My friends at Wild Leaf Active Teas have done a stellar job at creating bagged teas that have gorgeous tea leaves in them. No crushed up leaves in their offerings!
I’ve tried almost all of their teas and a few of them have a permanent spot in my tea stash. My two favorites right now are Slim and Smart. Slim (flavored puerh) has become a huge part of my daily routine. Smart– green tea, peppermint, and Ginkgo Bilbao- is slowing becoming my tea of choice right after lunch. I have yet to be disappointed by any of the flavors and am thinking I may need to place other order shortly.
Not to long ago, my lovely friends at Wild Leaf told me they next time I ordered, they would include a sample of their latest creation they are working on- Rebel. So I quickly put together an order and a few days later, an incredibly generous sample of Rebel was at my door.
Rebel is a unique blend of Black Tea, Organic Black Currant, Organic Banana, Organic Orange Peel, Organic Coffee Bean, Organic Rooibos and Natural Flavorings. Yes, this tea has red rooibos in it, my arch enemy. The dreaded ingredient that I find in so many gorgeous blends that my heart hurts when I see the name. My taste buds just have a problem with red rooibos and so does my sense of smell. I can instantly pick up on this herb when I find it in blends and decide- I should just give it a try one more time. . . . then I smell that familiar off smell, and nope. My brain shuts that idea down in a heart beat.
So when I saw Rebel had red rooibos, my heart sank. But the list of other ingredients, kept me going. Not only does this tea have coffee beans, but it has banana, and orange peel. I had to check this tea out no matter the outcome. First whiff of this tea and even though I can pick up that familiar red rooibos smell, what I’m really picking up is a banana coffee note. Which makes my heart soar! I’m a huge banana fan and once was a huge coffee drinker.
Brewed this tea up with freshly prepped boiled water and allowed the tea to steep for 4 minutes. Allowed the tea to cool for another 2 minutes or so after that. Brought the mug up to my face to take one more whiff of the aromas and again, that same banana coffee aroma was present but this time there was also this wonderful black tea tone I was picking up.
First sip in and I was able to pick up all of the flavors in this blend. The three strongest are the black tea, banana, and coffee, which are not much of a surprise, and deliver an amazing albeit unique (in a good way!) taste.
What did surprise me was the addition of this rich earthy tone that worked so well and had me greedily drinking sip after sip. There was also a lovely citrus hint now that added a unique twist to the end of each sip. I will say that I could pick up the red rooibos flavor, but it was slight and my tastebuds loved all of the other flavors and how they mingled together so well, that looking past that odd taste wasn’t hard.
My final thoughts: I do wish the red rooibos wasn’t in this blend at all, but I’m sure there is a reason why the herb is in the blend. And to be honest, that could be where that earthy tone is coming from that I’m digging. All in all, such an amazing array of flavors. When Wild Leaf first told me about this blend, I was stoked. Now that I’ve had it, I will be stalking their site until I can get my own. Though incredibly appreciated, my sample size just isn’t big enough. I needs more!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black/Rooibos
Where to Buy: Wild Leaf
Description
This tea is not available but will be soon. Click below for blends that are available.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Banana Pancakes from 52Teas. . . . .
Whenever I hear the phrase “banana pancakes” I always think of Jack Johnson’s song- “we’ll make banana pancakes pretend like its the weekend…” My parents used to like him when I was little and I remember sitting in the car listening to his music, I remember it as very relaxing! Now that I think of it, it would have accompanied this cuppa very well! Anyways, the fact that I just love banana is a new thing for me. Before this year I never would have really picked up anything banana, except maybe a chocolate banana smoothie. Lately I’ve been really loving banana teas, though.
So when I saw that 52 Teas’ new blend was Banana Pancakes, I was really excited.
Opening up my sample bag the smell of maple was very present as well a hint of banana. Naturally, this tea was already right up my ally- another flavor that I get excited over is maple. I steeped this properly, you have to follow the steeping instructions on 52 Teas’ packaging with their teas, I feel like the black tea is very bold and strong from 52 Teas and if you overstep it’s going to be bitter. Since I steeped this properly, it was dang good. Smooth, sweet, and very pancake-y. The maple and banana mingled really nicely and definitely reminded me of banana pancakes.
I have tried two teas that were dubbed the name “banana pancakes”. Both were delicious, but I really enjoyed this one just a tad more. I would love to continue trying banana teas! So, if you like banana stay tuned….and give this blend a try!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Teaa
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Banana Split from A Quarter to Tea. . . .
Everyone knows I love banana teas, and I also love dessert teas, especially ones modeled after ice cream. I have had tremendous luck with this company, A Quarter to Tea. Their flavors are so different and interesting, and all of their teas are really well done. This one, Banana Split, I knew would be extra special the minute I smelled it. It really smells like a banana split- banana, cocoa, and strawberry. The white tea leaves were big and fluffy. I was really excited to try it!
On taste, I can honestly say it was spot on. The white tea was creamy and light, the banana and strawberry was fruity and sweet, and the chocolate and caramel flavors added a nice flair that was definitely reminiscent of a delicious banana split sundae. This is definitely a great dessert tea, for its rich and flavorful. Although the flavors are rich, the white tea lends a nice creamy, but light, background and allows the other flavors to take the stage. The first flavor I notice is definitely banana. The banana is followed by chocolate and strawberry, and then finished with caramel, vanilla, and cream.
I have always recommended A Quarter to Tea since the first time I tried them, but I am really going to have to recommend that everyone try this one especially if you are looking for a guilt-free dessert tea. You don’t even have to add sweetener to this, the flavors are sweet and rich enough as is! A definite favorite of mine.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
Vanilla custard, bananas, strawberry and a hint of caramel and chocolate come together to make this creamy, fruity dessert tea.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
On the 5th Day of Christmas 52Teas Sent To Me. . . (Spoilers)
Today is the 5th Day of the 12 Teas of Christmas promotion. 52Teas has done an amazing job so far and I can’t wait to see what the 5th day has in store for us. So scratch off those labels and lets see what today’s tea is. . . .
The 5th Day of Christmas is. . . . . .Banana Pudding Black Tea.
Now this makes me happy. I am one of those that adores banana in my tea. It sounds odd and some people give me a funny look when I saw I love banana teas, but try one and you’ll see what I mean. Especially 52Teas banana flavored tea. I’ve been hoarding their Banana Peach green tea since their Kickstarter Campaign. It’s that good!
If memory serves me right, this is a reblend. But from the dry leaf aroma, I feel like this tea is a bit more pudding like the the original. You can smell the creamy pudding notes . My tea kettle can’t prep my water fast enough.
Finally the tea is ready to go and I take my first sip. Lovely silky pudding notes mingle brilliantly with a banana lush flavor. The black tea is graciously adding in a bready note so this is really translating into more of a Bready Banana Pudding. I see flakes of coconut in the dry leaf and I can taste a slight coconut sweetness.
All in all, this tea is amazing. I can’t figure out how 52Teas created a pudding tea but all I have to say is Please Make More! We need more creations like this one.
Edit: This is another tea that I found myself devouring all day and ending up finishing the pouch off. Each serving yielded several huge cuppas of this marvelous brew. Infusion after infusion, delivered on taste. That is one reason I love supporting and enjoying 52Teas. You know that you are getting both an amazing blend and a quality cuppa.
If you are curious. . .here is the official tea description. Please note-I wrote my review before looking at the description.
Banana Pudding Black Tea!
Tea Description: I was happy to have the opportunity to reblend this – mostly because I love banana teas and I’ll take up just about any excuse to make a banana tea. I find it a little funny, I’m not a big fan of bananas – I mean – I like them alright but if I’m in a produce market shopping for fruit, bananas are not usually the first fruit in my cart. But I love banana flavored stuff – banana ice cream and ice pops, banana bread, banana desserts, banana pancakes … you get the idea. And that adoration for banana flavored stuff extends into banana teas – and perhaps especially banana teas! Banana and tea just really does it for me.
So, here it is, the reblend of Banana Pudding Black Tea. The original description says:
You want to hear about pudding. Did you know that pudding was created using techniques for making Haggis and blood sausage? Eww. That’s not very appetizing… Changing gears… Bananas are very yummy, what’s more, they are yellow and shaped funny. Our Banana pudding flavored tea also has coconut, which some people dislike in pudding because pudding is supposed to be smooth and creamy and who wants shavings of coconut in there? But hey, it’s better in the tea. And I’m feeling a little loopy tonight and rushing to get this posted since it’s already late, but I think you’re all really going to enjoy this blend–mentions of Haggis and coconut aside.
I stuck pretty close to the recipe on this one because as I mentioned in my review of the original blend, I was pretty satisfied with it. One obvious difference is that the black tea base will be somewhat different because I’m using different teas. And I’m really happy with the result of this blend – after a short cool time, I find the flavor to be very banana-y with nice coconut notes. As the tea cools a little more, the creamy pudding-like notes emerge – so definitely give this tea time to cool a little and your patience will be rewarded!
organic ingredients: black teas, freeze-dried bananas, coconut and natural flavors.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Flavored Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea will be made available on the 52Teas website on December 28th!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Banana Marshmallow Genmaicha Treat from 52Teas
I have a lot of tea. A LOT. I also have a shopping problem. So, in order to not drown in tea, I tend to mostly buy sample sizes (as in 25 grams or less). That allows me to just get a taste of the tea without being stuck with large amounts that could potentially expire before I get a chance to finish them. 52 Teas is great for this shopping method because they offer taster sizes that are enough tea to experiment with but not too much that it is hard to use up. However, with all rules there are exceptions and this tea was the exception to my shopping rule; as soon as I saw it I knew I had to have it and not just a taste, I needed a lot of it!
Why did I need so much? Why was I confident I would love it? Well, that’s simple. 52 Teas, an awesome company for flavored teas, has captured my heart for many reasons but two things stand out above all else. The first thing that really caught my eye and my tastebuds…marshmallow treat genmaichas. In my tea stash right now I have this tea, Strawberry Marshmallow Treat Genmaicha, and S’mores Genmaicha but those are just a few that I have tried and loved. Seriously, you have not tried a flavored genmaicha until you have tried a 52 Teas marshmallow treat genmaicha. The second thing that made me fall in love with 52 Teas is their banana flavor. From Bananas Foster to Banana Pudding to Hot Buttered Banana Bread and everything in between, you can’t go wrong with a 52 Teas banana blend. So, how could I possibly resist a tea that combines both my loves? The answer to that was I could not.
Of course the instant I got my large package of this tea I ripped it open and brewed up a cup. Now, I don’t know what a banana marshmallow treat would taste like since I never had one but I was a fan of banana slices in my rice krispy cereal and that is what I expected…plus marshmallow. Honestly, that is what this tea delivers. Banana flavor, true-to-the-fruit, soft and subtle but sweet. It blends seamlessly with the fluffy and creamy marshmallow notes. Contrasted to those is the roasted/puffed rice flavor and a hint of the vegetal/matcha-infused base. It is balanced and light but very flavorful. This is one large pouch I definitely am not concerned will expire before I get a chance to finish it because this is a tea I will be reaching for again and again!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea is no longer available. But click below for ones that are!
I’ve never had a banana Marshmallow Treat – I don’t even know if such a thing exists. A quick google search yielded no results that appeared like banana marshmallow treat squares but I’ll admit that I really didn’t look very earnestly for it, mostly because I would think that the banana would be too slick and slippery and wouldn’t stick to the marshmallow which binds the crispy rice cereal together. I would think that banana would really mess up the chemistry that goes into the crafting of a marshmallow treat.
Then again, since I’ve never actually had one (and thus, I’ve never tried making one) I don’t know for certain. Perhaps it could be made with freeze-dried bananas (like the ones that I put in this tea blend) without much trouble.
Anyway, that lengthy introduction is my way of saying that this tea wasn’t inspired by something I’ve actually tried but something I’d love to try should I ever be so fortunate to find such a confection. What inspired me is my appreciation for fresh, sliced bananas atop my crispy rice cereal. One day while eating a bowl of cereal, I thought, wouldn’t a banana flavored crispy rice treat be awesome? At some point very soon after that, my thoughts turned to tea (as they often do) and I decided that I MUST create a Banana Marshmallow Treat Genmaicha.
And so I did!
I started with my organic matcha infused genmaicha and added marshmallow root and freeze dried bananas. It’s a cuppa yum!
