Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Treehouse Teas
Tea Description:
If you like Pina Coladas and gettin’ caught in the rain this tea is for you! It’s a favorite herb and fruit tea that bursts ingredients of pineapple, apple, rosehip, coconut pieces and hibiscus petals. If you are allergic to coconut stay clear. Small Batch Blended and from Sing Buri, Thailand. It has a low antioxidant level and its a caffeine free herb and fruit tea. Steep: 5-10 minutes at a temperature: 100C, 212F. This can be re-steeped for additional cups! Also, makes great popsicles and pink tea for tea parties!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
With a description like the one above, my expectations for this tea were pretty high. I mean who doesn’t love a sweet tea that carries you away!
The tea mix itself is beautiful. I adore the colors and love how pretty it looks as the tea steeps. The dry mixture smells fabulous. Sweet and tropical. My excitement level was rising to taste this sweet tropical treat!
I brewed this up per their recommendations and was enjoying how the water was turning into a beautiful pink color.
I took my first sip and sadly- this tea didn’t hit the target for me. I wanted to love this tea so much. At first taste, you can pick up an almost strawberry flavor that reminds me of a strawberry Popsicle. The flavor isn’t very strong and is more on the weaker side. The coconut is subtle and gentle. I think with a tea that is being considered a pina colada, I wanted the coconut flavor to be strong. I didn’t pick up any pineapple or even any of the hibiscus tartness. This tea was more of a lightly flavored strawberry flavor. I can see this being a great tea for a little girl’s tea party but not for me. I would like my flavors a bit stronger.
My last thoughts on this tea is that maybe this tea is one that needs to be cold brewed or even steeped longer than the 10 minutes to really bring out the flavor. I did share the remainder of this tea with a tea drinking co-worker and her thoughts were in line with what I was thinking. Regardless, I’ve enjoyed the teas that I’ve tried from Treehouse Teas for the most part. Just a few I haven’t cared for. This tea blend would have been one that would have totally caught my eye so I am glad that I was able to try it, just not sure this would be one I would need to try again.
Sipdown #37!
Awake from Treehouse Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Treehouse Teas
Tea Description:
A wonderful energetic blend that will keep you awake! Maybe you’ve been traveling the world or just need a little boost to get you through the day. Green Tea, Green Mate, Gynostemma Leaves, Strawberry and Papaya make this blend a get up and go to.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I am such a fan of green tea and green mate. I love how the flavors mix. What is fun with this mix is that there is also a bit of a tropical feel to it with the added strawberries and papaya. This tea had such a nice sweet aroma.
What I always seem to be confused by is what steeping parameters I should use. Green tea and green mate have completely different steeping times. To play it safe- I went with the green tea setting on the Breville One Touch because I wasn’t sure how forgiving the green tea would be if I went with the mate setting I typically use. Poured the sample into the brewing basket and away I went.
My thoughts? I like this blend. It isn’t overpowering and it is very subtle. No one flavor gets in the way or pushes the other around. The green tea has a nice buttery feel that really pairs well with the strawberry and the mate gives a slight roasted flavor that goes well with the papaya. All in all, a nice brew subtle brew. I would love to try this one on ice. With ingredients like strawberry and papaya, I can see this being perfect for these last days of summer!
Tsugaru Green from Lupicia
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Tea Description:
Japanese green tea flavored with “San-Tsugaru” apples from Aomori prefecture in Japan.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Green tea is one of my favorite kinds of tea. I love the soothing and refreshing flavor you can get out of green tea. This tea was no exception.
Never having this tea before I wasn’t sure what to expect. I didn’t even know what kind of tea this was since this was a sample from a tea friend. I wanted to be surprised so I didn’t check online either.
Brewed this up with my Breville One Touch on the medium green tea setting. A few minutes later, I had a lovely cuppa awaiting me. I took a sip after the brew cooled for a few minutes and this tea was light and refreshing as you could ask for!
Crisp and almost apple juice like was what I would guess. So after I finished my cuppa, I looked online and was pleased to see that I was correct. An apple flavored green tea. This tea is spot on with flavor and I like the fact that there are any spices included and this is a simple yet well done apple tea. Most apple teas include cinnamon or some kind of a chai spice. This tea let the juiciness of the apples shine thru with the backing of a slightly hay like and slightly buttery undertone.
I brewed up another infusion of this tea and experienced it as an iced tea. It was magnificent. This is definitely one that I’m taking note of and am loving! This would be a perfect alternative to the fall inspired teas that will soon be available.
In other news, this was sipdown #20! Woohoo!
Talayar Limited Edition Black Tea from The Tea Shelf
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Tea Shelf
Tea Description:
These limited edition teas are crafted by hand by selective picking and gentle processing, resulting in exquisite teas with the right twist and form. A knobbly gnarly look with peaks of silver and the odd bright green, they have gentle hints of spice when infused. The tea completely blossoms into individual leaves without any signs of wear or tear; the magic of hand rolled. This is indicative of the care taken in the picking and processing of these teas. The golden liquor captures the delicate floral character, and broad brush strokes of spice, particularly pepper. These teas are an embodiment of tea in its finest form from this region.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh sweet mama this tea is singing to me!
This particular tea is a tea I won with a tea best tea bud of mine on a Facebook contest. I know! I never win those contests either but I won this go around from The Tea Shelf, so first off- thank you The Tea Shelf for an amazing sampling of your teas. It is much appreciated!
Now, to the tea!
This specific tea is a black tea and from the little symbols on the pouch this tea is indulging, low caffeine, floral, good for anytime and is to be drank plain. ( Can I say how much I adore these little symbols. I didn’t notice them until I was reviewing the tea but so fun! ) While steeping, this tea had such a beautiful lovely floral fragrance. I couldn’t wait for the 3 minutes to be up so I could take my first sip!
First sip and just wow. This tea has the it factor for the afternoon. Really good. The floral notes are gorgeous and provide a sweet backdrop for the smooth yet slightly astringent finish. The tea has this nice contrast between sweet and savory going on. The description depicts a tea with a pepper like profile but I’m not getting that right now. I’m getting a more sweet savory sort of malty tea that is going down smooth and really enveloping my whole mouth.
This tea is making me happy right now and this is only the first infusion. I’m curious if the more infusions and time I spend with this tea if i will be able to get more of those pepper notes to appear. If not, I’m quite satisfied with what I have. This is hitting the spot this afternoon.
Organic Rose Chai Black Tea from AmiTea Organics
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: AmiTea Organics
Tea Description:
Sensual and aromatic, this chai tea has it all, spices to warm you and exotic roses to add another level of interest.
Pure organic ingredients sourced from all over the world are brought together to delight your senses. Best served with a splash of milk, or see below for a fabulous iced latte recipe.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Be still my heart! This is a perfect chai tea for me!
This tea is such a subtle gorgeous version of a chai tea. The tea brewed up is a gorgeous light amber brew and has such a sweet cinnamon aroma. Brewed up like a black tea (212F-3 min), this tea produces an amazing flavor that I’m wowed by.
Organic Rose Chai Black Tea provides such a sweet floral version of a chai tea for those who aren’t huge fans of heavily spiced teas like myself. The floral notes contrast nicely with the cardamom, coriander, and cinnamon notes in each sip. The more the tea cools, the more the cloves are starting to become more prominent but still the rose petals are still the forefront flavor. I don’t really pick up the black tea but the tea does have that nice well rounded feel to it, so I’m thinking that is what the base is providing.
I did try this as an iced tea and still this amazing sweet floral chai flavor that I can’t seem to get enough of. Such a simple tea, but so well done!
Another fantastic tea from AmiTea Organics. If you haven’t taken a moment to check out AmiTea’s amazing selection, please do so now! You are missing out on some amazing flavored teas!