Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: ChaTale
Tea Description:
This debonair drop has all the smooth buttery goodness of an oolong base with a slick creamy aftertaste.
Support Cha Tea’s Kickstarter campaign here.
Taster’s Review:
I have to start off this review with a comment about the logo and packaging for these teas. They are fantastic! The logo is clean and they use colors that draw you in and are so very attractive. It is the first thing I noticed about their teas.
ChaTale currently has an active kickstarter campaign running thru December 13. They originate out of the UK and seem to know what they are doing when it comes to tea. ChaTale will be offering a monthly tea subscription box hoping to steer consumers away from the tea bag and more into loose leaf tea. That alone makes me happy!
I couldn’t wait to dive into the box and see what fun teas await me. The first one that caught my eye was the Milk Oolong. I mean the description alone makes you drool!
Brewed this up like I do my oolongs with water at about 195 deg or so for around 4 minutes. The whole time the tea was steeping, gorgeous vanilla notes were wafting thru the air. The fragrance almost reminds me of homemade sugar cookies. . . . and who doesn’t love that smell?
Took my first sip and I am greeted with this amazingly smooth creamy flavor with just a hint of sweetness. This tea is charming and cozy giving you that feeling that you just want to snuggle up with a good movie or a good book. So very good and addicting! I’m loving the smooth flavor that delivers from beginning to end of each sip. You couldn’t ask for a better oolong on a cold rainy day like it is here today. Rich, creamy, and smooth with a sweetness that really just reminds you of home baked cookies. Yum! Delicious!
I think I need to go back this one on Kickstarter!
Product Review: Muse Monthly Subscription Box
Tea Information:
Where to find the tea: Mt. Hood Vanilla from Townsend’s Tea
Where to Subscribe: Muse Monthly
Description:
As the only subscription box of its kind, Muse Monthly delivers a unique experience for lovers of literature and tea. Every month, you will get a new novel and a full box or tin of tea on your doorstep! So go ahead and curl up, let go of all your stresses, and enjoy.
Taster’s Review:
When I heard of Muse Monthly’s Kickstarter from a thread on Steepster, I nearly fell over in my chair. Muse Monthly has somehow managed to combine my three loves – Books, Tea, and Kickstarters. I was so happy to see them succeed, even more happy to receive my first box. I couldn’t wait to dig in. The kickstarter tier I got included the stretch goal goodies, as well as a three month subscription. This month is a great beginning; the tea is Mt. Hood Vanilla from Townsend’s tea and the novel is Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller.
The tea that comes in the subscription is a full sized tin (2.25 oz!) of Townsends tea’s Mt. Hood Vanilla. Which sounds absolutely delicious. I love vanilla black teas and I am always searching for the right one. I have only had Townsend’s Kombuchas and diving into their loose leaf teas is pretty exciting. (My man’s all time favorite kombucha is their Spiced Apple Kava,) Upon opening the tin, I get a heady whiff of vanilla beans and robust Indian tea. It reminded me of the vanilla bean scones offered at Starbucks that I used to be obsessed with. Brewing up the tea I discovered the creamy vanilla in the forefront, slightly sweet, pairing excellently with the bold and rich Ceylon tea. Although I would not recommend it iced, the vanilla turns a bit sour and candy sweet, harshly contrasting the bold black base. Mt. Hood Vanilla is an excellent tea to drink hot while reading about Peggy and her father in Our Endless Numbered Days, and a perfect breakfast cuppa.
The book is highly recommended from me as well. Our Endless Numbered days was the first book Ina long time that I have not been able to put down. As much as I wish I could tell you truthfully, I regret to say that I don’t read as much as I used to. I would devour a book a week if I could. Not so much anymore. I think before getting Muse Monthly’s box in the mail, I had 1 book on my kindle that I have been intermittently reading for about three months. I think that Claire Fuller’s story is a great jumping off point for me to get the ball rolling and begin reading in earnest. I easily finished the story in two days and began to wonder, ‘what else?’ I thought it was well written and an excellent choice for this ‘book club.’
In all, I would highly recommend checking out Muse, mostly if you are one of those ‘bookish types’. (As my father used to say to me) At first I balked at the size of the tea, I can really see it piling up after a while. Although, the price is right for the amount of tear and the book bundled together. The feel of carefully hand selected combinations is invaluable touch. I loved doing this, and cannot wait for the next two moths. This is an easy, and great way to curl up with a good book and an even better cup of tea!
White Lemon Lime Iced Tea by Southern Boy Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Southern Boy Teas
Tea Description:
Here’s our sweet, hay-like organic shou mei white tea fannings paired with the delicious tartness of organic lemon and lime flavors. It might not be as complicated as some of our other tea blends, but it will definitely put a smile on your face.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about SBT’s monthly subscription here.
Taster’s Review:
I have been on such an SBT kick. I started cold brewing tea and am completely obsessed with it. And what is the easiest way to cold brew teas- Southern Boy Teas!
So during the last sale, I stocked up. And I went through these awesome iced tea pouches quick! This is one of the ones that I instantly said “Yep” and threw it in my cart.
Last night threw this one in my pitcher, added water, and into the fridge it went. This morning I poured myself a huge glass of it, threw some ice in it, and underwent my morning routine of taking my kids to school.
I was hoping this would be one that I would fall completely 100% in love with . . .but alas no. This tastes like a solid white tea. That part I love. It has that delicate touch to it. The part I am not 100% on is the lime. I really didn’t pick up any of the lemon at all. Just lime. And it is more of a tart lime. A bold lime. A hit you in the face sort of lime. Which is fine, but I really wanted that lemon lime taste. I stopped drinking soda about 6 months ago and Diet Sprite or Diet Sierra Mist I still crave. I was hoping this would take the place of those cravings and help me with my sweet tooth when I have those cravings. Maybe if I tried again or if I brewed it up hot, maybe the lemon would come out more. I’m sure if I played around with it, they would. Or if I added in some sugar. That might help too.
This is delicious if you are looking for a lime tea with a delicate white tea base or finish. Don’t get me wrong, this is very tasty. Just not what my little ol heart was wanting at the time.
Bananas! from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Lots of people have commented on our banana tea blends in the past. We’ve used banana in a few blends inspired by banana pudding, bananas foster and even banana bread, but I thought this week we would really go bananas and just go with an all out banana tea. We’ve blended our Pettaiagala Extra Long Leaf OP black tea from Sri Lanka with real freeze-dried bananas and organic banana flavors, and this, my friends, is bananatacular! It’s bananaramic! It’s enough to leave you humming the Batman theme–“Nana nana nana nana nana nana… Batman!”
Subscribe to 52Teas Tea of the Week Program here.
Taster’s Review:
Can say Banana Pudding? Wow. This smells just like Banana Pudding. Like the kind you would have during a family get together. You can even see the banana chips in the blend. This just smells so good! I’m now officially singing the Batman theme.
Now it is time for the test. Liberteas had already informed me to let this cool. So I did. And made an iced tea out of this.
This tea may be one of the best I’ve had from 52Teas/Zoomdweebies. Creamy Banana Pudding. Wow. I can find nothing negative to say about this and am creeping on the site now to see if there is any left. No artificial flavors here. Just smooth rich sweet creamy banana flavors that really mingle well with the black tea base.
Might just need to place an order. Insert me taking a sip here. Need to place an order. Insert me taking another sip. Yeah. . .Have to place an order. Must try this a a latte.
If you are looking for a banana tea like I have been, this will take care of any craving you may have. I am impressed.
Ana’s Green Tea from Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
This tea is available from Amoda Tea.
Tea Description:
Looking for a flavourful green tea? This signature green tea of Nepali Tea Traders starts from tea bushes high in chlorophyll content, making the tea steeping in your cup a pleasing vibrant green (and an extra healthy brew!). This is a great example of a premium tea grown at high altitude. It’s smooth to sip and tastes fresh, lightly vegetal and sweet to finish.
Learn more about subscribing to Amoda Tea here.
25% of profits from our Nepal teas will be donated to the ‘Nepali Tea’ Restoration Fund for earthquake relief. Learn more here.
Taster’s Review:
This tea – Ana’s Green Tea from Nepali Tea Traders – is the last tea left for me to try from Amoda Tea’s box for May. And I must say I’m really pleased with this tea! It’s quite lovely!
The flavor is light and refreshing. There is a delicate vegetal/grassy note reminiscent of lightly buttered green beans. It’s sweet but not overly so. It has a smooth character with a slightly tangy astringency toward the tail.
It’s a very invigorating cup of tea – I feel like I can feel the tension of the day melt away each time I take a sip and I start to feel my energy renew and I have an overall sense of calm as I continue to drink this tea.
And it’s good for a couple of infusions too! I steeped this tea three times and enjoyed each infusion to the last drop! I found that the later infusions were stronger in flavor than the first and there was a bit more astringency to the second cup compared to the first – but it was still quite enjoyable.
This is the kind of tea that you want to drink when you just want to sit back and forget about the stresses of the day and enjoy a delightfully good tea.
