Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Fusion Teas
Tea Description:
Red vineyard peach: an incomparable delicacy with a unique taste. Together with the strawberry it awakens the desire to visit the slopes of the beautiful vineyard regions where it is grown!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The sample packet that I have for this tea just says “Red Vineyard” not Red Peach Vineyard, but when I compared the ingredient list on my package to the online ingredient list, they are identical so I think I’m pretty safe in assuming that this tea that I’m sipping right now is indeed Red Peach Vineyard.
This is LOVELY!
I know I probably sound a bit like a broken record when I state that I’m not one to imbibe alcohol, but it’s true, and it always seems like a relevant fact when I encounter teas that are wine inspired. I don’t really care much for the taste of alcohol … every once in a while, I take a sip of something, but, I just don’t care for the taste of it. Even alcoholic beverages that supposedly have no taste, like vodka, I can taste something there, and I’m not fond of it. That doesn’t mean that I’m not tempted to try something every once in a while – I mean when I see something like “caramel flavored vodka” or “Almond Roca Wine,” I’m intrigued. But, I think that is more about my sweet tooth than about the actual alcoholic beverage. And I will on a very rare occasion indulge in a mixed cocktail that taste more of sweet fruit than of fermented spirits, but these occasions are indeed rare, and again, the sweeter they are (and the less like alcohol they taste) the better I like them.
But for whatever reason, I usually enjoy wine inspired or wine infused teas. And I don’t know if this tea is actually wine flavored, or if it’s just inspired by the idea of a California Vineyard (Strawberries make me think of California … peaches don’t, however, peaches do grow quite well in California!) Either way, I do taste a sort of wine-y element to this cup. Like a sweet red wine. Slightly grape-y flavor with a hint of fermentation and the slight astringency to this tea play to the wine-like characters of this tea.
The black tea has a very pleasing quality to it. It is a well-rounded tea, it is strong but not what I’d call “bold,” really, and it has a hint of flowery intonation and an undertone of earthiness that also play to the wine-y character of this tea.
But the real stars of this particular show are the flavors of peach and strawberry. I love this combination, and it is one that I think I’d like to see offered more often in tea blends. The sweet, luscious flavor of the peach complements the sweet berry very well, there is just a twinge of tartness to the cup from the berry, but overall, this is a sweet, fruity tea that is really quite enjoyable.
Another great cuppa from Fusion Teas!
Pink Earl Grey from Fusion Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green, Floral
Where to Buy: Fusion Teas
Tea Description:
The classic idea of bergamot turned into a very enthralling new blend on this green tea base. Invite your sweetheart to this pink version of the traditional English Tea Time and the wonderfully fruity and sweet rhubarb flavor will put your two hearts in tune!
Ingredients: green tea (94 %), flavoring, rhubarb pieces, rose petals, rosebuds.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
My confession is that I did not think I was going to like this tea. I am surprised to say that I do like it.
In my opinion this would be the ultimate in Valentine’s Day teas. Keep this in mind as Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it! I could see this being served for a traditional English Tea with tea sandwiches, and cakes. So yummy!
It is a bit on the perfume-y side, the bergamot is strong but it quickly changes into a sweet, floral, creamy, and fruity flavor.
Now according to the ingredients there are no fruits in this blend, however the combinations of the ingredients somehow comes across to me as fruity. Yes the rose does take its time in the limelight, but the fruit notes come over almost as strawberry somehow. Yet in other sips I taste something of lime or citrus.
The mouthfeel is heavier than I would have suspected but not too heavy, just full with a creamy finish that remains bright.
It is a really pretty tea as well.
I am impressed. I really feel that Fusion Teas got this one right. It may not be what the true Earl Grey lover is looking for but if you keep an open mind you will enjoy it. I like regular Earl Grey but I have to be in the mood for it. This is an Earl Grey that I could drink just about anytime. I also think that younger people would love it because of its sweet, creamy, and fruity like flavor.
Now I suppose I could see an argument for this tea having a different name. Just because something is flavored with Bergamot does not mean it has to be called Earl Grey. Earl Grey does not have the entire market cornered on Bergamot after all. Also this is clearly not a black tea.
Call it whatever you want Fusion Teas, I like it!
Key Lime Ceylon from Fusion Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Fusion Teas
Tea Description:
Transport yourself to warm, summer days with the next best thing to a slice of key lime pie. This is a pleasing and healthful black tea blend of lime leaves, lime juice, lime pieces, and sweet candied pineapple. Delicious hot or cold.
Ingredients:organic black tea, black tea, pineapple, natural flavors, lemon peel, lime leaves, stevia, lime juice, lime bits
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Normally when I have a tea with lime flavors in it I end up with an off putting after taste, but that is not the case with this tea from Fusion Teas. To be honest I had lowered expectations for this tea because of that.
Instead what we have is a bright cheery cup of cake like lime goodness. Yes I do realize it is Key Lime PIE blend but to me there is a creaminess I always associate with cake rather than pie but it does have a creamy pie flavor to it.
When you let it cool … oh the real party begins! The flavors just pop and I even detect a slight whipped cream flavor!
I feel that Fusion Teas has really done well with mastering a lime blend that does not leave that funny flavor lingering on my taste buds causing me to make the pucker ick face!
Another issue I often have with blends using stevia is that the sweetness is over done – again not in this blend! Fusion Teas also masterfully blended this so that the sweetening agent does not take over.
The added kick of pineapple may be the key to this wonderful tropical feel. It adds a delicate but not cloying sweetness that is so nice. It is truly refreshing! I will be taking what is left of my sample from my SororiTea Sister Anne, and doing a cold brew.
I plan to stock up on this for summer, while the cold winter months are incoming in my area, it is nice to have something fruity to remind us of the sweet summer sun.
That is what this tea is – sweet summer sunlight, in a cup.
Yum!
Lemon Rose Bud from Fusion Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Fusion Teas
Tea Description:
Taiwanese oolong blended to perfection. With floral notes and hints of lemon and ginger it isn’t just pretty to look at. Instead of picking up that bouquet for your better half try surprising with this one of a kind blend.
Learn more about this blend here.
Taster’s Review:
The dry leaf is absolutely gorgeous! The leaves look like a fine quality, green Tie Kuan Yin – although the description is vague about the type of leaf that it is, stating only that it is a Taiwanese Oolong, the leaves are forest-y green and tightly wound into pellets, similar to most Tie Kuan Yin Oolong teas that I’ve encountered – and there are lots of tiny, red, perfectly formed rose buds tossed amongst the tea leaves as well as bits of lemon grass. It’s so beautiful, I was almost reluctant to brew it, because I just wanted to look at it! But, the key word in that sentence is almost! I wasn’t going to let the beauty of the leaf keep me from brewing it.
The aroma is also quite lovely. The dry tea smells very intriguing, evoking thoughts of exotic pastry that is made with rose water. The fragrance of the rose is very distinctive, with bright notes of lemon, a fresh, vegetative note and a touch of ginger. But there is also a bread-y, pastry-like scent to this too, something that is difficult to place because of the ingredients … that is to say, I don’t know why I am smelling a pastry-like scent, but I am! And it smells mouth-wateringly delicious! Once brewed, the fragrance is different, smelling primarily of rose and Oolong.
And I’m very happy to report that the flavor does not disappoint. Sometimes, it happens where a beautiful looking and smelling tea does not carry through with the flavor, but that didn’t happen here. The flavor is definitely rose: sweet and floral. It has a taste that is very much like the rose water I mentioned previously.
The Oolong tastes sweet and slightly creamy … almost buttery. There is a vegetative note to it that marries with the rose notes in a lovely way. The lemon notes are very faint here, almost overwhelmed by the rose, but, I’m liking the way its an accent flavor … sort of like squeezing a drop or two of fresh lemon juice into the teacup. The ginger is also faint, and for this I am glad, as ginger does have a way of becoming a rather overpowering flavor … here, the flavor is very subtle, adding just a hint of spice to the cup. The ginger is most distinct in the aftertaste, where I notice a developing warmth in the back of my mouth. Not strong, nor is it developing in a powerful sort of way, but in the aftertaste … long into the aftertaste, I notice ginger. It’s quite nice.
I’d recommend this tea to those who generally love rose flavored teas – it is a deliciously different approach to a rose tea! I’d also recommend it to those that love Oolong, because it is a really unique Oolong blend, quite unlike anything I’ve tasted before.
Acai Berry Blend Oolong from Fusion Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Fusion Teas
Tea Description:
A rich floral Chinese Oolong combined with the amazing fruity flavor of the acai berry.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I took my first sniff of the dry leaf of this tea, I did not expect to be blown away – but I was! This smells phenomenal! Very berry-fruity, with hints of floral notes that compliment the berry tones. Once brewed, the tea maintains much of the fragrance that I experienced with the dry leaf, but I notice a bit more of the floral tones from the Oolong along with the aroma of the acai berry.
But what really took me by surprise is how good it tasted. I wouldn’t normally be so excited about an acai berry flavored tea – as I’ve mentioned before, it’s one of those ingredients that often earns a cringe reaction from me because of its tendency to be a bit more tart than it is sweet. But with this tea, there is the perfect balance between tart and sweet, with less tartness really revealing itself during the sip. It is in the aftertaste where I experience most of the tartness with that tingly sensation that tickles the tip of the tongue. That might almost be a tongue twister!
Anyway, I don’t know if it’s because the Oolong is so naturally sweet and smooth that the flavor of the acai berry seems softer and sweeter during the sip, but, whatever is the reason – I like it like this! The sip starts with a very pleasing sweetness as well as a creamy buttery kind of taste and feel. The sweet fruit and creamy butter taste and texture continue throughout the sip, with mere hints of tartness peeking throughout the sip. The finish is barely astringent, it is as though the creaminess of the tea has washed over some of the astringency to make for a smoother finish. Then, in the aftertaste, the tartness emerges … but only just slightly stronger than it was throughout the sip. This never becomes overtly tart.
This is a very enjoyable tea. I think that if this tea was my first experience with the acai berry, I wouldn’t cringe at all! This is absolutely wonderful!