Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: TeaScapes
Product Description:
This tea brews to a pale color and the sweetly fragrant magnolia blossoms produce a rich scent. The leaves are large and delicately hand-rolled. This tea aids in digestion and has an elegant floral flavor.
Taster’s Review:
Exquisite!
The magnolia essence here is very strong. The first two infusions deliver a powerful magnolia taste, but it never comes across as perfume-y. Just pleasantly sweet and floral.
In those first two infusions, I noticed a creamy, buttery taste and a hint of vegetative flavor too. I found that with the first two infusions especially, that these different flavors were presented as very distinct, individual notes. With the subsequent infusions, the flavors began to meld together and become seamless and very smooth. My later infusions (I steeped the tea six times) were by far superior to the first two, and I really liked the first two!
The aroma is equally as captivating as the flavor, smelling of fresh spring breezes when magnolia trees are in bloom. I have never been to the south where magnolia trees are abundant, but, my gramma’s neighbor had a couple of magnolia trees in her back yard, and I remember the aroma that permeated the air as the trees bloomed – so beautiful! And these tea leaves have captured that fragrance well.
If you’ve not tried a Magnolia Oolong, I highly recommend it. If you love jasmine tea, I think you will become quite fond of Magnolia Oolong teas as well!
Herbal Lush Chamomile from TeaScapes
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Fruit/Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: TeaScapes
Product Description:
Herbal Lush tea consists of a bright blend of delicate chamomile and spicy cinnamon with bits of strawberry and rose petals. The brewed tea produces a relaxing combination that has a mild fruity spark. It is a great evening tea to aid with relaxation and end the day with a smile.
Taster’s Review:
Hmm… chamomile. While chamomile is often something that I would normally shy away from, I’m actually really enjoying this. The combination of chamomile, cinnamon, strawberry and rose make for a satisfying taste. I like how the sweetness of the chamomile and strawberry contrast with the spicy snap of the cinnamon and the delicate notes of rose.
The chamomile and cinnamon are the strongest flavors, but neither is too strong or overpowering. The chamomile presents that distinct “chamomile-y” flavor – apple-like, somewhat floral, and even a little bit pollen-ish tasting. But with the gentle warmth of the cinnamon, it becomes much more agreeable. The spice of the cinnamon and the apple-esque tones of the chamomile work very well together.
The strawberry and rose are the softer flavors of the bunch, but I like their contributions to the cup. I can taste subtle berry flavors that are sweet yet tart, and the rose is sweet and feminine. This is the kind of cup that you want to cozy up to on one of those late nights when you just can’t seem to relax! It is comforting and it will also encourage a sense of calm.
I’ve really enjoyed the teas I’ve tried from TeaScapes thus far. They have a knack for taking the ordinary (chamomile) and making it extraordinary (Herbal Lush Chamomile)!
Black Celebration Tea from TeaScapes
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: TeaScapes
Product Description:
This tea is a celebration of colors and mixed flavors. The blended tea is a beautiful melody of tea leaves, rose petals, almonds, cornflower petals, orange peels and more. This exquisite Black Celebration tea won an award at the 2008 World Tea Championship for having the best aroma and flavor. The brewed tea offers up a spicy taste for the palate. It infuses for just 3 minutes, allowing the flavors and aromas to intertwine to create a zesty golden liquor. The flavor is naturally sweet and uplifting.
Taster’s Review:
When I first opened this package, I thought that this was a fruit and spice melangé rather than a black tea. There are huge chunks of dried fruit, herbs, and spices in this with some black tea leaves. It really looks more like a fruit tea than a black tea.
Taste wise, this has a lot going on. It’s a bit like a flavor explosion! There is a pleasant fruity background comprised mostly of orange notes but I can also taste hints of apple. The fruit provides an essential sweetness to the cup. A hint of nutty sweetness also contributes to the sweet aspect of this cup, and gives an interesting contrast to the spicy notes that dominate this cup.
Then there is the cinnamon. The cinnamon is the strongest flavor of this cup. It starts out rather mild with its a gentle, soothing spice. Gradually, the cinnamon flavor builds and by about mid-cup, the cup is quite zesty!
The black tea is not a strong component to this cup, and I do wish it were a little stronger. A little richer. That is not to say that this isn’t an absolutely delightful cup of tea, because it is. I love spicy-hot cinnamon flavors, and this tea has definitely got that. At the same time, I don’t think you can toss a few black tea leaves into a fruit and spice melangé and call it a black tea. This is a tasty cup of tea, but, I can’t help but wish it had a little something more.
Chocolate Mint Rooibos from TeaScapes
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: TeaScapes
Product Description:
This rich full-bodied tea brews to a reddish orange liquor. The chocolate pieces create a creamy taste and the mint is bright and refreshing. This Chocolate Mint Rooibos tea can be consumed both as a hot beverage and as an iced drink.
Taster’s Review:
Yum! This is good stuff!
The aroma is delicious – very minty, but with a nice chocolate-y scent too. I can also smell the rooibos … which smells like, well, like rooibos.
I am happy that I can’t really taste the rooibos, though. Perhaps a faint nutty flavor or woody flavor here and there, but nothing very pronounced or strong. As I am not particularly fond of the flavor of unflavored, oxidized rooibos, I find the lack of rooibos flavor here to be a good thing.
The strongest flavor is the mint. The taste is clean and crisp, just like I’d expect from a strong minty taste.
But before it has a chance to be TOO minty, the chocolate notes hit the palate. Mmm! Chocolate! The chocolate is a milk chocolate-y kind of taste. It is not as strong as I personally would like it to be (but then, I always say that about chocolate), but there is a good amount. The result is a tisane that tastes a bit like a mint chocolate chip ice cream (well, except for the fact that this is hot!)
The finish is minty fresh with just a whisper of chocolate. This would be a great low-calorie, low-fat, caffeine-free dessert substitute! Delicious!
Herbal Lush Chamomile from TeaScapes
Tea Type: Herbal
Where To Buy: TeaScapes
Product Description:
Herbal Lush tea consists of a bright blend of delicate chamomile and spicy cinnamon with bits of strawberry and rose petals. The brewed tea produces a relaxing combination that has a mild fruity spark. It is a great evening tea to aid with relaxation and end the day with a smile.
Tasters Review:
Over the past week or two I have been REALLY pushing the envelop – I have been purposely forcing myself to taste teas that I usually don’t go for. Many of them have had Chamomile and/or Hibiscus.
I’m not too fond of Chamomile unless the other ingredients impress me! With this specific herbal from TeaScapes – the name and the look of the ingredients blended together is what interested me. It just seemed different. I had also been very pleased with the other TeaScapes Teas I have tried lately so I thought this one would give me something to write about either way!
The little bit of cinnamon that is coming thru is a nice touch and helps calm down the intense chamomile. Sure, the chamomile is still present but not as much as I thought it would be. The strawberry notes are barely there and I would LOVE to taste a little bit more but understand their reasoning for this…it’s not supposed to be about the strawberry! The rose somewhat works hand-in-hand with the chamomile to bring that floral bouquet type taste.
This is a nice twist on Chamomile and for that I do enjoy this herbal from TeaScapes!
It’s not my preference in flavor combos but a good calming and floral mix that certainly surprised me! This is pretty good, indeed!
