Product Information:
Spicy chai blend of cinnamon, black tea and rooibos, lightly sweetened and finished with steamed milk.
Where to Buy: Your Local Starbucks
Learn more about this product here.
Taster’s Review:
This product combines two things that I do not like with a couple of things that I do like. I don’t like Teavana and I don’t like Starbucks. But I do like chai lattes and I like Oprah Winfrey. So, I decided that since I happened to be at my local Safeway and there happens to be a Starbucks inside that I’d try Oprah’s “new” (it’s not really new anymore, but it’s new to me) Chai from Teavana that has been crafted into a latte by Starbucks.
Two things that I noticed right off the bat that I appreciated – first thing: it wasn’t prepared too hot. The very rare times that I stop at a coffee shop to get a chai latte (very rare), it seems like the drink is too hot to consume and it takes forever for the temperature to drop. This was prepared at a slightly lower temperature, I think, and it was a drinkable temperature. Nice.
The second thing that I noticed: it’s not too sweet. Yeah, it’s been sweetened. But it’s not cloyingly sweet. It’s not so sweet that I felt myself recoil from the overwhelming sweetness. And there’s a nice balance between sweet and spice.
I can taste the tea here and that’s another thing I appreciate. More often than not, when I do have that rare latte from a coffee shop, many times it’s made from a concentrate and it’s overly processed and I just can’t taste any tea. I taste some spice but mostly what I end up tasting is warm milk and sweetener.
That’s not happening with this. I can taste the black tea and I taste a light nutty flavor from the rooibos. The spices are nicely balanced. Overall, it’s a pleasant chai latte. Not my favorite – my favorite is the kind that I make at home where I control the sweetness and the amount of dairy that goes into it. But for a latte that I picked up at a coffee shop (even if it is Starbucks), it’s pretty good. And it’s definitely better than Starbucks “classic” chai latte.
I don’t know that I’ll be lining up at Starbucks to get this again soon, but, if I happen to find myself at Starbucks, this is probably what I’ll order.
Field of Purple Flowers from Talbott Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Talbott Teas
Product Description:
Whether it’s ancient wisdom from the Japanese Sencha or the stopping power of the roses and purple mallow flowers, this peach of a green tea makes it easy to appreciate all that you have.
All natural premium ingredients: Full-leaf Japanese Sencha green tea, purple mallow flowers, peach bits, rose petals, peach flavor.
Taster’s Review:
Even though it is now fall, and I am thoroughly enjoying all the autumnal flavors … I still occasionally take time to enjoy flavors that remind me of spring and summer. Today, I am sipping on Field of Purple Flowers … and it is evoking beautiful images of summer. It has such a beautiful, harmonious taste: bright like the summer sun, and sweet like the freshest summer fruit.
The green tea is the strongest flavor. It tastes crisp and light, with a hint of grassiness to it. Not a bitter grassy taste, but more of a sweet hint of greenery. The peach is a very subtle note; subtle, but effective. It is sweet and fruity without overthrowing the gentle balance of this cup.
The floral notes offer a pleasant contrast to the tea. Again, not a strong flavor, but more of a whisper of sweet flowery taste.
This is one of those teas that make for a perfect afternoon tea. It would be nice for a garden party, perhaps, even if it’s just a tea party for one! This one is also quite tasty iced!
Caramel Sundae Escape from Talbott Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Talbott Teas
Product Description:
You ease into the first sip. Real caramel. You slide into the second. Real cocoa. With the addition of milk and sugar, you instinctively reach for a spoon.
Taster’s Review:
A sundae for breakfast? Sure, why not? This tea lets you enjoy your sundae any time of the day … guilt free!
The aroma of the tea is not as pronounced as I thought it would be; but the rich, delicious flavor of the tea more than makes up for the weak scent. The first thing I taste is the tea – and since I am drinking tea and not hot chocolate or caramel, that is just the way it should be.
The black tea base is a pleasant tasting tea, brisk and smooth without being too assertive. It melds seamlessly with the cocoa notes. The caramel is sweet and the note of vanilla in the tea gives the burnt-sugar caramel an irresistible creaminess.
With this combination of flavors – the creamy vanilla, the rich chocolate, the sweet caramel – this really tastes like a sundae. Not one of those fast-food sundaes, but one of those amazing sundaes from an ice cream shop. All that’s missing is the cherry on top! This is a perfect dessert for tea lovers.
Steamy Cinnamon Rose from Talbott Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Talbott Teas
Product Description:
Full-leaf black tea with cinnamon, orange peel and rose petals.
Taster’s Review:
Wow! This one is a keeper! Definitely one of the best ones I’ve tried from Talbott thus far.
The balance of flavors here is so nice. When I first received a sampling of it I thought “Oh, cinnamon and rose. OK.” Because, well, I have a similar blend of my own (which is rose, vanilla and cinnamon), so I thought this would taste very familiar to me. I was wrong!
The orange and clove is a nice addition. The orange perks up the overall flavor without overwhelming the other flavors, and I like the way the orange and the rose work together – it’s not a flavor combination I would have thought of, but they really taste great together. The cloves enhance the flavor of the cinnamon so that the cup doesn’t come across as too “spicy-hot” cinnamon-y.
But what would a tea be without the tea? The black tea base here is a smooth, bright black tea that is not overly aggressive. It has a very even taste to it and a medium astringency that lightly “pats” the palate dry in the finish. The aftertaste leaves lingering notes of cinnamon and rose and a faint citrus tang.
A very pleasant tea to sip. One that would make a fabulous Valentine’s Day gift for the tea lover in your life!
Chocolate Strawberry Tempation from Talbott Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Talbott Teas
Product Description:
Juicy red strawberries with a kiss of dark coca -this black tea is all about you. Bursting with luxurious flavor, it’s decadence dipped in excess with a side of unbridled joy.
All natural premium ingredients: Full-leaf black tea, strawberry pieces, cacao nibs, strawberry leaf, chocolate and strawberry flavors.
Taster’s Review:
I tried this tea back in December, but I held off on publishing the review until just before Valentines Day, because when I think of chocolate and strawberries, I think of Valentine’s Day.
The fragrance of the tea that sits before me is delicious – it is making my mouth water! I can smell notes of chocolate and strawberry, as well as a very pleasant-smelling black tea. The combination of these scents is fantastic.
The black tea base tastes like a Ceylon tea to me, it has a brisk flavor but a fairly even-toned taste to it. It has a smooth, clean taste with a light astringency that lightly dries the palate in the finish.
The strawberry flavor hits strongest in the aftertaste. I can taste the strawberry throughout the sip, but it is in the aftertaste where I taste the sweet yet tart tingle that is very strawberry-esque. It reminds me of a fresh, delicious strawberry.
This is a tea that should be served hot… but, should not be consumed until it has had a few moments to cool. The slight cooling will allow the flavors to develop a little bit, and I found that this tea was much more satisfying when it was still hot, but not directly-from-the-teapot-hot. The chocolate flavor is the reason I mention this about allowing the tea to cool slightly… I find that when the tea is still piping hot, the chocolate flavor seems almost… absent. But, as it cools a little (I’d say its now an easily sip-able temperature. That is, it is not so hot that it scalds my tongue) the chocolate flavor develops nicely.
Overall, this is a very pleasant cuppa. I would probably find it even more satisfying with a little more chocolate, but then, I’m a chocoholic, and I’m of the belief that more chocolate is always better. As it is, though, it’s quite delicious.