Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Learn more about Tea of Life and Amazon Teas here.
About Tea of Life Ayurvedic Collection:
The word “Ayurveda” is derived from two words – “Ayus” meaning life and “Veda” meaning ‘knowledge’ or ‘science’. So the literal meaning of the word Ayurveda is ‘The Science of Life.’
Life or Ayus, according to Ayurveda, is a combination of senses, mind, body and soul. So Ayurveda does not just limit itself to the body or physical symptoms, but also provides comprehensive knowledge about spiritual, mental and emotional health.
The traditional healing system of Ayurveda is based on a theory of balance between the body (physical), the soul (spiritual) and the mind (psychological).
Ingredients:
Green Tea with Asparagus, Lemongrass, Winter Cherry, Cardamom and Jasmine flavors.
Taster’s Review:
Well, I had a stressful couple of days, so I could use some “calm.” I’m hoping this Ayurvedic Calming Tea from Tea of Life will grant me some!
As I brewed this tea, I tried to recall if I had ever tried a tea with asparagus in it before. I can’t say that I have. That doesn’t mean that I haven’t, just that if I have I can’t recall and I would think that with as unusual a tea ingredient that asparagus is, I think I would have remembered!
To brew this tea, I went with my “go to” green tea parameters. For a green tea, I typically go with a temperature of 170° – 180° Fahrenheit. I went with 175°F for this tea, and I steeped the teabag in about 6 ounces of water for 2 minutes.
Going into my initial sip, I was a little apprehensive because I generally am with teas that claim to offer “functional” benefits like those that are offered in Tea of Life’s Ayurvedic line. Now, granted, having tried three other teas from this line and having experienced some true benefits from those teas, I do not doubt that the teas work as they claim to. I just tend to associate “functional” teas with “medicinal tasting” teas and there is also a skeptical side of me that seems to want to step in and question the validity of the Ayurvedic teas. That said, teas (other than stimulating black teas) tend to calm me to a certain extent.
OK, so this doesn’t taste terrible. It’s actually tasty. I don’t know if I’m actually tasting asparagus or if that ingredient sort of melds into the vegetal quality of the green tea, but I am noticing that the “green” taste of this cup seems to be enhanced somewhat.
This does have a certain herbaceous/medicinal flavor which I attribute primarily to the Winter Cherry. Fortunately, the other ingredients in this tea balance out that herbaceous tone, and I especially like the light citrus-y note from the lemongrass and the warm note from the cardamom. I don’t taste much from the jasmine at all.
Overall, this is not a bad drink and I do feel a little calmer than when I began to brew it. It does have a relaxing quality to it.
Tropical Sorbet Black Tea from Tea of Life
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Tea Description:
Black tea with natural banana, pineapple, passion fruit & mango flavors.
Learn more about Tea of Life and Amazon Teas here.
Taster’s Review:
This is one of the tastier teas that I’ve received from Tea of Life. I’ve enjoyed a few of their teas and there were some that I didn’t really care for but this one moves its way right toward the top of the list. It’s got a good flavor: a background of brisk black tea with a pleasant tropical fruit note. As summer has come to an end and fall has just begun, this tea takes my taste buds on a summer-y holiday to the tropics.
I like that I can taste each of the fruit flavors: I taste notes of banana and mango, hints of pineapple-y sweetness and a touch of passion fruit, but these flavors do not overpower the black tea base. The black tea tastes smooth and I’m tasting more of the sweeter notes of the black tea emerge thanks to the sweetness of the fruit notes. It’s a very harmonious taste.
It’s sweet but not too sweet and the fruity flavors are not overwhelming. There is no doubt that what I’m drinking is tea that has been flavored with fruit rather than fruit flavors rather than fruit flavors with a little bit of black tea mixed in. This is tea first!
It’s a tasty cuppa served hot but I like this one best when it cools because the fruity notes give it a very refreshing taste that is more “iced tea” to me. An enjoyable tea from Tea of Life.
Lemon Flavored Green Tea from Tea of Life
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Learn more about Tea of Life and Amazon Teas here.
Taster’s Review:
Before steeping this tea, I tried to smell something “lemony” in the tea. I couldn’t smell anything at all. No green tea, no lemon notes … nothing. I was a little worried that I’d have a flavorless tea here.
But, after steeping (175°F water for 2 minutes), the lemon emerges! Now, I’m smelling … well, what I’m smelling is reminiscent of lemon Pledge. Not something that I really want to drink, but, fortunately, I don’t think this tastes like lemon Pledge. At least, this isn’t what I’d imagine lemon Pledge to taste like. I’ve only used lemon Pledge to dust and polish my furniture, I haven’t consumed it internally.
It’s actually quite a pleasant aroma.
And the flavor is quite pleasant as well. The lemon notes are strong but do not overpower the sweet, lightly grassy green tea notes. The lemon is tart and tastes like lemon. It doesn’t taste like an artificial lemon flavor. It doesn’t taste like an overly sweetened version of lemon. It tastes like I squeezed a slice of lemon over my teacup. It’s a bright and energetic lemon note.
I preferred this particular tea hot. As it cools, some of the flavors wane a bit too much to my liking, I like that sunny, uplifting lemon note that I experience when this tea is hot.
Guava Flavored Green Tea from Tea of Life
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Learn more about Tea of Life and Amazon Teas here.
Taster’s Review:
I have tried quite a few Tea of Life teas at this point and I’ve enjoyed some better than others. All of the teas that I’ve tried have been either bagged teas or teas in sachets, and I’ve made mention of my dislike of tea bags/tea sachets. However, even though these teas have been bagged or in sachets, there have been several teas that have impressed me.
I don’t know if I’d call this Guava flavored Green Tea “impressive” but I like that the guava flavoring is strong and focused. It tastes like guava: sweet and juicy. And I like that I can also taste the green tea in this tea. It has a lightly grassy, slightly buttery taste that marries well with the guava notes.
The reason why I said I was unsure if I’d say that this was impressive is that I find that the guava flavoring might be a tad TOO strong. While I can taste the green tea notes (and the green tea flavors do develop as I continue to sip), I think that the guava obscures some of the green tea flavors. Not so much that I simply can’t taste the green tea, but I think I’d like the green tea notes to be a bit more prominent than they are.
Other than that, I find this tea to be enjoyable. It is sweet and fruity and it makes a fantastic iced tea.
Rooibos Ginger Peach Tisane from Tea of Life
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Tisane Description:
Pronounced “roy-boss” and means “red bush” in Afrkaans, studies have shown this tea is comparable to green tea in the amounts of EGCG it contains. Rooibos is totally pure and natural. It contains no colorants or preservatives.
And Rooibos tastes divine! It is less bitter than most teas.
Learn more about Tea of Life and Amazon Teas here.
Taster’s Review:
I’m making more of an effort to drink more tisanes in the evening. Until recently, I would continue drinking Camellia Sinensis teas well into the evening, up to just a couple of hours before I go to bed. And I’ve come to realize that it does affect my ability to fall asleep. So, when it starts getting close to bedtime, I’ve been turning to caffeine free drinks like rooibos and honeybush, and on the nights when I know I need to catch some zzz … I even have a chamomile tea. I’ve noticed a difference with my sleeping patterns now that I’m drinking more tisane later in the evening.
Tonight, I wanted something soothing on my tummy, so I reached for this Rooibos Ginger Peach from Tea of Life. I like that it’s sweet from the peach notes and the honeyed, nutty flavors of the rooibos, but there’s just enough of a zesty kick from the ginger to give the cup some contrasting flavor.
The ginger isn’t an overpowering flavor. It starts out rather subtle. The first couple of sips, I could barely taste the ginger. But as I continued to sip, the ginger flavor began to develop, and now there is a gentle heat at the back of the palate. I feel the warmth of the ginger but it’s not too hot.
And the sweetness of the peach curbs the zing of the ginger. Ginger and peach are a classic flavor combination and they really complement each other well in this tisane.
The rooibos is sweet, slightly earthy and nutty but I like that the drink doesn’t taste too strongly of rooibos, which is not my favorite flavor. The natural honey-like sweetness melds quite nicely with the peach and ginger notes.
Overall, a pleasant cup to enjoy later in the day.