When I received the Oo’ Peppermint Tea from Harlow Tea Co I first thought, “Oh man, this is going to be another one of those teas that extremely overpowered.” For any kind of peppermint tea the creator of said tea uses the oil from the peppermint plant and you can easily overpower any creation with just a tad over the amount of oil that was intended. But Harlow Tea didn’t depend on oil but instead the peppermint plant itself! Which, in fact, makes for a delightful flavor.
But this tea is not just peppermint leaf, its base is actually oolong tea (which gives meaning to the “Oo” in Oo’ Peppermint) with the accompanying flavors of tulsi leaf, almond, and vanilla bean. And I believe that this tea is blended to perfection for its splendid flavor is smooth and comforting. And that means a lot coming from a tea drinker such as myself for I usually try to stay away from vanilla. Paired with the almond makes the two most powerful flavors, the vanilla and the peppermint leaf, agree with each other to a point where you can have a cup that is too strong or too sweet.
Now on to the details about this tea. Harlow Tea Co. is an Etsy run shop and their prices are pretty fair indeed. For this particular cup it is $4 for 1 oz, $6.49 for 2 oz, and $10 for 3 oz. They also offer samples of all of their teas for a mere 50 cents. So if you are curious I would take advantage of their fair pricing.
All in all this will be a tea that I will keep stocked in my pantry. It will be a perfect tea to accompany me in illness or in health. I can’t wait to try more teas from this company for they have already won me over. And just as a side note, to all of you that are aware of/love Twinings Buttermint I would say to try this on for size.
See you for the next cuppa!
Kara
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Harlow Tea Co
Description
Do you love peppermint, well I hope so! This tea gives a kick of peppermint that lingers long after that last sip is taken! Oolong has long, pun intended, been known as an all around pleasing tea for those who may find green tea too bitter and black tea too strong. Love both, then oolong is a perfect combination of the two!
Oo’ Peppermint offers hints of almond and is balanced with pieces of vanilla bean. You may even see some vanilla bean seeds in your tea!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Maracuja Orange from Gypsy Soul Teas. . . . .
Something happens to my tea cabinet in the spring. All of the hearty, heavier black teas get pushed to the back, and the light, fresh, vegetal greens and fruit herbals seem to float like cream to the top. I’ve just spent a winter sipping on the tea-equivalent of a warm blanket and wool socks– give me sandals and sunglasses in my cup instead, please and thanks!
And once the calendar flips to summer, its even unlikelier that I’ll be sipping on ANYTHING hot. In my A/C-less apartment with my German ancestry, not made for heat waves– iced tea reigns supreme. When I pulled this sample out of my stash, bright and bold, with big orange chunks and bright red bits of…something? I knew it would make a great iced choice for the start of the warmer season.
Cold-brewed overnight, this tea turns delightfully pink– I’m guessing, as a result of the beetroot pieces in the blend. I expected more orange-juice-orange flavors, but what I’m getting instead is a blend of juicy fruits, with just a hint of bitterness at the end. Maybe it’s the hibiscus? Maybe it’s the interesting addition of pumpkin and carrot in this dry mix? Either way, it’s not unpleasant, but it isn’t quiet what I was expecting either.
My recommendation? Go into this sip without the expectations of fresh oranges, but rather, a big ol’ party-o-fruits, and you’ll be super pleased with your iced cup. Unusual? Sure. But great as the temps start to rise and you’re looking for something refreshing to fill your cup?
Definitely.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Gypsy Soul Teas
Description
Fresh & Fruity! Exotic Passion fruit orange fruit tea. Caffeine free. Great hot or iced.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Birthday Tea Party from Oh You TEAse!
I always enjoy a good vanilla blend. Whether its black tea, green tea, oolong…I almost always love it if it includes vanilla. This birthday blend by Oh You TEAs is no exception. It smells like vanilla cake and tastes that way too.
When I first opened the packet I had no idea what I was looking at. Upon further investigation (google), I learned that this is a mix of black tea and heather flowers! I didn’t know what heather flowers were so I googled that, too. Once I did I realized I have seen them many times! They are tall and purple with little buds. Interesting! A very unique ingredient.
This tea was very straightforward. I got what I was expecting: vanilla. I don’t know if I would say that there was much more to it than that, though. Aside from the heather flowers, which did not add much flavor, I cant say I detected anything other than black tea and vanilla bean. This is neither a bad thing or a good thing. The cup was quite enjoyable. If you want something complex, this is not the tea for you. But if you want a good ‘ol vanilla flavored tea, this would be perfect for you. Its sweet, smooth, and vanilla-y!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Oh You TEAse!
Description
Nothing says birthdays like a classic vanilla cupcake. Think of the heather flowers as the sweet, delicate sprinkles. Some say this is better than the real thing because this treat is virtually calorie-free – have as much as you’d like!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Great Gatsby from First Edition Tea Co. #greatgatsby #tea
So this may be an unpopular opinion but I actually hated The Great Gatsby. I read it. I analyzed it. I studied it. I get it. Doesn’t mean I need to like it. I found it boring and after reading it a few times and not enjoying it anymore than I had previously, I think it is safe to say that I am not a fan. Even the movie didn’t appeal to me, except for the soundtrack which was pretty amazing but I digress.
Now that I have that out of the way, I can focus on this tea, which smells amazing by the way. Lemon and lavender, such a crisp and fresh smell that is also incredibly soothing. It’s so calming, I could just doze off to sleep (so it has that in common with the book :P). Seriously, I could sniff this all day. I would scent my house with this. Okay, I will stop with my raving about this awesome smell and move on to the taste.
I was worried this would get burnt because it is a green tea base but the recommended steeping is 100C for 4 minutes. I couldn’t bring myself to do that so I steeped it for 3 min at about 96C. This is a robust green base though because it stood up to the heat. Just like the smell, this is an incredibly clean tasting tea. The lemon is crisp but not bitter and it manages to border on the line of lemon pledge without tipping over to the dark (chemical) side. Normally not a fan of lavender, I will say it really works here. It provides more depth to this tea and helps to round everything out. It actually creates a nice bridge between the more robust green base and the softer lemon notes. This tea is like spring in a cup and like the Gatsby lifestyle, it is decadent and elegant while boasting a more humble flavor profile.
I did not expect to like this in the least but it is proving to be quite the delight. I will be passing this on for my other sisters to try but I would actually considering keeping this one stocked for a bit. Just need to get my hands on some more
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: First Edition Tea Co.
Description
Lemon & Lavender Green Tea
The perfect gift for any book lover, especially one who love a cocktail!
Perfect for a party, old sport. Starts out green as cash, brews up rich as gold. Tastes like lemon cakes and luxury. Chill and add a splash of gin for a really swell cocktail; a little party never killed nobody.
Ingredients: Green tea, lemongrass, organic lemon pieces, lime pieces, organic lavender, calendula petals, sunflower petals, natural flavours.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Jane Eyre. . A Fandom Tea from First Edition Tea Co. . .
Trying the literary collection has been fun because it gives me a chance to not only try the tea but see how they compare to their namesake. However, Jane Eyre is the one novel of the five ( the others in the collection being Sherlock Holmes, Pride & Prejudice, The Great Gatsby, and Alice in Wonderland) I have not read. Obviously I have heard of it and know the basic premise, but I have never looked into it in much detail or cared to give it a read. So to me, this is a tea that I have no preconceived expectations going into the tasting brought on by the inspiring literary classic. This is also a tea that fell victim to my cleaning distractions and cooled before I got a chance to give it a try.
I like that the first thing that you taste with this tea is the cranberry. It is sweet and fruity and distinct. That melts away to the warming and dessert-like cinnamon. It is a little astringent and slightly drying, which could be because of the cooling or could be because of the flower petals and spice blend. The fennel peaks through at the end of the sip as if to say hello and the rose, slightly perfumey, comes with it. I worried that the licorice root and blackberry leaves would make this cloying but they seem to be kept in check.
It is a nice tea. Not one I feel compelled to keep around just because this flavor combination is not one I often reach for, but I probably would not turn away another cup. Plus, I could see this being lovely as a hot tea on a cool day. I’m interested to see how my sister’s feel about this one. Hopefully one of them have read Jane Eyre and can tell us how it draws inspiration from the book.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: First Edition Tea Co.
Description
This tea is anything but poor, obscure, and plain. A solid black tea with a wild and free heart, an independent will, and all the warmth of a hearth in a home long searched for. Reader, it’s delicious.
Ingredients: Black tea, cranberry pieces, cinnamon, fennel, licorice root, blackberry leaves, rose petals, safflower petals, natural flavours.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!