Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Teas Etc.
Product Description:
1st Place Winner of North American Tea Championship – Flavored White Tea
This lush blend of Bai Mu Dan white tea,spice and botanicals is intoxicating. Aromatic and flavorful the essence of natural pear is the primary cup character balanced by the spice and blossoms.
A full bodied taste experience that will warm and soothe the day away.
Taster’s Review:
This is a very interesting and beautiful tea. I received a sample of this tea with my most recent order (free samples with each order!), and I’m glad to have the opportunity to try it.
Although, I do find myself disagreeing with the above description a bit. I don’t think that the pear note is the primary character here. Yes, I can taste the pear, but, even stronger than the pear flavor is that of the star anise. From the first sip, the licorice-y flavor of the star anise greeted me with its sweet presence.
The white tea is also one of the main flavors I taste, adding its sweet, gentle flavor to the cup. The pear is coming in as a softer flavor than both the anise and the white tea, and it does take a few sips to really come into focus. Now that I’m nearly finished with the cup, I notice the pear flavor first, although I still would argue that it is not the strongest flavor, only the first flavor to be tasted.
Just after the pear flavor, the anise brings in a snappy licorice flavor. Unlike the pear flavor, which took some time to develop, the star anise started out strong and has since tapered off a bit, allowing for the smoothness of the white tea and pear flavors to come together to form a sense of balance. There are hints of floral notes in this too, which compliment the fresh flavor of the white tea very nicely.
Overall, I find this to be a very pleasing cup. Quite soothing and soft, none of these flavors are incredibly strong, which is a good thing because when it comes to white tea, too strong a flavor can lead to an overpowering presence. Here, the flavors are nicely balanced, and I like how this balance is achieved slowly. With my first couple of sips, it wasn’t so balanced, I noticed the strong anise flavor and then the white tea with the pear flavors dangling out there somewhere, but, when given a little time for contemplation, the flavors manage to create a very harmonious taste.
I like that this tea inspires that time for contemplation. It insists that you take time to enjoy the tea!
PRODUCT REVIEW: Ginger Pear (Regroup) Minteas from Tea Forté
Where to Buy: Tea Forté
Product Description:
Gingko with the lush flavor of juicy pear will have you revisting your purpose, bringing focus to your mind.
Ingredients: sorbitol, xylitol, natural flavors, Fair Trade Certified™ organic white tea, organic ginkgo, calcium stearate
Taster’s Review:
Hmm… I like these. I wasn’t really sure about them at first … I’ve tried tea mints, some I’ve liked, and some … not so much. But these are quite nice. Not too sweet, and I like that even though they’ve only 1 calorie, they’ve not been sweetened using aspartame – to which I’m allergic. I also like that they’re only 1 calorie because they’re quite tasty and I found myself wanting another after the first… and another after that.
The flavor is intense. The ginger is the strongest note, and the pear comes through nicely. I don’t get much gingko flavor (which I’m not crazy about anyway, so that’s a good thing), but I also don’t get a lot of white tea flavor. I can taste hints of both of these flavors, but nothing as strong or pervasive as the ginger.
It has a very zesty taste that leaves the mouth feeling clean and fresh. It doesn’t taste sweet or like I’ve been eating candy, it just feels clean. Exhilarating. The freshness remains a while after the mint has dissolved.
As for the “Regroup” or focus aspect of the mint, it is hard to report on something like that … perhaps because I didn’t feel unfocused before I popped the mint into my mouth. But, what I can say is that the flavor is zesty enough to really grab my attention. So perhaps it is doing its job and I just didn’t notice because I was enjoying the flavor.
A tasty alternative to the typical breath mint.
PRODUCT REVIEW: Matcha Green Tea Lollipop from The Groovy Baker
Where to Buy: The Groovy Baker on Etsy
Product Description:
*Real* Matcha Green Tea imported from Japan ~
With just a touch of lemon and creamy vanilla ~ a bit of pear adds depth and the toasted almonds some crunch and complexity.
Pretty clear green ~ just really nice.
Made with pure cane sugar, never any corn syrup.
Taster’s Review:
I found these beauties on Etsy one evening while I was browsing on the site, looking for new tea products. And, yes, they really are as beautiful as they look!
The first thing I taste with these is the pear. It doesn’t dominate the confection but it does come on strong at the start. The Matcha flavor starts off much softer – the flavor is there from the start it is just rather delicate in the beginning. After several licks I noticed that the green tea flavor started to really come through nicely, and by the time I was about halfway through the lollipop, the Matcha was prominent.
One thing that this lollipop does lack verses a bowl of Matcha tea is the bittersweet characteristic of Matcha due to the sugar in the candy. I think that this is where the almonds really play their part well. The almond slivers are embedded into the candy, and I found myself nibbling at them. It offered a tasty nutty flavor as well as an interesting feel and look to the lollipop. Moreover, the almonds helped bring out some of the less distinctive notes of the Matcha.
I just loved these lollipops. Sweet (I guess that is a bit obvious, since it’s candy!) but with a delicious complexity that I wouldn’t get from an ordinary confection. The perfect candy for someone who’s “nuts” about tea!
PS: You can read more of my reviews of other flavors of lollipops from The Groovy Baker here.
Apple Pear Tulsi from Fusion Tea Room
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Fruit/Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Fusion Tea Room
Product Description:
The slightly sweet subtle mint flavor of the tulsi herb pairs wonderfully with the addition of apple and pear. Tulsi has an anti stress calming effect that is naturally caffeine free so it’s perfect anytime of the day. This herbal tea is especially refreshing over ice.
Taster’s Review:
The first time I steeped this tea, I don’t think I used enough leaf, because I didn’t manage to extract much flavor. Of course, I didn’t bother to read the steeping instructions on the package that suggest using one and a half teaspoons per cup. I only used one teaspoon, and what a difference that half a teaspoon makes!
This is the second time I’ve tasted this tisane, and this time, I used the right amount of leaf, and the results are a delicious tisane – I mean, really delicious!
The Tulsi imparts a hint of minty flavor to the cup, but the real stars of this tisane are the apple and pear flavors. These two flavors meld together so well. The flavor is sweet and nectar-like. The next flavor that I taste is the cinnamon – it is sweet but also delivers just a slight heat to the cup as well. This tisane is full of flavor!
I do recommend adding a little sweetener to the cup to help bring out some of the subtle notes of this tisane. It is good without the sweetener, but with it, it is even better. I can taste the pineapple and even the sharpness of the sunflower with this addition. And most importantly, be sure not to skimp on the amount of leaf you use when you steep this tea. You’ll be rewarded with a very flavorful cup of tea!
Pomegranate Pear Tea from Jennifer’s Tea Garden
Tea Type: Herbal (Fruit) Tisane
Where To Buy: JennifersTeaGarden.com
Product Description:
Sweet pear calms and soothes while tart and tasty pomegranate adds color and zest to this vibrant blend! Simply delightful and wonderful iced. Naturally caffeine free.
Tasters Review:
Pomegranate Pear from Jennifer’s Tea Garden is so interesting!
This may just be one of the most interesting and curious tasting fruit tisane’s I have had so far! And by curious I mean that in the nicest and a very tasty way!
Just when I thought this would be too hibiscusy – I was WAY wrong!
I mean, YES, it has Hibiscus IN it but the other ingredients off-set it very well! And there are other things that threw me for a loop and I LOVE THAT about this tisane!
I can taste the berries and they are plump and juicy! There is crystallized ginger in here too! The peppery ginger is offset by the sugar which is genius! I really like that! I think the ginger and the sugar interrupted the stereotypical hibiscus flavor and for that I am very thankful!
As for the Pear and Pom – they work very well together to create it’s own flavor yet I can pick out both individually if I think about it. There are apple pieces that are juicy-sour but in a good way, too! The berries – elderberry and currants – are surprising and almost like a fruit leather type taste.
There is so much going on here – so many things to contradict eachother – that everything works awesomely together! I really REALLY like this flavor!
It’s good both hot and cold! It’s one of those tea/tisane wonders of the world! A pure delight!
