Bountiful Black Tea from Tea Addiction

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black Tea & Rooibos

Where to Buy:  Tea Addiction

Product Description:

Ingredients: Black tea, rooibos, cacao nibs, coconut, apple, and vanilla flavoring.

A unique blend of coconut scented black tea, smooth rooibos, cacao nibs, vanilla, and apple make Bountiful Black most pleasing to the palate.

The flavor is rich and sumptuous. Trust us when we say you’ll enjoy every delightful sip.

Taster’s Review:

Looking at the dry leaf of this tea, I wouldn’t have guessed that it is a black tea … it looks more like a rooibos blend than a black tea blend.  But, interestingly enough, it tastes more like a black tea blend than a rooibos blend!

In fact, the rooibos are not a strong, distinguished flavor in this blend.  Sure, I am able to discern the flavor of the rooibos, but, it isn’t nearly as apparent as the flavors of black tea, chocolate, coconut and even vanilla.

All of these flavors meld together very seamlessly.  It is difficult to determine where one ingredient ends and another begins.  What I taste is a medley of flavors that is sweet, rich and bold, with notes of chocolate, creamy coconut and vanilla, and a nutty flavor that rests in the background.

This has a sweetness all its own and doesn’t need additions, although if you wish to enhance the creaminess, a splash of milk will do just that.  This is a very decadent treat in a teacup, suitable to serve as a dessert tea, or anytime you’re craving something a sweet indulgence.

Peach White from Tea Addiction

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  White

Where to Buy:  Tea Addiction

Product Description:

100% Organic

Ingredients: Organic white tea, mango fruit, safflower stamens, natural peach flavor.

Beautiful white tea leaves blended with sweet peach flavor and mango bits make this tea unforgettable. If you like white tea, but want it blended with other fruity flavors, then this is the tea for you.

White Peach tea is wonderful hot or cold.

Taster’s Review:

I love this time of year – as the summer draws to a close, and the fruits of summer are ripe and ready to eat!  One of my favorite summer fruits is definitely peaches, I love the mild flavor and the juicy, refreshing taste of this stone fruit.

This white tea captures the flavor of the peach so well.  It tastes fresh and fruity, but it isn’t too sweet.  The white tea is a soft vegetative note in the background.  There is also a slight astringency to the tea that I would like to refer to as a crispness here, because the rest of the sip is so smooth and almost nectar-like, the crisp note from the astringency gives the cup a very well-rounded taste and texture.

In addition to the white tea (it looks like a Bai Mu Dan to me) and peach flavor, there are also small bits of dried mango and safflower blossoms in the blend.  These do not add an immense amount of flavor, but, they do add a hints of flavor.  There is a slight taste of sweet mango-ness, as well as a sharpness from the safflower.  What is nice about this mango note is that it can be tasted, even in the slightest.  I think that if the blend were made with a stronger flavored tea (like a black base) the mango might not be noticeable.  But because the white tea and peach flavors are so delicate, the whisper of mango manages to make its presence known.

I like this one hot or iced – but it being so hot outside, I think I prefer this one iced!  It is light, cooling refreshment – just what I need on a day like this!

Coffee Almond Tea from Tea Addiction

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Tea Addiction

Product Description:

Ingredients: Black tea, roasted chicory root, almond, coffee beans, flavoring.

Are you a fan of both tea and coffee, or are you looking to transition from coffee to tea? If so, you’ll love this new blend of black tea, coffee beans, toasted almonds, and roasted chicory root.

This black tea satisfies like coffee but gives the health benefits of tea. The liquor produced by Coffee Almond Tea has a rich black tea base with a hint of coffee and almond and is great hot or iced.

Taster’s Review:

I wouldn’t consider myself to be a fan of both tea and coffee – although I guess I used to be.  I used to drink coffee every morning, until I realized that it was coffee that was causing my mid-day nausea.  I have since become a somewhat disgruntled ex-coffee drinker.  Truth be told, I do occasionally miss the flavor and aroma of coffee, but I love tea much more than I ever liked coffee.

This tea gives you a little bit of both worlds.

The dry leaf is very attractive, with big slivers of almond and whole coffee beans tossed amongst the black tea leaves and pieces of roasted chicory root.  It smells a little bit like coffee, a little like tea, and a little like almond.

This tastes much better than I thought it would.  Because of my disenchantment with coffee, I expected to really dislike this.  But, it’s actually quite lovely.

The flavor is deep and rich.  The tea flavors are stronger than the coffee, but both beverages can be tasted here.  It has a little bit of bitterness from the coffee, but, it isn’t an unappetizing bitterness.  There is a nice balance between coffee bean and chicory root (which is often used as a coffee substitute because it has a similar flavor) so that the flavor does not become overwhelming.  It doesn’t overpower the tea notes.

If I were to change anything about this particular tea, it would be to increase the almond flavor.  It almost gets lost with the other strong flavors in the cup.  It is a detectable flavor – sweet and nutty – but, I think the tea would be even better with a little more almond taste.

As it is, though, I quite enjoyed it.  I drank it hot with a little bit of turbinado sugar (I have never been a black coffee drinker!)  I also had a cup with a splash of milk to see how it tasted and I think I prefer this one as a latte.  It seems to bring out the almond flavor while lending a creamy texture to the cup!  YUMMY!

Magnolia Oolong from Tea Addiction

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Tea Addiction

Product Description:

Ingredients: Magnolia scented blended oolong leaves.

From the moment the sweet fragrance of magnolia blossoms reach your nose, you’ll sense you’re about to experience something special.

This aromatic Chinese oolong is as pleasing to the palate as it is to the rest of the body.

Oolong teas have long been revered in China due to their health benefits, various characteristics of scent and flavor, and relatively small area in which they can grow, making them harder to obtain then many other teas.

Formally referred to as Wulong Cha, Oolongs are packed full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and are said to assist with weight loss, stress reduction and a healthy heart, skin, and bones.

Taster’s Review:

I love this Oolong.  In fact, I think I prefer magnolia Oolong teas to jasmine Oolong teas – and I LOVE jasmine.

I think what I like best about this Oolong is that the floral approach is so subtle.  It isn’t overwhelming or perfume-y.  It is soft and feminine and very luxurious.

The Oolong is silky smooth and has a surprisingly light mouthfeel.  It doesn’t overwhelm the palate with a buttery tone – which I do like but I am finding the lack of it to be very refreshing.  No bitterness to the tea, just sweet, soft floral notes and one of the most pleasant Oolong teas I’ve tasted.

If you are someone who is interested in floral teas but find jasmine to be just a little too overpowering for your taste, try magnolia.  It is less common than jasmine and therefore a bit more difficult to find.  But you really needn’t go looking for it, because I’ve found it at Tea Addiction!

Earl Grey Lavender from Tea Addiction

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Tea Addiction

Product Description:

Ingredients: Blended black tea, lavender, jasmine, and flavoring.

Is the stress of life getting to you?

Enjoy a cup of Earl Grey Lavender with its relaxing lavender scent and flavor. The beautiful purple flowers are said to ease headaches, insomnia, and stress. The addition of jasmine flowers is thought to relieve stress, elevate the mood, and aid in digestion. This steep is definitely not the typical Earl Grey!

Taster’s Review:

As the above description suggests, this is not the typical Earl Grey – but it is an excellent Earl Grey!  Superb!

When I opened the package, my nose was greeted with the beautiful fragrance of bergamot, lavender and a hint of jasmine.  I did not expect to see so many flower blossoms and petals in the tin – this is definitely a tea that you need to shake gently before opening to redistribute the flowers evenly throughout the tea.  A small amount of effort to exert for one of the very best lavender flavored Earl Grey teas I’ve ever tasted!

The black tea flavor is pleasantly brisk and offers a nice background flavor.  While it lends its strong flavor to the cup, it seems perfectly content to allow the flavors to really come through and express themselves fully.

The lavender is strong, but it doesn’t overpower the blend.  Instead, it is masterfully balanced with the bergamot, giving just enough of its flavor to the bergamot to accent some of the flowery notes of the fruit.  I can also taste a hint of the jasmine.  It isn’t a strong jasmine presence but that little note of jasmine adds a very interesting dimension to the cup.

As I’ve already eluded to, this is a well-balanced cup.  The bergamot does not try to overwhelm the lavender just as the lavender does not overpower the bergamot.  And somehow, the addition of the flowery flavors not only enhances the flowery taste of the bergamot, but, it also allows the citrus flavors to shine through.

The overall cup is sweet, feminine and juicy!  I love this!