Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Utopia Tea
Tea Description:
Sweet, grape-like litchi berries combined with red raspberries, and fruity Keemun (“Chinese famous black tea”) produce a brisk and sweet cup that is thoroughly satisfying. Black tea contains a large amount of antioxidant compounds called polyphenols that aid in fighting harmful diseases while protecting the body. Black tea is also known to strengthen the immune system, lower cholesterol, and protect teeth and bones. Small amounts of calcium, manganese, and potassium have also been found in black tea. This is one to enjoy hot or over ice!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have to admit that if I were shopping on the Utopia Tea website, this is not a tea I would have selected for myself. I like Litchi teas (or Lychee teas … or however one chooses to spell it!) but, I don’t usually get overly excited about them because sometimes they can be just … a bit too much, and because of that, I don’t generally buy them for myself.
Fortunately, this Little Litchi Raspberry Black Tea Blend from Utopia Tea has a nice balance of raspberry and Litchi fruit so the Litchi doesn’t come off as “weird” or off-putting. The raspberry offsets the distinctive flavor of the Litchi … providing a really tasty treat for the taste buds!
There is a distinct tart note to this cup, and if I didn’t read the ingredient list on the package before I tasted it, I would have guessed that there is hibiscus in this one. It doesn’t really taste overtly hibiscus-y, but, it does have that tart note from the hibiscus and that’s what I’m tasting here.
But, the hibiscus works within this blend. The Keemun black tea base is a robust black base, and I like the way it melds with the hibiscus and the other flavors. The Keemun has a slight smoky note to it … it’s faint, but it’s there. There is more of a wine-like character to this Keemun than a smoked note, and I think that the wine-y quality works well with the raspberry and litchi (and the hibiscus!)
Overall, the flavor is sweet and tart and very nicely round. There are nice layers of flavor. It doesn’t come off as too tart, or too sweet. It isn’t bitter or overly astringent. It’s really quite pleasant … and this is one that’s tasty hot or iced!
Organic Ceylon from Utopia Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black, Ceylon
Where to Buy: Utopia Tea
Tea Description:
Want a delightful afternoon treat? Try our USDA Certified Organic Ceylon! This aromatic tea with honey-chocolate notes has a medium body and a robust character. Black tea contains a large amount of antioxidant compounds called polyphenols that aid in fighting harmful diseases while protecting the body. Black tea is also known to strengthen the immune system, lower cholesterol, and protect teeth and bones. Small amounts of calcium, manganese, and potassium have also been found in black tea. Try this tea hot or over ice!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a nice basic Ceylon. I love that it’s organic!
It has some honey notes to it and a light cocoa flavor.
There is also little bit of a malty note.
Its nothing that will blow your mind with flavors but it is a rock solid morning or afternoon black tea that I appreciate greatly! It has just enough flavor to make it special, without being overdone.
I can see how this would make a stellar iced tea as well.
Usually in the morning I am reaching for something basic, something black, something with good flavor but not necessarily a flavored tea. I find Organic Ceylon from Utopia tea to be one of those teas I have been reaching for to fit the bill. It has nice characteristics that I look for in a black, is robust enough to start my day, and seems to awaken me nicely. On the other hand I feel it is a fitting afternoon tea as well because it keeps you alert without jitteriness, and also has some soothing flavor notes to curb any hunger pangs to help get you through to the evening. It is a smooth black with no bitterness or astringency.
The honey notes and cocoa notes are really quite perfect and I have not ever felt the need to add anything to this tea.
While I can’t say that it takes me away to some place in my mind or evokes any specific thought or feeling, which I do love in a tea, what this does instead is helps me stay focused on what I need to do in the now. Its straight forward and sometimes that helps a lot – especially for me in the morning.
Oolong Formosa from Utopia Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Utopia Tea
Tea Description:
The name speaks for itself, Formosa meaning “beautiful” tea. Our Oolong Formosa is semi-fermented with copper red leaves and have silver tips. The tea leaves offer hints of vanilla and citrus for a smooth and spicy taste. Oolong Formosa got its name from the Portuguese explorers that called the island, Formosa. Oolong Formosa contains a large amount of natural plant-derived antioxidant compounds called polyphenols that fight off cancer and a variety of diseases. Oolong tea leaves have been proven to protect the body, lower cholesterol, promote healthy blood vessel functionality, and strengthen the immune system. Small amounts of Vitamin C and K, potassium, and calcium have been found in Oolong tea leaves. Try this tea hot or over ice!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Utopia Tea’s Formosa Oolong is a nice daily oolong. Its not the most mind blowing oolong by any means but this is a tea for when you don’t want to nor have the time to sit paying attention to your steep. It is a forgiving oolong that can take mishaps well. It has a good flavor although to me, there is slightly a black tea flavor here as well. It does not strike me as an all out oolong.
Now I admit, I am an oolong snob and for me, having an oolong is a time for relaxing, meditation, and sitting with my tea contemplating. I prefer to have oolong when using my gaiwan and usually I spend more on oolong than any other tea for that reason. However this is a really solid oolong for sharing with company that drops by, making cold brew, or when you just don’t have the time or want to sit and pay close attention to your steeping session.
When I took my first sip what came to mind is that of an oolong I have had a Asian restaurants before. Good but nothing that was mind blowing.
In all fairness though, 4 ounces of this tea from Utopia Tea is only 10.00 so I really do not think that Utopia is trying to claim this is the best oolong on earth. I feel the price is by far fair for what you get here!
What this tea does offer is just what the description says, slight hints at vanilla with slight citrus notes, and a nice background of some spice and nuttiness. I added the note on nuttiness. There is the typical roasted flavor of oolong but it would fall on the lighter side of roasts.
A good tea for the price, excellent for serving cold or to guests who are not tea perfectionists. Great to serve with meals or drink by the tons while working.
Fruity Sangria from Utopia Tea
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Fruit/Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Utopia Tea
Tisane Description:
Inspired by the traditional red-wine Sangria, our Fruity Sangria consists of elderberries, citrus, and lemongrass creating a flavorful cup. Fruity Sangria has large amounts of antioxidants and prevents cell damage. This beverage is great to drink anytime of the day and is wonderful over ice!
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
Yikes! Hibiscus!
Actually, the hibiscus isn’t too bad here. It mostly affects the color of the brewed liquid, which is a deep, ruby red color. As long as you don’t steep it too long, the hibiscus doesn’t become syrupy … I steeped this for six minutes, and I wouldn’t recommend steeping it any longer than that. Now, it isn’t syrupy or too tart, but, I can sense from the texture and the taste that if it had gone much longer, this would have been a syrupy, tarty cup.
Overall, the cup is sweet – tart with an emphasis on the tart. There is an pleasant fruity flavor to this – I taste the elderberries and there is a fermented grape/wine-y kind of taste to it, with hints of citrus and berry throughout the sip. As it cools, I get more of the sangria kind of taste, and the flavor of the hibiscus seems to soften somewhat. This is much better as a cold drink than as a hot beverage.
It’s tasty, and I like alright. It’s not bad, but it’s not great, either.
However, I am aware that there are many out there that like the flavor (and health benefits!) of hibiscus, and I think that they’d really enjoy the bright citrus and berry flavor of this tisane. This may be right up their alley.
Strawberry Ginger Peppercorn from Utopia Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Utopia Tea
Tea Description:
Our Strawberry Ginger Peppercorn is a warming and fruity organic blend. The freshly hand-milled ginger and peppercorns give this tea the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. White tea contains an abundance of polyphenols, which are plant-derived antioxidants, lowers cholesterol, and protects the body against harmful free radicals. White tea provides the body with potassium, magnesium, calcium, vitamin C and K. Ginger helps the body with digestion, fights fevers, and soothes aches and pains. Try this tea hot or over ice!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This tea delivers exactly what the name of it promises: strawberry, ginger and pepper. But – for those who think it might come off as too hot or spicy, you needn’t worry. While this does have a certain peppery zing to it, it isn’t what I’d categorize as hot or spicy … instead, I’d say it’s got a mellow warmth to it that develops as I sip.
I think that this is due to the fact that the ginger here is not a peppery/spicy kind of ginger, it is more of a sweet, soothing ginger that complements the sweetness of the strawberry, which manages to temper the heat from of the spice. The pepper is a pink peppercorn, which doesn’t deliver that same peppery impact that a black peppercorn would, and I think that works to this blend’s favor as well, because a black pepper might overwhelm the delicate quality of the white tea leaves.
Instead, what you get from this tea is a beautiful medley of contrasting flavors. It is at once sweet and peppery with a hint of tangy tartness that tickles the tongue in the aftertaste. And what I like is that there is a certain balance to it all. The strawberry and ginger seem pretty evenly matched, with a touch of peppery heat … again, not too much, and the sweet white tea with its hints of fresh vegetative notes.
Overall, it’s quite lovely. Serve it hot to enjoy on a chilly evening, or serve it over ice for a refreshingly different yet delicious iced tea.