I have always had a love hate relationships with bergamot and earl grey blends. But when I saw Sherl Grey Tea from Geeky Teas, I had to try it. Well because I’m sort of obsessed with Sherlock. I even named my new puppy Benedict after the lead actor of Sherlock.
Sherlock is one of those shows that you watch one episode and you are hooked. Each episode is almost like a mini movie and with our schedule with 4 boys, watching an hour and a half episode a night causes havoc. But this show is captivating and extremely engaging. We binged on all available seasons in just a few weeks. We actually formed family time around the show. But enough about the show, let us chat tea!
Sherl Grey isn’t your typical earl grey blend. The flavors are light and subtle but full of flavor. First whiff of the blend I knew I was in for a treat.
Brewed up with water prepped at 212F and allowed to steep for about 4 minutes, this blend yielded one of the best earl grey teas I’ve had. The tea tasted fresh and though the bergamot was present, I didn’t feel overwhelmed by that notable flavor. I was able to enjoy the lovely mix of citrus tang, black tea base, a creamy lush texture, and a slight berry twist at the end of every sip. Incredibly enjoyable and one that I will be ordering more of to enjoy when I’m watching the next season of Sherlock.
This is one of the better tea blends I’ve had from Geeky Teas. Even my husband asked me if we could order more of this one. I can’t wait to try this tea on ice!
Do you have a favorite tea that you drink while watching your favorite show? Let us know! Use #FanaticFriday!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Geeky Teas
Description:
Black tea, orange peels, bergamot, blue cornflower, natural blueberry flavor, raspberry leaves, blueberries and natural cream flavor.
We have deduced that it is a perfect tea. Created by Terin.
3 ounce weight tea comes in a metal tin canister that is reusable and recyclable.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Pineapple Angel Food Cake White Tea from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
All Organic ingredients: White Peony, Pineapple Pieces, Vanilla Bean and Natural Flavors
This particular blend is sold out. Learn what white teas are available here.
Taster’s Review:
Sipdown! Gotta love a sipdown. Sipdowns make me happy and sad. Happy that I’ve enjoyed a tea to the point that I’ve finished it. Sad because if that tea is from 52Teas it means that more than likely that tea is one you can’t get again.
I believe I reviewed this tea on my blog CuppaGeek, but I don’t believe I did here. So I thought with the summer finally upon us, this would be a great tea to try both hot and iced for these upcoming summer months, allowing me to sipdown a tea from my always growing tea stash.
With a tea named Pineapple Angel Food Cake White Tea, there are high expectations of a lush white tea with icing notes and that tropical pineapple feel. A hard goal to hit when it comes to tea, but one that 52Teas did amazingly well!
First I tried the tea hot. Prepped with water at 165F and allowed to steep for about 5 minutes and then allowed to cool for about 3. I took a sip and the flavors exploded. They captured the title of this tea perfectly. Lush notes of a decadent angel food cake with a vanilla icing and pineapple topping. The white tea provides a silky like feel that gives a unique dessert taste. The flavors are subtle but not so much that you can’t pick them out. They mingle together very well and make me sad that I have sipped this tea down. This is a tea that I should have bought a bigger pouch of.
Then after loving the tea as hot, I tried the tea as iced. I have to say this tea sings as a hot tea but as an iced tea it is pretty tasty as well. You still get all of those same notes but the pineapple flavors seem to be a bit sharper. The cake and vanilla notes were my favorite part when I tried the tea hot. Still, absolutely delicious and I have already drank two tall tumblers full and I’m going for a third.
Another wonderful offering from 52Teas. They really do dessert teas justice!
Coconut Flan Genmaicha from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Green Tea, Popped Rice, Shredded Coconut, and Natural flavors
This tea is no longer available but learn more about available blends here.
Taster’s Review:
So today I was finally able to set myself done and try this tea. With having coconut and genmaicha going on with the blend, I thought for sure I would devour this tea. So much so that I ordered an additional taster size for it.
I asked a co-worker is she wanted to try the tea with me and she eagerly grabbed her mug and we set to steeping.
The dry leaf mixture had a lovely and bright coconut fresh smell. I wouldn’t say sun tan lotion like but there is a resemblance. The coconut smelled amazing and I wanted to bottle up the smell into a candle.
We steeped the tea per the package instructions and waited impatiently for the timer to let us know the tea was ready. We allowed the tea to cool for a minute and took our first sip.
She loved the tea. She said it was just smooth roasted coconut love. She was all smiles while drinking it and she barely sat the cup down.
When I took my first sip, I didn’t get a whole lot of flavor so I allowed the tea to cool even more. After a few more minutes, I took another sip. As much as I wanted to love this tea, it just isn’t one that I am loving hot. I’m getting a nice toasted flavor but I don’t know if I like it mixed with the coconut and then on top of all of that, with a hot temperature. I’m wondering if this is a tea that needs to be either cold brewed or iced to really get that tropical feel out of it.
Don’t get me wrong the tea is fine and I have no issue with finishing my cup. I just can’t say that I want more of it. This might just be a tea that I need to experiment with.
Off to make some iced tea!
Liquid Luck from Friday Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Friday Tea
Tea Description:
This golden brew is one of Tea Girl’s finest! A magical tisane that reminds us of a peach orchard at the height of summer. Warm, fruity, herby, and slightly spiced. Definitely a favorite hot or iced!
Ingredients: Peach, apple, orange, cinnamon, chamomile, blue cornflower
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have been wanting to try Friday Tea’s offerings for a while. And to my delight the other day I received a box from them thru a gift exchange I recently participated in.
This tea was the first one I had to try. A lovely herbal blend of peaches, apple, orange cinnamon, chamomile, and blue cornflower. The tea itself was gorgeous to look at and smelled amazingly fruity . I couldn’t wait to brew the tea up.
Steeped in water that was fresh boiled and allowed to sit for a few minutes, this tea was amazingly fruity, vibrant and delicious. You first get a lovely base of the peaches with notes of cinnamon giving the tea a bit of a spiced kick, but a gentle kick. The chamomile comes in next providing the blend with an almost baked dessert feeling and taste. Each sip finishes off with a lush citrus note that lovingly completes the tea.
What I am trying to say, is this tea is dynamite! One of the better herbal teas I’ve had in a while and one that is impressive from the first sip. I’m on my second infusion and this tea is continuing to give this really bright and vibrant peachy flavor. I can just imagine making this into a cold brew or as an iced tea. This is one of those teas that will be amazing (I bet) anyway you prep it.
I’m excited to dig into the rest of the box to see what other lovely teas I have from them. I see a possible order in my future! Friday Tea offers quite a few unique teas that I can’t wait to check out.
My First Experience with a 52Teas Monthly Box. . .
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Variety
Where to Buy: 52Teas
52Teas was named 52Teas because we create a new tea every week: a new tea, every week, 52 weeks a year.
By subscribing to our Tea of the Week program, you’ll receive a package once a month (at the beginning of the month) that includes all of the teas in our taster size (1/2 ounce pouch) for the following month.
Learn more about subscribing here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve reviewed a ton of 52Teas for SororiTea Sisters and CuppaGeek. I love them and highly recommend their teas. When you purchase from 52Teas, you know you are getting a quality blend that was made with love and care from someone who has a passion for tea and tea blending.
I will admit tho, I have never subscribed to the monthly service. Shame on me! Reason? Well, I am very much against red rooibos. It is one of those ingredients that (for me) once that ingredient is in the blend, it ruins the tea. No matter what else is in it. There has only been one blend that I have enjoyed red rooibos in. I also am not the biggest fan of ginger or chai teas so basically what I’m saying is that I’m picking up what I get. I do subscribe to Handmade Tea and Plum Deluxe so I do take a gamble here and there. After this month’s box that I received.. . . I will more than likely start subscribing.
Having never rec’d a box from 52Teas before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I loved opening the box and seeing a special note or the tea menu, outlining all the tea that was in the box and a little description of each flavor. This is a great way to learn more about what teas are in your box at a glance.
This box featured five different teas- Blackberry Zomba Green Tea, Raspberry Almond Cookie Honeybush, Rose Mango Daiquiri, Bananas Foster Black Tea, and Coconut Flan Genmaicha. My tea kettle is just itching to start prepping the water for these mouth watering teas!
My eyes went instantly to the Blackberry Zomba Green Tea. That sounded like heaven to me. Green tea, blackberries, and other organic flavors. . .sign me up. I quickly set the kettle to green tea setting and began the prep to check this tea out. This tea was amazing! Simply fabulous. Sweet yet vegetal like green tea with a gorgeous blackberry finish. Like the description says, simple straight forward tea. And wow, is it ever good. So good that I instantly emailed Anne and said I needed a larger size.
The next tea I tried was the Raspberry Almond Cookie Honeybush. Do yourself a favor. Check this tea out right now! I’m surprised there is even some of this left. This tea is just dynamite! I had talked to Anne about this tea and she told me it was good. I think she underrated it a bit by saying good. This tea has lovely fruity berry notes of raspberry with a solid nutty finish that gives you that baked cookie feel. Holy tea kettles! This tea is a winner and one that I may need a larger size of as well.
I have yet to try the remaining teas due to a crazy work schedule but I will be fixing that soon. From the experience I’ve had with these teas so far, this is a winning box. The teas are fresh and each pops with its own unique character and flavor. I’m crazy impressed with the presentation and the little menu you get in the monthly box as well. A simple touch that gives the recipient a warm fuzzy and shows that the ladies behind 52Teas care!
After this experience, I’ll be signing up for sure to start receiving this box myself. A great way to keep getting these unique and fun teas without worrying about ordering them on time and missing out. I’ve missed out on blends before. By signing up for this box, you don’t have to worry about that!