Okay, full disclosure here, I was really hesitant about this blend. I am not a fan of mocha/coffee flavor at all. I switched from coffee to tea a long time ago and don’t really like tea that tastes like coffee. However, the smell of the dry leaf was enticing me because I could smell the hazelnut and chocolate and it smelled delicious. I’ve never had mate before and I hear its loaded with caffeine, so if you are looking for an energy boost this just may be a great tea for you.
The steeped liquid looked as dark as coffee and I feel like if I added a little cream you would have thought it was coffee in my cup opposed to tea! I added just a pinch of agave to this one, and that’s usual for me, but I really did it because this blend includes dark chocolate and mocha flavor- both of which can be very bitter especially in combination with each other. Not going to lie, I was not a fan of this. The only reason I didn’t like it is because it was true to its name- mocha. This tea tasted just like a cafe mocha with a dash of hazelnut and chocolate! I did not finish the cup, but my coffee-loving boyfriend did and he thoroughly enjoyed it!!!
Unfortunately this tea was not my “cup of tea” (pun intended). But that doesn’t mean that this wasn’t a good blend. It actually would have been a favorite of mine if I enjoyed the flavors of mocha and dark chocolate. It was true to its name and the flavors were bold and smooth and comforting. I think that if you like coffee or are looking for an alternative to coffee, you will really love this tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Mate
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Chocolate Stout Brownies. . . A Quarter To Tea Blend
My birthday just recently passed and with that came a lot of people asking “what do you want for your birthday?” This seems like a simple question yet I have a bit of an impulse control problem so I tend to buy the things I want as soon as I see them, which makes it surprisingly difficult to request reasonable gifts. However, this year I knew just what to ask for…the monthly subscription to A Quarter to Tea! Every time I read about their new teas of the month, my mouth waters and now that they deliver to Canada, I knew it would be the perfect gift.
My first box arrived days ago and everything sounded awesome so today I just grabbed one tea and got brewing. I ended up pulling out the Chocolate Stout Brownies tea, a Temi black tea. The smell of the dry leaf was so fragrant with notes of mouthwatering chocolate while the flowery hops were speckled about. Amazingly, the smell of the dry leaf transfers over to the taste. There is a great does of honey from the base (so much so that I had to double check that I didn’t accidentally grab another tea from the box, Boxty with honey) that quickly melds with the silky chocolate undertones. I can pick up notes of the hops in the scent and it lingers underneath everything in, a bit citrusy, a bit savory, and certainly a seamless transition to the slightly bitter base tea which remains only noticeable in so far that it’s contrast to the other flavors highlights the sweeter and creamier notes present in the mug. The flavors come together perfectly to be both reminiscent of a stout (well the idea of a stout, with less coffee notes and bitterness) and a fudgey brownie, though leaning more towards to brownie side of things.
I am not sure how Lauren at A Quarter to Tea masters these flavors but this is one unique blend. I am quite pleased with this introduction to her monthly subscription boxes and if the teas in the box are anything like this one, I know I will continue to be pleased. This is certainly a birthday gift I will not regret asking for and I look forward to the next few months of boxes that are in store for me.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
Rich chocolate pastry flavored Temi rounded with a touch of dryness from German hops and raspberry leaf.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Chocolate Banana Flavored Tea? We’re Listening. . . . #52Teas
There is definitely no mistaking that I don’t love banana- banana bread, banana tea, banana pancakes, banana smoothies. I just love bananas! I actually made chocolate covered bananas the other day. I dipped them in milk chocolate and covered them with crumbled graham crackers, crushed peanuts, sprinkles, chocolate chips, and shredded coconut. They were really really good. Sometimes I don’t always have the time to freeze, coat, and roll out chocolate covered bananas. Naturally, tea would be the next best option! You can always rely on 52 Teas for creativity and I know Anne (the mad tea artist at 52 Teas) is a huge fan of banana tea, so I had high expectations for this one.
My expectations were certainly met! This tea was a honey bush blend. I definitely prefer honey bush to rooibos, any day. It does still have a nice nuttiness to it though, just isn’t as woodsy or earthy. The nuttiness of the honey bush almost gave the illusion that this was more of a chocolate covered banana rolled-in-pecans tea. Either way, its delicious. The chocolate adds a creamy component and of course- the taste of chocolate! And who doesn’t like chocolate? The banana flavor is present but not overpowering or artificial. It is quite delicious and realistic!
I would definitely recommend this blend. I know not everyone is a fan of banana flavor, but even if you’re not I would suggest you try this. It is really good. A great after-dinner treat!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This blend is longer available but click below for blends that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Rocky Road from 52Teas. . . .
When I first saw this tea I will admit that I was not 100% interested. Of course I love chocolate, but I don’t love, love chocolate in my tea. I don’t mind a little, but if it’s too much I feel like I cant drink it because it is too dessert-like. Regardless, I decided to buy a taster/sample size just to try it out. Because of this tea being an ice cream flavor, I was not too enthused with brewing it hot. I wanted to try it cold and as an iced latte. I figured that the milk would give it a more creamy component and that it may resemble a milk shake!
I was certainly right! I couldn’t believe how delectable this tea was as an iced latte! It tasted like chocolate milk, but not overly chocolatey because there was still that nutty almond component which was completely driven home by the addition of sunflower seeds which I LOVED. After the third sip I caved and got onto 52 Teas’ website and ordered more before it was gone. The black tea itself was very mellow and in the background, not bitter or astringent which I appreciated.
The second time I tried this tea I tried it hot because, honestly, I was way too lazy to make a latte! I brewed it hot with a splash of milk and some agave. I am sipping on this hot blend as I right this and it is just as delicious as it was as an iced latte! You can smell the chocolate and almond and even the sunflower seeds. I don’t know why, but to me the sunflower seeds and almond really stand out and I absolutely adore that about this tea. Hot brewed the marshmallow is more prominent as well. Before, with the iced latte, the marshmallow sort of got lost. This tea is smooth and yummy and NOT overly chocolate. It has just enough of each ingredient and it is definitely addictive, so watch out!
Kudos to Anne for this blend. So good!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
I’m pretty sure that Frank had a Rocky Road tea at one point because I recall asking him to reblend it several years ago – I had never tasted it but I had found the tea description in his archives and I wanted to try it so I do remember asking him to reblend it. He never did.
So since I can no longer retrieve any of those archived teas and it doesn’t show up at Steepster, I’m just going to call this my blend.
I started with Laoshan black teas from Verdant for their chocolate-y character. Then I chose a rich, malty Assamica tea from the Jingmai Mountains. Then I added some Golden Yunnan tea to round out the flavors. To this, I added roasted cacao nibs, cacao shells, marshmallow root, sunflower seeds and vegan dark and white chocolate chips.
And yes, I’ve said it before and I’m going to say it again now: YUM!
Taster size is approximately 15g
ingredients: black teas, roasted & salted sunflower seeds and vegan white & dark chocolate chips
organic ingredients: black tea, cacao nibs & shells, marshmallow root and natural flavors
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Love Tea #7: The Fifty Shades of Grey of Teas from DAVIDsTea. . . . .
Dear David’s Tea,
What happened to Love Teas 1-6? Did you kill them, David? If so, how? If not, where are they? Are they okay? Can I check in on them?
But, David, between you and me, I’m glad they’re out of the picture.
Because this #7 is a delight. It’s like Valentine’s Day in a tea. Chocolate. Strawberries. Roses. You hit all the high points, plus it genuinely tastes good.
Did you see this in my wish list, David, and magic it into my Sororitea Sisters care package? Are you stalking me in addition to murdering your previous teas?
I’m cool with it, David. If you keep making luscious, rich teas like this that are totally not a ‘zert (but secretly are), I will forgive you. For the stalking. And the murder. I know you will deny both. But shhhhh. We live in the era of 50 Shades of Grey. Vaguely terrifying men like you, David, are very fashionable at the moment.
Oh, and David? Would it be weird if I asked you to tell my husband I want a tin of this ?
That’s definitely weird. Forget I asked.
Love, Super Starling!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: DAVIDsTea
Description
A romantic blend of black tea, chocolate, strawberries and rose petals.
