
The creaminess of this cup seems to emerge more as the tea cools slightly … it becomes more mellow and creamy, but that zesty cream cheese flavor comes through at the finish … reminding you that you’re eating … (err … drinking!) cheesecake.
The genmaicha is a perfectly delightful base for the cheesecake flavors. The lightly buttery, sweet taste of the green tea works nicely with the sweet, creamy cheesecake notes and as I mentioned, the toasted nut flavor of the genmaicha also brings out the crust notes well too.
This is definitely one of Frank’s best cheesecake offerings yet. I love this!