I usually drink loose leaf tea so I pulled out this sample teabag with low expectations…until I had the bag in my hands. It felt fat and crunchy! I could tell the leaves were big and whole, and decided to steep this in an infuser so I could have a good look at it. I tore it open and that’s when I saw that there was more than just tea in the bag! There were also coarse grains of sugar. Looking up the company online, I saw that they specialize in teas blended with handcrafted sweeteners and mine just happens to be a maple sugar. SUH-WEET! (Literally and figuratively.) What a great choice to go with brekkie today!
It brews up to a hearty cup. I was concerned it might be too sweet for me since I don’t usually add any sugar to my tea, but it wasn’t. The sugar doesn’t take away from the delicious flavor of the tea at all, and this is a good quality tea right here! It makes a 10-12 ounce cup or mug of tea, whereas most teabags only promise you a decent six ounces.
I often resteep my leaves so I gave that a try. The second steep of these leaves had about as much color and flavor as the first, with just a drop in the sweetness level. You could easily combine the two steeps and have a fantastic pot of breakfast tea for two, and the sugar level would still be enough for folks like me.
I am impressed by the quality of these leaves. It is a great on-the-go tea if you want a little sugar in your cup but the convenience of a teabag without sacrificing quality of the leaf. The black tea itself is hearty with fruity notes, certainly a bold enough flavor for a good wake up.
Great job, Embrew!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Embrew
Description
This sweet, robust black tea from Nepal is double-roasted resulting in sophisticated cocoa and molasses flavors. We’ve added pure granulated maple syrup from a family farm at the base of Mount Mansfield, Vermont to round out the cup.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Peep Crispies from A Quarter To Tea. . . .
I have one, very important rule about Easter candy: Peeps. Must. Be. Stale.
Now. I understand that this is a very divisive stance. Statistically, about 50% of you right now are probably nodding in impassioned agreement, thinking “of COURSE! What other way is there to eat them?!” and the other 50% of you are probably sharpening your pitchforks and chanting “off with her head!”
Okay. So maybe not *quite* that impassioned. But little did I know that there was even room for another rule in the world of Peeps: they should be brewed. As a tea. And sipped often.
I know. You’re thinking I’ve lost my mind– and I promise, I’m not actually sticking sugary marshmallows into cups of tea and waiting for them to melt (because that sounds like a sticky mess)– but with this green blend from A Quarter to Tea, I may as well be for as delightfully spot-on as this flavor is. A green genmaicha with toasty, popped rice, marshmallow root, and adorably bright sprinkles, this tea is maybe a little bit closer to a toasted (dare I say it– or even a stale) peep than a fresh & puffy, right-out-of-the-package little guy, but if that’s even close to sounding tasty to you, you must give this one a try. All of the seasonal delight with so much less of the high fructose corn syrup and neon-colored sugar dusting. I’ll be sipping this one long after Peter Rabbit has finished his seasonal duties and left for summer vacation.
Now, there’s only one thing left to do– leave the bag open for a few days and see if peeps tea is as good stale as the actual marshmallows. Can’t hurt, right? 😉
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
A toasted marshmallow delight with roasty genmaicha, marshmallow, and brightly colored sprinkles
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Summer Sangria (Now Champagne Sangria) from The NecessiTeas
I’ve been saddened by so many teas claiming to mimic a favorite food, then failing. But not here! This tea is a WINNER!
This blend, originally called “Summer Sangria” and now titled “Champagne Sangria,” is made of white tea, orange peel, blackberries, red cornflower petals, marigold petals, natural and organic flavors.
I tried this tea chilled, and found it delightful. There’s something in here that really does taste like wine. This is 100% a sangria — minus the headache!*
* Am I the only one here who takes one sip of wine, gets a headache, and falls fast asleep on someone’s couch?
What a sweet little champion. This one’s going on my wish list for this summer…
… If summer ever comes. This tea is totally rubbing it in that there are times of the year that are better.
I have no idea what Punxsutawney Phil said this year, but I’m still holding him solely responsible for this dreary Pennsylvania weather.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: The NecessiTeas
Description
Enjoy a unique champagne-based sangria with light citrus and sweet fruit notes of cherry, blackberry and orange that will captivate you, and then the undertones of the bubbly will linger on the tongue with a mellow acidity. It will “tea”se you with the taste of a white wine sangria on a summer’s day.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Sugar Plum Tea from The Tea Can Company. . . . .
Sugar Plum Tea from The Tea Can Company smells AMAZING! Sugar and plums – folks! Sugar and plums! I could see a nice sized square chunk of fruit in the see-thru silken bag. Impressive!
Ceylon Black Tea, Stevia Leaves, Dried Strawberry, Mango, and Hibiscus are the ingredients to Sugar Plum Tea from The Tea Can Company. I must have located the mango when I was looking! I didn’t see much of the hibiscus which was totally fine by me!
As for the flavor once infused – I do have to say the Stevia was hepped-up! If you are sensitive to Stevia see if a friend could drink the first cup for you! Remember…tea between friends is ALWAYS a nice idea!
So…me being up front about the high level of Stevia flavor isn’t a slam just an observation. I’m not overly fond of Stevia but but I’m not against it either. I know of people who have ups and downs about the natural sweetener tho. Having said that…the 2nd infusion knocked down that intensity of Stevia quiet a bit and that may be more your speed. Either way – what I am saying is – that you have options, here! Sugar Plum Tea from The Tea Can Company is a diverse cuppa!
Other than the Stevia – the mango, strawberry, and hibiscus all seem to blend together to create a newly discovered flavor combo of its own! I’m VERY thankful it wasn’t all about the hibiscus here! Kudos for that! This trio of ingredients that make it’s own flavor and swim underneath the Stevia flavor makes for a super sweet, sugary, fruity cuppa!
had a hot cup and thought this was pretty good with the first infusion. The 2nd infusion was even better! And the cold version of this is even better than that! So after much contemplation I have decided this is a ‘good-better-best’ sipping situation and I’m VERY pleased I was able to sample Sugar Plum Tea from The Tea Can Company! It was certainly ‘sugar plum-esque’!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: The Tea Can Company
Description
Description: A holiday blend of fruity tea that is sure to be enjoyed all year long.
Ingredients: Ceylon Black Tea, Stevia Leaves with Dried Strawberry, Mango and Hibiscus, Contains Caffeine
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Vanilla from Adagio Teas. . . . .
This tea reminds me of how cookie dough tastes before the chocolate chips get added. Sort of a brown sugar and vanilla flavor. Very cozy and warm and soft.
If you’re going for a kick in the pants, this isn’t it. But if you want a nice morning cup that you could sip in between, say, crocheting booties for children, this would be just the thing.
I have a variety of scenarios this would be right for:
– Drinking while wearing toe socks on a glassed-in porch while it’s snowing
– Handing to someone who just came in from skiing
– Slurping during a This Old House marathon
– Imbibing while browsing a library (IN A SPILL-PROOF CONTAINER, GUYS; RESPECT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY)
– Quaffing (drinking) while getting ready for a girls’ night — while playing Adele really loud, obviously
– Downing at the dog park from a thermos while you pray your dog does not get fresh with the other dogs
– Draining while you choose a Christmas tree and watch your partner cut it down (you couldn’t possibly help — you’re drinking tea)
– Partaking in bed, scrolling through friends’ Instagram party-pics, being grateful you are not wearing heels, makeup, or Spanx on this lovely night Comfort is, simply, the name of this tea’s game.
This is tea is the epitome of hygge.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
According to the International Ice Cream Association, Vanilla is by far the most popular flavor, getting a full 23% of all ice cream consumption. Inspired by this love, Adagio created Vanilla Black Tea, combining the rich, warm, sugar aroma of vanilla with bright Ceylon black tea. Soothing, sweet and very ‘beany’ vanilla fragrance, like warm sugar cookies made with fresh vanilla beans.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!