In theory, Spring is upon us. As the weather heats up, it is time to say goodbye to heavier winter teas and say hello or perhaps Aloha to lighter spring teas. So what is a lighter spring tea?
Well for me fruity greens come to mind. They are lighter in color and lighter in flavor. And Harlow’s Say Aloha with its strawberries and pineapple and other fruits sounds like a spring tea to me.
One misstep I think they took with this tea was using both a hojicha base and hibiscus. Both are such strong ingredients that they wrestle to take center stage, drowning out the fruity flavors in the process. Personally I think the hojicha base would have provided enough of a foundation to give this tea body and depth while allowing the other ingredients to play a bigger role.
As it is now, there is a roastiness from the green tea, a tartness from the hibiscus, and then a generic fruity sweetness from all the various fruits here. Plus, since candied fruit was used, the sweetness is strong, making for another contender in the wrestling match. These components are making war, when they should be blending harmoniously.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Harlow Tea Co.
Description
Houjicha green tea, hibiscus flower, myrtle leaf, strawberry leaf, dried strawberries, dried pineapple, dried plums, and cinnamon dried apples.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
VariaTea’s Thoughts on Alice in Wonderland from First Edition Tea Co. . . .
I love teas inspired by pop culture and media. Fandom teas are a thing of beauty because they can take flavors that may not be otherwise appealing and make them all the more interesting by naming them for a beloved book or tv show. This tea, for instance, is not one I would ever buy myself since I don’t usually love marzipan and I am indifferent to rose, but name it after a classic book like Alice and Wonderland and you got me signed up for a taste. Perhaps I am easily sold by a gimmick but somehow connecting teas to pop culture just makes the experience more exciting.
As far as the tea goes, the smell of marzipan in the dry leaf was incredibly powerful and had me worried that it would take over but in the brewed tea, it is quite balanced. Present and flavorful but not in-your-face. The rooibos imparts a bit of a medicinal taste while the black is almost smokey in flavor. It is a bit astringent but not terribly so, though I will say it gets more bitter as it cools so best to have this hot. The rose is a little more perfumey than I would like (probably since this cup has cooled quite a bit) but also candy-like in its sweetness which compliments the marzipan nicely.
All in all, this was an alright tea. Not my favorite though I did enjoy it more than I expected I would. Like I said, this is not the flavor profile I would normally pick for myself so at the end of the day I am probably not the target audience here. I will be passing this on for the other sisters to try though so hopefully this will be more to their tastes.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black/Rooibos
Where to Buy: First Edition Tea Co.
Description
It’s always tea time. Indulge with this sweet and floral blend of rooibos and black tea, filled with rose petals. A candy sweet blend that just says “Drink me!”
Ingredients: Rooibos, black tea, papaya, almond pieces, rosehip pieces, rose petals, blackberry leaves, natural flavours. CONTAINS NUTS!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Pretty In Pink from Paper Box Goodies. . . . .
WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSE OF FEMININITY!
This tea is — to start off — super-pink. It’s got that awesome magenta that only shows up when hibiscus is in play. Then, when you sip, it’s extremely sweet. It’s loaded with strawberries, hibiscus, and delicious Darjeeling. Which — as you know — means caffeine. My favorite vice.
I drank the first half hot, which was like being embraced in dark pink satin sheets. A smoldering, you-go-girl type of experience.
Then I decided to try it iced, so I threw ice cubes in the remaining half of the tea to give it a whirl. And I’m SO GLAD that I did, because that totally makes the berries and sweetness up to 11. Iced is absolutely how I’d recommend this blend.
I can imagine serving this as an iced tea at a bridal or baby shower. It’s feminine, but in a three-dimensional, interesting way. And that sweet pink-ness is not to be denied.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Darjeeling
Where to Buy: Paper Box Goodies
Description
This Darjeeling tea is loaded with strawberry and hibiscus, giving it a lovely pink color when steeped. This is one of my favorite flavors, and it would be delicious iced! Steep for 2-3 minutes for the best flavor.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Conjure Up the Perfect Cup of Daedra Tea from Grimoire
There’s something about a tea being themed to one of your favorite interests, that just makes the whole experience so much more fun. Having spent some time battling my way through the fantasy landscape of the Skyrim video game, I was more than ready to brew up a cup of Daedra tea from Grimoire on Etsy.
This herbal tea is bold and bloody. Big chunks of blood orange are paired with dark berry pieces to help sweeten its tart citrus bite. There’s a dose of snappy hibiscus to add its fruity notes and turn the brew a deep, pink magenta. Hot or cold, this blend brews up dark and powerful and makes you feel like you’re drinking sour orange magma, or tart, ruby blood, or even enchanted berry wine.
There’s a lot to be said about the Daedra in Skyrim video game lore, so I’ll spare the details and talk about my favorite bits. The Dremora are a type of Daedra that can be summoned to fight for you. These bulked up warriors are clad in red and black scales of armor and are satisfying allies to have on the battlefield. Their gravely voices call out the best lines when spotting an enemy (“I smell weakness!”) or when gloating over that enemy’s defeat (“No match at all!”). Trust me, it’s worth upgrading your conjuration magic to have one of these guys on your side. The colors and feeling of Grimoire’s Daedra tea blend match their aesthetic exactly!
I’d be curious to try some of Grimoire’s other fantasy-themed teas in their Etsy shop. Some of the other Skyrim flavors include a jasmine green tea for the city of Whiterun, or a cherry oolong for the town of Falkreath. These blends look like they will be the perfect, magical cup of tea to accompany me on my fantasy adventures.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Grimoire Tea on Etsy
Description:
A blend fit for any Daedric Lord. Rich in berry flavors. **This tea is not available right now but click below for the teas that are.**
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Gingerbread Tea from Sunshine Cottage. . . . .
Gingerbread Tea from Sunshine Cottage…oh…how I love thee!
I’ve had a lot of Gingerbread Teas the last 10 years or so. I have to say this one from Sunshine Cottage went the extra mile. I seemed to stand out over many others. Specifically because of the SWEET notes! Sure…when you drink a Gingerbread Tea you are probably looking for the gingerbread likeness and this tea DID have that but it had a little extra something, too!
I kept picking up on a lovely, mellow, sweetness. All I could think of is sweet cinnamon. And sure enough…Gingerbread Tea from Sunshine Cottage HAS sweet cinnamon in it! YAY!
Spicy ginger, sweet cinnamon, and fragrant star anise bring a depth to this gingerbread tea that is nothing short of joyful! A delightful holiday tea that will bring to mind the wonderful aromas of Christmas cookies and seasonal delights…this is what the product description on their Etsy shop had to say about this tea. I don’t know if I could say it any better!
The ginger was fairly subtle but still a part of the overall flavor profile. I wouldn’t change the ratio of ginger – I think it was perfect! The Anise was another well thought out ingredient that wasn’t overdone. But there was something about that sweet cinnamon that I couldn’t forget! The blend of flavored lingered very nicely on the tongue and well on to the after taste.
This was a delicious tea sipping experience that I will cherish long after the loose leaf is gone and the review written! Highly recommended!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Sunshine Cottage
Description
Spicy ginger, sweet cinnamon and fragrant star anise bring a depth to this gingerbread tea that is nothing short of joyful! A delightful holiday tea that is will bring to mind the wonderful aromas of Christmas cookies and seasonal delights!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
