Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: Nothing But Tea
Tea Description:
Honeybush is gaining a lot of attention at the moment for its benefits. This blend sees honeybush blended with strawberrys, kiwi, elderberry, passionfruit and rosehip for a new take on the fruit infusion.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Hello fellow tea lovers.
Today I’m reviewing this Honeybush Malaika which I have to admit that I have not had a lot of Honeybush tea compared to the likes of Rooibos. So if you’ve heard of it but don’t really know what it is or much information about it then hopefully this will help.
Some brief information on Honeybush: The name of this plant is Cyclopia but it is better known as Honeybush purely because it’s flowers smell sweet like honey. While Cyclopia is one plant it has many different cultivars, all of which originate across South Africa. Technically speaking Honeybush is not a tea but a tisane and considering this; is also low in tannin. Similar to Rooibos in flavour but Honeybush is considered to be sweeter and with a fuller body, though similarly it is also caffeine free.
Comparing it to Rooibos is interesting as I don’t usually like Rooibos but the few Honeybush I’ve had I loved. Rooibos has a chemical flavour (at least in my opinion) and that tends to overpower any flavours added to it. Honeybush does not have that issue and while it is perhaps a little sweeter I find it does not dominate additional flavours but rather enhances them.
Back to this tea in hand. I received a sample pack of 10g from NBT a while ago as an exclusive pre-release taster before it was launched on the site. Now it’s up for sale I decided the best thing for me to do was ice it to try and get the most flavour from it. So for two days I have had 10g of this blend steeping in my fridge using 1litre of water. Coldsteeping is much softer and keeps delicate tones, it’s my preferred method of icing tea/tisanes.
I haven’t mentioned much about the look or scent of the blend but honestly there was not much to it. The blend looked floral and multi coloured which bared a subtly sweet yet herbal scent. The fruit was too delicate for me to really say much about it and I decided to let it’s flavour speak instead. So I waited for the outcome with enough time to thicken with flavour.
Today is the morning I try this and the resulting liquid is a light brown/orange colour with a delicious sweet, fruit scent. Particularly like apple and strawberry with honey. A real contrast to it’s unsteeped scent. It’s flavour is just as wonderful! Sweet honeyed fruits with a touch of floral after tones that leave my mouth feeling sweet and refreshed. The fruit tones are mixed but notable berry with a touch of sourness with an exotic fruit affair behind them.
Honestly this tisane gave me a lot more pleasure than I thought it would and I’m happy to say this Honeybush blend is a winner. I don’t think I would have liked this if it was a Rooibos base and the Honeybush really does make this blend stand out.
Until next time,
Happy Steeping!
Himalayan Golden Black tea from Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Description:
After a short summer season in Nepal, the Himalayan monsoon approaches the foothills with a magnanimous rush. The golden red soil of Sandakphu drinks in this moisture, producing a rare artisan tea that reflects all of nature’s goodness. After plucking, the leaves are 25 percent withered, then rolled in mechanical rollers. The tea is then placed in a shaping machine and further dried, producing uniformly curled leaves. The liquor is a distinctive rich golden color, with a cup that is mild yet flavorful, with a lovely balance of stone fruit and honey.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
On my Epic Sipdown, I came across a sample of this tea from Nepali Tea Traders. I was quite excited to see if the description matched the flavor of this tea.
I brewed this up in my new Sei Sei Tumbler. I was really craving those rich stone fruit notes that were described. Brewed this up like a black tea and wow. This tea has it all. Rich smooth notes of honey with an almost bread like background and apricot (?) flavors. So well done.
What I really love about this tea is how smooth it is. There is almost a silk texture to this tea while you drink it. This tea is one of those that feels like it needs to be saved for special occasions. But this one is completely affordable for an extra day sort of tea. I want to try this one as a cold brew for those hot summer days when you need a tea like this. There is a refreshing quality to it that I’m really enjoying.
The description of this tea was spot on and this is another fantastic tea that has been hiding in my cupboard. I’m so glad I pulled this one out today. Loving this fruit malty tea to finish out my day with.
Wen Shan Baozhong Oolong from Tribute Teas/ChaHoney
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Tribute Teas & ChaHoney
Tea Description:
Baozhong oolong originated from Anxi in Fujian, China. A history of production reaching back nearly 150 years, it is the most famous tea of northern Taiwan. The name ‘Baozhong’ refers to its traditional packaging in a bamboo wrapping. A uniquely light oxidation and minimal roasting reveal a elegant, smooth, and notably fresh flavor. Its aroma is floral and sweet, with notes of apricots. . .
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about subscribing to ChaHoney here.
Taster’s Review:
Subscription boxes are the thing these days. I myself subscribe to a few. The one that intrigues me the most is ChaHoney, a monthly subscription plan that basically does your tea shopping for you. ChaHoney doesn’t blend their own tea yet instead looks for those amazing teas that you might have overlooked here or there. Each month features a different company. I just love this idea and hope to become a member soon. But first I need to sipdown some teas (this will be #33!!).
I’m almost finished with this first box from ChaHoney that I received. I’m quite impressed with the teas I’ve had so far. The company that was featured was Tribute Teas. You’d think I would have tried them by now since they are in my home state but alas no. Shame on me.
This oolong right out of the gate smelled decadent and romantic. I can absolutely pick up notes of lilacs. I love lilacs and am happy just to sit around enjoy the aroma from this tea. So beautiful.
I let this tea sit for just a moment and then took my first sip. Gorgeous! Simply gorgeous, romantic and exactly what I needed today. This tea is everything you could ask for and more. Irresistible floral notes paired with hints of a sweetness that I would compare to an apricot. The description is spot on. I am incredibly impressed and next payday, this one will need to be re-ordered.
I am simply in love with this floral roasted sweet apricot loving oolong! I can absolutely see this tea being one that you drink while you get lost in a good book. This is my favorite Tribute Tea to date!
High-C from Red Clover Tea and Herbs
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Red Clover Tea and Herbs
Tea Description:
A hibiscus base tea infused with citrus, berries and spices all known for their Vitamin C content is formulated to provide you with an extra does of Vitamin C while the Wood Betony and Lemon Balm are known to support the nerves leaving you feeling calm and relaxed. The blend is a beautiful light pink color and produces an exotic aroma of spices and berries. A sweet and warm flavor gently soothes the body and warms the belly giving you a sense of comfort and ease. It’s great warm or cold as a spritzer.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Have you ever looked at a tea and just thought this tea is going to be amazing? The smell was fabulous and you could tell that this tea was going to have the wow factor?
I had never heard of Red Clover Tea and Herbs until the other day when I was on Twitter. I checked out their site and couldn’t believe the amount of teas they offered. I was excited when my nicely packaged box arrived with a few teas to sample.
High-C has this amazing delicious fragrance to it. It has that smell that reminds me of apple butter but with quite a bit of cinnamon thrown in for good measure. Such a nice jelly/jammy flavor. I steeped this up according to the packaging on the tin, enjoying watching the color of the water turn to a lovely pink color.
Took my first sip, all the while still enjoying the beautiful fragrant notes of apple butter. Wow. This has to be one of the best herbal teas I’ve ever had. Their is hibiscus in the blend but not an overwhelming amount. Just enough to provide a bit of a tart flavor. Like what you would get from a green apple. The cinnamon is lovely and gives that hibiscus apple note something to contrast with. The two flavors together really taste fantastic. The cloves are there but are not dominating like a lot of other clove teas I’ve had in the past seem to be. Wood Betony is also listed as an ingredient. I wasn’t sure what flavor it was bringing to the table. From what I’m seeing from Wikipedia, this herb was considered one of those herbs that would cure what ails you. Another herbal that is in this mix that I’m not 100% familiar with is red clover. Another herb I’ll need to research more.
This organic herbal tea is simply amazing. The taste is perfect and matches the fall weather that is coming soon for us here in the Mid-West. I would love to try this tea in muffin mix, as a tea pop, as an iced tea. . .The notes of the apple cinnamon jammy sort really play well with experimenting.
Chamomile Creme from Yellowstone Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Yellowstone Tea Co
Tea Description:
Need a little time to unwind after a long day? Chamomile Creme is the perfect blend of vanilla bean, twig tea, lemongrass, licorice, toasted coconut, chicory, stevia leave, and of course, chamomile. A perfect nighttime tea that’s naturally caffeine free.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Chamomile is one of those ingredients that people either love or hate. I am in the pool of tea drinkers that love it. I drink it all hours of the day, not just night time. Chamomile blends iced are delicious and I love drinking it after a larger lunch, like today. I ate just a bit too much so I reached for this tea, hoping it might help.
I brewed this up with boiling water and steeped it for 5 minutes. Then I allowed this to cool off so I could add ice for an iced tea treat.
How did it taste? This was quite good. This definitely isn’t an ordinary chamomile tea blend. I love the additions of the lemongrass and the coconut. The flavors give this blend a unique flavor. What I really take away from this tea is the creamy silk like texture that I’m getting. Very good. I don’t really pick up the stevia and the chicory gives the tea a hint of a roasted profile. The licorice adds in a hint of sweeetness. This is a keeper!