Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Mama-Kii
Tisane Description:
Rejuvenate and renew with a soothing cup of Mama-Kii tea directly from the Big Island of Hawaii. Our delicious, caffeine-free and all natural mamaki is a perfect way to start your day as a natural pick me up. In the middle of the day a cup of mamaki hot or cold can reduce stress and improve mental acuity. The ancient Hawaiians also discovered mamaki is an excellent rejuvenator at the end of the day promoting general health and well-being. Mamaki is Hawaii’s gift to the rest of the world shared with aloha.
Learn more about Mamaki Tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I opened the box that my Hawaiian Mamaki Tea from Mama-Kii was shipped in, I found a hand-written note from Gabrielle at Mama-Kii, and this note promised me a treat for the senses! So far, she hasn’t disappointed me.
The first sense that has been delighted? Sight! The “Deluxe Mamaki Tea Tin” is lovely! It’s a fairly simple design: purple and off-white with a grey silhouette of a Hawaiian island. The tin is nicely sealed. But what appealed to me most about this tin is the pearlescent quality of the label! It shimmers so beautifully. Yeah, maybe that stuff isn’t really important when it comes right down to the tea that one is consuming, but, I know that if I saw this tin in the store, I would have been prompted to buy it based on the label … I’m a sucker for that kind of thing, what can I say?
Once I opened the tin, I found a large, muslin drawstring bag. I took out the bag, and tucked inside was a cellophane bag that houses the pyramid sachets filled with the Mamaki herb.
So, after a quick sniff of the dry leaf – it smells sweet and herbaceous – I decided to do just a little bit of research about this herb. The Mama-Kii website does offer quite a bit of information about this herb, including about where the herb is grown, the growing conditions of the herb, as well as the health benefits of the herb. Beyond the Mama-Kii website, I found relatively little about the herb on Wikipedia, and there is a website that I did find interesting that tells of the Native Plants of Hawaii. On this website, I found information about the Mamaki herb, but really, nothing more informative than the website itself. It’s a very comprehensive website … if you’re curious about Mamaki … the Mama-Kii website is the place to start!
The brewed tea has a faint aroma, but it smells fresh and still has that sweet, herbaceous scent of the dry leaf. The color of the liquid is that of a light green tea – it’s a pale, yellowish green color.
Where this herb tea really wins me over is the flavor. I didn’t know exactly what to expect from the flavor of this tea as I had never tasted Hawaiian Mamaki before today, but, I’m really enjoying what I’m tasting.
The flavor is delicate and sweet. It tastes a little bit like a thin green tea with its vegetative tones and hints of buttery notes. I like that I taste a buttery taste, but it doesn’t feel buttery or thick. The texture is like that of a thin broth … smooth and pleasant. There is no astringency or bitterness to this. It’s really quite a joy to drink this tea, and I feel myself relax with each sip.
I am really glad that I had this opportunity to try Hawaiian Mamaki Tea – it’s similar enough to a green tea and I think that those who enjoy green tea could find that the flavor here is really quite enjoyable … and there are so many benefits to drinking this herb … I recommend giving it a try! It is something that I’m going to enjoy drinking now and again!
Green Tea Powder from Nuvola Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Nuvola Tea
Tea Description:
Nuvola Premium Green Tea is not only a treat to the eyes, but also is abundant in antioxidants Catechin and Vitamin C, which could help boosting the immune system.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I first received this sampling from Nuvola Tea, I thought it was Matcha. It says Green Tea Powder on the package, but, that usually means Matcha to me, so I was surprised when I visited the Nuvola Tea Website and saw that this was harvested in Taiwan. 
So now I realize that this is not “traditional” Matcha, since it was produced in Taiwan, and not Japan. But, since it *looks* like Matcha – being a green powder and all, I decided to prepare it the same way I would Matcha. I got out my chawan and chasen, and I whisked it with hot water until the liquid was jade green and frothy … and looking a lot like, well, like a bowl of Matcha.
It doesn’t taste quite the same as Matcha, certainly. Matcha tends to be a softer, buttery flavor, with a sweeter overtone. This has more sharpness to it, but, it is still quite tasty. It is more of a “bittersweet” kind of taste with notes of vegetation. It has a creamy texture, and it is quite smooth. It doesn’t taste or feel gritty. In that sense, it reminds me of Matcha … the smooth, thick mouthfeel. There is a light, tangy astringency to this … in fact, there is an almost “citrus-y” finish to this Green Tea Powder.
And I’m feeling much the same effects from this Green Tea Powder as I do from Matcha. That sort of energetic feeling that pumps through the veins after I drink a bowl of Matcha? Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about … I feel that same rush from this Green Tea Powder. It’s revitalizing!
This is certainly a lot more economical than most Matcha out there, so I’m thinking that this would be a great tea to use in smoothies and such. And it’s tasty on it’s own too – it tastes great hot or cold … try adding a couple of scoops to a bottle of water and giving it a good shake to incorporate. It’s a great way to enjoy green tea on the go!
Caramel MATCHAccino from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Have your MATCHAccino your way! Easy to make for those on the go or sit back and indulge in sweet healthy goodness! Caramel MATCHAccino is a flavored green tea matcha latte that is decedent, delicious, and full of caramel flavor. Some say that the flavor matches that of a crème brûlée, or caramelized sugar. Others are reminded of the old fashioned caramel candies their grandparents savored. We just know it is delicious!
There is no healthier or tastier way to indulge your senses in something this sweet, and energizing! Just scoop, put into your container, shake with milk and ice, and your good to go. It couldn’t be easier, or more affordable to have a MATCHAccino in your hands right now. MATCHAccino is best mixed with milk and ice, but can also be served hot as a latte. Add a dollop of whipped cream if you care to indulge in a luscious caramel candy sensation. All natural, with premium quality ingredients. You will think you are doing something sinful!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
MATCHAccino from Red Leaf Tea is anything and everything a person on the go could want! For that matter it is anything a person who wants to lavish in a sweet inexpensive matcha latte at home could want! Its everything anyone could want! It provides a healthy way to indulge in sweet caramel goodness that provides a nice energy boost without feeling cruddy like you would after a typical energy drink. The flavor is perfection. Sweet caramel candy like yumminess with a sweet green matcha flavor to boot. I do add whipped cream to mine often and love it. Just like the description says, it tastes as good as, if not better than a milkshake!
I can’t express how easy this is to make, and I admit, I’m rather lazy. If something takes too much prep time I lose interest in it fairly quickly. Now with that said I do love having all of the pretty chawans, chasens, sifters, whisks, etc and so on, but I only use those on occasion and will generally prepare something that only takes a little time. Well this is it my friends, this literally takes me no longer than two minutes to prepare. Using their measuring scoop I put the powder into my lidded glass drinking vessel, after adding my almond milk so that the powder does not get weighted down and stuck to the bottom, put the lid on, shake about ten times, and I’m sipping on what I could have paid five bucks for at a coffee (now trying to be a tea shop) shop. Big difference though is that this is only a little over a dollar, under a dollar when you buy a larger size pouch!
Fact is that where I live the only coffee shops that even offer a matcha latte are clear across town. I don’t live in a big city that offers these drinks on every street corner, but even if I did it would make no sense to pay that exorbitant price for a matcha latte with Red Leaf Tea’s option! Also, personally, I don’t care to give my money to the big chains that really have no honest interest in serving good quality tea, I mean they are coffee chains and tea is an afterthought. Anyway, I didn’t mean for this post to become crass. I just really love this MATCHAccino and am really excited about how good it is.
Thank you Red Leaf Tea for coming up with so many great ideas!
Boysenberry Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Matcha, Green
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Boysenberry is an interesting fruit that greatly resembles a big sized raspberry, loganberry and blackberry. Its sharp and tart taste is mellowed by Matcha’s velvety flavour to make a Boysenberry Matcha treat that blends perfectly into the palate. This richly fruity treat is perfect for those people who want to expand their fruit filled snacks with different fresh new flavours. Boysenberry Matcha can also become a perfect hot weather treat to both cool and excite the palate with its enlivening sharp taste. It forms an interesting addition in the occasions of young children with its interesting reputation for being the surprise fruit-based treat.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Boysenberry Matcha from Red Leaf Tea is heaven in a chawan! To me, boysenberry is much like a blueberry flavor, only perhaps a bit more tart. Yet, there is this unique flavor to boysenberry that is almost earthy, a bit savory. It is such an interesting fruit, truly. I love it. Its an excellent palate cleanser as well. Its fresh, refreshing, and just so yummy.
The matcha base is excellent! I normally go with a basic grade of matcha but for boysenberry I selected Royal Matcha base as I really wanted this boysenberry matcha to be a true treat, and let me tell you – it sure is!
Now when it comes to Red Leaf Tea’s matcha you really can’t go wrong, you will enjoy any of their matcha bases and as I said I generally go with the basic grade but now and then I do treat myself. Yes I can tell a difference from the basic grade to royal but I just can’t say enough about how good even their basic grade is.
Strange thing, back in the day…I used to really down the Red Bull energy drinks. I loved them. I think I was craving the Vitamin B 12 but regardless, this matcha interestingly has a similar flavor profile, but so much better, and by far healthier!
I just can’t get over how succulent this flavor profile is. Sweet, yet tart, savory, yet sweet, tangy, mouthwatering, dark berry goodness! Then we have those grassy like earthy notes form the matcha which if you love matcha like me, are just simply divine!
Don’t be afraid of the boysenberry! If you are looking for a new fruit adventure grab some of this and give it a go! I can’t see how you could be disappointed in this one. It is so fresh, so refreshing, ripe, and juicy you will swear you are eating the berries themselves!
As a type 1 diabetic this is a treat that I can have with no guilt! Flavored matcha have no added sugar and are very low in carbohydrates, calories, etc. That is why I stock up on as many flavors as I can!
Orange and Bavarian Cream Matcha from Red Leaf Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Matcha
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
As childeren we all liked to experiment with flavors. Where do you think peanut and jelly sandwich came from? We think it’s time to try it again, but this time with Matcha flavors.
Pick any 2 flavors and we’ll make your custom Matcha for you.
Some samples:
Vanilla-Chocolate
Chocolate-Mint
Mango-Banana
For those that do not like the “grassy” taste of Sugar Destroyer Matcha, but would like to keep it’s great benefits, how about:
Mango-Sugar Destroyer
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I blended Orange with Bavarian Cream matcha and oh my goodness it is so delicious! Did you ever have orange cream soda, or orange and cream candies? Well that is what this is like! You can even make a soda drink out of it by adding some sparkling water if you want to!
I always prepare my matcha into a creamy latte with milk and sweet cream non dairy creamer but with some, like this one I do add some sparkling water to give it a bubbly burst.
I absolutely love my mixture and there are so many blends you can create on the Red Leaf Tea Site! Literally thousands of combinations and if you want to get really inventive you could even add a third flavor!
The Orange and Bavarian Cream blend harmoniously together. I had considered getting one of their two vanilla flavors instead of Bavarian Cream but I am glad I choose Bavarian Cream this time. Next time I may play with the Madagascar Vanilla or French Vanilla matcha instead.
Such a decedent treat any time of day and a real pick me up. I love how matcha gives me such a special energy boost without dropping me down low after.
All of Red Leaf Tea’s Matcha are naturally flavored. I look forward to playing around and mixing up a lot more blends!