Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Tea Forté
Product Description:
Classic spices familiar to chai drinkers evoke the aromas of the holidays in this crimson rooibos herbal.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Even though I’ve already tasted this tea and reviewed it, I received more of it as part of the Warming Joy Collection that I received, and enjoyed it so much that I decided to feature it again. 
Interestingly enough, when tasting it this time, it struck me as hauntingly similar to the Vienna Cinnamon tea (also from Tea Forté) that I reviewed just recently. Then, after reading through my previous review and the description and ingredients list on this tea, I realized that the cloves is what gives these two teas such a similar taste profile.
The overall flavor is sweet with a gentle, warming spice. The lemongrass plays to the fruitier tones of the rooibos, and helps brighten the flavors.
I think I’m enjoying this more this time around than I did the first time I tried it. It certainly has a comforting effect – it is warm and soothing – and it is a very welcome addition the the Warming Joy Collection!
Vienna Cinnamon from Tea Forté
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea Forté
Product Description:
Naturally sweet cinnamon blended with the finest black tea creates a spicy-sweet balance that surprises and satisfies while cleansing the palate.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a really yummy tea. This is very much like a cinnamon candy – you know, like Hot Tamales or Red Hots? – but, I think I’m actually liking this tea better than the cinnamon candy. Here, the cinnamon never achieves that super-spicy-hot cinnamon flavor that you get from the red hots, and instead, it focuses more on the sweeter side of the cinnamon.
The black tea is a good, solid black tea base, brisk but not overpowering. It is rich and smooth. There is also just a hint of cloves that peeks out from underneath the cinnamon.
But, really, this tea is all about the cinnamon. And it really delivers the cinnamon! I have tasted a lot of cinnamon teas out there, some were spicier than others, while some were sweeter … but Tea Forté has managed to capture a balance between the two dynamics … this is neither too sweet nor too spicy. I think that this is not just because of the cinnamon, but also because of the cloves. The cloves seem to bring out some of the sweeter tones of the cinnamon, while allowing it to maintain its warmth.
I think this tea is best served hot. It has a pleasant sweetness to it, so it doesn’t need additional sweetener, but a splash of milk is nice if you like milk with your tea. It is a very warming tea, so it is very appropriate that this tea is available as part of the Warming Joy collection fromTea Forté (which, incidentally, would make a wonderful gift for the tea lover on your holiday list!)
Harvest Apple Spice from Tea Forté
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Tea Forté
Product Description:
A naturally-caffeine free blend with the taste of crisp sweet apples and the luscious warming of spices, for a cup reminiscent of Mom’s apple pie.
Ingredients: rooibos, organic cinnamon, apple chunks, hibiscus, natural apple flavor, clove buds, natural cinnamon flavor, other natural flavors
Taster’s Review:
I’m ordinarily a little hesitant when it comes to rooibos blends based upon my past experience (now it is a few more years into the past than I care to admit to) with this herb. But, to be honest, over the past few years, I’ve tasted more rooibos blends that I’ve truly enjoyed than those that I haven’t. So, why hesitant? I don’t know… it seems to be more or less an automatic response.
This has to be one of the very best rooibos blends that I’ve tried. I can’t really taste much from the rooibos … what little I do taste is a slight woody/nutty character deep into the distant background. Mere hints, nothing too strong, and none of that funky taste I often associate with rooibos.
This tastes so strongly of apples! Like freshly picked apples that have been baked with autumnal spices and served warm. YUM! The thought of such a treat makes my mouth water … just like this tisane does.
The apple flavor is crisp and sweet with just a slight tartness to it, reminding me a bit of a Jonagold apple. It is certainly more sweet than tart, and as the tisane in my cup cools slightly I notice more of a apple-cider-y kind of taste and texture to it. It feels very smooth to the palate, and the spices are warm without being too spicy-hot. Pleasant notes of sweet cinnamon and warm clove.
There is also hibiscus in this blend – which is definitely not one of my favorite herbals – but, here, the only thing I really notice from the hibiscus is the reddish hue of the tisane and a slightly thicker consistency (contributing to the aforementioned cider-like texture). I don’t taste much of the signature tartness that hibiscus generally brings to the party, and that is certainly a good thing in my opinion.
I received this blend (and several others) as part of the Warming Joy Collection in the Petite Ribbon Box (as shown in the photo above). This would make a most welcome (and delicious!) gift for the tea lover on your gift-giving list, or perhaps a perfectly charming hostess gift for the holiday parties you might be attending.
PRODUCT REVIEW: Matcha Chai (Results) Minteas from Tea Forté
Where to Buy: Tea Forté
Product Description:
Slimming matcha, with a tingle of cinnamon
to aid in keeping you fit and feeling fab.Ingredients: sorbitol, xylitol, organic matcha green tea, Fair Trade Certified™ organic white tea, natural flavors, calcium stearate
Taster’s Review:
Like the Ginger Pear (Regroup) Minteas that I tasted and reviewed previously, I’m liking these Matcha Chai Minteas. They remind me a bit of a cinnamon mint with an invigorating burst of cinnamon flavor that is somewhat reminiscent of “Big Red” chewing gum (do they still even make that? I can’t recall seeing it for a long time … but then, I haven’t really been looking.)
Unless I’m really focusing on the flavors, I don’t discern much of a Matcha flavor or a white tea flavor in these, nor do I notice many other chai-like flavors other than a strong, spicy cinnamon note. The flavors are there, they are just less noticeable than the cinnamon. The other flavors become much more apparent after I’ve allowed the Mintea to dissolve for a few minutes on my tongue, and then bite into the undissolved portion. Then I can really notice more of the chai flavors as well as the Matcha. Yum!
However, what I’m enjoying most about these is not only the flavors but also the texture of them (they remind me of my gramma’s Certs that she used to keep in her purse whenever the grandkids wanted some “candy”). They have a strong, slick surface that once dissolved slightly feels a little less slick, but still very fine and a bit like granular powder. Once I bite into one, it becomes a smooth, powdery candy-like texture (but not a sugary texture). And despite the candy-like texture of these, I like that they don’t taste too sweet. There is a mild sweetness to them which keeps them palatable, but it never becomes cloying or sickly sweet.
As for the fitness/slimming aspect, I think I would need to have more of these on a regular basis before I actually noticed “Results.” However, these are tasty enough that I certainly wouldn’t mind keeping these on hand and enjoying them on a regular basis… whenever I need something tasty to help freshen the breath and cleanse the palate. Plus the tin is pretty cute too.
Cucumber Mint from Tea Forté
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Tea Forté
Product Description:
Special reserve green tea with invigorating cool notes of cucumber, fresh mint and the taste of sweet blueberries.
Taster’s Review:
We (the SororiTea Sisters!) have been sampling some of the newest teas from Tea Forté as part of their new Skin-Smart line. And so far, I’ve been liking what I’ve been tasting!
This Cucumber Mint green tea tastes very fresh and exhilarating (thanks to the mint), and yet quite soothing (thanks to the cucumber). The green tea base is light and has a somewhat grassy taste that seems to enhance the flavor of the cucumber. I have tasted a few cucumber flavored teas now (not a lot, but a few), and I think that this is one that I find to be very true to the flavor of cucumber. It doesn’t seem muddled by the other flavors in the cup, the cucumber really shines through.
The mint has a crisp, clean taste and doesn’t overwhelm the cup – mint can sometimes be a selfish herb and take over the whole composition of the cup. But that doesn’t happen here. The mint is an accent flavor, and it does its job right.
As for the blueberries, I don’t get a lot of berry flavor here. There is a hint of berry sweetness as well as a distinctive tangy taste toward the tail of the sip which can be more discerned in the aftertaste than during the sip.
I like the focus of this Skin Smart line; I like that Tea Forté recognizes that beautiful skin starts from the inside! Click here for more information about the Skin Smart line from Tea Forté. And I especially like that this tea not only promotes a healthy complexion but is also quite tasty.
Here’s to good skin health!