The weather is quickly cooling down and though I am glad to see the humid days behind me, I am going to miss not having to walk a half hour in the freezing wind to get to/from campus. In light of this conflict over the weather, I went with a hot/spicy tea that also has a tropical vibe, Hot Mama Jama by Bird and Blend Tea Co.
This tea is a Chinese green tea blended with lemongrass, lime leaves and pieces (large pieces at that), chili seeds, hibiscus, rosehip, apple pieces, orange peel, passion fruit pieces, mango pieces, and flavoring. I steeped it for 3 mins in 175F water and I am drinking it plain.
The chili has a strong scent as I lift the mug to take a sip and though the flavor is definitely present in the cup, I wouldn’t say this tea is particularly spicy. Instead I get the flavor of chili upfront and a tiny bit of warmth in the back of my throat throughout the sip. That chili flavor melts into a (mostly tropical) fruity flavor that comes out exceptionally sweet in contrast. Sweet but not cloying. The lemongrass can be more prominent than I like at times but mostly there is just a bright citrus note thanks to the lime and orange. I also definitely get a lot of mango with some bursts of passion fruit here and there. The foundation flavor here keeping everything grounded and underlying the entire sip is the familiar hibiscus/rosehip flavor that is found in so many fruity teas/tisanes. Thankfully it is not strong here as it typically is.
This makes me think of a mango sprinkled with chili powder as the two flavors are both present and compliment each other just as well in tea form as they do when enjoying that treat. With that said, this isn’t necessarily the highest quality tea or the best tea but it is unique and tasty. It is the type of tea that I can enjoy every now and then because it is something different than my usual go-tos.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Bird and Blend Tea Co
Description
Turn up the chilli tea heat and join the tropical carnival with a cup of Hot Mama Jama chilli green tea. But be warned… this blazing remix of refreshing reggae limes and calypso chilli beats will have your taste buds dancing all night long.
Hot Mama Jama is well-loved by our fans in the Brighton Gospel Choir for its amazing abilities to soothe a sore throat. It is the ultimate sore throat tea and when you mix it up with lemon and honey, see sore throat tea recipe it is the best natural remedy for a sore throat that you can find!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Green Tea Masala Chai/Vahdam Teas
I have been seeing Vahdam Tea in the news lately and thought a spicy cup of chai would settle me right in for the night.
This isn’t your traditional black tea boiled with water and milk and heavily sugared. This is a fine darjeeling green with cardamom (YUM!), cinnamon, and clove. When I pour the dry leaves out to investigate them, it LOOKS like black tea, but don’t be fooled. Darjeeling tastes best to me prepared with slightly lower temperature water and a short steep to keep astringency low. If you like very brisk tea, increase your temp and time.
The green darjeeling is a tad brisk. The long boiling time of traditional chai makes the tea strong and bitter or astringent, and that is why milk and sugar are added, and a good dollop of milk, too! I am not adding anything to this, though, and it is enjoyable just as it is. The spices are at a great level for me. I have never been a fan of chai made with tons of black peppercorns, and I really feel that the cardamom and cinnamon lead the spices in this one. The scent of the dry leaves and the steeped tea is scrumptious.
And it is working! The strong flavors of the tea are keeping my cravings at bay and I don’t feel deprived at all.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Vahdam Teas
Description
A superior green tea blend with the finest, aromatic Indian spices for a unique Chai experience!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
DelightPho/Millie’s Savory Teas. . . .
I’ve had this little packet of savory, broth-esque tea sitting on my desk at work for MONTHS, friends. Months, just waiting, with the knowledge that someday, I’d be feeling under the weather, and someday, this is exactly what I’d want.
Well– it came. I’m coughing and sneezy and feeling generally woozy, but good enough (and not-contagious enough) to be at work. As soon as I sat down at my desk, I knew I’d be brewing up a cuppa this beauty for a little mid-morning pick-me-up. I’ve tried a few Millie’s savory teas before, and have always been impressed by the amount of flavor in those tiny tea bags. This play on pho was no exception!
My tea brewed up dark and deliciously, with tons of incredible umami flavor, almost like I was slurping down a delicious cup of pho at my favorite Vietnamese restaurant. And those sniffles? Maybe they’re not completely eradicated, but the hot water was soothing on my throat, and I swear my sinuses opened up some. When it’s not feasible to drink a cup of soup during your morning meeting on a sick-y day, THIS is where it’s at.
My desk stash is now sadly depleted of any Millie’s flavors, but I’ll absolutely be stocking up for future icky-sicky days. Delight-pho, indeed!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Millie’s Savory Teas
Description
This Delight Pho is a hearty blend of onions, basil, spicy red peppers, spices & decaf green tea. Steep one broth bag in 6 to 8 ounces of hot water for two minutes. Winner Fancy Food Show Outstanding Hot Beverage of the Year.
INGREDIENTS VEGETABLE BLEND (CARROTS, CELERY, ONION, TOMATO, SPINACH, BELL PEPPER), YEAST EXTRACT, SEA SALT, RICE HULL FIBER, BASIL, GARLIC, LIME, DECAF GREEN TEA, VINEGAR
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Spiced Cucumber Melon from 52Teas . . . . .
If you were a teenage girl in the 90s-2000s (raises hand), there’s not a doubt in my mind that at some point, you owned a bottle of cucumber melon body splash. (Am I right, or am I right?) When I spotted this tea in my sample pile, my mind immediately jumped to that infamous, chemically-fresh scent of my adolescence.
Luckily, upon first sniff, I’m totally blown away– in the best way possible. There’s hints of the true cucumber-melon notes from the scent we’ve all come to know and love, but authentically, not chemically and fake at all. Underneath the bright freshness of the fruit and veg notes are hints of spice and vegetal green.
Brewed, the same notes come out– crisp, fresh and fruity, but a red pepper kick on the back end that is unexpected and delightful. I get a hint of bitterness from the green at the end of the sip when hot, but that bitterness all but disappears as a cold brew, which is a refreshing and unique treat.
All in all, this tea is such a fun, delicious throwback-with-a-twist to my tweenager days. Ow, to throw on my crushed velvet Blossom hat, blast some Ace of Base, and brew another cup!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for the teas that are.