Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Tea Licious
Product Description:
Sencha green tea, safflowers and yuzu fruit.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I brewed this tea, I did not read the description of it, I just brewed it the way I would any other flavored green tea (low temperature, usually around 170°, steeping for 2 1/2 minutes in my Breville One-Touch). My first few sips were really enjoyable, I could taste the bright, sunny taste of the Yuzu fruit as well as the fresh, slightly vegetative taste of the Sencha.
The Sencha is very light, but with a soft mouthfeel that reminds me of the smooth, creamy sensation of melted butter. Fortunately, the taste isn’t that thick, otherwise, that would be all that was tasted. That might be fine for Paula Deen, but I like green tea to be a little lighter so that I can enjoy the many complex flavors it offers. And, yes, this Sencha is light and complex, not to mention delicious.
There are sweet, fresh notes that remind me of freshly cut grass … but without the bitter grassy aftertaste. It is more like a sweet grassy note. And a creamy taste and texture that is very complimentary to the citrus notes of the Yuzu fruit.
What I think I like best about this particular tea is its balance. It would be hard to determine which flavor is stronger – the tea or the yuzu – because they both seem equally balanced. At times, I think I taste more yuzu than tea… but others, I think the tea is stronger, and it all has to do with which flavor I’m trying to focus on.
A lovely tea. If you’re looking for a flavored tea with a good balance between tea and flavor, this is certainly worth trying.
Rosie Earl Grey from Tea Licious
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea Licious
Product Description:
Whole leaf tea with oil of bergamot and rose petals
Taster’s Review:
Oh, this is nice. It’s no secret how I feel about Earl Grey, but, I was a little unsure about a rose scented Earl Grey. I’ve tried some that I’ve absolutely loved, and others that have left me feeling disappointed. This one just might be my favorite rose scented Earl Grey that I’ve yet to taste.
What I like about this is that the rose flavor is well-defined. It isn’t just sprinkled with a few rose petals. The tea leaves have absorbed the essence of rose and that is apparent in the taste. It is a strong rose presence. It tastes sweet and floral and very pleasant.
The black tea is a mild black tea. It isn’t what I’d consider to be strong or bold in flavor. It is crisp and astringent. It works well with the flavors of bergamot and rose, providing a solid background of flavor without overpowering the delicious rose and bergamot notes.
The bergamot is a bit softer than I expected. The bergamot is definitely there in the scent, but, the flavor is a little more about the rose than the bergamot, especially in the first couple of sips. As I continue sipping, though, I find that the bergamot develops and by about mid-cup, I can really notice the bergamot. The tangy citrus and the sweet taste of rose contrast each other well.
A very pleasant cuppa … it certainly IS Tea-Licious!