As a tea addict I go through periods where I am obsessed with certain types of tea. My current obsession has been raspberry flavored teas. So, in my typical tea addict fashion, I have been scouring all of the tea companies I could think of looking for raspberry teas. This brought me to T by Daniel. I have heard great things of the company and the teas for some time now but when I saw that they had a raspberry tea named Rated R, called that as it is “rated R for raspberry content,” I knew that I it was time to give the company a try. T by Daniel is a Canadian company however shipping to the Midwest was very fast. I love that they included a handwritten thank you note to personally thank me for my purchase. I really appreciated this little touch.
I ordered several tea varieties but Rated R was the tea that really prompted my order. Lets begin with the smell. This tea has such a bright and robust raspberry smell. It reminds me of those little gumdrop raspberry candies. Not only does the tea smell amazing but the dry tea is very pretty. It has a black tea base with white coconut flakes, large white gumdrops, red raspberries and pink rose petals peeking out. Also, the flavorings added are all natural. This is very remarkable to me to have such a strong raspberry smell with all natural flavors
I steeped this tea up at 212 degrees for 3 minutes. It has a very smooth and enjoyable black tea base that hits the tongue first followed by a lovely natural raspberry flavor on the back side of the taste. The raspberry flavor does not get lost in the black tea taste, rather it compliments it very nicely. The coconut adds a touch of creaminess to the blend to round it out. I am very pleased with this tea, it has become my “gold standard” of raspberry teas.
I have now tried several teas from T by Daniel and have to say I am very excited by what I have tried. They have a cool, hip vibe to their company that I love and the owners, a husband and wife team, are very engaging. I really think that they are up and coming and I look forward to more great teas from them!
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Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: T by Daniel
Description
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Fiery Cinnamon Spice/Adagio Teas. . . .
You always hear that smell is one of the most powerful senses as it is connected to your memory.
The Hot Cinnamon Spice blend from Adagio has a nostalgic aroma to me – it reminds me of red hot candies from my childhood when it’s dry, and the aroma makes you think that the flavor will be overpowering.
When brewed, it still keeps that red hot candy aroma, but the flavor is surprisingly mild compared to the aroma. If you try this tea, know that you must like cinnamon in your tea! Also, be sure you drink it hot – when it cools off it taste more like a cinnamon stick.
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Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
Finally, the wait is over! A long-time customer request, Fiery Cinnamon Spice is here to stay! This tea packs the perfect punch of cinnamon flavor, blended with Ceylon tea, orange peels, and cloves for an amped up, kick-in-the-palate cinnamon experience. Perfect to heat you up on a cold day, or just wake up your palate on an early morning. This tea will bring a smile to any cinnamon lovers face.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Beards Hollow from Beach House Teas. . . .
Every time I saw this tea in my stash I would think of Gilmore Girls. I don’t know why because Gilmore Girls takes place in Stars Hollow and this is Beards Hollow. So out of curiosity I looked up Beards Hollow and it seems to be a national park which fits much better with the flavors of this tea than the little town of Stars Hollow does.
Comprised of organic lapsang souchong tea, organic blackberry leaf, wild forged hemlock needles, organic juniper berries and organic pure extract the tea has a very earthy quality. It is a touch sweet from the berries and a lot smokey from the lapsang. Like memories of a campfire in the woods. Plus, the hemlock needles give it a really woodsiness to help sell that concept.
This is not the type of tea I usually reach for since I more go for fruity or sweet or dessert-like teas. This is not that and though it is nice to change it up every now and then, I don’t think I personally will reach for this. With that said, for those that enjoy the more herbaceous/woody teas, this has a great balance of flavors and could be a good choice.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Beach House Teas
Description
This tea appears to no longer be available from Beach House Teas but click below for other black tea blends that are!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Butter Brew/Bird & Blend. . . .
When I was in Harry Potter World in Universal, I tried “Butter Beer.” The over-hyped, lackluster beverage was $6 for a clear Solo cup’s worth. The flavor was like a cream soda mixed with a root beer. Meh.
After that disappointment, I was on the lookout for a better butter beer — and have found it with Butter Brew from Bird and Blend. (Alliteration, anyone?)
This blend is like an English Breakfast into which someone dumped molasses/sweetness/creamer. A LOT OF CREAMER. The warm dairy sweetness of this is POTENT.
This blend also includes calendula petals. I looked up this plant, because I keep seeing those petals everywhere. What’s their flavor? What’s their reason?
Turns out — in case you were wondering at all — that calendula is a type of flower that includes the marigold. (You may have seen it in gardens. Perhaps your own garden.) The flower has alleged anti-inflammatory properties. MOSTLY, however, calendula is used to give a pop of color to a dish. Which I totally get, because tea is so dull and brown without the flowers. I love a good inclusion. It says “here’s a fancy, pretty treat JUST FOR YOU, on this bitter and sad and cold morning.” The yellow also, I suppose, is the color of butter, now that I think of it.
Depending on who you are, the $6 soda concoction might be for you. But I, personally, prefer the MANY, MUCH BETTER cups of tea you can get for a comparable price at Bird & Blend.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Bird & Blend
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Peach Mai Tai from DAVIDs Tea. . . .
Peach teas can be hard to get right. They often times come off as artificial tasting or just tasting off. Because of this I have a love and hate relationship with peach teas. I love the idea of them because when done right they are amazing. But, so often I am let down because the peach taste is just not up to par. So, when I saw that Davids Tea was releasing yet another peach tea (yes, they release a lot of these sort of teas) I was interested.
Peach Mai Tai is based on the popular tropical mixed drink of the same name. The dry leaves smelt like peach and also had a nuttiness to it which is odd but perhaps something in the artificial flavors is contributing to that smell. I steeped the tea at 212 degrees for 3 minutes and served it over ice. The first taste is a very mild, mellow black tea. I do wish that Davids Tea would list what black tea is used as I am always curious about that. After the initial black tea taste the peach flavor pops up followed by a very subtle ginger back-taste. The peach in here is good. Although the ingredients have artificial flavors added peach is listed in the ingredients and I think that is why the peach is coming off tasting more genuine. I expected to taste the candied ginger in this more but overall nothing overpowers here, the black tea, ginger and peach are all in balance resulting in a very nice glass of iced tea.
I do like this tea, Davids Tea did get the peach flavor right. My only criticism is that this tea is very similar to Lady Marmalade that was released last year. As a tea addict I am always looking for something fresh and new and this tea, although very tasty, has been done by Davids Tea before.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: DAVIDs Tea
Description
Be a peach and pour another glass of this juicy and energizing black tea. With its mouthwatering tiki punch of peach, ginger and marigold blossom, you know you won’t want to share yours. Try it straight up for a bold and crisp iced tea. Or class it up by adding a splash of prosecco and fresh peach slices. Don’t forget the cute little cocktail umbrella!