Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush & Rooibos
Where to Buy: Amoda Tea
Tisane Description:
Apple Crumble with a hazelnut topping anyone? That’s definitely what this tea smells like. Green honeybush is the main ingredient and brings strong aromatics and a sweet apricot flavour to this blend. Combined with the dried apple this tea offers a lingering sweetness. And yes… there’s raisins in your tea.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
Not too long ago, Steepster decided to put it’s “Steepster Select” program on hiatus. For those of you who do not remember, the Steepster Select program was a monthly subscription, and once a month, subscribers would receive a box of three different teas, all three teas pertaining to a particular theme, like “Around the Clock” or “Migration”. I loved this program because not only was it about TEA but it also enabled me to try some new teas from companies I might not have tried before. Plus, it was a lot of fun to see what theme would be explored and which teas were selected for that theme. Sure, I tried several of the teas that they had sent over the course of the program (I think it lasted for about a year!) but, for the most part, I was able to try quite a few teas that I might not have otherwise tried … or even heard of!
Well, Steepster ended it’s program in August of this year, and I was sad. I wanted another program like this one! Recently, I heard about Amoda Tea, a brand new company that focuses on monthly subscriptions – very similar to what we were getting from Steepster Select! The prices are comparable too!
The one difference: Amoda is in Canada, so I was unable to get the first box as it was limited to Canadian subscribers only. But, for the second box – November’s Box! – subscriptions opened up to the United States. Yay!
The theme of the first box is “The Last Days of Autumn” and this Honeybush Haze is the first tea that I’m sampling from the box. This tisane is blend that was created by a Tea Sommelier and chosen for Amoda Tea based upon the personalities at Amoda Tea! That is exciting in itself, because it’s a chance to try a new tea from a new company.
And this is really, REALLY good. First of all, it smells amazing. It smells like freshly baked apple crumble – piping hot, right out of the oven. And that’s what it tastes like too!
The tisane base is green Honeybush blended with green rooibos. This brings a fruitier flavor with only hints of nutty tones to the cup, which allows for the hazelnut flavor to really shine through and not be masked by the nutty tones of the herbs. The fruitier tones of the herbs also enhances the apple-y flavor really nicely. The raisin notes are off in the background, but, it does add a nice sweetness to the cup.
Overall, this is very much like a fresh apple crumble in a teacup! All that’s missing is a scoop of vanilla ice cream! I’d say that this monthly subscription program from Amoda is off to a GREAT start!
Brandied Apricot Upside Down Cake Honeybush from 52Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tisane Description:
Buttery yellow cake, sweet brandied apricots in caramelized brown sugar, all in a caffeine-free calorie-free African honeybush. Is this a dessert or a tea? Maybe it’s both. Only 52teas could bring you such a delicious and decadent treat.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
I was excited to try this honeybush blend from 52Teas. As I’ve mentioned once or twice before, Frank (the chief Zoomdweebie at 52Teas) has a way with honeybush that’s quite unlike any other tea artisan that I’ve come across, and I’m always pretty impressed with his honeybush blends.
And let’s face it, the idea of a Brandied Apricot Upside Down Cake sounds pretty incredible, does it not?
This is really very good. The apricot flavor tastes does not taste fake to me, it has a very authentic flavor, and what I’m tasting is what I’d imagine fresh apricots, simmered in brandy, and then caramelized in butter and brown sugar might taste like. Now, I imagine that decadent flavor spread into a cake pan and topped with cake batter and baked until golden brown and delicious. Yeah… that’s what’s in my cup right now!
I taste all those notes that are suggested in the name of this tea: I taste the brandy … but it doesn’t taste too strongly of brandy. I taste the apricots, this flavor lends a bright, fresh taste to the cup. I taste brown sugar that’s been caramelized in butter, and a sweet, bake-y, cake-y taste. I even taste just a hint of nutty flavor from the honeybush. These flavors all come together in a very delicious way, tasting very dessert-y without tasting too sweet or cloying.
As I write this, I see that there eleven more pouches of this tea available. That may seem like a plentiful amount, but given how quickly 52Teas can sell out of delicious blends like this one, I wouldn’t put off ordering one for too long if I were you. And this one is worth splurging on … it’s a delicious, decadent, naturally caffeine free treat!
Blueberry Streusel Honeybush from 52Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tisane Description:
Buttery, cakey, brown-sugary blueberryness in a cup (or a glass). With a tiny hint of lemon. Caffeine-free vegan deliciousness. Get it while it lasts.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
When 52Teas announced this one, I knew I’d love it. First of all, I can’t think of a honeybush blend that 52Teas has come out with that I did not like … combine that with the fact that I adore blueberries … and the buttery, cake-y kind of flavors that they do are usually just OFF THE HOOK delicious … I KNEW that this blend would be absolutely sensational.
And it is! The blueberry flavor is reminiscent of the kind of blueberry taste you’d find in the gourmet style muffins from your favorite bakery – you know the kind where you bite into one of the berries that have been baked into the muffin … it is ripe and bursting with flavor. That’s what I taste here. The kind of blueberry flavor that has been intensified by the heat of the oven. So juicy and delectable!
And of course there’s the baked cake-y kind of flavor that 52Teas captures so well. It’s buttery and rich, and there are even hints of that brown sugar crunch topping on top! The honeybush offers a sweet, nutty flavor to the cup that seems to play to the streusel flavor really well. There is also the oh-so-subtle touch of lemon to this, and it while it doesn’t contribute a heavy lemon-y flavor to the cup, it manages to brighten it up and add just the right touch of acidity to this streusel in a teacup.
This is oh-so-yummy! And, sadly, it is also sold out. I don’t know if they’re planning on reblending this one, but if they do, you should really jump on that opportunity and grab yourself a pouch while they’re available. And in the meantime, consider subscribing to one of their money-saving plans. It not only saves you a little bit of money but it will also save you the heartache of missing out on one of their popular flavors (like this one) that ends up selling out before you have a chance to buy it! For this reason alone, it’s definitely worth it!
Cucumber Kiwi Honeybush from 52Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tisane Description:
As cool as a cucumber and as crazy as a kiwi: I’d say that about sums up 52teas. With a twist of lime on the side. Here’s our caffeine-free African honeybush blended with freeze-dried kiwi and natural and organic flavors. A cool, caffeine-free treat. Well, cool if you make iced tea of it, I suppose.
Learn more about this honeybush blend here.
Taster’s Review:
The last time I checked, there were still quite a few pouches of this tea available. I’m really quite surprised by this … and maybe it’s just me, but, when I see a tea called “Cucumber Kiwi” … that’s something I MUST TRY! It’s one of those flavors you aren’t going to come across very often, and I love trying the unusual flavors.
But there is another reason for my surprise, too. I mean, this is a honeybush blend from 52Teas, and I have not found a tea company that offers better flavored honeybush blends than 52Teas. Some of their other blends may be iffy, but, most (if not all) of the honeybush blends have been stellar. One only need try a blend like Coconut Cheesecake Honeybush or Chocolate Malt Honeybush to know what I’m talking about here.
And while this one might not be quite as good as the Chocolate Malt or Coconut Cheesecake, it is REALLY good. The flavor is sweet and fruity, but there is just a hint of tartness in there too to keep it from being too cloying.
It has a very intriguing balance of flavors, it’s one of those teas that keeps me sipping just to try to nail down what I’m tasting. One sip, I’ll notice the kiwi as the strongest flavor … the next, I’ll taste a strong burst of citrus-y flavor. In the next sip, I’ll notice the cool taste of cucumber. It all comes together in such a pleasing way and I really like that.
Carmelized Pear from The Art of Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos & Honeybush
Where to Buy: The Art of Tea
Tea Description:
One of Art of Tea’s most popular offerings, this delectable dessert infusion is sweet and flavorful with notes of honey, caramel, and fresh baked pear.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is one of the teas that was included with the Steepster Select box for August … which also happens to be the last box in this Steepster Select Program. I’m a little sad about this program coming to an end … it seems like two of my favorite subscriptions – Foodzie and Steepster Select – are ending at just about the same time.
For the final box, Steepster decided to go with the theme “Founder Favorites” and feature three teas/tisanes that the men who brought us Steepster consider favorites. The theme card says
Steepster is filled with amazing opinions from thousands of avid tea drinkers, but wanted to share a few of our own. This month we bring you three favorites of the guys behind Steepster. Teas that inspired us, evolved our tastes, and made us fall in love with tea all over again.
These past 12 boxes have been a great ride for us. Thanks for all our support and see you soon. – Jason, Jack, Mike and Ricky
I’ve tried two out of the three teas/tisanes featured in this month’s box, including this one. But, I don’t mind, because these teas are such excellent selections that I don’t mind having them in my stash once again!
As I said, I’ve tried and reviewed this tisane previously, and to be honest, my opinion of it has not changed. It still tastes just like pear … I would swear that I can even feel the texture of the pear in every sip. It is so true to the fruit. And I love that it tastes like baked pear. So YUM!
Even if you don’t really care for rooibos, this is a blend that I’d recommend trying. It has such a sweet, delicious taste, that you will forget that you’re drinking rooibos (you don’t really taste much of the rooibos anyway!) A stunning dessert tea – you’d swear it was loaded with calories! But it’s not! Yummy!