Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Tea Shirt
Tea Description:
Flavoured white tea
Ingredients: White tea, white apple pieces (apple pieces, citric acid), lemon peel, rose flower petals, natural flavouring.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I just recently discovered Tea Shirt on Twitter a few weeks ago. I was instantly intrigued by the name and ended up placing an order. Yesterday the box arrived and I was eager to dive right in. I ordered a variety of different samples but I have to admit this one is the reason I placed the order in the first place. I’ve tried different Gin & Tonic blends but not a white tea version. The others were herbals.
I eagerly steeped the tea and loved the fresh lemon aroma that I was getting from the steeping leaves. The dry leaves were a gorgeous bright vibrant looking blend with pops of rose buds, white tea, and apple pieces. Such a lovely blend. So far, I’ve got some pretty high expectations out of this tea!
So after one sip I’ve decided that I should nickname this tea “Sweet Tart” tea. Because that is what it tastes like to me!
This tea is an absolutely vibrant fun tea with notes of a citrus lemon background, floral hints, with a sweetness and tang that yes does resemble gin & tonic slightly but to me it really sings and says, “Hey, I taste like candy!”. This tea is full of flavor and just keeps giving sip and after.
What I love the most is the acidic notes that give you the tang that reminds me of the tonic water from a gin & tonic. The lemon flavor hits you next. Such a great combo. You could also say this tea reminds me of clear sodas like 7Up or Sprite. Such a fun tea!
Anyway you look at it, this tea is vibrant, singing with brilliant flavors. I’m absolutely in love with this tea and am hitting the kettle again for my third infusion!
Pomegranate Green Tea from Solstice Tea Traders
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Solstice Tea Traders
Tea Description:
Solstice Tea Traders Pomegranate Loose Leaf Green Tea is an amazing tea that lends itself well to hot or iced applications, and is a perfect option for summer afternoons, or cold mornings.Enjoy our pomegranate tea packed in large one pound bags, an amazing way to enjoy green tea, with a little extra flavor, without having to add a lot of sugar.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Ever stumble upon a tea that just completely makes you say “What?!?” This tea did that to me.
I review products for companies on Amazon all the time. Besides my blog and doing tea reviews for SororiTea Sisters, it is one of my favorite ways to spend my time. Whenever I see tea up for grabs needing a review, I always get giddy and hope I make the cut.
So when this tea arrived in its giant 16oz package (yes, 1 lb!) I wasn’t sure what I would be in for except that I have a pound of this tea. I opened the enormous tea pouch up and was hit with this lovely fragrance mix of green tea, pomegranate, and a sweet rose bud floral undertone. I was incredibly impressed. The tea leaves didn’t’ appear to be crushed but lovely and with a lot of substance. I couldn’t wait to try this tea.
Brewed up like a green tea and allowed to steep for about 4 minutes, this tea yields an amazing flavor. Lovely rich buttery green tea notes with a jammy pomegranate flavor and a sweetness from the rose buds that really bring this tea to another notch. There is just a slight hint of a tartness from the pomegranate but it is very very slight. Everything is just so smooth and all the flavors are right where they need to be. (I have a feeling I’ll be drinking this tea all day).
The jammy notes are what get me the most and I can say that this tea has me hooked. I’ve already got a pitcher going for a cold brew for this week and I’m planning on making some iced tea as well for the day. I’m on my third cup from the same infusion and the flavors are still giving me so much love.
This is one of those teas that proves you can’t judge a book (or tea) by its cover. This tea is amazingly priced for what you get and I can’t wait to try and check out the other teas I have coming. Highly recommend this tea for a flavored green tea that bursts with flavor. I’m absolutely serving this at my sister in law’s baby shower in a few weeks. It is really that good and one that everybody would enjoy. The flavors are bright enough to give flavor but not so overwhelming that you can’t taste the green tea base. One of those teas you just have to share!
Focus by BlendBee
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: BlendBee
Tea Description:
Sharpen your mind & stay focused.
This invigorating black tea & yerba mate blend was specifically designed for a tea lover whose favorite tea was discontinued. We recreated it for her, and to our delight, we loved this blend and decided to whole world should have it. It definitely helps you to stay focused and has a great energy. Enjoy!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This tea is named Focus but it is doing anything but making me focus right now. . because right now I’m taking a break from work and seeing what other blends BlendBee offers.
BlendBee is one I’ve had a few blends by but I will have to say, this particular blend has me craving and wanting more of their blends! This tea is giving me those warm tea fuzzies and I can’t seem to get enough.
BlendBee was created in 2014 by Jamah Dacus, a health-crazed tea lover (from the website). From what I’m seeing, these blends are handmade and seem to be crazy unique and fun. With teas like Ginger Ninja. . .this site has my attention for sure!
Focus is a gorgeous blend of black tea, yerba mate, rose buds, and other ingredients. The coloring of this tea is beautiful, with the pops of this lovely red mixed in with the black and yerba mate tea base. With those two teas having more of an earthy tone, the rosebuds leap out at you, demanding your attention.
I brewed this tea up per the instructions (boiled fresh water and steep for 5-15 minutes). I will say, I was worried about my first sip. I started having a conversation with a co-worker and allowed this tea to over steep by about 10 minutes. All I have to say is friends. . . this tea is crazy forgiving!
My first sip of this tea was like an explosion. Bursts of bright lovely flavors swirled, giving me a lovely afternoon beverage. The black tea is a subtle and gentle smoothness that gives way for the yerba mate to give a slightly earthy note. From what I can tell, the cacao nibs provide a dark rich silky touch and the rosebuds provide a sweetness that really becomes the star. The lemon balm and orange extract are my favorite part of this tea. They give this really lush citrus note that combined with the other ingredients takes this tea up to another level. There is also a subtle note of a roasted flavored.
I’m literally on my 3 infusion of this tea and I can’t get enough. Sure I’m starting to feel jittery from the yerba mate, but I can’t help it. This tea is that good and demands the attention and love.
BlendBee has impressed me and I will be ordering more of this tea for sure!
Yuzu Ginger Macaron Cookie White Tea from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
The inspiration for this tea is actually one of our start-up Kickstarter backers that purchased a “create a tea of the week” option when she contributed to that campaign (thank you!) – she wanted a Yuzu Ginger Macaron Cookie Tea and she wasn’t sure if she wanted that with our White Peony base or our green tea blend. She told me that she’d leave that decision to me so I tested out both bases with these flavors and I ultimately decided that the White Peony tea made a better base for these flavors. The Yuzu fruit notes were not as well defined with the green tea – but with the white tea you get a juicy, citrus-y burst of flavor that’s tart and tangy, a wee bit sweet and a wee bit bitter – just like the Yuzu itself.
The ginger adds a warm dimension of flavor and I’m even getting a slight almond-y meringue note that evoke thoughts of a delicate macaron cookie. I gotta admit that when I was given this cookie tea challenge, I was more than just a little worried because Yuzu is not a flavor that I’m very familiar with and I worried that I wouldn’t do right by the Yuzu fruit. And whether or not I actually have done that – I’ll leave it for you to decide after you’ve tasted it. As for me, I’m quite pleased with how this turned out.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn about subscribing to 52Teas Tea of the Week program here.
Taster’s Review:
I will be honest. I am not a fan of ginger teas. Never have been. I find that the overwhelming flavor of the ginger just hinders the rest of the tea. But that was until I discovered this tea.
At the beginning, this tea had me at the word “Cookie”. I am not a huge cookie fan either but I love trying any tea that has a dessert or baked good flavor and feel to them. This tea came in my last order with 52Teas and was (I believe) a last minute add in.
While I was combing thru my tea stash tonight, I noticed it and thought, I feel adventure some this eve, let’s go with it! I brewed the tea up per the instructions on the package. All the while the tea was steeping, I was enjoying this lovely ginger baked good aroma. This is one of those smells you want to bottle up and put in candle form.
After a few minutes of steeping, I poured myself a really large cuppa and sat down to let the tea cool for a few minutes. (The package indicated to do this). I couldn’t wait the full time it said to wait because the aromas were just mouth watering and I needed a sip.
First impression of this tea? This tea is a muted gingersnap cookie where the flavors are subtle and not overwhelming and smack you in the face. More or less a subtle ginger note surrounding by this cookie almost buttery like flavor. I didn’t pick up any of the Yuzu and to be honest, I had to research the fruit anyway. I guess the fruit is sour so I was glad it was a hidden flavor. I was quite surprised by how I couldn’t pick out the white tea base. Usually with 52Teas, I can always pick up the tea base, but this one I really couldn’t. All I was getting was this lovely light gingersnap cookie tea. I mean this tea made me want to eat a cookie and I can’t tell you the last time I ate a cookie.
Anne from 52Teas has always told me that the second infusion of a white tea is the best so I eagerly prepped my tea kettle up for the second infusion. I let the tea steep for just a minute or two longer before I sat down to enjoy. I instantly starting drinking the tea this time around instead of waiting. Which turned out to be an great decision!
The brew this second go around had a much richer and deeper flavor to it. The ginger was still not overwhelming but the spice wanted your attention. That buttery cookie like undertone was more prominent really giving your taste buds that cookie baked good like flavor. I still didn’t pick up any of the Yuzu or white tea but at this point I really didn’t mind. This tea was amazingly rich and full of flavor. This is one of those teas that wakes up your tastes buds.
I’m eagerly awaiting my third infusion now to see what happens with this round. Can’t believe how much I’m enjoying this tea!
Groot Root Tea from Geeky Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Geeky Teas
Tea Description:
Green tea, natural ginseng flavor and ginger root.
I. Am. Root.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I will admit. . from the beginning, I thought this tea sounded unpleasant. I was fully expecting not to like it just from past experiences with ginseng and ginger root in tea. Those just are not my favorite components so I just had it in my head this wasn’t a tea for me. It sat in my tea stash for a while and the other day, I finally decided it was time to check it out.
Shame on me for judging a tea by its ingredients!
This tea blew me away! It was light, refreshing, soothing, and tasted fantastic! There was a hint of a herbal note to it but really what this tea tasted like was a semi-sweet green tea with a very subtle warming kick of spice. A wonderful way to either start your day, end your day, or an afternoon treat. I was literally sad when I realized the bag was empty. Good thing I have an email in to Geeky Teas about a few teas I’m interested in. Because this one needs to be on the reorder list!
Brewed like a green tea, this tea was just a wonderfully subtle way to enjoy a spiced tea without having an overwhelming amount of spice. I love how the spices were added in carefully without overdoing it yet you still get that nice kick and warmth. A gorgeous take on a slightly grassy yet buttery green tea with a kick. Another wonderful Geeky Teas offering! And who wouldn’t love a tea created for Groot!