Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: English Tea Shop
Tea Description:
Peppermint Melon: Green tea, cinnamon pieces, licorice and peppermint leaves with melon flavour.
Taster’s Review:
I wasn’t too sure about this Peppermint Melon Green Tea Blend from English Tea Shop when I read the ingredient list. Melon and peppermint sounded alright together, but cinnamon and licorice? I love cinnamon and I absolutely adore licorice, but, I wasn’t sure how these sometimes zesty spices would taste with the melon flavor.
But as it turns out, the cinnamon and licorice are very faint, barely-there notes in this cup. The melon and peppermint dominate, and I’m happy to report that even though peppermint can sometimes overwhelm a blend, it’s not doing that here. The peppermint is more of an uplifting note, allowing the melon to shine through very nicely.
The green tea is a little lost in this though. By the time I reached mid-cup, I found myself wondering where the green tea was. I can taste hints of vegetation (more grassy than vegetable), but there really isn’t a lot of green tea taste to this cup.
But the melon and mint notes are nice. The mint tastes cool and refreshing and it’s a really pleasing accent to the melon flavor. The melon is sweet.
Overall, a tasty tea that tastes more of melon than of tea, and because of that, it’s just a wee bit disappointing. I would like a little more tea flavor here. Not the best tea that I’ve tried from English Tea Shop, but for the melon-ness of this … I found myself glad that I tried it.
Ginger Twist Herbal Tisane from Mighty Leaf
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Mighty Leaf
Tisane Description:
Our Ginger Twist herbal tea is a harmonious mix of lemongrass, tropical fruits, and mint fueled with a touch of ginger and ginseng. A lush and magical herb and fruited infusion, Ginger Twist herbal tea helps promote calm, focus and good health.
Learn more about this tisane here.
I received a sample of this tea in my November Love with Food Box.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve tried a few teas from Mighty Leaf, but I can’t recall ever trying this Ginger Twist Herbal Tisane from this company, so I was happy to receive a sampling of it in my November Love with Food Box. I would have been happier if it was actually tea and not a tisane, of course. However, this is pretty good, even if it is a tisane.
Right off the bat, I can think of one thing that earns this tisane bonus points and that is: NO hibiscus! Yay! It does have ginseng, and ginseng isn’t a favorite herb of mine, but I’d prefer ginseng over hibiscus in most cases, so long as there are other ingredients to offset the rather earthy taste of the ginseng.
And this tisane is plentiful in the ingredients department: ginger, lemongrass, mint, and some tasty fruit notes. The lemongrass adds a light, citrus-y taste to the cup that is a little bit tangy but not overly tart. The mint offers a crisp, cool note to the cup, sort of like the cooling effect of opening a freezer door on a hot afternoon. Just that quick wisp of a cooling sensation.
The fruit has a tropical taste to it, although I find myself having trouble pinpointing exactly what I’m tasting. It has an almost papaya-ish and mango-ish type of flavor going on. It’s sweet and brings a compelling contrast to the peppery notes of the ginger, which adds a zesty zing to the cup, but the heat of the ginger is toned down a bit thanks to the sweetness of the fruit flavor, and the cooling note of the mint and the smooth, buttery notes of the lemongrass.
I can taste some of the ginseng in this too, and it adds a sort of herbaceous medicinal quality to the cup that I would rather not be there, but, overall, it isn’t the strongest flavor that I taste, so I am appreciative of that.
An enjoyable cup – this is a tisane I’d like to have on hand when I’m feeling under the weather because it would be ideal with a dollop of honey to help soothe sore throat and an upset tummy.
Mint Cacao Herbal Tea from Herbal Infusions
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Herbal Infusions
Tisane Description:
A Mint and Cacao infusion that blends premium organic cacao shells and 2nd flush organic peppermint leaves.
Learn more about this blend here.
Taster’s Review:
Mmm! This Mint Cacao Herbal Tea from Herbal Infusions is AWESOME! Decadent and chocolate-y with just the right amount of crisp mint.
I’ve read a few reviews/complaints by tea drinkers who state that they don’t get enough chocolate flavor from cacao shell tisanes. My recommendation to them is to steep the cacao shells longer. So long as the blend does not contain tea leaves (camellia sinensis) or hibiscus, you should feel safe in steeping the cacao shells in 195° water for 10 – 15 minutes (or longer!) I steeped this tisane for 15 minutes, and I’m getting a really satisfying, chocolate-y flavor. And you know how I am when it comes to chocolate!
The chocolate flavor here is rich and smooth. It is a dark chocolate flavor, so it is sweet, but there are some bitter tones to contrast with the sweeter notes. Like milk chocolate better than dark chocolate? Just add a splash of milk to the brewed tisane, and you’ll have creamy, indulgent milk chocolate and mint treat.
As I mentioned above, the mint here is “just enough.” By that, I mean that this has a cool minty note, but, the mint does not overwhelm the cup. This doesn’t taste mouthwash-y. This definitely tastes more of chocolate than it does of mint, and I’m quite happy with that arrangement.
A very satisfying, dessert-y sort of beverage, something you’ll want to curl up to and savor every last sip. I do find that just a little bit of raw sugar brings out the chocolate flavor, so, try about a quarter teaspoon of sugar to elevate the chocolate-y goodness in this one. Not a lot of sugar is needed here, because the tisane has a pleasing sweetness without the sugar. The sugar just sort of pumps up the volume on the chocolate.
YUMMY!
On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, Southern Boy Teas Edition!
Well, this is it, everyone! The last day of the 12 Iced Teas of Christmas. And I really love the tea that was especially created for today!
Candy Cane Iced Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Learn more about Southern Boy Teas here.
Taster’s Review:
This is the tea that we’ve been waiting for … the newest tea to the Southern Boy Teas lineup. And I do hope that Frank (of 52Teas/Southern Boy Teas) does decide to keep this Candy Cane iced tea in his Southern Boy Teas collection because it’s so good!
It’s got a crisp, cool mint taste to it with just a hint of sweet vanilla-y flavor. These flavors are balanced with the rich tasting black tea. I like that the mint is strong and minty but it isn’t taking over. It’s a strong mint flavor but it doesn’t taste like someone added mouthwash to my glass of iced tea.
The creamy undertones add just enough sweetness to make this taste like a candy cane without making it come off as too sweet. While one doesn’t usually associate iced tea with Christmastime … this glass of iced tea does indeed taste like Christmas! It makes me think of the day after Christmas, when it’s alright to start taking the candy canes off the tree and enjoying them.
Just the right amount of all the components to create a really refreshing glass of iced tea that I’d be happy to enjoy year ’round!
Well, that’s it … that’s the end of this year’s 12 Iced Teas of Christmas from Southern Boy Teas. I had fun with this countdown, I hope you did too.
On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, Della Terra Teas Sent Me This Tea!
Here we are, Christmas Eve! Whenever I think of “Christmas Eve” I am reminded of a time when my youngest daughter – who is now twelve years old – would dance around a few days before Christmas Eve and sing “Christmas Eve is in a couple of eves.” It was really adorable. How quickly they grow up.
Christmas Tradition
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Della Terra Teas
Tea Description:
Go back to the days of Christmas tradition with popcorn strung on the tree, silver balls and delicious flavors. This tea combines all of those, with vanilla, cream and amazing mint! Create a new Christmas tradition with this magical tea!
Ingredients: Black tea, vanilla bits and flavor, cream flavor, mint, popcorn, silver and red sprinkles*
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
At first glance – and at first sip! – this tea would seem to be very similar to the Peppermint Perfection from Day 3 with the notable omission of the chocolate in this tea, and the addition of the popcorn.
I don’t know if the popcorn adds a whole lot to the flavor of this tea, but I do know that the chocolate certainly added a delightful dimension of flavor to the aforementioned Peppermint Perfection tea. That said, I really like this tea. This tea tastes more candy cane-ish to me because there is no chocolate, and I don’t usually have chocolate covered candy canes (although, this year, Santa will be putting a chocolate filled candy cane in my stocking).
I like the creaminess of this tea. This tea seems creamier to me, and there is a savory element to this as well. At the finish, and at the very start of the aftertaste, I note a pepper taste. Just a slight “kick” of pepper. I don’t know where that’s coming from, but it’s there.
This is less “minty” than the Peppermint Perfection. The mint here is a gentle, smooth mint taste. The black tea seems richer and more robust to me with this tea as well. There is almost a malty note to this, and I’m not sure if that’s from the tea or if it’s from the vanilla and cream flavoring.
So, it sort of surprises me to say that if I were asked to choose between the Peppermint Bark tea (which has chocolate in it) or this, the Christmas Tradition tea (which doesn’t have chocolate in it), I would probably choose this one! There is something more complex and more unique that keeps my palate intrigued as I sip. Both teas are really good, but, this one is more interesting to me.