Tea Review:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Matcha tea is kind of like a super-powered green tea—since you’re ingesting the whole leaf instead of just the brewed beverage, you get up to ten times the antioxidant effect and nutritional value of your standard green. Matcha’s rich in antioxidants, as well as chlorophyll and fiber, and has been found to have natural mood enhancing effects. All in all, matcha’s got no match when it comes to healthy teas.
Taster’s Review:
Just like in my review of Shanti Tea’s Cinnamon Matcha, even though this is labeled as “Cocoa Matcha Latte,” I am choosing not to do this as a “Product Review” as I would with most Latte mixes, because the only ingredients to this blend are Matcha green tea powder and cacao powder. Since it doesn’t contain dry milk, sweeteners or other “latte” like ingredients, I consider this to be more of a flavored Matcha than a latte mix.
After sifting this flavored Matcha, I noticed that the Matcha green tea powder and the cacao powder separated. Interesting. My only explanation (read: guess) for that is that each powder is a different weight and/or size and they separate while sifting. Perhaps someone with a more scientific brain might know the answer. I’m an artist, not a scientist.
This whisks up smooth and lightly frothy… a little light on the froth, but that’s OK. The first thought that came to my head when I took my first sip of this Matcha latte? Ovaltine. This doesn’t have that “hot chocolate-y” kind of flavor that I might have expected. It definitely tastes more like Ovaltine to me, but I am finding it quite delicious, regardless.
It tastes very rich and chocolate-y and the texture is very creamy. There is a slight chalkiness to this, but it is more like that “powdery” sensation you might experience from tasting cocoa powder than the chalkiness you might experience from Matcha. I do recommend sweetening this just a little (I added the tiniest sprinkling of sugar) as the cocoa is an unsweetened, bittersweet cocoa and when combined with the slightly bitter taste of the matcha, I found myself wanting more of a sweet chocolate taste.
I used a 1:1 ratio of hot water and steamed milk to make my latte, and it turned out absolutely wonderful. Sweet and rich with chocolate-y flavor, but without overwhelming the sweet, vegetative Matcha notes. I notice the Matcha flavor more towards the end of the sip and moving into the aftertaste, with the chocolate-y tones presenting themselves more towards the start. It is creamy and very satisfying, and it even satisfies a chocolate craving (yay!)
YUM!
Cinnamon Matcha from Shanti Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green (Matcha)
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Matcha tea is kind of like a super-powered green tea—since you’re ingesting the whole leaf instead of just the brewed beverage, you get up to ten times the antioxidant effect and nutritional value of your standard green. Matcha’s rich in antioxidants, as well as chlorophyll and fiber, and has been found to have natural mood enhancing effects. All in all, matcha’s got no match when it comes to healthy teas.
Taster’s Review:
Although they call this a “Cinnamon Matcha Latte” on the website, I am not doing this as a product review like I would do for most latte mixes, because this really only contains matcha and cinnamon, and it can be easily enjoyed as a flavored matcha or a latte, depending upon the drinker’s preference.
I happened to make this as a latte, using half hot water and half steamed milk. The result is a yummy chawan full of cinnamon-ed Matcha goodness that reminds me a little bit of horchata.
Even though the photo above shows a green-colored powder, the color of this dry powder is brown – looking just like the ground cinnamon you might buy in the spice aisle of your supermarket. It whisks up to a brownish-green, thick, creamy liquid with a light froth on top. This doesn’t whisk up to be quite as frothy as some Matcha, but, it is still pleasantly foamy and rich.
The cinnamon in this offsets that slightly bitter taste of the Matcha very nicely, making a pleasantly sweet, warmly spiced treat that is neither too spicy nor too sweet. It is a satisfying matcha that really energized me! (Although I don’t want to clean the garage or anything, despite the extra energy)
If you like a sweeter latte, try adding a little bit of turbinado sugar and it becomes a cinnamon toast latte! Seriously YUMMY!
White Grapefruit Tea from Shanti Tea
Tea Type:
White Tea
Where To Buy:
Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Leaf Aroma: Citrus
Infusion Aroma: Grapefruit, slightly floral
Infusion Color: Light Amber
Base Flavor: Grapefruit
Infusion Strength: Medium-Light
Tasters Review:
My opinion is…there can never be enough Grapefruit Flavored Teas. But not all of the Grapefruit Flavored teas I have tried have been all that wonderful. Shanti has broke that chain! Their White Grapefruit Tea has perfect white tea and mellow notes of grapefruit…not just the ‘meat’ of the grapefruit but the pith, too. This tea balances the juicy citrus with a hint of bitter to make it taste like true grapefruit!
I wasn’t left wanting after sipping on this one! Thanks Shanti!
Renaissance Black Tea from Shanti Tea
Tea Type:
Black Tea
Where To Buy:
Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Origin: India
Certification: Organic
Ingredients: Tea (Camelia Sinensis)
Tea Oxidation: Black
Tea Leaf Grade: TGFOP
Flush: 2nd flush blendLeaf Aroma: light fruity fragrance, floral
Infusion Aroma: slight malt, floral, sweet
Infusion Color: Amber
Base Flavor: two toned flavor, slight sweetness with malt base
Infusion Strength: Medium
Tasters Review:
I know you aren’t supposed to judge a tea by it’s name…but, I admit…I sometimes do! The name of this one certainly contributed to my overall feelings of this specific tea experience as I am a fan of Renaissance Themed movies, art, stories, history, etc.
Dry – This is malty and ever-so-slight-berry notes trying to hide underneath! It has a very nice aroma!
The color is a reddish-brown.
The taste is sweet and malty with a semi-creamy finish. It has lovely fruity notes lingering onto the aftertaste.
Yet another winner from Shanti! They are ROCKIN’ the Straight-up black teas lately!!!!
Sugar and Spice from Shanti Tea
Tea Type:
Oolong Tea
Where To Buy:
Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Origin: China
Certification: Organic
Ingredients: Tea (Camelia Sinensis), Cloves, Cinnamon, Apple Pieces, Natural Essences
Tea Oxidation: Oolong
Tea Leaf Grade: Loose LeafLeaf Aroma:Smoky, coconutInfusion Aroma: Sweet, spicy, light coconut
Infusion Color: Light Amber
Base Flavor: Sweet coconut, clove aftertaste
Infusion Strength: Medium
Tasters Review:
Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice? When it comes to this flavored Oolong from Shanti Tea…I totally AGREE!
The dry aroma sort of reminds me of caramel candied apples with a hint of cinnamon and orange, perhaps?
Post infusion I can smell the ginger and cinnamon and less of the citrus and fruit.
There is a woodsy yet spicy flavor to it. Underneath that I can taste the cinnamon and ginger more-so when it cools at room temp for a few moments. The ginger and citrus notes draw out well on to the aftertaste.
This is unique….and you know how I LOVE unique! This is a tasty cup!