In the summertime I was sitting in a document production class bored out of my mind. The teacher was useless and not teaching anything and I had already completed the exercise we were handed out. So, I was scrolling through my instagram feed. I came across a tea picture from a company called Tea Taxi. The tea sounded awesome so I decided to look the company up. Well 15 minutes and $75 later, I had an order on its way of almost 30 new teas.
When my package arrived in the mail, it didn’t take me long to realize that Tea Taxi is a Canadian company that specializes in flavored teas along the lines of the much better known DAVIDsTEA, though I would say Tea Taxi has more diverse/unique flavors with fewer artificial sweeteners and more fun packaging. And since I placed my first order, Tea Taxi has added sample sizes to their website and the option to sign up for a monthly tea subscription which makes trying their teas significantly easier.
This particular tea is one from my original order. I have had it hot before and remember it being lovely but today I was running out the door to a family event so I decided to ice it and take it to go. The ice had all melted by the time I got around to drinking this but that did nothing to take away from the tea. This has one of the best cranberry flavors that I have personally come across, both hot and iced. It is reminiscent of cranberry juice though not quite as tart. Instead, there is a bit of candy sweetness that comes from what I believe are rose petals and it blends seamlessly with the cranberry. The green tea base, for me, is almost entirely hidden which I prefer since green tea usually reminds me of grass and there is no place for that here. All in all, this is definitely a tea that surprised me. I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I do but it’s sweet juicy flavor (and smell) drew me in and it is one I have enjoyed revisiting multiple times.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Flavored Green Tea
Where to Buy: Tea Taxi
Description
Half sweet and half sour, cranberry is a delicious little berry that deserves to be the centre of attention! Its taste is deep and its colour, divine!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Winter Herbal Tea from Elderberry Herb Farm
Winter Herbal Tea may list hibiscus first in its ingredients, but it doesn’t have the puckery tart kick that a lot of people dislike about hibiscus. It does pull off tasting like the base is unsweetened cranberry juice that has been mulled with spices.
The tisane brews up a beautiful cranberry red. How pretty this would be served at a holiday gathering in a glass Irish coffee mug! The smell takes you right back to that Christmas recipe people used to make and giveaway – instant tea mixed with Tang and cinnamon and nutmeg. But it doesn’t taste like the old “Russian Tea” recipe.
Although this says it contains stevia, it isn’t super sweet. There is a cranberry tartness, not too tart, and a glow of cinnamon. Often these winter and Christmas blends have too much clove for me, but this one gets it just right. If you wanted a sweet mulled-style drink, you could add sugar, and I think it would be delicious iced, as well. This is super juicy tasting and would be a great thirst quencher even in summer!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal/Tisane
Where to Buy: Elderberry Herb Farm
Description
All natural & delicious, the tartness of the cranberries and the zest of orange warmed with cinnamon and cloves make this herbal tea perfect for those cold winter days.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Cranberry Immune Booster from Tea Drift
Cranberry Immune Booster from Tea Drift is one that I didn’t just want to brew up the normal way. With the huge twisting hibiscus leaves and the gorgeous dried fruit pieces, this tea screamed-brew me up and make me a shaken iced tea. And that is exactly what I did.
Brewed the tea up with water prepped at 212F and allowed to steep for about 5 minutes, this brew didn’t turn out to be that bright pink liquor that I’m so used to seeing. I did take a sip while the tea was hot but I will admit, it just wasn’t one that grabbed my attention. The tartness was there but it almost needed a bit of honey or sugar thrown in to elevate the flavors.
After brewing the tea, I poured the tea into a cocktail shaker full of ice. Added in a touch of honey and shook that tea up. Poured into a tall glass and threw in a lemon wedge.
This is the way this tea should be enjoyed! Shaken with a touch of fruit for garnish. The lovely sweet and tart flavors of the different fruits and herbs mingle and compliment each other wonderfully. The lemon thrown in gave the tea a degree of citrus that really sold me on this tea.
All in all, a lovely blend of different fruit and herbs that can brewed so many different ways. Now this has me wanting to experiment and make more shaken iced teas!
Here’s the Scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Tea Drift
Description:
This tea has just as pleasing of an aroma as it does flavor. Delightful over ice, the fruity and bright flavors are sure to tickle the tastebuds of any tea drinker. Enjoy it all day long, as it is free from caffeine.
Ingredients: Pineapple, papaya, peach, passion fruit, mango, hibiscus, cranberry and apricot.
Learn more about this tea and tea company here.
Tulsi Orange Cranberry Ginger Organic Tea from Simpson and Vail
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Tea Description:
This Tulsi tea blend is caffeine-free and combines herbs that have vitamins and anti-oxidants. This organic herbal blend of Tulsi, orange peel, hibiscus, rosehips and ginger root brews to a reddish amber cup with a mellow minty, fruity taste and light, sweet ginger notes. A well rounded brew that’s great for afternoon or evening enjoyment.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have been on a herbal kick as of late and loving it. Herbals are something that I think you either love or hate depending on the ingredients. I know chamomile and hibiscus blends are sometimes referred to as vile, but I love them. About the only tea I don’t care for is red rooibos blends, but beyond that I’ll try anything.
Work has been nuts lately and I wanted something to be refreshing yet soothing so I grabbed my sample of this Tulsi blend from Simpson & Vail. I was crazy impressed with their Cozy Comfort blend that I tried the other day (tasted like monkey bread!) I had high expectations but once I took in the fragrance from the dry leaf mix, I had my hesitations. The ginger smelled like it was going to be strong.
Brewed this up in my Sei Sei Tumbler and allowed it to steep for about 5 minutes in boiling water. Poured the brew into my cuppa and sat down to go over what I needed to to for the day. As I took my first sip, I literally thought, nope, I will not be reviewing what I need to do today. I am going to sit right here with my feet propped up on my desk and enjoy my tea. And that is exactly what I did!
This tea hit the spot in so many ways. I wanted a soothing blend that touched the soul, so to speak. Once that would refresh and calm me but also be vibrant enough to deliver that kick I would need to keep going. This tea did all of that. No, I’m not going to say it will cure what will ail you, but in that moment of time, this tea delivered everything I needed.
What I loved the most was the citrus flavor that had a tart twist at the end of the sip with the ginger floating in and out. The ginger wasn’t overwhelming like I was worried about and actually became the flavor I was seeking each sip I took. Which is very surprising to me. I am not a huge ginger fan. This tea had such a cozy charming feel to it with the tart and sweet contrast that I found myself wanting more of this tea right after the cuppa was gone. I ended up drinking this tea for the remainder of the day, letting the flavors really give me that cozy feeling I was wanting with that kick I desperately needed.
Tea #2 that I have tried from Simpson & Vail and another tea I am adoring!