So a little while back a couple of us sisters received a gift from the wonderful CuppaGeek. Super Starling said she received hers for her general awesomeness so if I got one too, does that mean I am awesome as she is? That’s quite the accomplishment I think because she is one awesome lady. So that means that this gift was not only a great present that made sure to tell me I was loved, but also an ego boost. Plus, as part of the Tea It Forward program, this also helped support a good cause since $1 from each box sold goes to The Flagg Foundation for Mental Wellness.
Today’s tea pick of the three options in the box is Strawberry Rush, a fruity green tea which I found quite surprising. The first surprise was the steeping temperature. 3 minutes at 195F seemed quite high for a green base to me. Nonetheless, I followed these recommended steeping parameters only to be surprised again when I removed the filter basket and found a deep fuchsia colored tea as opposed to the usual light yellow shade of a green tea. My guess is the hibiscus is the cause of this color so I was interested to see if that meant it would take over the flavor as well.
Well, hibiscus is definitely in the mug but far more tame than what I expected. There is a distant memory of strawberry here but if I am being honest, the base is extremely bitter and I am finding that to be incredibly distracting. My hope is that the high temperature water burnt the leaf since I don’t imagine this is its intended taste.
In order to give this a fair try, I actually dumped my first brew and steeped this up the way I would normally steep a green tea, using 75C water and steeping for a quick two minutes. The new mug is far less bitter which means I can actually enjoy this one. The hibiscus is imparting the same level of tartness as before but without all the burnt to cloud the mug, the memory of strawberry here is not so distant. However, even though I can taste a slightly underripe strawberry flavor, it is also muddled among the various other flavor components. In fact, the citrus of the orange is one of the more prominent flavors and to me it feels out of place. The papaya mellows things out but there is a divide between the sweet and sour and it creates a confused tea. If I didn’t know this was called Strawberry Rush, I would suspect this was a fruit punch tea more than anything else as at the end of the day this tastes like fruit. Not one specific fruit. Just fruit.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: The Love Tea Company
Description
It’s hard to keep this one in stock, teens and tweens love it, and it’s so much better than soda. It’s a Brilliant Blend of herbal and fruit that evokes strawberry fields. It is an organic green tea that is a simple pleasure with complex ingredients – green tea, with papaya, apple, orange and strawberry pieces, rosehip, calendula petals and natural strawberry flavors. This blend is great hot or cold, but our preference is cold. Blend several pots, keep it refrigerated and serve over ice with a fresh strawberry on the side. The kids can take part in the mission on this one. Make sure they #sharethelove with their friends.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Lemon Chiffon from The Love Tea Company. . . . #teaitforward
I got this tea as a surprise! It came in a “Tea It Forward” box, which is a program where you buy a box of 3 teas as a surprise for a friend, and the proceeds go to charity. The wonderful Cuppageek sent this to me as a gift for my general awesomeness! Here’s a pic of what I received.
Tonight’s pick is Lemon Chiffon. This rooibos/honeybush blend allegedly tastes like my grandmother’s cake. Since I didn’t have grandmothers that made this dish, I’m going to just have to wing this.
The lemon in this is strong, and a tiny bit bitter in a way that tastes “authentic.” It doesn’t have a fake sugar-lemon flavor. There’s also some lavender and pomegranate mixed in here, which lives it a little bit of a berry/flower kick.
I doubt that a grandmother would have mixed in pomegranate. But she should have; it’s a cool idea.
Overall, I think this blend is a tiny bit too tart for my tastes, but I think with a little bit of milk/honey, it’d be perfect. Give it a try!
Or help charity out and “Tea It Forward” to a friend who needs a pick-me-up!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: The Love Tea Company
Description
There’s a reason why we call this a brilliant blend. Remember that Lemon Chiffon cake that Grandma made? It’s like that, without the cleanup or pinches to your cheek. A rooibos blend that smells like you could eat it straight out of the jar. Since it has no caffeine, it’s the perfect compliment to any after dinner treat.
Caffeine Level: None
Steep 2 teaspoons @ 195° for 3 – 5 minutes
Luxury Ingredients: rooibos, rooibus tea, honeybush, lemon myrtle, lavender flowers, marigold petals, natural lemon and pomegranate flavor.
Allergens: None
**Priced for purpose means we cost-average our overall inventory and charge a single price per size for our fine quality teas. Our pricing is entirely based upon our mission to donate 25% of net profit to The Flagg Foundation for Mental Wellness. Due to the density of teas, weighted amounts vary from jar to jar. Every purchase of Love Tea is a direct donation to improving human health and happiness.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Lemon Chiffon from The Love Tea Company. . .
I decided to make this tea into iced tea. The weather is warming up, and I’m dreaming of spring. A nice cold glass of lemon chiffon tea just screams spring to me.
This tea has rooibos, honeybush, lemon myrtle, lavender flowers, marigold petals, and lemon and pomegranate flavors. Doesn’t it just sound beautiful?
The tea is beautiful, and the smell is amazing. Nice and fruity, you just want to drink it! It’s a beautiful golden color, it kind of reminds me of a marigold to be honest. It has a very sweet and lemony flavor. It’s extremely refreshing. I don’t really taste any pomegranate flavor, but I definitely taste lemon, and a bit of the rooibos earthiness. They compliment each other very well. It’s sweet, but not too sweet. I added no sweetener and it’s perfect.
This tea is also caffeine free, so it would be perfect for an after dinner treat. I feel like it would also be nice to have before bed as lavender can really help with sleep. This is definitely a new favorite of mine, and it’s absolutely perfect for a refreshing drink on warmer days.
It’s sweet, healthy,caffeine free and delicious, what more can you ask for in a cup or glass of tea?
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: The Love Tea Company
Description
There’s a reason why we call this a brilliant blend. Remember that Lemon Chiffon cake that Grandma made? It’s like that, without the cleanup or pinches to your cheek. A rooibos blend that smells like you could eat it straight out of the jar. Since it has no caffeine, it’s the perfect compliment to any after dinner treat.
Caffeine Level: None
Steep 2 teaspoons @ 195° for 3 – 5 minutes
Luxury Ingredients: rooibos, rooibus tea, honeybush, lemon myrtle, lavender flowers, marigold petals, natural lemon and pomegranate flavor.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Raspberry Champagne from The Love Tea Company. . . . .
I recently discovered The Love Tea Company while I was online and I was instantly enthralled with them. Their website, their message, their mission, and their overall theme just struck a chord with me.
The Love Tea Company was founded with the idea that companies should give something back. Using purposeful purchasing , The Love Tea Company is doing just that. In the vein of companies like Tom’s Shoes, The Love Tea Company has built their company around supporting Mental Wellness. Part of The Love Tea Company’s mission is to donate 25% of their net profit to The Flagg Foundation for Mental Wellness, a foundation created by The Love Tea Company.
If you are interested in learning more about The Love Tea Company’s efforts to help bring awareness to Mental Wellness, keep an eye out on their social media accounts and website. Since The Love Tea Company was founded in December of 2016, it appears they are in the beginning steps for both the foundation and tea company. It will be interesting to watch them grow and get their message out. Also to see the good they do with The Flagg Foundation. Mental Wellness affects or has affected so many people in so many different ways. To see a company trying to send such a positive message through tea is amazing and one that I’m going to help as much as I personally can.
I’ve personally already placed an order to send out some of their #TeaItForward boxes to friends and family members just to brighten their days and show I care and am thinking of them. It’s a wonderful service and I hope these boxes bring a smile to the recipient’s faces.
So, now that we’ve chatted a bit about the mission behind this tea company, let’s chat about their tea. The first tea I thought I would try was their white flavored tea, Raspberry Champagne. Raspberry is a tricky flavor. Do it right and you have a wonderfully sweet yet tart and tangy flavor that sings. Do it wrong and you are left with a bland flavorless brew.
First whiff of these tea leaves and I was drooling. There was a definite jammy berry aroma with a sweetness mingled in. I was quick to get my kettle prepping my water at 195 and allowed my tea to steep for 3 minutes. I haven’t had a flavored white tea in a while so this particular tea was really calling my name. After allowing the tea to cool for a few moments, I took my first sip.
Juicy tart raspberries with a sweet finish and a soft floral touch in a cup. That is how I would describe this tea. I can’t really speak to the champagne flavor but it has been a really long time since I’ve had any champagne. This is one of those flavored white teas that actually packs quite a bit of flavor. Fresh, crisp, and on point with a gentle soft side. Just delicious.
I went for a second steeping but this go around, I allowed the tea to steep for 6 minutes. I have to say, letting the tea steep longer is the way to go . All the flavors really pop and work so well together. I made quick work of my second cup and went on to my third.
Greedily, I want to gobble all of this tea up and try what I have left of my sample of this tea in a cold brew, because I can only imagine how the flavors would pop, sing, and make my taste buds happy . . . but alas . . .I will wait to enjoy the remainder of what I have left of this tea with my dad and sister-in-law. I know they would both enjoy this tea as much as I have. . . and I think that sort of sharing experience is exactly what The Love Tea Company is going for.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: White Tea
Where to Buy: The Love Tea Company
Description
Our White Raspberry Champagne is a great alternative to the real thing! Our wine inspired blends create a character so versatile you’ll get all of the fun of a “fancy drink” without the boozy qualities. The pairing of champagne and raspberry flavors dates back centuries and we’ve mastered it here . You won’t be disappointed this is a luxurious treat any day of the week.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
