When I see ginger teas, I think lattes. Don’t know why but probably something with the spice and the creaminess that just speaks to me. I mean, people make chai in milk more times than not so following that mindset, I brewed this up as a latte.
There is a strong ginger flavor here. Not much of a kick but the flavor is present as is the cinnamon which sits on the tip of the tongue. The spices are strong and take over the creaminess of the steamed milk. They also work together to create a dark baked good flavor reminiscent of the cookie for which this is named.
This is a flavorful tea, strong spice and accurately named. Personally, I enjoy a ginger snap but only every now and then. I think I would say the same for this tea. It would be nice on a cold, rainy day since it is a warm treat but this isn’t a tea I would reach for each day. Not to mention, I am not sure how this would do without the milk component as I think the spices may just be a bit much for the plain tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Pluck Teas
Description
Sun dried ginger, cinnamon and notes of caramel feature in this low-caffeine blend of black tea and rooibos.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Akiya Estate Arunachal Pradesh FTGFOP (CL – SPL) – 2016 from Capital Teas Limited. . . .
I would describe today’s tea (Akiya Estate Arunachal Pradesh FTGFOP 2016) as “juicy.” It has a plum/nectarine vibe to it like someone stealthed a little bit of Goya fruit juice in there. It’s a straight black, which makes this a delightful surprise. The flavor is bright & perky, like the appearance of the tea itself (golden tipped leaves, much lighter than the average black).
I think this tea would be a good introduction to straight blacks. I, too, once feared the straight tea. How could it be so complex and interesting as everyone says? Are they cray-cray or something?
Liking straight tea has not classed up my personality whatsoever. I’m wearing a sweater with a cartoon fox illustration on it. My desk has three stuffed animals (Grumpy Cat, Pikachu, Deadpool), three action figures (Captain America, Winter Soldier, Mystique), and a Dog-A-Day calendar on it. There are also two sarcastic pen-mugs, one of which says “CAPTAIN OF INDUSTRY,” and the other of which says “CUSTOMER SERVICE WEEK.” I also have a Penn State Nittany Lion Lego-compatible mini-figure hot-glued to my lamp.
My point here is that this tea — like many straight teas — is not un-approachable. You can feel free to try it. Explore it. Get in there and see if you can taste those mysterious Other Flavors. Much like alligator allegedly “tastes like chicken,” this tea “tastes like juice.” Get on board!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Capital Tea Limited
Description
Exceptional quality golden tipped leaves from and esteemed tea maker in Arunachal Pradesh near Assam. These leaves produce an incredibly well rounded and sweet tasting medium bodied tea liquor with complex malty flavour notes and with stone fruit-like overtones
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Coconut Oolong from Zen Tea. . . .
This is my second time swapping with the same person. Its funny because we have very similar tastes and I’ve quite enjoyed almost every tea I have been sent. This time around I admittedly asked for a few that I had previously tried because they were just so good. But, this Coconut Oolong is a new one. I have loved coconut my whole life. I actually have pretty cool memories of drilling into whole coconuts in the garage with my stepdad so I could drink the water and eat the flesh. I also had an obsession with pina coladas (virgin) as a kid…and you know what, even as an adult i’ll enjoy one poolside on vacation. Anyways, I have tried my fair share of coconut teas. I’ve now tried two coconut teas that contained oolong as a base and I definitely liked both of them.
As for Coconut Oolong by Zen, it smelled like suntan lotion. That may sound bad but its not! I just mean that the coconut smell was very strong and pleasant and summery. The taste of coconut was not as strong as the smell. It was rather light but still with a creamy undertone. Oolong is a cross between black tea and green tea. Depending on how it is made, sometimes it can taste more like black and other times it can taste closer to green…of course there are also times were it tastes like something all its own. In this instance it tastes closer to green tea in my opinion, with a slight floral undertone. I often prefer green to black especially when coconut is involved, so I like it a lot. My only negative opinion on this blend would be that I would have liked some coconut shreds or white chocolate or something else in the mix. There was only tea leaves and,I’m assuming, coconut flavoring. It would have been nice to see some thick shreds of coconut- even if just for aesthetics.
All and all I enjoyed this blend and it is my first try of the company Zen. I am curious to see what else they have and would suggest that you check them out!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Zen Tea
Description
A lightly floral and smooth Baozhong Oolong from Taiwan is perfectly blended with creamy coconut to make our Coconut Oolong. The cakery coconut flavour is amazing, and tea is a very smooth, rich, almost milky tea with a natural sweetness and subtle floral notes. If you love coconut milk sweets and sophisticated oolongs, this is tea for you.
Ingredients : Oolong tea, coconut flavor
Preparation(1 cup): 1 teaspoon, 90C(194F) water, 3 minutes
Tea origin : Taiwan, Baozhong(Pouchong. Lightly oxidized, green oolong. Rich, naturally sweet fragrance of honey, flowers, and coconut)
For the best infusions, we recommend you try brewing this tea in a Porcelain teapot or Guywan.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Grape Freeze from DAVIDsTea. . . .
Everyone has that one (or if you’re me, like, a thousand) weird stories from your childhood. Now, most aren’t going to go sharing them for all the world to know– but sometimes, in the name of tea, awkward stories must be told.
As a younin’, I LOVED all things fruit– real and fresh– of course, but fake fruity flavors, as well. All of it. Gimme.
Around the age of 3 or so, I came down with a bad cold and needed some medicine. Knowing I’d spit out that nasty bubblegum flavored medicine in a heartbeat (sorry, mom), my mother played to my strengths and picked up a bottle of Grape Dimetapp. You know the type– bright purple, tastes nothing like grapes off the vine? That’s the stuff.
Anyways, my three-year-old palate, having no idea this was medicine and not candy, slurped my little plastic dosing cup down willingly. A few hours later, when my mom asked my sisters and I what we wanted to drink with dinner, I of course enthusiastically replied, “DIMETAPP!”
I got water instead. (Thanks, mom. Sorry, mom.)
All of this to say: you guys, I still love that fakey fruity flavor. I am allll about it. It’s not real grape, of course. But it’s delicious nonetheless. And what does this have to do with tea, you ask? On ice, this tea is a Dimetapp dead-ringer. Slightly more adult, mind you– hints of the green tea base in the background, not nearly as saccharine-sweet– but otherwise, spot on. Is it an everyday tea for me? No, probably not. But it is a fun summer treat, harkening back to the quirky palate of my youth? Yup. And it’s a tasty one, at that.
Now if you’ll excuse me– I have a dinnertime beverage to pour for my inner child.
Here’s the scoop!
Where to Buy: DAVIDsTea
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Lemon Blush from Zhi. . . . .
This was a pleasantly zen tea! I tried it hot, at directed concentrations, steeped for six minutes, with no additives. I could envision this tea being enjoyable cold for those that love fruit infused water.
Unlike most lemon teas I encounter, the lemon was present, but not overpowering. It required no sweetening, and my sweet teeth are rather demanding, so that’s saying a lot! It is supplemented with stevia leaf, and unlike the dietary sweetener, was not at all off-putting. The hibiscus brings a beautiful deep blush of color to the cup, and a mild flavor addition. I honestly did not detect the clove, but perhaps my teaspoon missed it!
It is a moderately aromatic tea that could serve double duty as a calming aromatherapy. Calming, but not sedating, the aroma and taste would serve well as a morning or bedtime tea. At longer steep times (twelve minutes), the tartness and tanginess of the lemon and hibiscus are stronger, but still remains one of the most gentle and subtle lemon teas I’ve experienced, and now one of my favorites!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal/Tisane
Where to Buy: Zhi Tea
Description
Straight from customer feedback , suggestions of lemon myrtle and more sweet healthy tea, comes this crafty and refreshing herbal tisane. Great for an afternoon with a book or a friend, this inventive blend certainly has a cool personality.
A lightly sweet, quite lemony, mildly tart cup with a soothing aroma. This blend is designed to balance; it is at once calming and gently energizing.
Organic lemon grass, hibiscus, rosehips, lemon myrtle, stevia leaf, and organic lemon extract.
100% organic caffeine-free drink. Great hot or cold!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
