Sweet Dreams is part of AstroloTea’s Transformative Loose Tea range, which combines ingredients with specific properties to create teas designed to have an effect on either mind or body. Sweet Dreams, true to its name, is supposed to be a relaxing blend, with the intention of promoting sleep or rest. Like many blends of this kind, it contains a selection of herbal ingredients known for their calming properties, including rose petals, hops, jasmine, lemon balm, and lavender. It also contains more unusual ingredients, such as poppy, catuba, gotu kola, dogwood, yarrow, brahmi, kava kava, and mullein. Many of these I’ve never come across before. All of the ingredients are organic, except the kava kava which has been cultivated without the use of chemicals.
I followed the recommended parameters and used 2 tsp of leaf for my cup, added to boiling water for 5 minutes. The resulting liquor is a bright orange-brown, with a mildly herbaceous scent. The flavour is more delicate than I expected, initially quite generically “herbal”, but with clear flashes of rose and lavender. There’s a distinctive thick sweetness from the hops in the mid-sip, and a touch of aniseed-like fennel. A light lemony-citrus note rounds off the sip.
The proliferation of ingredients made me wonder whether it would be possible to distinguish any one of them at all, but in actual fact it is possible to pick out the stronger, more dominant, flavours. Many of the ingredients are unfamiliar to me, though (and probably to most people), and it’s fair to say that the overall effect is herbal with an edge of floral. I’m pleased the the floral doesn’t edge over into perfumey, and it’s not too strong, so you might get along with this even if floral teas are not typically your thing. In flavour terms, its reminiscent of a lot of similar blends, only with more unusual, carefully selected, ingredients.
I didn’t notice much of an effect straight after drinking, but I can certainly appreciate having another caffeine-free pre-bedtime blend in my cupboard. With its light, delicate flavour, it’s a pleasing choice for late night drinking whether you buy into the “sleep-aid” aspect or not. I’d happily seek out more AstroloTea blends in the future.
And since today is #MusicandTeaMonday, we couldn’t help but pair this tea with this song! Don’t forget to join us on your favorite social media of choice with #MusicandTeaMonday!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: AstroloTea
Description:
Sweet Dreams Organic Loose Leaf Tea is only available as an herbal tea blend. It is a powerful sedative tea for nighttime relaxation and sleep. It has been used to help relieve insomnia and sleep disturbances.
This soft and dreamy tea is the perfect way to close every day. Slip into comfort and notice how gently everything floats away as you easily drift off to dreamland. Sweet Dreams tea is a luxurious gift to give yourself for a day well lived.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Jade Oolong from Little Red Cup Tea Co.
I was looking for a greener tasting oolong and I think I have found just that in this Jade Oolong from Little Red Cup Tea Co.
Not only does this Jade Oolong from Little Red Cup Tea Co. taste like a greener oolong it also has beautiful floral flavors on the end sip and a very pretty aroma from start to finish. It has a glowing gold color of tea liquor that sloshes in the cup. This was delightful sipping hot, cool, or cold! The cooler or colder it gets the more I can taste the floral notes.
If you haven’t had a good, solid Jade Oolong in a while try Jade Oolong from Little Red Cup Tea Co. and even if you have it’s a great time to compare it with others because I find this one to be exceptional!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Little Red Cup Tea Co.
Description:
Jade Oolong (Wu Long, 乌龙) is a marvelous mountain-grown tea from western Hunan Province. It has an appealing aroma, a beautiful green color and a forceful presence. It has a taste profile characteristic of greener oolongs, complex and just a little woody.
Our Jade Oolong is pure whole leaf organic Chinese tea, Fair Trade certified, and utterly delicious. This is a tea to be enjoyed on a regular basis, but also a tea to bring out for special occasions. It is at once familiar and yet a cut above ordinary oolongs, a tea we are certain you will love.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Organic Lavender White Tea from 3 Teas
If you like white tea and/or enjoy lavender I think you will REALLY like Organic Lavender White Tea from 3 Teas! It’s no surprise the white tea is delicate. And you may or may not know that it’s lower in caffeine. Perhaps those are just two of the reasons I find them to be a very appropriate tea to drink in the evening.
One thing I will say for this Organic Lavender White Tea from 3 Teas is that the white tea takes well to the flavoring. The Lavender is quite strong but really seems to work here. It’s the Lavender that keep on giving long after your last sip, too!
I LOVE that this not only features organic white tea but organic wild Lavender! The ingredients are both fresh and crisp! Organic Lavender White Tea from 3 Teas doesn’t skimp on the quality of these ingredients, folks! This is a sturdy flavored white tea and comforting cup!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White Tea
Where to Buy: 3 Teas
Description:
This special hand blended 3 Teas combination is amazingly light and floral, guaranteed to relax and refresh!
| Ingredients | Organic white tea, organic wild lavender |
| Origin | China |
| Antioxidant Level | Very high |
| Caffeine Level | Low |
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Eden Oolong Tea from TOCHA Tea
Eden Oolong from TOCHA Tea – I LOVE the name and the tea isn’t too shabby either. This tea is organic loose leaf inside sheer sachets. I can clearly see all of the plump ingredients in each bag. Once steeped the oolong leaves a nice lighter glowing golden hue in the cup!
Eden Oolong from TOCHA Tea is please on the nose and on the taste buds! It’s a florally-sweet flavor that is mild and pretty. It leave no specific aftertaste which I love. This makes a decent iced tea as well. I have to say I am pretty impressed with this tea!
I have to say I’m also LOVING the tea tin that Eden Oolong from TOCHA Tea came in. The labels are beautiful. Each tea flavor and offering have various colors flowing on the tea tin label that a dreamer like me could easily get lost in. The colors swim together like a watercolor painting! This tea puts a smile on my face!
Here’s the Scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong Tea
Where to Buy: TOCHA Tea
Description:
Escape into a luxuriant garden with this fresh, lively blend of delightful oolong tea and the finest botanicals. This elegant, harmonious infusion eases body and mind, supporting a fit and trim physique while putting a blissful smile on your face.
Fresh, fragrant, enlivened by the sweet and floral aromas
Ingredients
Organic Whole Leaf Oolong Tea (China), Organic Lotus Leaf (China), Organic Whole Leaf Jasmine Green Tea (China), Organic Rose Petals (France), Organic Osmanthus Flowers (China)
Learn more about this tea and tea company here.
Everest First Flush Black Tea from Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Description:
Our Everest First Flush tea is hand-picked in April from the tender buds of the tea plants that emerge after several months of dormancy as the days turned crisp, sunny, and bright. This unique, artisan tea is a vibrant expression of the fresh Himalayan spring. Its beautiful, long leaves reflect the subtleties of the season. Upon delivery of the freshly picked leaves to the Sandakphu factory, it is processed initially by hand by gently rolling the leaves, then allowed to wither overnight. The following day, the leaves are mechanically rolled to achieve natural oxidation while preserving the fresh, spring green color. The liquor is pale and pure. The tea’s gentle, aromatic profile features floral and lilac notes. The first sip reveals a smooth, sweet tea, with refreshing spring astringency. This tea finishes with crisp vegetal notes and hints of roasted corn. Like Nepal’s famed peak, this is the pinnacle of our first flush teas.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
If you gravitate towards Darjeeling Teas I think you might like this Everest First Flush Black Tea from Nepali Tea Traders. At least that is the first thought I had as I sipped on this offering from Nepali Tea Traders. It’s like a hepped-up version of a Darjeeling Black Tea.
Maybe it’s because it’s a First Flush. Maybe it’s because of the crisp floral notes. Perhaps it’s because of the astringency. Or maybe Everest First Flush Black Tea from Nepali Tea Traders reminds me of a Darjeeling because of the look and feel.
The dried loose leaves look similar to Darjeeling – as does the aroma – which is springy and fresh. The aftertaste was also reminiscent of a popped rice much like you would find in a genmaicha. Everest First Flush Black Tea from Nepali Tea Traders is very unique indeed!
One thing I found after drinking this – twice – I was very hungry afterwards! I don’t really know what that means – if anything – but I could REALLY go for a 5 coarse meal right now! Regardless…Everest First Flush Black Tea from Nepali Tea Traders…is a tea to appreciate and remember!