Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush/Herbal
Where to Buy: Plum Deluxe
Tea Description:
One of the things we just love about tea is how luxurious a simple cup of tea can feel. We want you to feel like a
millionbillion bucks at a moment’s notice, which was exactly what our intention was when making the Self Care Blend.A curious pairing of elderberry (tart) and apricot (sweet), this all-organic tea has mellow flavors and is packed with nutrients. You’ll love it paired with a hot bath, a good book, or after a nice spa treatment. Elderberry — believed to help us tap into our inner magic — helps expel toxins and helps with colds and viruses, and apricot is believed to be one of the most healing fruits in nature.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This was my sample a few months back from my monthly subscription. I love my honeybush but sometimes that herb can taste a lot like its cousin the dreaded red rooibos. . .which tastes odd to me and medicinal. I hadn’t tried this blend yet because of this, but I decided today was the day for me to try it!
Brewed per the instructions with boiled fresh water and steeped for about 5 minutes and I have to say this isn’t my favorite tea that I’ve had from Plum Deluxe, but it isn’t one that I would have a problem drinking again. This is more or less a middle of the road one to me.
This tea is a lovely mix per the description of sweetness and tartness. I didn’t get any of that but I did get a lovely almost woodsy berry like flavor with hints of a jammy sweetness. Since I only had a sample, I wasn’t able to add more loose leaf in to strengthen the flavor to pull out more of those jammy notes. Those were definitely the best part of the tea.
I would love to experiment with this tea. I have a feeling it would make a gorgeous cold brew or iced tea. Or would be a great tea brewed hot with may more loose leaf tea.
If you haven’t checked out Plum Deluxe, do yourself a favor and pick up a few blends. Plum Deluxe has by far one of the best customer service, friendly, knowledgeable tea blenders/owners that I have ever encountered. I just love them! I’ve been subscribing to them for a while now and have no plans on stopping anytime soon!
Sugar Plum Fairy from Simpson & Vail
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Tea Description:
This green rooibos blend is caffeine free and is sure to be enjoyed by young and old alike. The reddish amber cup imparts a fruity, heady aroma. It has an interesting complex flavor that is a perfectly balanced blend of fruity, sweet and exotic.
Like the Sugar Plum Fairy herself, this herbal blend has an elegant taste that is sure to become a classic.
Ingredients: Organic green rooibos, organic whole cloves, rosehips, hibiscus, sweet blackberry leaf, flavorings, vanilla beans, mallow blossoms and raspberry pieces.
Brew tea at 212º – steep for 5 minutes.
Caffeine Free. Certified Kosher
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When you think of Sugar Plum Fairies, you instantly think of Christmas time, but I have to say, this tea is marvelous for any time of the year!
This gorgeous herbal tea is a mixture of green rooibos, cloves, rosehips, hibiscus, blackberry leaf, mallow blossoms, vanilla, raspberry pieces, and natural flavorings. A unique blend of ingredients for sure. I took one whiff of the dry mix and I wasn’t sure this would be a tea I would enjoy. The clove was a bit on the overpowering side but this is Simpson & Vail, I have to try all of their teas!
Brewed this up like a herbal with fresh boiled water and allowed to steep for about 5 minutes. The tea had a lovely gorgeous red color that made me just smile. I allowed the tea to cool for a few moments and took a sip. After taking my first sip, I promptly put my feet up and grabbed the book I was reading. This tea is one of those soothing teas that just make you feel warm and loved. The green rooibos provides a lovely honey base that the other flavors can bounce off of while the clove provides a warming sensation and a kick of spice, the hibiscus delivers a slight tart flavor while the vanilla bean leads itself to the sweetness that the ingredient is known for. All of that from the first sip. Really well done tea and one that does not disappoint.
I loved this tea so much that I thought the tea needed to be an iced tea. So I brewed the tea up stronger than I normally would and then poured the hot tea over iced and added in a few orange wedges and limes into my mason jar glass. Thru a straw in it and I was set with a gorgeous looking brew. The taste was still as good if not better than when I had it hot. The flavors seemed to be deeper giving a lovely almost punch like flavor.
If you are looking for a lovely herbal tea to share during the upcoming summer months, I encourage you to check this one out. I’ll be serving it for sure! Perfect for any tea parities as well!
Mango Sticky Rice Genmaicha from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Green teas, popped rice, mango, toasted coconut, toasted sesame seeds and all-natural flavors
This tea is no longer available but check out the amazing teas available now from 52Teas.
Taster’s Review:
Alright, raise your hand if you backed 52Teas Kickstarter. Now keep your hand raised if you picked the Mango Sticky Rice Genmaicha as one of your teas for the incentive. . . .if your hand is still raised, consider yourself one of the lucky ones!!
This tea is simply amazing, bright, and full of vibrant flavors. A tea that completely took me surprise by how much I liked it and one that I’m sad to say that I will not be able to buy more of unless this is a reblend.
Anne of 52Teas has been hitting it out of the park lately. Such creative and unique blends. I think each time I try a new blend I declare that blend to be my new favorite and I’m about ready to do it again.
Brewed up with the directions on the canister, this tea is a gorgeous blend of mango, coconut, and genmaicha with a slight toasted sweetness that I will not forget anytime soon. First sip in after brewing and allowing the tea to cool, you get that mango sweetness mixed with a slightly toasted note and an element of tartness here and there. I am not a huge fan of coconut in teas, but in this tea, it just helps give an added depth that I just adore! The coconut helps the mango provide this really lovely unique fruity flavor that just mixes with that toasted goodness.
Highly highly highly recommend this tea. I’ve had it cold brewed, hot, and iced and each session delivered an amazing flavor that my hubby and I just gobbled up. We adore this tea and can’t get enough of it. This might be of those teas that I beg Anne to make more of! It was that good.
Another amazing tea!
Haiku from The Jasmine Pearl
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: The Jasmine Pearl
Tea Description:
A beautifully balanced blend of white tea, peach, vanilla and a hint of rose hips. Whether you prefer to drink it with or without the addition of a sweetener, Haiku has a natural light sweetness and smooth finish. Pairs well with pastries.
INGREDIENTS:
Chinese White Tea*, Vanilla Extract, Rose Hips, Orange Peel*, Vanilla Beans, and Natural Peach Flavor.
*Organically Grown.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
It has been a rough day so I wanted something soothing. Something warm, something soothing, something that made you just want to cozy up with a book and escape for a while. So I brewed up this tea. Everything about it screamed good for the soul.
If you aren’t familiar with The Jasmine Pearl, take a moment and check them out. I have liked just about every tea I’ve tried from them and these teas are memorable.
The dry leaf mix of this tea had such a lovely subtle smooth sweet yet slightly floral note to them. I was hoping this flavor would translate into the flavor.
And wow! Did it ever! This tea is simply amazing! A light refreshing soul soothing tea with distinct white tea notes, a sweet vanilla pillow enveloping a citrus note that is reminiscent of a stone fruit. I would say either peach but I get apricot notes as well. This tea is soft and loving. Really really really good! I bet this tea would make a dynamite iced tea or a cold brew. Something I hope to be able to try in the future.
Another highly recommended tea from The Jasmine Pearl. I have a feeling I will need 2 oz of this tea fast! I’m off to snuggle up with my book and enjoy the rest of the evening!
Oolong Gone from Blend Bee and Amoda Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Blend Bee
Tea Description:
Say s’oolong to low energy, naughty cravings, slow metabolism & unwanted stress.
Oolong Gone is specifically designed to help boost metabolism, increase energy and reduce stress. Along with a myriad of other benefits, this blend of Oolong, Ashwagandha root, Hibiscus, Rose Buds, Strawberry Leaf, Lemon Peel and Licorice root tastes fruity and fabulous. Drink 30-45 minutes before meals several times a day.
Learn more about this tea here.
Lear more about Amoda Tea.
Taster’s Review:
I have always wanted to try Blend Bee Teas and thankfully the last box I received from Amoda Tea had Blend Bee Teas in it.
If you aren’t familiar with them, Amoda Tea is a monthly subscription service. Each month you receive a sampling of teas from one company, showcasing their teas and allowing you the chance to try teas that you might not have tried. I just love that concept. Other boxes send you a mix of different teas from different companies but the way Amoda Tea works, you get a nice sampling of what that particular company offers. Pretty great concept!
This blend from Blend Bee is an Oolong/Herbal mix that sounds amazing. All of the ingredients just sounded fantastic and the dry leaf mix smelled gorgeous. I brewed this blend up with the parameters that were on the package and took my first sip.
As gorgeous as this tea smelled, I have to be honest and say I didn’t really care for the taste. There was something off with the tea that I can’t place my finger on. I’m wondering if its the ashwagandha root. All of the other flavors mix well together and from what I can tell would make a glorious tea on their own. The are strong notes of lemon and strawberry. Those two flavors with the oolong note were heavenly.
I would love to try this tea without the ashwagandha root. Regardless, I’m still very excited to be given the change to check this tea and company out. I’m already on the website of both Amoda Tea and Blend Bee to see what looks interesting!