Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
One of our “YOU be the tea blender” blends, this is a premium Pettiagala Extra Long Leaf OP black tea from Sri Lanka blended with freeze-dried blueberries, lemon myrtle and organic blueberry, lemon and cookie dough flavors. Delicious and fun–like the flavors are having a pillow fight in your mouth!
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about 52Teas’ subscriptions here.
Taster’s Review:
This Lemon Blueberry Cookie Dough Black Tea from 52Teas is pretty tasty. I don’t think I’ve had a lemon blueberry cookie before, but I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to trying one – or the dough before one is baked! I love the flavor combination of lemon and berry!
I brewed this in my Breville One-Touch: I measured 2 bamboo scoops of tea into the basket and poured 500ml of water into the kettle. The temperature was set for 205°F and the timer for 2 1/2 minutes.
I do wish I would have set the timer for only 2 minutes, because the black tea is a little on the astringent side. It’s not really what I’d call bitter, but together with the tart, lemony notes and the tea – I’m getting a fair amount of tangy astringency at the tail.
The black tea is a brisk, medium-bodied tea. I think I would have liked a maltier tea as the base to help bring out the ‘cookie dough’ flavors because I’m not getting a lot of that sweet dough-y flavor here.
I get plenty of lemon notes and hints of blueberry. As I continue to sip, the blueberry notes develop and by mid-cup, the blueberry is almost on even standing with the lemon. By the time I’ve reached the end of the cup, the two flavors are pretty nicely balanced. I really like the way these two flavors play together – the lemon and the blueberry are really quite compatible flavor companions.
There is an underlying sweetness to this cup, but, maybe the tartness of the lemon together with the tart notes of the berry overwhelm the sweeter notes of what should taste like cookie dough. By mid-cup, I do pick up on more flavors that could be cookie dough-ish.
After the tea cools significantly, I pick up on a lot more cookie dough taste – this tea is definitely better cold than it is hot. The astringency mellows a little, there is balance between the lemon and blueberry flavors, and the cookie dough flavor emerges a bit.
Overall, this is a tasty blend. It’s a fun flavor, a little on the tart side – if you like lemon, you’ll really enjoy this playful flavor.
Citron Maté Blend from The Persimmon Tree
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Yerba Mate
Where To Buy: The Persimmon Tree
Tea Description:
This aromatic and refreshing cocktail of yerba maté, lemongrass, orange peel, and lemon myrtle is the perfect tonic after a workout or tiring day. Citron Maté is a stimulating brew that can give you a little caffeine boost without the shakes or crash that can follow. Try it sweetened over ice with fresh lime juice for a refreshing summer treat!
Learn more about this blend here.
Taster’s Review:
For my first cup of the day, I generally prefer a good, strong cup of black tea. However, there are some mornings when I need a little more than the caffeine boost that the black tea can give you, and on days like that, I often turn to Yerba Mate.
Yerba Mate has more caffeine than tea. It’s more like coffee when it comes to caffeine. But with Yerba Mate, I don’t get the jitters or the sickly feeling a few hours after drinking it the way I do with coffee. Yerba Mate is a big win when it comes to a caffeine fix.
And I’m really enjoying this Yerba Mate blend from Persimmon Tree. It has a sweet, citrus-y flavor that perks up the earthy, vegetative flavor of the Mate in a very agreeable way.
To brew this tisane, I used my Breville One-Touch. I measured 3 bamboo scoops of tisane into the basket of the tea maker (I generally like to use a little more leaf when it comes to tisanes) and added 500ml of freshly filtered water to the jug. Then I set the parameters: 185°F – usually I go with 195°F for yerba mate tisanes but because this is a green yerba mate, I thought I’d take this opportunity to “test out” a slightly lower temperature for the green yerba mate – and 10 minutes steep time. Because yerba mate is low in tannins, a longer steep time will result in a fuller flavor without bitterness.
I’m quite pleased with the result! The flavor is sweet and citrus-y with notes of orange and a sweet hint of lemon and lime. There is a light, creamy flavor that I’m tasting that melds nicely with these citrus notes. The citrus isn’t a strong presence, in fact, I think I’d like a little more citrus to this (and I’d recommend serving it with a thin slice of whatever citrus fruit you might have on hand!) but it does add a lovely little accent of bright flavor.
It’s very “morning” bright – this cup of Citron Mate!
The yerba mate has a fresh, vegetative taste with earthy background notes. It has a smooth flavor and isn’t bitter or astringent. Smooth from beginning to finish! I know that some people have remarked that they find yerba mate to be a tad on the bitter side, but to these people I recommend a slightly lower brewing temperature. When I steeped yerba mate at a boiling temperature, I would experience bitterness too, but since I’ve dropped the temperature to 185° – 195° F, I find that I get a smooth, bitter-free taste from every cup of yerba mate now!
If you’re looking for a vibrant way to start your day, you should give this Citron Mate from The Persimmon Tree a try! It’s tasty!
Lemon Ginger Cookie Oolong Tea Blend from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
This was one of the suggestions I got for the new blend in the 12 Teas of Christmas set. I liked the idea so much I decided to make it NOW rather than save it for the gift set. Fujian oolong, ginger and lemon myrtle combined with organic flavors make this a treat you won’t want to miss out on. It will warm your bones and please your palate.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn how to subscribe to 52Teas’ Tea of the Week program here.
Taster’s Review:
Mmm! This tea evokes happy memories for me. Every once in a while when my daughters were younger, we used to have tea parties. We’d go all out for them, making little finger sandwiches and scones and buying special sweets for the occasion. Our favorite cookies were ginger cookies with a lemon cream filling. The zesty flavor of the ginger along with the bright flavor of the lemon – a perfectly delightful combination.
And this tea is also perfectly delightful!
I like that I’m tasting lemon and ginger here, but that they aren’t overpowering the Oolong base. Oolong is one of those teas that I often think is better off left alone and not flavored because it can easily go wrong, and most Oolong teas are simply amazing without anything added to them.
Oh, I’ve enjoyed many flavored Oolong teas and I even flavored an Oolong in my blending days (a melon flavored Oolong which was exceptionally good – if I do say so myself). However, because it is easy to do wrong by the Oolong when flavoring it, I think that for the most part, it’s just better to leave the Oolong alone rather than just go woefully, painfully wrong with it.
BUT … Frank did good by the Oolong this time! This is lovely!
The light, creamy base of the Oolong melds beautifully well with the sharp notes of the ginger and the vibrant lemon notes, and these two flavors are not overwhelming the Oolong. It’s sweet, a little creamy, and smooth.
It tastes like a tea party in a teacup! It resteeps well too. The second infusion was almost as lovely as the first.
As I write this review, I see that there is one pouch left in stock of this tea. So, if it’s one you’d like to try, you can always request that it get reblended here. And while you’re at it, you can also submit your idea for a great tea blend!
24 Days of Tea Holiday Countdown – Day 23 from Teanzo 1856
It’s day 23 … are you finished with your shopping yet? (Please don’t ask.)
For today’s artistic inspiration, I am featuring this rustic heart ornament from Gwynn Thoma. I’m not entirely sure, but it looks as though the panels were felted and then stuffed and hand sewn together. It’s really lovely and I love the way it looks on my tree. Since about 95% of the ornaments on my tree are all handmade, I love the way this ornament really seems to define that idea. It looks simple and rustic, but I love the charm that it brings to my tree.
Mint Detox Tulsi Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Tulsi
Where to Buy: Teanzo 1856
Tea Description:
With rosehips and mint, this loose leaf detox tea supports hydration and detoxification. You can sip this detox tea hot or gulp it down as an iced tea guilt-free since it has virtually no calories! Makes a fantastic and unique gift. This is a herbal tea that you can take with you in your water bottle and sip all day long to stay refreshed.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
There have been quite a few caffeine free tisanes in this Advent Calendar box from Teanzo. Some have been hits and others misses. Fortunately, this one is a hit!
I really like the combination of spearmint and tulsi. The warmth of the tulsi and the cool, crisp notes of the spearmint offers a nice contrast. The spearmint is refreshing without tasting toothpaste-y as the spicier notes of the tulsi help to reduce the impact of the mint.
Also nice is the light, lemony note from the lemon myrtle. It’s a really uplifting flavor that brightens the whole cup.
It’s a pleasant combination of flavors that I found very enjoyable. I don’t know if it works as a “detox” or not, but, I will say that this is one of the tastier “detox” teas I’ve tried. It’s thirst-quenching and tastes good served hot or cold and it has a nice, natural sweetness to it that requires no additional sweetener. Another bonus for the detox!
24 Days of Tea Holiday Countdown – Day 13 from Teanzo 1856
It’s day 13 with this wonderful Holiday Countdown with tea from Teanzo – I have enjoyed trying the different teas that they offer through their Advent Calendar! (All of which is also available – separately – on their website!)
For today’s bit of holiday art, I chose a really nifty ornament made by Regina Zyry! One of the things that I love MOST about this ornament is that its crafted using an upcycled ribbon spool! You know, when you go to the craft store and you buy the spools of decorative ribbon for your projects? She kept her empty spools and turned them into creative ornaments!
I love the color scheme of these too! It really stands out on my tree. And while this first side offers a ‘modern’ appearance, the reverse side has more of an ‘old fashioned’ look to it.
See what I mean? Clever, right?
This ornament was a gift in one of the 12 Days of Christmas mail art swaps that I was involved in a few years ago. It was a very inspiring thing to be working with such artistic ladies.
And speaking of creative, I find today’s tea from Teanzo to be rather creative! It’s one of the teas that is offered in their Spa Trio collection along with two other Spa tea blends, including one that I’ve already reviewed as part of this countdown: The Dream Spa Blend.
Bliss Spa Blend
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Tulsi
Where to Buy: Teanzo 1856
Tea Description:
Ingredients: Ginger Root, rose hips, tulsi, orange peel, lemon peel, lemon myrtle, lemon grass, with ginger and citrus flavors.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Yay! Another tisane without hibiscus! And this one is a Tulsi tisane – extra bonus points! It’s been a while since I’ve had a Tulsi blend!
This blend is actually quite lovely! I love the citrus-y flavors! The notes of lemon and orange are strong in this blend and it adds a bright, vibrant flavor that is energizing and yes … blissful!
To brew this tisane, I poured the contents of the sampler pouch into the basket of my Kati Tumbler and added 12 ounces of water heated to 195°F and I let it steep for 10 minutes. Remember, with no camellia sinensis leaves in the tisane, I don’t have to worry about the brew becoming bitter (no tannins!) and with no hibiscus in the blend, I don’t have to worry about the brew becoming too syrupy, thick or tart.
The ginger and the tulsi add a sort of warm, spicy note to the cup that contrasts nicely with the bright, juicy flavors of citrus. This isn’t overly spicy, though, it’s a gentle, cozy warmth. I like the undertone of spice that comes from these two ingredients.
But the real ‘star’ of this cup is the invigorating flavor of the citrus notes! The orange is juicy and sweet, and the lemon isn’t too sour. I’m not puckering when I drink this.
I really enjoyed this. The last two tisanes that I’ve consumed from Teanzo (this and the aforementioned Dream Spa Blend) have been so delightful that they are renewing my faith in tisanes! I have become so … blasé when it comes to nearly all tisanes that I’ve encountered as of late. Sure, I might find the flavor agreeable, but truly exciting? Not a lot of them have interested me to the point where I felt I was excited about what I was drinking. These two blends are excitingly different!