Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos & Fruit/Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Description:
This lovely and colorful blend of hibiscus, rose hips, lemon grass, orange peel and organic rooibos infuses a ruby red herbal with a refreshing citrus and tart flavor containing light spice tones. Excellent over ice for a zingy citrus treat, and enjoy hot to help punch out a cold or flu.
Hibiscus Flowers, Rose Hips, Rooibos, Lemongrass, Orange Peel, Juicy Lemon and Orange Flavors
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about Simple Loose Leaf’s Selection Club subscription program here.
Taster’s Review:
Wow! This smells AMAZING! I love the bright citrus-y scent of this tisane.
Now, as you can imagine, the name of this tisane scared me just a little bit. Citrus Hibiscus Herbal. Hibiscus just isn’t my thing. But, I’ve had some really positive experiences with hibiscus lately, and the last hibiscus based tisane that I tasted from Simple Loose Leaf turned out to be alright. And this smells really good … so with those things in mind, I kept my fingers crossed and I brewed myself a cup of it.
OK … there is a bit more hibiscus in this than I would like there to be. That said, there are some other flavors in this that appeal to me. I like the citrus-y notes to this, and I do like how the rooibos lightens up the thick body that would normally accompany such a hibiscus-heavy tisane, making it much more palatable.
While this isn’t my favorite tisane , I found it tastes better served iced. Some of the hibiscus zing seems to chill with the cold, making this much more enjoyable, and just like the Cranberry Breeze from last month, my youngest daughter found these two drinks to be especially enjoyable, and hey, I’d rather her be drinking this than something sugary.
Another tasty way to enjoy this: add a couple of cloves and some cinnamon to the teapot before you pour in the hot water to start steeping. Let the spices steep with the tisane … it doesn’t end up too spicy, but the warmth of the cinnamon and cloves add some delightful contrast to the tart citrus and hibiscus.
It’s not a bad tisane, but it isn’t my favorite tisane, either. Then again, I didn’t expect it to be. But that’s the beauty of the Selection Club from Simple Loose Leaf. I get to try out five different teas every month and if there’s one in that five that doesn’t make me do the happy dance, that’s OK. It’s a sample size, and I still have four other teas that I can enjoy.
It’s all about the power of choice!
At the beginning of every month, I receive an email from Simple Loose Leaf that details the teas that will be featured in the next month’s box. I can choose to receive two large packages of two teas that appeal to me. I can choose which two teas I want from their menu of five teas. What if I want to try all five? Well, then I can choose to receive the sampler package, which offers five samples, one of each tea of the five on the menu.
That’s what I usually choose, because I’m a taster. That’s what I do. I taste a tea … try it out, and then I tell you about it. Most of the teas and tisanes from Simple Loose Leaf, I’ve really enjoyed! Occasionally, I’m going to encounter one or two that just doesn’t excite me, like this one. And that’s OK because I do have the power of choice with this program!
And whatever you choose to do – that’s OK too. This program gives you the power of choice!
Use this code: SISTERSELECTION25 to get a 25% discount when you sign up for the selection club. This discount is not applicable on the retail selection of teas, and is only good for the selection club subscription.
Want even more incentive to join the Selection club? Then, check THIS OUT! Now through June 20th, all new subscribers will receive a FREE teapot with their first shipment. WOW! What an awesome deal!
Darjeeling Second Flush Black Tea from Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black (Darjeeling)
Where to Buy: Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Description:
This 2nd Flush Darjeeling black tea is harvested in June and embodies aromatic deep earthen leaves that brew a gentle golden amber, full bodied, subtly sweet, and satisfying cup every time. So gentle and smooth, our Darjeeling 2nd Flush is the perfect afternoon tea. Best served hot.
Learn more about May’s Tea Menu for the Selection Club here.
Learn more about Simple Loose Leaf’s Selection Club subscription program here.
Use this code: SISTERSELECTION25 to get a 25% discount when you sign up for the selection club. This discount is not applicable on the retail selection of teas, and is only good for the selection club subscription.
Taster’s Review:
This 2nd Flush Darjeeling from my May’s Tea Box from Simple Loose Leaf is absolutely LOVELY! It has a lovely, well-rounded taste with beautiful fruit notes. I am tasting that lovely muscat grape note that evokes thoughts of a fine wine.
Of course, since I don’t typically drink wine, I mostly just imagine that this is what a fine wine would taste like if it were served hot and the alcohol content was somehow removed. But it has that smooth, uplifting, grape-y note that hits the palate around mid-sip and toward the finish becomes a bit more like a black currant. Delightful.
The flavor is sweet and smooth and there is a slightly tangy astringency toward the tail. I’ve found that with some adjustments in brewing parameters, I encounter less astringency with my Darjeeling teas than I would if I would have gone with a boiling temperature and 3 – 4 minutes brew time. Instead, I brew a Darjeeling at 195°F and steep for just 2 1/2 minutes. This offers a very pleasing flavor without a strong astringent bite that Darjeeling teas often have. There is still some dry astringency to this, but it isn’t quite as obvious as it would have been if I steeped it hotter or longer.
This is a very fine Darjeeling tea. A nice sweetness that contrasts nicely with hints of earth and wood. Juicy fruit notes meld with light floral tones. A really pleasant Darjeeling – this is one I’d recommend to those looking for a nice afternoon tea to serve while curling up to a good book or to offer to guests.
A really good Darjeeling.
Handcrafted Oolong Tea from JusTea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Justea
Tea Description:
This is a tea like you’ve never tasted before. Hand-rolled by the JusTeam in Kenya, the unique flavour profile is buttery, with notes of stone fruit and nuts. As the leaves unfurl, different tasting notes are revealed. Best enjoyed at a 1.5 minute steep time, this Oolong will last 2 or 3 steeps!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Amoda Tea is implementing some changes to their format. This month’s tea tasting box is the last that I’ll be receiving – they’re no longer offering the tea tasting box. While I’m anxious and excited to learn about the changes that they’re making to the company, I’m also quite sad that this is the last box that I’ll be getting from them. I’ve enjoyed receiving my monthly tea box from Amoda! I’ll miss the joy of opening my mailbox every month around the 12th or so and finding that familiar, slim “letter box” from Amoda Tea.
For this month’s box, Amoda has chosen to focus on two different tea companies that I’m already familiar with: JusTea and Nepali Tea Traders. These two tea companies are dedicated to creating sustainability in the tea industry.
One of the teas from JusTea is one that I’ve already reviewed: African Chai. I probably won’t be writing another review about this tea, but, I’m more than happy to drink more of it! The second tea from JusTea is one that I’ve not yet tried until today – this Handcrafted Oolong Tea!
When I opened the pouch, I was greeted with the smell of freshly cut hay. It was a little unusual for me to experience that aroma with an Oolong, but it left me intrigued! Once I poured hot water over the leaves for the initial rinse, the hay-like fragrance was replaced with the distinct scent of molasses. Sweet!
My first cup (infusions 1 and 2 after the rinse) tasted just like it smells – that is to say, I am tasting a thin molasses. I’m not sure if I’m actually tasting “baked” notes in this, or if it’s just my mind playing delicious tricks on me, but I feel like I’m sipping on liquefied molasses cookies. In the distance, I also notice hints of vegetative tones.
This is one of the sweetest Oolong teas that I’ve ever tasted – and Oolong teas tend to be somewhat sweet! But even for an Oolong, this is so sweet and delectable!
My second cup (infusions 3 and 4) was not quite a sweet as the first cup. The first cup was very much like a thinned molasses. This cup still has some molasses notes, but, I’m noticing more fruit notes emerge with this cup, as well as a subtle hint of a woodsy note. The fruit notes are like something between a sweet plum and a ripe nectarine.
The third cup (infusions 5 and 6) was more fruit-like, and I could taste the sweet as well as hints of sour notes of a tree-ripened plum that have been cooked to extract the sweet juices of the fruit. The molasses notes are not completely gone, but they’ve become integrated with the plum notes. Think of the aforementioned cooked plum juices mixed with a little drizzle of molasses … that’s what you’ll taste with the later infusions of this tea.
This is an amazing Oolong – I highly recommend it to Oolong enthusiasts. It is so different from the Taiwanese and Chinese Oolong teas that I’ve reviewed in the past … oh, sure, I still love those! But this one is special and stands out from those and definitely deserves some attention from you!
I am sad to see my Amoda Tea Box go … but I’m glad to see that they decided to go out with a bang! This Handcrafted Oolong Tea from JusTea is so good!
Sweet Peach White Tea Blend from Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Description:
White tea, with its sweet, soft floral flavors is an ideal choice to blend with delicate fruit notes. Sweet peach flavor brings out the best in white tea and creates a delightful twist on our wonderful Shou Mei. Delicious served iced as well as hot, this tea makes an ideal light, summery drink.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about Simple Loose Leaf’s Selection Club subscription program here.
Taster’s Review:
When I opened the sampler packet of this Sweet Peach White Tea Blend from Simple Loose Leaf – which was part of this month’s Selection Club box! – I was blown away by the aroma! Wow! This tea packs one powerful peach punch. The fragrance is like I had just cut into a fresh, tree-ripened peach. Mmm!
After being greeted by such a delicious scent, I could hardly wait to taste the tea. And the flavor of this tea is outstanding. It tastes strongly of peach, but, the sweet, juicy peach notes do not overwhelm the delicate Shou Mei white tea.
The peach has an authentic taste. I’m not tasting an “artificial” peach note or a chemical-y taste that I can sometimes get with a flavored tea. This tastes like PEACHES. Drinking this hot, it reminds me of the warm filling of a peach cobbler. Allow it to cool, and you’re treated to a wonderful iced tea that tastes so good, you can almost feel the juice of the peach running down your arm.
As I mentioned before, the white tea is not overpowered in this cup. It is a light, sweet taste that offers whispers of earthy notes and hints of hay-like flavors, as well as a sweet, dewy flavor. The combination of peach and white tea is a real winner here … and this tea from Simple Loose Leaf is a definite WIN!
Duchess’ First Love Black Tea Blend from Tay Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tay Tea
Tea Description:
This is reminiscent of a creamy earl grey, but has the added bonus of sweet caramel and honeyed rooibos notes. The black tea lends backbone to the blend and the hazelnut creme caramel keeps you sipping. Even when the cup is empty the flavours keep lingering.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about subscribing to Amoda’s Monthly Tea Tasting Box here.
Taster’s Review:
Usually when I get my box from Amoda, I grab the tea that appeals to me most and try that one before I sample the others. But this time, I decided to save the one was certain to love for last. And I’m glad I did. This Duchess’ First Love Black Tea Blend from Tay Tea is an exciting blend!
When I opened the packet of tea, I was enchanted by the scent. Maybe enchanted isn’t the right word. I felt my mouth water when I experienced the aroma of this tea. It smells … SCRUMPTIOUS! The vanilla notes are almost palpable – they are so strong and delicious smelling and it’s as though I can taste and feel them as I smell them.
And YUM! This is one of the tastiest Earl Grey Creme teas I’ve tasted. The bergamot is sweet and tangy, and the sometimes sharp notes of the Italian orange has been softened by luscious, creamy vanilla tones.
I’m not sure if the addition of the rooibos in this blend is what makes the difference in this tea, turning it from a good Earl Grey Creme to an exceptional one. But, I am pretty sure that the rooibos has something to do with it. I taste a honey-esque sweetness that enhances the vanilla in a really beautiful way. I don’t taste a lot of contribution of flavor from the rooibos, but I do taste that honeyed note, with a slight nutty intonation.
The bergamot is not the strongest bergamot I’ve tasted in an Earl Grey tea, but that’s to be expected with an Earl Grey Creme. The creaminess softens the flavor of the bergamot so that it’s not as sharp. And I’m also getting a distinct “caramel-y” note to this cup as well, and it’s quite an indulgent flavor. Notes of sweet hazelnut accentuate the caramel notes in a really delicious way. This tastes like something you’d serve for dessert!
The flavors here are seamless. The black tea has a deep, rich flavor. I would classify this as a medium bodied tea, but not really because of the black tea base, because it is a full, well-rounded tea. The rooibos lightens the cup up just a tad, but, I think that it works because the vanilla doesn’t feel so heavy. It is a very synergistic cup of tea, with every component complimenting the others to get the best out of each flavor profile.
Of the three teas that I tried this month from Tay Tea, this one is by far my favorite. A definite must try from this company, especially if you’re an Earl Grey fan!