52Teas has some of the more creative tea flavors I’ve ever tasted, so when I saw my sample bag with a little American flag and a fun name like Red, White, and Blue Black Tea, I knew it had to come from 52Teas.
This blend features raspberries (red), coconut (white), and blueberries (blue), all mixed in with a black tea base. Even before brewing, the tea leaves were a colorful joy to look at. Brewed hot, the coconut and black tea were the most forward at first, very bold and buttery.
I used the 52Teas recommendation and let the tea cool for about 10 minutes before taking another sip. When I returned to my cup there was much more flavor from the berries. I tasted tart red raspberry and sweet dark blueberry, all swirled together with the lingering creaminess from the coconut.
Maybe I’m just thinking of patriotic summer days, but this blend would make an excellent cold brew. It has rich fruit flavors for natural sweetness, solid black tea backing for body and robustness, and a touch of tropical coconut to lighten the mood.
If you’re not an American tea drinker, don’t let the flag theme put you off this blend, it is a great berry coconut black tea that will be sure to add some spring to your step as a hot morning brew or an iced afternoon treat.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
This tea is no longer available but check back to see if the tea gets a reblend and what blends are available.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Drink Me Oolong from Plum Deluxe
Drink Me Oolong from Plum Deluxe has a warm and toasty roasted oolong base with added mango and almond essence. The darker oolong tea keeps the blend from getting too sweet, adding an almost savory nuttiness with each sip. The almond adds its trademark, almost-floral marzipan candy taste. The fruity mango adds a nice brightness to keep this blend uplifting and not too dense or cake-like.
I believe the name of this blend is inspired by Alice in Wonderland, but even without the reference is it a cute name to have looking back at you from your tea cupboard on rainy days. With sunny mango, bakery sweet almond, and a mid-level of caffeine, this is a great tea for the afternoon slump or a mid-day tea party.
Drink Me Oolong from Plum Deluxe was a limited edition blend, that should cycle back around in their seasonal blends or as part of their subscription service. In the meantime, give Pick Me Up Oolong a try, with almond and maple flavors and a similar oolong tea base.
Or try another flavor of oolong tea. Plum Deluxe teas always have great flavor combinations, and include things like “love” and “gratitude” on their ingredients list, so you can’t help but feel good when you brew a cup of their tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Plum Deluxe
This tea is no longer available but click below for other options!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Louisa May Alcott from Simpson and Vail
Just when I think I’ve tried all the lovely literary teas from Simpson and Vail I find a new blend. This time it is Louisa May Alcott’s blend.
This tea is made with chunmee green tea, which is new to me. The light and easygoing tones of this fruity green tea blend makes it pleasant and approachable but far from dull. The green tea base is gentle and sweet and pairs perfectly with the abundant apple and strawberry pieces in the blend.
When brewed, this tea feels like late summer with potent real fruit flavors, and grassy green tea tones. The combination evokes images of lush fruit harvests and the last warm summer days with sun-baked grass.
There is a hint of rose petals in the finish of ach sip, adding to the end of summer garden feeling. I really appreciate the green tea being both sweet and buttery, which helps the fruit from being too sweet or simple. This is a great blend for when you are looking for something delicate but memorable. Also a good choice of tea when you want to bring up the feeling of some late summer days.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Description:
Early in Little Women, while visiting a sick Laurie, Jo says that her sister Meg’s blancmange is made “very nicely.” Later, her own attempt turns out “lumpy” and accompanied by strawberries that were “not as ripe as they looked.” Our blend follows Meg’s example and is almost, as Laurie says, “too pretty to [drink].” Combining almond and strawberry flavors, this blend brews to a delicious tea that is fruity and aromatic. It manages to be both sweet and light thanks to the Chunmee green tea base and the gentle floral notes added by the rose petals.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Sencha Sensation from T2 Tea
Sencha Sensation from T2 Tea is a flavored green tea blend with added flower petals. Since this is a green tea, remember to keep your water temperature cooler than normal to bring out the best flavors.
When brewed, this blend smells buttery and tropical. These flavors continue into the taste with passionfruit and citrus flavors complementing the lush and fresh green tea base. The tea is sugary from the fruitiness without being candy-like, and the end of each sip features more of the natural celery or sweetgrass flavors of the green tea leaves.
I drank this blend warm on a rainy day for an afternoon pick-me-up and the fruity and floral flavors helped sweeten my mood. This would also be a great tea to cold brew. The cooler temperature would suit the green tea and the tropical flavors always taste better over ice.
Let yourself get swept up in the Sencha Sensation.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: green
Where to Buy: T2 Tea
Description: A blend of petals with sencha green tea produces a light floral taste and citrus aroma. A subtle flavoured green for those who like a delicate brew.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Fresa Guayusa from Fava Tea Company. . . .
Guayusa is a non-traditional type of tea, like mate. Both guayusa and mate come from a type of holly bush and not the traditional tea plant. While technically herbal teas, guayusa and mate both pack a big punch of caffeine so brew this tea when you’re looking to get hyped.
Fresa Guayusa from Fava Tea Company adds sweet strawberries to the guayusa base. I think this is a great combination for tea. I find mate and guayusa to be a bit too plain on their own. They have a pleasant dry grass scent and flavor, like standing in a field at the end of the summer with everything feeling fresh but a bit dry and toasty. But after a whole cup of this flavor, I find myself wanting a little something else.
Adding strawberries makes this bright and happy, with natural pink fruitiness it livens up the blend. Besides, if you’re reaching for a blend with as much caffeine as this guayusa has, you could probably use a little perky sweetness in your cup too.
This would be a great iced tea to kick off hot summer days, or a nice alternative to black tea on an afternoon where you need something sweet and highly caffeinated to get you going.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Guayusa
Where to Buy: Fava Tea
Description:
This tea has been shown to reduce physical and mental stress allowing for stronger mental strength and courage.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!