Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
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:
Black Tea with cinnamon, Nutmeg, Coriander, Ginger & Rose flavors.
Taster’s Review:
I categorized this Ayurveda Stimulating Tea from Tea of Life as a “chai” because even though it doesn’t have all the “usual” spices of a masala chai blend, it has several of them.
That said, this doesn’t taste like the “usual” chai that I’m used to drinking. It’s not quite as spicy as a typical chai. I taste more black tea than I do spices. That’s not a bad thing – I’m just saying that it’s a different tasting “chai.”
The black tea is smooth and nicely round. Even though it’s a finely chopped CTC (in a tea bag, no less), it has a pleasing flavor. It’s full and robust and energizing.
The spices add a nice depth to the flavor. The coriander is the strongest flavor that I notice in this blend, but I can also taste the cinnamon and nutmeg, and even a hint of kick from the ginger. The ingredient list suggests a rose flavor too, but I’m having a hard time detecting it. When I slurp the cup, I can pick up on whispers of rose notes but it’s very faint.
Overall, this is alright. Not my favorite chai blend, but I do like how the coriander comes through. And it does deliver what it promises: it’s a stimulating cup of tea!
Rooibos Cinnamon Vanilla 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 confess that the first time I had a cup of this tisane, I accidentally oversteeped it. I had started it brewing and walked away and forgot about it. Some twenty to twenty five minutes later, I remembered it. Fortunately, it’s a rooibos blend and rooibos doesn’t get bitter the way a tea (Camellia Sinensis) would.
However, I didn’t figure it would be a fair assessment to write this review based upon that steeping, so I waited until the next evening (tonight!) to try brewing it for my usual steep time for a rooibos tisane (ten minutes) and this time actually setting a timer for it.
And while this review will be based upon my cup from the 10 minute steep, I will also add some thoughts on the cup that steeped longer. (Both cups were steeped with 195°F water.)
This is a very flavorful rooibos blend. It seems a simple enough combination: rooibos, vanilla and cinnamon. This combination makes me think “Snickerdoodle” and well, it does have a snickerdoodle-ish taste to it. The rooibos has a sweet, nutty flavor to it, and when combined with the vanilla and cinnamon, the result is a taste that’s a lot like the classic cookie.
The cinnamon is a warm but not spicy cinnamon taste, and one that marries well with the sweet, creamy notes of vanilla as well as the warm, honey-like sweetness of the rooibos. It’s a pleasant cup of tea that’s not too sweet, but makes a nice late-night snack if you’re craving something just a little sweet but don’t want to wreck your diet by indulging in a real snickerdoodle cookie. This tea makes a tasty and healthier substitute.
Chamomile Lemongrass Tisane from Tea of Life
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Tisane Description:
Chamomile flowers which are rich in aromatics and flavonoids blended with Lemongrass grown in the tropics to offer a drink as a carminative and to enhance appetite and help digestion.
Enjoy this wonderful tea to a healthier life overall.
Learn more about Tea of Life and Amazon Teas here.
Taster’s Review:
As I’ve said before: when it comes to chamomile teas and chamomile blends like this Chamomile Lemongrass Tisane from Tea of Life, I’m less than excited. I’d just really rather drink REAL tea, you know? Camellia Sinensis, please. And chamomile has always held that position as one of my least favorite herbs, and every time I drink chamomile, I realize how unfair I’ve been to the herb known as chamomile.
I actually don’t hate chamomile, but, there’s just this automatic response that I seem to have that makes me think I do. It’s kind of like that kid that thinks they don’t like broccoli, but when they actually try broccoli, it turns out that they like it. But the next time you put broccoli on that kid’s dinner plate, chances are the kid is going to claim they don’t like it.
I guess you could say that chamomile is my broccoli. I really do like it, but the kid in me thinks I don’t.
And this is actually really a tasty tisane. The chamomile is the prominent flavor and it has a light, apple-like flavor that melds really nicely with the light, lemon-lime notes of the lemongrass. I also taste a pollen-y/honey-esque note that I really am enjoying.
The lemongrass is not as discernible in this blend as I thought it would be, or as I think it should be. I like lemongrass – I love that soft, citrus-y note. With this tisane, though, the citrus notes seem to emerge primarily in the aftertaste. They’re really quite soft during the sip, sitting off in the background, allowing the chamomile to come out strong.
I steeped this teabag for 10 minutes in 195°F water. I find that with herbals, a slightly lower than boiling point is better. The lower temperature and long steep time allows the flavors of the herbs to come forward without tasting really medicinal or coming off as bitter. And while chamomile is often thought of as a functional herb for it’s calming properties, I still don’t want my chamomile to come off harsh tasting and medicinal.
And as I sip this, I feel myself beginning to relax, which is exactly what I want when I sip on a chamomile tisane.
Mint Julep Black Tea from Tea of Life
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Tea Description:
Black tea with natural mint flavor.
Learn more about Tea of Life and Amazon Teas here.
Taster’s Review:
When I read the name of this tea: Mint Julep … I expected a little more than a black tea with mint. I guess when I think Mint Julep, I think bourbon and mint.
But! Don’t take that statement as me not liking what I’m sipping, because this is an enjoyable drink. The black tea notes are strong, it’s a brisk tasting black tea with a smooth character. It’s not bitter or overly astringent, although there is a mild astringency toward the tail. I like that even though there is this faint “dry puckering” of the inside of my cheeks, the transition from the beginning of the sip to the sensation I just described is very smooth.
I’m a little surprised by the mint notes. They are quite faint, and generally when I have a minty tea I expect a stronger mint flavor. This is really quite subtle. This is definitely more a black tea than a mint tea.
So, that leads me to say this: if you’re looking for a minty black tea, this is not the right tea for you. If you’re looking for a black tea with a hint of mint, this is the tea. This doesn’t have that really CRISP cool minty sensation that you’d probably expect from a minty black tea. This has a delicate mint note that sort of lingers in the background.
It’s a pleasant, enjoyable cuppa, but not quite what I was expecting!
Organic Green Tea Pomegranate from Tea of Life
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Tea Description:
Organic green tea, organic pomegranate and organic rose petals with pomegranate flavor.
Learn more about Tea of Life and Amazon Teas here.
Taster’s Review:
I’m actually tasting more rose than pomegranate with this tea. Kind of a surprise, but, it’s not a bad surprise. I find the combination of flavors: the floral notes of the rose, the sweet notes of the green tea and the sweet-tart notes of the pomegranate to be appealing.
The green tea has a nice buttery note to it that lends a creamy note to the cup, and I like the way this marries with the notes of fruit and flower. The rose is a subtle flavor, but as I said before, it’s actually a bit stronger than the pomegranate, especially during the sip. In the aftertaste is where I notice a real punch of pomegranate flavor.
Overall, this is an enjoyable cup of tea. I appreciate that all the ingredients are organic. It’s good as a hot tea (but do allow it a couple of minutes to cool as the flavors seem to benefit from some cool time), and it’s even better as an iced tea. I cold-brewed the pyramid sachets and was pleasantly surprised at how refreshing the tea was.