Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tea Description:
Lime Matcha’s rich deeply tangy flavor is excellent for many baked foods. It also lends its rich freshness to many pies, ice creams and smoothies. It also makes an exceptional accompaniment for many fish dishes because it brings out the taste of the fish in a deliciously satisfying way. This flavor is also a taste enhancer and brings out the true taste of many low taste foods and drinks. It is great for special occasions where people need their taste buds enlivened by the added presence of Lime Matcha in their foods and drinks.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
As I mentioned on Steepster, I ordered this Lime Matcha primarily for the blending opportunities it offered. I have managed to amass quite a collection of flavored Matcha, as you can imagine, and I wanted to add a flavor or two that could be used as something that would add interest to other flavors. Mainly, I was thinking that this would taste mighty good with the Watermelon, but I am sure it would go nicely with other flavors as well.
The aroma of the dry leaf as well as the prepared Matcha is that of a lime tree. It smells quite like the scents I’d notice if I were sitting beneath a lime tree: the sunny, citrus-y fragrance of lime, hints of lime blossom, the leaves, the earth, and the tree itself. All of those smells are captured within this flavored Matcha.
This is really quite a unique and delightful Matcha. The tartness of the lime is strong but not overpowering, and it offers a pleasing contrast to the sweet, “green” taste of the Matcha. Also compelling are the bitter notes of the lime, and I suspect that it is this characteristic especially that allows me to explore the earthy tones of the Matcha a bit better. I usually taste a hint of earthiness to a Matcha, but now I taste more than just a hint. It isn’t a overwhelming component to the taste but it is enough to add real interest to the overall tea.
It is these bitter notes that have caught my attention, as well as my imagination. I am wondering how this Matcha might taste prepared in a similar fashion to how I prepared this bowl, but with one difference: the addition of a pinch of salt to the bowl just before whisking. I wonder how the salt will affect these bitter tones. Will it make the Matcha taste sweeter? I think it will, and I look forward to finding out in the near future. I also look forward to adding a bit of this Matcha to smoothies too! YUM!
A really lovely Matcha experience – I love the way that the lime has brightened up the bowl. Very nice, indeed!
Tropical Island Black Tea from Kally Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Kally Tea
Tea Description:
“Arrrgh, Hoist the main sails matey.” We are off on a sailing ship in the Caribbean. Pirates abound, treasure hunting, we land on a secluded shore, and notice the varied fruits and flowers on the islands. A thought hits us… let’s combine these tropical fruits with some tea in the hold! As the rum is ignored for the much more exciting and healthy tea blend of freeze dried pear, blackberry, lime leaves, sour sap fruit flavorings, the pirates are calmed and life is good. Let’s sneak off with the new found “treasure”… Arrrgh!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The name of this tea is slightly misleading … at least for me it is! But I don’t mean that in a bad way, I actually quite happy that this tea is different than I expected it to be. Let me explain: with a name like “Tropical Island,” I expected something tasting of pineapple or papaya or mango or a combination of these “usual suspects” when it comes to tropical flavors. I did not expect to taste the flavors of lime and blackberry!
Now, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the “usual” tropical flavors in tea just as much as I’m enjoying the unique combination of lime and blackberry, but sometimes, it’s nice to get a surprise … something a little different than what I expected from a tropical tea … something that allows me to see things and taste things a little differently. And that’s what I’m appreciating about this tea.
The lime is very bright and vibrant, especially in the first sips … this is where I notice mostly only lime flavor and very little else. After the tea has cooled slightly and I’ve tasted a little more, the flavor of blackberry begins to emerge and I start to notice the flavors of the black tea that have been there all along, but the lime wanted to steal the spotlight and let itself be tasted right up front.
After a few more sips, I begin to notice other notes of this tea – it’s very “sweet and sour” like with an emphasis on the sour. This must be the sour sap? I’m not too familiar with this fruit … and I have a feeling that if I were to see this tropical fruit in the produce section, I’d probably avoid it because I tend to shy from the sour flavors … but what I like is that the sour is not so much that I feel the need to curb it with the addition of sugar. There is just enough sweetness to this cup to keep it enjoyable when served straight (although a wee bit of sugar won’t hurt it either).
There is also a subtle … ever so subtle … note of pear that I notice by the time I reach mid-cup. Another nice surprise! This tea is full of them! A very enjoyable tea that’s full of discovery. I think that is what i like best about this tea. It challenges my palate, and takes it on a journey of delightful flavors!
Aged Traditional Anxi Tieguanyin from Verdant
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Tieguanyin Oolong
Where to Buy: Verdant Tea
Tea Description:
A rich warming Tieguanyin with chocolate barley notes and traditional creamy floral aftertastes. . . .
The early steepings of this tea are surprisingly more delicate than the aroma would imply. There are subtle notes of lime and the thick saffron qualities of a green Tieguanyin. The mouthfeel is buttery like flaky pastry with a slow nuanced build-up of warm caramel notes. A velvety texture starts to come through with orchid-like floral undertones, and sweetness that extends long into the aftertaste.
The early steepings use the deep caramel qualities that the aging and roasting process introduce to truly accentuate everything that is wonderful about green Tieguanyin. The later steepings move into new territory with warming sensations particularly suited to cooler weather. The chocolate notes of the aroma come through as flavor like thick creamy Italian hot chocolate that unfolds into a warm in the chest like that of a great red wine.
Notes of puffed rice and barley start to build up and act as a contrast to the lingering floral qualities. The alternation between deep warming sensations and tingling florals creates an intriguing mouth watering juiciness. This is a very satisfying brew that balances the traditional charcoal-roasted quality of Anxi Tieguanyin with the best elements of the new greener style of processing.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a body and soul warming temptation of a tea. It delights the taste buds but also the mind in its calming and wonderful way. This is one of those teas who’s layers are complex yet not trying to evade your senses. Each and every element of this tea comes forward and presents itself to you and does not make you work to figure it out. The layers of the flavor within this tea are so delightful and one at a time they evolve, sometimes melding together, other times, standing alone, but each flavor in the profile provided by Verdant Tea is noticeable without any effort.
At first it is lightly smoky and roasty, a well done toast taste, the barley gives it a full mouthfeel and makes you feel you are drinking something good for you like a hardy warm breakfast cereal! But then it becomes caramelized in your mouth like a french dessert. Just then you will find that the light lime zest comes forward and does a gentle sweep of your palate to cleanse it for the next layer of flavor to come but before that hits your taste buds you get a quick tease by the flavor of saffron and just as you are thinking “oh please give me more saffron” the floral notes come dancing onto your taste buds leaving this lovely delicate yet intoxicating lingering flavor of orchid!
The result – a taste that is robust and toasty yet very fresh and springy as well. This is one of those tea profiles that could do well any month of the year as it makes you feel warm and cozy yet wakes you up with those fresh salad like notes of spring and summer.
The after taste is mostly of a roasted toasted oolong however when you breath in with your mouth open you get that fresh spring like flavor with the floral notes dancing about. Leaving you thinking your breath must certainly smell like flowers haha. While this is a roasted Tieguanyin I can’t help but think about country roads lined with wildflowers and the warm sunshine all about wide open fields so if this would be more of a “winter” tea it sure would make you feel like its summer time so that is not a bad thing at all!
This tea is exquisite! I love it and I am a huge fan of oolongs but honestly I feel that many people, even perhaps those who are not oolong fans really should try!
I really enjoy that the notes are so easily to distinguish! Sometimes “complex” teas can be complex to the taster. This one is not pretentious at all.
Now on the downside, currently Verdant Tea is sold out. It happened in the blink of an eye. On the positive note, Verdant is currently looking to refurnish their stash of this tea:
“We will be going to China to personally track down a larger cache of aged Tieguanyin in October. Stay tuned…”
I trust that this will happen! I have to, I want more! Verdant also now offers a Rewards Point System! Be sure to check that out and keep your eyes peeled for more of this tea so you can get some once it is back in! A tea like this won’t last long once restocked so be sure to get yours before I get it all.
Lime Blossom from Jade Monk
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Jade Monk
Tea Description:
Some Japanese believe a fox can live for 100 years or more, acquiring additional tails the longer he roams the countryside. The faithful also say foxes can assume the shape of humans, playing tricks on friends and family. These mythic spirits-the Kitsune-possess supernatural powers, but luckily for you the Jade Monk
®matcha Kitsune are only interested in seducing your taste buds with the unexpected tang of lime and aroma of spring flowers, fortifying your body with enhanced matcha polyphenol potency, and calming your mind with clarifying effects of our shade-cultivated Jade Monk®matcha green tea. Phew!
Learn more about this product here.
Taster’s Review:
When it came time for me to sample this packet of Jade Monk, I was very thirsty and feeling a little too warm. Outside it’s 95°F and while that may not seem very hot to some of you … it’s hot for me. And it’s humid. Maybe not as humid as it is in Minnesota (my husband is from Minnesota, and when I complain about the humidity he says “It’s not humid!”) but for this girl who grew up in Northern Nevada where there was next to no rainfall and even when it was raining the humidity was still zero… It’s uncomfortably humid to me. I wanted something to quench my thirst and hopefully re-energize me a little, while cooling me off.
So, I decided to get a little adventurous. I put a small amount of freshly drawn and filtered water in the pitcher of my blender, along with several ice cubes and the contents of this packet, and I blended it until I could no longer hear the rattling of the ice particles inside the pitcher. Then I poured it into a glass to enjoy some ice cold, lime flavored Matcha.
And I am enjoying it! It is really good like this. It ended up being a bit like a slush … the ice part did, anyway. There is still a good amount of green colored liquid to this too, kind of like when you get a slush and it starts to melt a bit … the liquid that forms at the bottom … that’s what I have in front of me.
Of the three Jade Monk offerings that I’ve tried thus far, this one is my favorite. I don’t know if it’s because I prepared it in the blender, or if it’s just that I like this flavor better. But this is cool and refreshing. The lime tastes tart and sweet … but not too extreme on either end. It isn’t too tart or too sweet. It’s a bit like a limeade, but with a hint of Matcha in it.
The Matcha is not real distinct, just as it has not been in the other Jade Monk flavors, and I’ve come to expect that. This is definitely a drink mix that has been designed with a broader customer base in mind, appealing to those who might find green tea to be a little too vegetative or not quite to their liking. This one is also sweetened with stevia, like the other two were, but I’m finding that the colder the beverage, the less funky the stevia tastes. In fact, with the first few sips … I didn’t really notice the stevia at all. I notice it now that I’m nearly finished with the glass, but, it does not interfere with my enjoyment of this cool, refreshing homemade slush … in fact, I think I’d take this over a slush from the convenience store, any time!
Southern Boy Teas Series, Part 5: Lime Jello from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Premium Indian CTC black teas blended with organic flavoring. Amazing tea with a great lime Jello finish.
Learn more about Southern Boy Teas.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve got to tell you, I am absolutely loving the iced tea series from 52Teas this year. Last year, there were some pretty unique flavors and I loved that, but, what I think I really like about this year (and this may come as a surprise to some!) is the fact that they’re bagged! Yes, you read that correctly.
At first, I disliked that these were bagged because I had planned to hot-brew the lot, but, after getting my new glass iced tea pitcher and started cold-brewing these teas, I am loving the how easy it is to cold-brew, especially since these teas are bagged, I wouldn’t enjoy having to strain the teas the next morning. But even more than the simplicity, I really enjoy the flavor that comes from the cold-brew process. The flavors seem smoother and sweeter with the cold-brew process.
When I drink a tea hot, I enjoy having all the “precise” flavors of the cup, but, when it’s iced, I prefer the tea to be smooth and easy-drinking. And the cold-brewing process really encourages a softer, smoother tea.
This Lime Jello flavor of the Southern Boy Teas series is quite nice: lots of sweet-tart lime flavor, a hint of marshmallow, and there also seems to be another fruit in there … pineapple? The overall taste is very refreshing. The black tea is not overwhelmed by the flavors, everything is really balanced well.
I must admit to preferring the Lime Jello Salad Green Tea from 52Teas that was released around Thanksgiving of last year. I think that the green tea melded beautifully with these particular flavors, and produced a very memorable tea indeed. But, I am enjoying this one as well, and glad that 52Teas re-fashioned the flavor for their iced tea series this year.