Tropical Nut Paradise from Teavana. . . . .

by Sophia

Why is it that I always try a tea, end up loving it, and then it’s nowhere to be found? Always discontinued. That is the worst thing ever. It makes me so sad. However, maybe this Tropical Nut Paradise rooibos blend by Teavana will make an appearance at some point in the future so that all you readers out there can try it. And I do suggest you try it…because it is dang good!

I always like a tea that involves nuts- whether coconut or almond or pistachio nut, i’m down for it. This one happens to involve coconut and hazelnut! As well as pineapple and papaya! I was a little concerned that the pineapple and papaya flavor may take over the cup and cause it to be too fruity or tart. Thankfully that wasn’t the case. This tea is so creamy I second guessed myself as to whether I had added milk or not! I would describe this tea as creamy coconut, with tropical fruit undertones, and a finish of hazelnut and rooibos. It is not overly anything, no ingredient overpowered the other. They all were balanced and in perfect harmony.

I think that this is my favorite rooibos tea I have ever tried! I highly recommend keeping an eye on Teavana’s website to see if/when this comes back in stock, I certainly will!

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Rooibos
Where to Buy: Teavana
Description

This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Sophia

Hi, my name is Sophia. I am a first time mother to a beautiful little girl who will be 1 in July 2017. I spend my days at home with her and when I get a minute to myself, I usually spend that time making, drinking, or researching tea! My love for loose leaf tea is relatively new. When I was pregnant with my daughter, my mother (a tea addict herself) brought me to DAVIDsTEA. I enjoyed a cup of their Coconut Cream Pie Oolong and was instantly hooked! Since then, my addiction has grown to fill entire cabinets, and shows no sign of stopping. I am the creator of the Facebook group CommuniTEA where we have one big tea discussion. It is a great group for those new to the tea-world. I feel strongly about spreading the joy of loose leaf tea. I like making instructional videos and helping those that are new to the art of tea-making so that they, too, can share in the happiness that tea brings. I am excited to see where this hobby takes me and I will continue to spread the joy!

This post was posted in Rooibos, Teavana

Ginger Snap from Pluck Teas. . . .

by VariaTEA

When I see ginger teas, I think lattes. Don’t know why but probably something with the spice and the creaminess that just speaks to me. I mean, people make chai in milk more times than not so following that mindset, I brewed this up as a latte.

There is a strong ginger flavor here. Not much of a kick but the flavor is present as is the cinnamon which sits on the tip of the tongue. The spices are strong and take over the creaminess of the steamed milk. They also work together to create a dark baked good flavor reminiscent of the cookie for which this is named.

This is a flavorful tea, strong spice and accurately named. Personally, I enjoy a ginger snap but only every now and then. I think I would say the same for this tea. It would be nice on a cold, rainy day since it is a warm treat but this isn’t a tea I would reach for each day. Not to mention, I am not sure how this would do without the milk component as I think the spices may just be a bit much for the plain tea.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Black Tea
Where to Buy:  Pluck Teas
Description

Sun dried ginger, cinnamon and notes of caramel feature in this low-caffeine blend of black tea and rooibos.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

VariaTEA

Hey there! My name is Rachel. I’m a twenty-something from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who loves dogs and has a bit of an obsession with tea. As a child I hated the stuff since all I ever knew was Red Rose (no offense to Red Rose). However, a few years ago that all changed. I was on a diet and desperate for new flavors without adding calories and that’s when I turned to tea. I started off by going to DAVIDsTEA and Teavana for all their dessert-inspired flavors, and since I didn’t know any better, I bought 100 grams each of about twenty-something different teas. This was okay for the teas I liked but for those I didn’t I needed to find some way of getting rid of them. Enter Steepster.com. This is where I met some incredible tea friends, discovered tea swaps, and learned of so many amazing tea companies. My desire to try all the teas grew and since joining three years ago I have tried over a thousand different teas. I have learned what ingredients I love and I have learned what flavors I don’t like. I determined my go-to brewing method is Western-style with no added milk or sweeteners, though I also enjoy cold brewing, iced teas, teapops, lattes, and smoothies. I have yet to brew gong-fu style but I hope to do so just as soon as I get the proper teaware to do it. About a year ago, I actually stopped drinking tea but as my stash of over 200 teas started aging I decided I needed to respark my interest. I chose to take a 365 days of tea challenge on Instagram in which I post a new tea picture every day. So far it has been rather successful as I find myself drinking (and buying) more and more tea each day. Plus it enabled CuppaGeek to find me and invite me here to SororiTea Sisters.

This post was posted in Black Tea, Pluck Teas

Lemon Chiffon from The Love Tea Company. . . . .

by VariaTEA

I actually made this about a week ago and I was excited to try it out. In fact, I was especially excited since I recently finished a different Lemon Chiffon tea, my beloved Lemon Chiffon by Della Terra Teas. Now THAT was an awesome tea, silky and rich and ever so sweet, just like a fluffy chiffon cake with a smooth lemon buttercream frosting.

However, it didn’t exactly happen that way since a friend came to visit and stole my mug of this tea. She seemed to enjoy it because she finished all 16 ounces before I could even ask for a taste. Luckily I had just enough leaf left for another 16 ounce mug.

My Della Terra blend was made of lemon flavor, cream flavor, and lemon bits and pieces all atop a rooibos base. Alternatively, The Love Tea Company took a different approach using a blend of rooibos and honeybush, topping it with lemon myrtle, lavender flowers, marigold petals, and natural lemon and pomegranate flavors. A bit more natural. A bit more earthy. Though, not exactly a “chiffon” flavor profile.

This has a lot of lavender flavor, a bit of the floral/spice twang that only comes from true lavender. Now I am not a lavender lover though I will say that it compliments the bright lemon flavor nicely. The base also provides a solid foundation without imparting too much flavor, which allows for the lemon and lavender to stand out.

Is it the replacement I hoped it might be? No. But it is done well for what it is and for those that like these flavors, it could be a lovely nighttime treat.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Rooibos
Where to Buy:  The Love Tea Co
Description

There’s a reason why we call this a brilliant blend.  Remember that Lemon Chiffon cake that Grandma made?  It’s like that, without the cleanup or pinches to your cheek.  A rooibos blend that smells like you could eat it straight out of the jar.   Since it has no caffeine, it’s the perfect compliment to any after dinner treat.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

VariaTEA

Hey there! My name is Rachel. I’m a twenty-something from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who loves dogs and has a bit of an obsession with tea. As a child I hated the stuff since all I ever knew was Red Rose (no offense to Red Rose). However, a few years ago that all changed. I was on a diet and desperate for new flavors without adding calories and that’s when I turned to tea. I started off by going to DAVIDsTEA and Teavana for all their dessert-inspired flavors, and since I didn’t know any better, I bought 100 grams each of about twenty-something different teas. This was okay for the teas I liked but for those I didn’t I needed to find some way of getting rid of them. Enter Steepster.com. This is where I met some incredible tea friends, discovered tea swaps, and learned of so many amazing tea companies. My desire to try all the teas grew and since joining three years ago I have tried over a thousand different teas. I have learned what ingredients I love and I have learned what flavors I don’t like. I determined my go-to brewing method is Western-style with no added milk or sweeteners, though I also enjoy cold brewing, iced teas, teapops, lattes, and smoothies. I have yet to brew gong-fu style but I hope to do so just as soon as I get the proper teaware to do it. About a year ago, I actually stopped drinking tea but as my stash of over 200 teas started aging I decided I needed to respark my interest. I chose to take a 365 days of tea challenge on Instagram in which I post a new tea picture every day. So far it has been rather successful as I find myself drinking (and buying) more and more tea each day. Plus it enabled CuppaGeek to find me and invite me here to SororiTea Sisters.

This post was posted in Rooibos, The Love Tea Company

Macchiato Dream from Steeped Tea. . . . .

by SuperStarling

IIf you’re trying to kick the coffee habit, this tea might be a middle-ground in your transition to tea.

It’s a low-key woodsy rooibos with coffee grounds inside it. You’re still getting those coffee notes, but also some wood notes, and a teensy bit of caramel.

But not a lot of caramel — if that was your selling point, I’m not getting a lot of it here. The description of the tea is “bold caramel flavor with coffee beans”, but I’m getting a much mellower cup.

The woodiness reminds me of clarinet reeds. My clarinet career was a spectacular failure, tea friends. I didn’t just “lack talent.” I was a bumbling, squeaking mess. Toward the end, I flat-out refused to practice because I believed it did no good. I hated every moment. I went down in a blaze of glory.

But I loved a fresh reed. That was a good time. I was constantly replacing those reeds. I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to my parents’ bank account for my reckless financial attitude toward those $2-a-pop reeds. They were the only thing that got me through. And they live in this rooibos.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Rooibos
Where to Buy:  Steeped Tea
Description
Switch from coffee to tea. Bold caramel flavor with coffee beans.
Ingredients: Rooibos tea, cocoa bean bits, coffee beans, natural flavors.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

SuperStarling

"Hey, everybody! I'm Leah, a graphic designer from Pennsylvania, United States. I live with my husband and rescue mutt in a house with colorful walls. I love fonts, colors, animals, flowers, novels, illustration, geeking out, and -- obviously! -- tea. I've only been heavily into tea for about a year, but I've found I tend to prefer loose blended black dessert teas. I normally drink them hot western style without anything added; if I add in some vanilla almond milk or honey, I promise I'll mention it! When I'm not blogging here, I'm blogging at leahlucci.com/starling or posting to Instagram (super_starling), so come say hi!"

This post was posted in Rooibos, Steeped Tea

Lola from Sicilian Tea Co. . . . .

by Mary

*steps up to the mic*

Ahem.

Her name was Lola… she was an herbal tea…

(Wait. Those are totally the wrong lyrics.)

Okay, so we’re not in the Copacabana. But I definitely get that song stuck in my head every time I brew up a pot of this tisane. And why not? It’s sweet, a little sassy, a little spicy– just like any good Lola should be. The licorice in this one plays my favorite trick, eliminating any need for sweeteners, and it balances beautifully with the cinnamon and rooibos.

I wish I could taste the lavender more in this one, but sadly, this Lola just isn’t a very flowery gal. All that aside, this is a lovely herbal when you’re feeling something cozy and comforting with just an hint of oomph.

Barry Manilow would be proud.

Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Herbal
Where to Buy:  Sicilian Tea Co
Description

Lola is a sweet treat that’s safe to have before bedtime. South African Red Rooibos is rich in antioxidants. Organic lavender, licorice root and cinnamon make for a yummy treat (without the guilt).

Brew at least twice to get the most out of your blend.

When brewed as directed, the large tin yields approximately 80+ servings and a small tin yields approximately 16+ servings.

Ingredients: organic and fairly trade red rooibos, organic cinnamon, organic lavender flowers, organic licorice root (to sweeten).

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Mary

Hi there! I'm Mary, a 27-year-old mental health professional living with my fiancé and our quirky kitten in the Midwest! I've loved tea for as long as I can remember-- in fact, I have vivid memory of being four or five in a tea shop and being mesmerized by all the tea flavors and proclaiming that I "was going to be kind of adult who drank tea, not coffee." A stint living (and tea-drinking my way through) London and twenty-some years later, I'm still channeling that sassy four-year-old and loving my tea habit. When I'm not sipping a cuppa, you'll find me reading, doing yoga, traveling, exploring my own city, planning our wedding and experimenting with different healthful and healing foods in my kitchen.

This post was posted in Fruit/Herbal Tisane, Sicilian Tea Company