Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black/Floral
Where to Buy: Astrolo Teas
Tea Description:
The Vanilla Heather blend is by far the lightest tea I’ve made. I like to say that it feels like drinking cotton candy made of sweet flowers while floating on a cloud. And that just makes me happy!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
One of my favorite tea shops right now is Astrolo Tea, a different kind of tea shop. This tea shop not only has an amazing selection of teas, but they are handcrafted and made with care and attention like you can’t believe! The owner is 100% dedicated to her product and her customers. Not only is she an amazing tea creator, she is an astrologer as well! So talented.
But on to this tea. This tea is a unique blend of Assam, heather flowers and vanilla-all organic. There is a beautiful sweetness that envelopes you when you first take a whiff of the dry leaf mixture. I scooped out a serving and set up the Breville One Touch on a black setting. There are nicely laid out directions on the package.
Took a few moments for the tea to cool off and then took my first sip. Oh. . .My. . .Goodness!!! I am going to be re-ordering this one and soon. This is a gorgeous combination of black tea, sweet vanilla, and floral notes. I can’t ask for a better tea right now with my constant craving of floral teas. There is a nice full bodied feel to this tea and an ever so slight astringent background. I can’t drink this tea fast enough to satiate the craving it stirred up. So very good. I love how the floral and vanilla work so well together. Neither overpower the other and all the ingredients combine to create this gorgeous taste. Another very well done tea from Astrolo Tea!
Lemon Meringue from Tealish
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green & Red Rooibos
Where to Buy: Tealish
Tea Description:
A colourful blend of green and red rooibos with a smooth lemon taste reminiscent of freshly baked lemon meringue pie. With a delicious zesty lemon flavour and a perfect creamy finish, this red tea infusion is a sweet and healthy treat!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I love my green rooibos. Red rooibos- can’t stand the stuff. But green rooibos I simply love and adore.
So the other day when I was going thru my oh so neglected tea stash I stumbled upon this delight. This is one example of why I love Steepster so much. I’m sure this tea came from one of my Steepster friends who wanted to share their tea love with me. Without that person sending me a lovely care package, I’m not sure I would have ever had this tea and that would have been a shame!
First off, the dry leaves smell so sweet and have a lovely lemon baked dessert fragrance. I brewed this up like an herbal-212F-5 minutes and allowed it to cool for a moment.
Wow, does this taste good! This tea tastes like a lemon tart! You can really taste the lemon but it tastes more like a lemon pie filling. Sweet and lush. There is also a tart like flavor that gives the tea more of a dessert quality. This may not taste like a lemon meringue pie but it still tastes amazing! I even had enough left over to try this tea iced and I ended up with the same amazing results. The only flavor I was really missing was the pie like flavor. The rest of them are spot on. I was even able to get a couple infusions out of this tea. I drank this tea to curve my sweet tooth craving that hits me somewhere between 2pm-3pm. It worked too!
I’m pretty impressed with this tea and I’m excited to see that I have more Tealish to try in the future.
Strawberry Genmaicha Green from ESP Emporium
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: ESP Emporium
Tea Description:
Here, we have two green teas, which were combined to an exceptional premium tea blend. The characteristic of Japanese Genmaicha is supported wonderfully by our smooth green tea. This creation is perfected by the added strawberry pieces and a finely balanced flavor composition.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Since I’ve tried a few ‘unconventional’ Genmaicha blends lately I wanted to do something different with this one, which is why I cold brewed it. I’m not even sure if I’ve ever done that before with a Genmaicha blend; I can’t easily bring an example to mind.
I have to admit it was a little weird tasting a cold brewed Genmaicha; the green tea wasn’t anything exceptional nor was it disappointing but the strong, drawn out notes of roasted brown rice – which took on a near barley taste, were more intense than I would expect from Genmaicha. More like a good mugicha than anything else, to be honest.
The strawberry certainly is not the most vibrant strawberry flavour though. I wouldn’t even call it all that realistic to be honest; what it does taste like it strawberry candy. Some kind of cross between those fluffy strawberry marshmallow five cent candies you see in gas stations and a really nice strawberry gummy candy? I like the taste itself, but the pairing with the green tea/roasted notes doesn’t work for me.
So overall; I’d say there were definitely high and low points to this tea and if I revisit it I’ll definitely be trying an alternative prep method (perhaps something more traditional) than revisiting this one. It’s not worth a second taste.
Awake from Tazo Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tazo
Tea Description:
A breakfast-style black tea of malty boldness and bright flavor, invigorating any time of day.
The sun peeks over the horizon through the clouds, a star streaks undetected across the sky and the world begins anew. This bold and flavorful blend of black teas will send you down the day’s path wondering where it will take you and if it’s possible to bring along a friend.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is another tea from my tea stash that for some reason I seem to have a lot of it. I think at one time, this was my go to tea in the mornings at work. I rarely drink it anymore but I’m on my mission to drink up some of this tea I have so here we go!
Awake is one of the better Tazo teas in my opinion. Just be careful with it. It turns on you quick and becomes very bitter.
I brewed the tea up like I do my black tea-212F-3 min. I let this cool off for a few minutes and took my time enjoying the tea.
This may not be the black tea around, but its tasty! I like the bold yet subtle nature of the tea. There is a nice malty feel in each sip and there are no hints of astringency around. Just smooth rich black tea. Another no mess no fuss tea that is perfect for those busy mornings or when you just need to do a grab and go kinda tea. What is also great is that most grocery stores carry this tea so it is easily accessible.
I’ll be happy when I can proudly say “SIPDOWN” (when all the teabags are gone). But this isn’t such a bad tea to drink this afternoon. It is definitely giving me a bit of a pep in my step for the afternoon.
Raspberry Rose Hibiscus from The Republic of Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: The Republic of Tea
Tea Description:
Herb Tea for Sweethearts – Every day should be a celebration of love. Raise a cup of this romantic blend with a base of flavorful, healthy Nigerian hibiscus. Sweet, ripe raspberries and delicate rose petals add fruity and floral notes. Enjoy this caffeine-free blend with the ones you cherish.
Raspberry Rose Hibiscus is a limited-edition, seasonal blend. When it’s gone, it’s gone.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh my! Can you say raspberry candy aroma?!? I think you can.
This tea bag smells just like raspberry candy. Incredibly fruity and very sweet smelling. This is another tea bag that I found in a box that I have sorely neglected. I thought I’d try this one as a nice after lunch sort of treat. Typically right after lunch, I crave something sweet. I’m hoping this herbal will do the trick!
I threw this tea bag in a cuppa water that was boiling for about 5 minutes. Since there is hibiscus in this, I didn’t want to let it steep for too long. First sip and I really am not getting any true flavors except just for a hot beverage. So I decided to let this steep just a bit longer.
Took another sip and while this smells so sweet and candy like, the flavor is more mild and subtle. The raspberry and rose are gentle but bring a nice quiet flavor. There is a sweetness there but I can’t really put my finger on what is bringing the sweetness out. I see that in the ingredients listed there is vanilla, but I don’t think that is it.
I’m quite surprised with this tea. With the fragrance that is coming from my tea cup, you’d think I was drinking the sweetest sugary raspberry tea that there ever was. Instead I am greeted with this relaxed slightly raspberry slightly floral herbal tea. I can barely even taste the hibiscus. This might be one I need to experiment and play with more. Maybe even try this one as a cold brew or iced tea. I’m quite content with this one.
Usually I feel that The Republic of Tea has either hit or miss teas. . This one just might be a hit.