Earl Grey Enchantment from Talbott Teas

by liberteas

Tisane Information:

Leaf Type:  Rooibos

Where to Buy:  Talbott Teas

Tisane Description:

Your own private renaissance, this delightful twist on the English classic opens your eyes to endless possibilities. A delicately aromatic, naturally caffeine-free rooibos tea made with bergamot orange essence and blue cornflower blossoms.

Ingredients
All natural premium ingredients: rooibos, cornflower petals & bergamot flavor.

Learn more about this tisane here.

Taster’s Review:

As much as I love Earl Grey and its many variations on this classic tea blend, I tend to find myself skeptical of bergamot flavored rooibos blends.  Perhaps that’s because I’m not as fond of rooibos as I am of other tea/tisane bases, and I worry that the flavor of the rooibos is going to interfere with my beloved bergamot.

But that doesn’t happen with this Earl Grey Enchantment from Talbott Teas.  The rooibos flavor is there, but, it is not a strong or overwhelming flavor, and it doesn’t throw off the bergamot flavor.  It has a soft nutty flavor in the background, with a sweetness that offers a compelling contrast to the tangy citrus tones of the bergamot.

In fact, this tastes suprisingly quite a bit like an Earl Grey tea … even without the black tea base.  It doesn’t have that deep, rich flavor of the black tea, of course, but, the rooibos provides some earthiness to the background to offer a solid flavor.  This doesn’t taste thin or wispy.  It’s quite satisfying, and that’s something I don’t often say about rooibos!

Very well done, Talbott Teas!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Earl Grey, Rooibos

Field of Purple Flowers from Talbott Teas

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Talbott Teas

Product Description:

Whether it’s ancient wisdom from the Japanese Sencha or the stopping power of the roses and purple mallow flowers, this peach of a green tea makes it easy to appreciate all that you have.

All natural premium ingredients: Full-leaf Japanese Sencha green tea, purple mallow flowers, peach bits, rose petals, peach flavor.

Taster’s Review:

Even though it is now fall, and I am thoroughly enjoying all the autumnal flavors … I still occasionally take time to enjoy flavors that remind me of spring and summer.  Today, I am sipping on Field of Purple Flowers … and it is evoking beautiful images of summer.  It has such a beautiful, harmonious taste:  bright like the summer sun, and sweet like the freshest summer fruit.

The green tea is the strongest flavor.  It tastes crisp and light, with a hint of grassiness to it.  Not a bitter grassy taste, but more of a sweet hint of greenery. The peach is a very subtle note; subtle, but effective.  It is sweet and fruity without overthrowing the gentle balance of this cup.

The floral notes offer a pleasant contrast to the tea.  Again, not a strong flavor, but more of a whisper of sweet flowery taste.

This is one of those teas that make for a perfect afternoon tea.  It would be nice for a garden party, perhaps, even if it’s just a tea party for one!  This one is also quite tasty iced!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Green Tea

Caramel Sundae Escape from Talbott Teas

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Talbott Teas

Product Description:

You ease into the first sip. Real caramel. You slide into the second. Real cocoa. With the addition of milk and sugar, you instinctively reach for a spoon.

Taster’s Review:

A sundae for breakfast?  Sure, why not?  This tea lets you enjoy your sundae any time of the day … guilt free!

The aroma of the tea is not as pronounced as I thought it would be; but the rich, delicious flavor of the tea more than makes up for the weak scent.  The first thing I taste is the tea – and since I am drinking tea and not hot chocolate or caramel, that is just the way it should be.

The black tea base is a pleasant tasting tea, brisk and smooth without being too assertive.  It melds seamlessly with the cocoa notes.  The caramel is sweet and the note of vanilla in the tea gives the burnt-sugar caramel an irresistible creaminess.

With this combination of flavors – the creamy vanilla, the rich chocolate, the sweet caramel – this really tastes like a sundae.  Not one of those fast-food sundaes, but one of those amazing sundaes from an ice cream shop.  All that’s missing is the cherry on top!  This is a perfect dessert for tea lovers.

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Black Tea

Clara’s Tea from Talbott Teas

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Rooibos

Where to Buy:  Talbott Teas

Product Description:

You’re all dressed up for a magical tea party, and Clara from The Nutcracker has brought her favorite caffeine-free blend. Add milk and sugar to the real strawberries and rose petals, and the dancing will never end!

Ingredients
All natural premium ingredients: Rooibos, strawberry pieces, rose petals, blue cornflowers petals, natural vanilla and strawberry flavors.

Taster’s Review:

What a pretty blend!  Thin rooibos bits with colorful flowers and pieces of dried strawberry.  It’s lovely enough to brew in a glass teapot, and it brews to a nice, deep ruby color.  This is a tea that is fit for a little girl’s tea party!

This is a tasty blend.  I really didn’t think I’d like it after I strained it into my cup, because I could see how thick the hibiscus had made it.  And I admit my first sip was a little tart – a little too tart for my personal liking.  However, I found that a spoonful of sugar (can’t you hear Mary Poppins singing in your head now?) fixed this right up and made it not only drinkable, but nice and tasty!

The sweetening also helped the strawberry and vanilla flavors to really come to life in the teacup.  The flavor of the rooibos is not very noticeable with the strong strawberry and vanilla flavors, as well as the flavor of the hibiscus.  But that’s alright with me, because I’m not over-the-moon for the flavor of rooibos anyway.

The overall cup is sweet-tart and very kid-friendly since it has no caffeine.  And check out the cute packaging!  It’s even kid-friendly!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Rooibos

Steamy Cinnamon Rose from Talbott Teas

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Talbott Teas

Product Description:

Full-leaf black tea with cinnamon, orange peel and rose petals.

Taster’s Review:

Wow!  This one is a keeper!  Definitely one of the best ones I’ve tried from Talbott thus far.

The balance of flavors here is so nice.  When I first received a sampling of it I thought “Oh, cinnamon and rose.  OK.”  Because, well, I have a similar blend of my own (which is rose, vanilla and cinnamon), so I thought this would taste very familiar to me.  I was wrong!

The orange and clove is a nice addition.  The orange perks up the overall flavor without overwhelming the other flavors, and I like the way the orange and the rose work together – it’s not a flavor combination I would have thought of, but they really taste great together.  The cloves enhance the flavor of the cinnamon so that the cup doesn’t come across as too “spicy-hot” cinnamon-y.

But what would a tea be without the tea?  The black tea base here is a smooth, bright black tea that is not overly aggressive.  It has a very even taste to it and a medium astringency that lightly “pats” the palate dry in the finish.  The aftertaste leaves lingering notes of cinnamon and rose and a faint citrus tang.

A very pleasant tea to sip.  One that would make a fabulous Valentine’s Day gift for the tea lover in your life!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Black Tea