Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Fusion Teas
Tea Description:
This soft, highly aromatic bergamot black tea is of the highest quality. The excellent basis of Ceylon and Yunnan is perfectly in tune with the flavoring. A light and pleasant smokey nuance accompanies the typical bergamot citrus flavor. Experience a top-class Earl Grey Tea
Ingredients: Ceylon and Yunnan Black Tea with Bergamot.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Earl Grey Awesomeness!
The combination of Ceylon and Yunnan teas brings a deliciously rich and robust base to this tea. It is full-bodied with notes of spice and earth, a very nicely rounded tea. And I love how the tea interacts with the bergamot. The spice notes are very complementary to the tangy bergamot.
The bergamot flavor might be a little lighter than in some blends – it’s not IN YOUR FACE – but it is not what I’d call subtle either. It is really quite well executed, providing the citrus tones without tasting soapy.
This tea does require a little extra care when it comes to brewing. The first time I steeped it, I did so using the same parameters I would with most other black teas: water brought to a boil, steeped for 2 1/2 minutes in my Breville One-Touch. And while the resulting tea was alright, I just was not satisfied with it. I tend to hold Earl Grey up to a certain standard, and my first infusion of this tea certainly did not live up to that standard.
The second time I infused the tea, I followed the steeping parameters on the package a little more closely, and brought the water to 200°F instead of a full boil, and steeped the tea for just 2 minutes instead of 2 1/2. The difference in taste is remarkable, and elevated the tea from just alright … to ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! If I didn’t make both pots of tea myself, I wouldn’t have believed that they were the same tea!
If you love Earl Grey, you should add this tea on to your “must try” list. It’s really quite remarkable – rich, tangy, slightly sweet and delicious. I don’t know exactly where this Earl Grey would rate in my top tier of Earl Grey teas, but it certainly deserves a place in the top ten, if not the top five! Yes, it’s that good!
Red Bush Chai from Fusion Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Fusion Teas
Tisane Description:
By itself, chai is merely the generic word for “tea” in much of South Asia and many other parts of the world. In western society chai has become to imply a spiced version of tea. Traditionally a strong base is used so that the spices and sweeteners do not overpower it. Rooibos is perfect in this manner because of the bold almost nuttiness flavor that is present.
There are a wide variety of spices that can be used. When you think of chai you immediately think of “warm” spices. Any combination of the following can be used: cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, fennel seeds, peppercorn, cloves, ginger, and star anise. Cardamon being the most common added spice for its dominant characteristic while a combination of the others play a supplemental role. Our Red Bush Chai stays true to tradition with its boldness.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve sampled quite a few chai-inspired rooibos blends. Some I’ve liked, some I didn’t. I like this one. It is warm and spicy without being too spicy.
In many rooibos chai blends, I don’t taste much from the rooibos, and usually I’m quite happy with that. However, I do taste the rooibos here – I taste that distinct nutty flavor of rooibos – and I am finding myself really enjoying the taste. The sweet, nutty flavor of the rooibos melds nicely with warmth of the spices, adding a pleasant depth to this cup. Also nice is the bright flavor from the citrus peel. It isn’t a dominate flavor, but it adds a vibrant kiss of flavor to the drink.
I really like the blend of spices. A nice peppery kick – but not too powerful a kick. A hint of sweet, sassy licorice from the fennel and anise, but unlike some chai blends that add the fennel and/or anise with a heavy hand, here, the licorice tones are in the background, providing a gentle, welcome flavor. Warmth from the cardamom, cinnamon and cloves.
Really tasty, this Red Bush Chai from Fusion Tea Room!
Blueberry Yogurt Rooibos from Fusion Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Fusion Teas
Tisane Description:
The wonderful thing with Rooibos is that it compliments just about any flavor. Same as true with blueberries. Of course we only use real blueberries. Then for a smooth finish we added yogurt granules. Naturally caffeine free so it can be enjoyed anytime of the day.
Taster’s Review:
I am so very happy with this tisane for a couple of reasons.
First, I was happy to find that there is NO hibiscus in this blend. It seems that hibiscus is added to many – far TOO many – berry tisanes to enhance the natural tartness of the berry. I am glad to see that Fusion Tea Room chose not to follow the trend of adding hibiscus to berry blends with this delicious dessert tea.
Second, I am happy with this blend because it IS delicious. The blueberry flavor tastes sweet with just a hint of tartness, and it is very true to the berry’s flavor. That is to say … this TASTES like real blueberries. It doesn’t taste artificial.
The yogurt adds a creamy element to the cup that complements the blueberry, as well as a tangy note that gives the sweeter flavors of this cup some contrast. The rooibos base adds a light earthiness to the cup, but the rooibos flavor doesn’t become too strong here, allowing the focus to remain on the sweet, juicy blueberry flavor.
This is such a delightful tisane. It is sweet and indulgent enough to satisfy those sweet cravings … and makes a delicious dessert, any time of the day.
Orange Spice Tulsi from Fusion Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Tulsi & Rooibos
Where to Buy: Fusion Teas
Tisane Description:
A wonderful soothing cup to end a stressful day. The tulsi base calms the stress and has many health benefits that the traditional black tea version does not have. Naturally caffeine free this is especially beneficial as an evening drink.
Taster’s Review:
Normally, I wouldn’t consider a spiced tea to be a “soothing” cup with which to de-stress. But, this truly is a wonderful and soothing cup, just as the description suggests.
The flavors are very calm and gentle. Even the spice notes have their own sense of calmness to them. This is the kind of tisane you want to curl up to on a chilly autumn or winter evening … and it would be especially nice to have on hand when one is feeling under the weather as I am finding it to be quite soothing to my throat. I’m not sick, but I am experiencing my allergies which begin in the late winter/early spring, and they begin with an itchy throat – and I’m finding this to have comforting effect.
Typically, with these orange spice teas/tisanes, they are very heavy on the cinnamon. So, I was surprised (pleasantly so) when the cinnamon was more subtle here, allowing the flavors of the other spices to come through. That is not to say that the cinnamon is not well-pronounced because it is; it just is not the main event. It doesn’t overpower the rest of the spices. Instead, it offers a pleasing warmth that is neither too spicy nor too bland. I like that I can taste each of these spices, as well as a hint of mint from the Tulsi.
The rooibos has a warm, nutty flavor to it. Lightly fruity, it accents the flavor of the orange very nicely. The orange is sweet yet tangy, and I can taste an ever-so-slight apple-y note here as well which serves as more of a sweetness in the distance than anything else.
Overall, this tisane has a mild, delicious flavor that kids as well as adults can enjoy. This is one that I do recommend keeping on hand for when the family has the sniffles – it will bring soothing relief to the aching throats … and it’s much tastier than a cough drop!
Chai Spice Maté from Fusion Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Yerba Maté
Where to Buy: Fusion Teas
Tisane Description:
A spicy take on a traditional Argentinean brew. This fusion of yerba mate, and freshly ground whole cardamom, cinnamon sticks, star anise and ginger bits create a delicious and warming cup. Great iced or with sweetener and a touch of soy milk.
Taster’s Review:
Over the last couple of days, it’s been very windy here in the Pacific Northwest. Windy and chilly! When it’s like this, the chill seems to saturate me, and even my bones feel cold. It’s perfect weather to stay inside and enjoy a hot cup of chai! The warmth of the masala spices helps to warm me from the inside out, and makes me forget all about that howling wind outside.
I like this Chai Spice Maté from Fusion Tea Room very much. The flavors of masala spice and Yerba Maté are balanced very well. The earthy/vegetative quality of the Maté is very prominent, and usually that would be something that I’d find off-putting, but, I’m really enjoying how the earthiness of the Maté and the earthy notes of the spices work together.
The spices are very warm but not what I’d consider spicy. I wouldn’t call them “mild” either, they’re somewhere in between the two – very pleasantly warm and exotic without overpowering the palate with spice. One of my favorite spices is star anise, and I like that the flavor of the anise comes through very nicely here, giving a licorice-y kind of taste that lingers well into the aftertaste.
A wonderfully warm and energizing cup of chai! This one will help get you going!