Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
This week’s tea is a sweet blend of hay-like shou mei, freeze-dried strawberries and fresh cut peppermint and spearmint along with organic strawberry, mint and bourbon flavors. It reminds me oddly of my grandmother’s house, where she kept a small garden of mint and strawberries on the side of the house.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about Zoomdweebie’s fundraising campaign to reopen the Tea Bar here.
Taster’s Review:
Mmm! This Strawberry Mint Julep White Tea from 52Teas is really tasty! The delicate flavor of the Shou Mei works really well with the sweet-tart taste of the berries and the crisp, refreshing flavor of the mint notes.
The white tea is sweet and has a vegetative hay-like taste to it. There is also a light, crisp taste to the tea that works really nicely with the fresh minty notes of the spearmint and peppermint.
The mint is probably the most pronounced flavor of this cup, but, I like that it’s not dominating to the point of overpowering the other flavors. The strawberry notes come through, as does the subtle tones of the white tea and just a hint of bourbon also reveals itself in each sip.
And while I’m not generally a big fan of alcohol, I do like that this tastes a bit like a cocktail. I actually like that I can taste the booze (without feeling the effects of it!) because the bourbon flavor works well here. Perhaps that’s because it’s not an aggressive taste … it is sort of off in the background, allowing me to enjoy the other flavors while not letting me forget that it’s there.
This is nice served hot (let it cool off for just a couple of minutes after pouring the tea) but as I type this, I’m also in the process of brewing up a half gallon pitcher of it so that I can have this iced tomorrow afternoon. I find that this tea gets better as it cools. I’m liking it better and better with each sip!
I know that I’ve been talking a lot about the 52Teas fundraising effort to reopen the doors of the Zoomdweebies tea bar … but, let me say it again … if you can, please help out this small business! We can always use more places to enjoy tea!
Inscape: A NOS4A2 Inspired Yerba Mate Blend from 52Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Yerba Mate
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tisane Description:
But I suppose you want to know about the tea this week. Inscape is my attempt at an artistic interpretation of Joe Hill’s novel. It is dark and mysterious with a roasted South American yerba mate base blended with almond slivers, marshmallow root, licorice root and a touch of peppermint. It is largely flavored with organic marshmallow and maple flavors and the cup tastes mostly like a rich vanilla/maple mate with a whisper of licorice and peppermint–like the ghost of Christmas, unexpected and strangely haunting. This is MY inscape, my re-imagining of Joe Hill’s novel manifested in reality and poured out for you. I hope you like it.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve been drinking this Inscape: A NOS4A2 Inspired Yerba Mate Blend from 52Teas for a couple of days now, but this is the first time that I’ve taken the time to sit down and actually write a review about it. I enjoyed it so much that I didn’t even think about writing about the tisane until it was gone! Ha! And since I like to be sipping on the tea/tisane as I’m writing the review so that I can provide as accurate a review on what I’m tasting as possible, I found myself saying a few times … “well, I guess I’ll just have to wait until I brew it again.”
I have not read any of Joe Hill’s books (sorry, Mr. Hill, if you’re reading this), but, I am really enjoying this tisane so much that it is making me curious about reading NOS4A2 to see how the book stands up to the tisane that inspired it.
Generally speaking, Yerba Mate is not my favorite tisane base … but I don’t hate the stuff the way I once did. There was a time when I found it way too earthy for my liking … but, now, I don’t mind it so much. I also think that it may have had something to do with the actual Yerba Mate I was drinking, perhaps the brand was just not a very good one. But this … this is really nice. It tastes earthy and roasted … and this particular blend … almost tastes like a flavored coffee but with less bitterness than a typical cup of java.
The maple is what won me over with this particular blend – it is so yummy and maple-y and just … GOOD. It’s like that first taste of real maple syrup after drizzling the syrup over a stack of pancakes … you know that little drop that remains on the lip of the bottle? You’ve gotta wipe that off with your finger and taste it, right? That delicious, maple-y goodness is what I experience with every sip of this tisane.
Then I notice the creamy vanilla tones – it’s light and fluffy tasting, like marshmallow cream. In the background, I notice hints of licorice. And there is a nuttiness to this as well, and I don’t know if I’m getting that from the actual almond slivers or if it’s from the Yerba Mate. It’s not a distinct almond-esque flavor, it’s just a sweet, nutty taste that really elevates the soft, marshmallow-y vanilla notes.
Surprisingly, I don’t notice a whole lot of the peppermint. What I do notice a sort of clean … crispness right up front, but it isn’t a distinguished minty taste. Toward the finish, I start to pick up more of the peppermint tones, and the aftertaste as a faint, mysterious hint of peppermint. This surprises me because peppermint does tend to be a rather aggressive herb in blends, and often overpowers everything else. But that didn’t happen here – this is very skillfully blended with just the right amount of peppermint that leaves the taster thinking: “what was that?” Like the way a faint breeze feels when you’re walking through some spooky woods as night falls, and it tickles across your back and it’s just enough of something to make you wonder if the woods are haunted and you just had an encounter with a ghost. But … it’s a lot less freaky and a whole lot more tasty!
I like this a lot. I like it so much that I just visited the 52Teas website with the intention of re-ordering some … but it appears it’s sold out. Hopefully it will be re-blended!
Watermelon Mint Black Iced Tea from Republic of Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Republic of Tea
Product Description:
Perfect Picnic Tea – This iced tea captures the essence of summer with the natural, fresh sweetness of sun-ripened watermelon finished with a touch of cool peppermint. A smooth base of fine black tea rounds out this bold, bright, refresher.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Ahh! This Watermelon Mint Black Iced Tea from Republic of Tea is so refreshing!
While shopping at Chuck’s Produce Market the other day, I came across a display of new teas from Republic of Teas – all iced tea that have been prepackaged in large, quart-size unbleached tea pouches. Whenever I shop at Chuck’s (or Whole Foods or New Seasons), I always take a moment to peruse the tea aisle to see if there are any new teas that I haven’t yet tried. (Because you know me … I GOTTA try ’em all!)
There were several different flavors of these new iced teas from Republic of Tea, but the one that was the most appealing to me was this Watermelon Mint Black iced tea. Mmm! Watermelon? Mint? Yes please!
And this is really delightful. I cold-brewed the tea, tossing two of the large tea pouches in my glass 2-quart pitcher and filling it with freshly filtered water, securing the cap and stashing it in the fridge overnight. This morning, I had a pitcher full of cold-brewed, thirst-quenching refreshment.
The watermelon in this iced tea is really well-defined. Very often, with watermelon teas, sometimes the watermelon is a bit too demure for my liking. When I’m tasting a watermelon tea … I want watermelon! You know what I’m saying? Here, the watermelon comes through very nicely. I could even smell it when I opened the pitcher to remove the pouches. The watermelon DOES taste a little on the sweet side – tasting a bit more like watermelon Jolly Ranchers than something that’s more true to the fruit. But, I’m still finding it rather tasty, regardless (I guess because I happen to enjoy watermelon flavored Jolly Ranchers!)
And I’m also happy to report that while the peppermint is discernible, it is NOT an overwhelming flavor. The Republic of Tea did the mint just right in this blend. Because peppermint can sometimes be a rather aggressive herb when added to a tea blend, it is important to add it with caution and not go overboard! That was kept in mind with this blend … the mint is there, but it isn’t overpowering the other flavors. Instead, it is more of a cooling presence … a crisp note of mint that seems to cool the palate as I sip.
The black tea is a pleasant background flavor. It tastes like it is probably a Ceylon tea that is used in this blend, because it’s rather mild-tasting. Sort of even-tempered and not overly assertive. I can taste it, it’s there … but, sort of like the aforementioned mint, it’s not a strong presence in the cup.
This is an agreeable balance of flavors. Sweet, juicy watermelon, hints of mint, and a brisk black tea base. It is one of those teas that you could serve at the family picnic and everyone will enjoy it – even those who are fussy about what they eat and drink. It’s so enjoyable that I think I’m going to have to pick up another tin of the new Iced Tea Pouches the next time I’m shopping at Chuck’s!
Vanilla Mint Chai from Rishi Tea
Chai Information:
Leaf Type: Pu-erh
Where to Buy: Rishi Tea
Tea Description:
Creamy, rich textured and inviting, this pu-erh based chai is unlike any other. Its delicate balance of silky and luscious vanilla bean, bright and soothing peppermint and sweet cinnamon transform this chai into something magical.
Learn more about this chai here.
Taster’s Review:
Wow! I really like this, although I don’t know that I’d agree with calling it a “chai.” Yeah, yeah, I know that chai means tea and so therefore all tea is technically chai … but I’ve come to recognize the word “chai” as meaning a masala (or combination) of spices. And since this Vanilla Mint Chai from Rishi Tea only has cinnamon, licorice root and vanilla that truly qualify as “spices” (I’d categorize peppermint as an herb, wouldn’t you?), I don’t think that’s enough “spices” to call this a chai.
Regardless, it is tasty!
The Pu-erh base offers an earthy background, although with the strong peppermint notes and the creamy tone of vanilla, the earthy notes do not overwhelm. It truly is a “background” note in this blend. And since I tend to shy away from the overly earthy teas, the fact that the earthiness here is subtle is quite alright with me.
The combination of peppermint and vanilla offer a taste that’s quite like the creamy center of a peppermint patty candy bar. YUM! The licorice root is subtle but adds a nice snappy contrast to the peppermint, and the cinnamon gives a hint of spice to the overall cup. All these notes are subtle compared to the vanilla and mint … these two dynamic flavors are the stars of the show here.
Even so, the mint isn’t TOO minty, it doesn’t taste toothpaste-y, it just has a crisp, cool taste that contrasts with the silky, creamy notes of the vanilla. The flavors of the spices and herb soften the earthy tones of the Pu-erh … providing a very smooth, satisfying cup for even those of us who tend to suffer from Pu-erh anxiety. In fact, there isn’t one flavor here that really overpowers the others … this is really a nicely balanced cup and a very interesting combination of flavors!
Southern Mint Herbal Tea from Revolution Tea
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Revolution Tea
Tisane Description:
A refreshing pick-me-up, Southern Mint is a delightful version of the traditional English mint tea. This herbal drink, made from whole Egyptian mint leaves, has soothing properties and can help combat headaches and aid in digestion. Caffeine Free.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
Ah! This Southern Mint Herbal Tea from Revolution Tea is so crisp and refreshing! It’s a great tisane to sip after a spicy meal, it helps calm the tummy!
The mint used in this tisane is an estate grown pure Egyptian peppermint. It has a very fresh and exhilarating taste … and even though it is very invigorating to drink, it is naturally caffeine free so it won’t overstimulate me before bedtime.
The taste is clean and pure. It freshens the mouth and leaves my mouth feeling refreshed and I can already feel it calm my stomach after eating spicy tacos! It’s a nice, natural way to freshen the palate while relaxing the tummy. This is the kind of tisane I like to keep on hand for times like this … and I also like to keep it on hand because my daughter loves peppermint tea and this one from Revolution tea is one of the better ones I’ve tried.