Lady Grey Tea from Tealicious Tea Company

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Tealicious Tea Company

Tea Description:

Our Lady Grey tea is an afternoon tea classic.  It offers a delightful taste with our French lavender flowers, gently blended with bergamot and blue cornflowers.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

There are several different variations of “Lady Grey” teas, most (including this one) are Earl Grey teas blended with lavender.  Nothing wrong with that, because I LOVE lavender, and I love Earl Grey.

I was a little worried, though, when I first opened the package and saw that there weren’t very many lavender blossoms in the blend.  There were a few, but I could smell the lavender more than I could see it.  I worried that maybe there really wouldn’t be enough lavender in this to satisfy me.

But, after I brewed the tea, the aroma of lavender filled the kitchen!  YES!  It smelled so amazing.

And this tea TASTES amazing too!  It is perfectly blended.  The black tea is robust and flavorful, and provides a solid background of flavor.  It tastes very rich and smooth, and it doesn’t attempt to overpower the bergamot and lavender notes.

I like a lot of bergamot flavor in my Earl Grey, but, I do recognize that too much bergamot can come off as kind of soapy tasting, and I don’t like to drink soap.  And with the addition of lavender, which can also come off as tasting soap-ish, it is important to capture the right balance of flavor between these two ingredients so that both can be tasted without tasting like it had been blended in a soap factory.

And Tealicious Tea Company did just that, and they did it with flourish!  This tastes remarkable!  The bergamot is the strongest note, with the lavender coming in softly, sweetly and offering just the right feminine touch to make this a very memorable Lady Grey tea.

Another big WIN for Tealicious Tea Company!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Black Tea, Earl Grey

Restful Blend from Zhi Tea

by liberteas

Tisane Information:

Leaf Type:  Herbal Tisane

Where to Buy:  Zhi Tea

Tisane Description:

Our Zhi Signature Organic Restful Blend is pure magic.

A synergy of flavors, bouquets, and a visual delight, as well. We designed this as an evening wind-down drink, but this great as an all-day drink. Naturally zero-caffeine.

Learn more about this tisane here.

Taster’s Review:

This really is a beautiful blend.  The chamomile blossoms are whole and large (no crushed up chamomile powder here!) and together with the lavender, lemon grass, hibiscus petals, and other herbs, it creates a stunning array of flowers and colors that is as pleasing to the nose as it is to the eye!

And, it’s pretty tasty too.  As some of you are probably aware, I’m not particularly fond of hibiscus, but, I’m not finding it to be too overwhelming here.  It is mostly noticeable in the color, and just a little in the texture.  But this tisane is not tart … actually, it’s quite sweet.

This probably has something to do with the stevia, and to be honest, I am usually turned off when tea companies add stevia to their blends, but, with this blend, it works.  It balances out the tart nature of  the hibiscus without making this blend too sweet.

What I like best about this blend, though, is not the chamomile, or the stevia or hibiscus… but the fennel and licorice root!  I love how the distinct licorice notes weave their way throughout the sip.  I also like how there really isn’t one flavor that dominates in this cup.  Each ingredient adds a little something to the overall flavor, giving it a gentle spiced note combined with hints of citrus and floral tones.

This is a very enjoyable way to wind down from a long day!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Fruit/Herbal Tisane

Evening Indigo from Kally Tea

by liberteas

Tisane Information:

Leaf Type:  Herbal Tisane

Where to Buy:  Kally Tea

Tea Description:

Ahhhh… Lavender! It is thought to help with a multitude of symptoms. Here are just a few of the many health benefits believed to be aided by lavender; analgesic, antibacterial, antiseptic, relaxant, and nerve tonic.  Even though the health benefits are many, just sitting down in a comfy chair and sipping this delightful brew is a genuine pleasure in itself.

Ingredients: Blue Lavender, Cornflowers, Blue Mallow Blossoms, Rose Petals, Lemon Grass with a hint of Lemon and Mango.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I couldn’t help but chuckle a little when I read the above description.  “Ahhhh… Lavender!”  was exactly the words that I murmured when I first took a sip of this tisane!  Sweet, beautiful, wonderful lavender!

Lavender is one of my very favorite culinary botanicals, but I find few companies who really know how to blend with it properly.  It’s one of those herbs that if you use too little, it won’t be tasted … but if you use even a little too much, the flavor becomes soapy.

Fortunately, Kally Tea knew what they were doing with lavender when they set out to create this Evening Indigo tisane.  Lavender is the strongest flavor, but it is nicely offset with lemongrass, rose petals, and the essence of mango and lemon.  These additions allow the lavender to shine as the prominent flavor without allowing the lavender to taste like the perfume shop in the mall.

This tisane is citrus-y with hints of mango and rose, but mostly … this tisane showcases lavender at its very best!

The cup brews to a pretty lavender blue color, and the infusion smells amazing.  (The dry leaf smells – and looks! – like potpourri!  So lovely!)  But even more amazing than the aroma or the appearance is just how delightful it tastes, and the calm it instills as I sip it.

I think I shall have sweet indigo dreams tonight, thanks to Kally Tea.

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Fruit/Herbal Tisane

Organic Lavender Earl Grey from Tea Cozy

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Tea Cozy

About Tea Cozy:

At this one of a kind shop you will find fine quality loose-leaf teas by the ounce such as: rare white teas;exotic greens and oolongs; and flavorful black teas from all over the world. There are even a few herbal varieties. Or for those looking for their favorite brands, you’ll find: PG Tips, Barry’s Teas; Taylor’s of Harrogate; Mighty Leaf Tea; Harney & Sons.

Learn more about Tea Cozy here.

Taster’s Review:

I received this tea as part of a gift package from a tea friend not long ago, (Don’t you just love friends who give the gift of tea?) and after perusing the Tea Cozy website, I have to say that she selected very well, as this is probably a tea I would have chosen for myself.  I love Earl Grey, and I love lavender … what could be more perfect than a combination of the two?

This is a lovely Lavender Earl Grey.  The black tea is a mild-tasting tea.  It rests in the background, very unassuming, providing a very smooth base for the flavors of bergamot and lavender to express themselves.  And express themselves, they do!

The bergamot has that characteristic tangy citrus-y flavor, although some of the usual sharpness that one might expect from bergamot has been softened somewhat by the presence of the lavender.  The lavender offers a sweet, floral note that not only mellows the sharper tones of the bergamot, but also highlights some of its own floral notes, giving this cup an overall feminine quality.

I think that this tea is best served hot with little or no sweetener, as I find that the lavender has it’s own subtle sweetness that is quite nice.  A very lovely afternoon tea, thank you, Patricia!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Black Tea, Earl Grey

Patriot Tea (Daughters of the American Revolution) from Local Coffee & Tea

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Rooibos

Where to Buy:  Local Coffee & Tea

Product Description:

Daughters of the Revolution vowed to “drink tea made from weeds” instead of imported tea. Thankfully they chose herbs, fruits and flowers to make their tea and as a celebration of those early beverages we now present them to you in this beautiful tea!

A CERTIFIED ORGANIC Rooibos blended with lavender the “Herb of Harmony”, rosehip shells, dried red and black currants, rose petals and bilberries. Heady, perfumed lavender notes with a floral, fresh, fruity and mellow flavor. This is a very relaxing tea for consumption any time of day or night. Naturally caffeine-free.

Taster’s Review:

It took me a while to finally taste this tea.  But I didn’t hesitate with this tea because I didn’t think I would like it.  In fact, I was quite certain I would enjoy it.  I love lavender, I love currants, so I felt that this tea had a lot of potential, even though it is a rooibos blend.  The reason I postponed trying this tea is because of the name.  I wanted to save this tea to review closer to a patriotic holiday … like the 4th of July.  But the 4th came and went and I had forgotten about this tea.

So… here I am now a couple of months after July and I figure that now is is as patriotic a time as any.  And really, do we really need a reason to celebrate our patriotism?  Especially if that patriotism is demonstrated through tea!

This is a delicious rooibos blend.  It has a very nice amount of lavender essence, providing a beautiful, heady scent and delicious, sweet flavor without tasting too lavender-y.  I love lavender, but it can be a little too much at times.  Here, it’s just right.  The rose adds a hint of flavor that proves to be very harmonious with the lavender notes.

The elderberries and currants add a tasty berry flavor that is pleasantly tart.  That tartness offers a nice contrast to the sweet floral taste and gives the overall cup a nice sense of balance.

This is a very tasty “tea made from weeds!”

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Rooibos