Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Tiesta Tea
Tea Description:
The 2008 World Tea Champion is a smooth and sweet blend of flowery fruit and sencha with a fantastic base that no one can resist. The synchronization of pineapple, passion fruit, and strawberry form a perfect fruity triangle.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh wow … this Fruity Pebbles Green Tea Blend from Tiesta Tea smells AMAZING! The dry leaf is very fragrant with floral notes and strong fruity tones. It smells like something you’d want to set out as potpourri to freshen your home!
I kind of chuckled when I read the name of this tea … of course, my thoughts turned to the popular rice cereal (which I LOVE but try to avoid because it isn’t the healthiest item in the cereal aisle, is it?) As I waited for the tea to brew, I found myself wondering just how similar it would taste to the cereal.
OK, so it doesn’t TASTE like the cereal. But, I can see the connection. The cereal is sweet and fruity … this tea is sweet and fruity too. But I like that I still taste TEA in there. There is a balance.
The green tea is soft and buttery, with subtle notes of vegetation that meld well with the notes of fruit and flower. I don’t notice quite as much of the white tea notes in this … the Pai Mu Tan is very subtle here, but, this blend would not be the same without it. It adds a lightness and a certain earthiness that directs the palate toward the “tea” notes, if that makes sense. The earthiness is what makes this taste more like tea than of a fruit drink.
The combination of pineapple, papaya and strawberry is delectable! It is definitely tropical-ish because the pineapple and papaya are strong here, but they do not overwhelm the delicious, sweet-tart notes of the berry. I like that I taste elements of each fruit in this tea.
The rose is a little less apparent, and its contribution is definitely seen and smelled more than it is tasted … but, there are very subtle floral tones to the taste and it really heightens the overall experience by adding just a hint of SOMETHING, you know? Just that subtle touch … makes a big difference to the cup.
I really enjoyed this tea immensely … I look forward to trying more of Tiesta Tea’s green tea offerings too … their Jolly Green Kiwi looks intriguing!
Organic Silver Needle White Tea from Nature’s Tea Leaf
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Nature’s Tea Leaf
Tea Description:
Organic Silver Needle White Tea has exquisitely shaped buds enveloped in white down. This white tea excites with its savory aroma, rich body and a sweet flavor with rounded finish that is soft and airy on the palate. White Teas which include our Organic Silver Needle variety are known to promote weight loss and stimulate the metabolism. This low caffeine antioxidant packed tea is delicious hot or cold and can be enjoyed any time of day.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I opened the pouch of this Organic Silver Needle White Tea from Nature’s Tea Leaf, I knew I was in for a treat. The dry leaf is so beautiful – so fluffy, so soft, beautifully pale green with silvery tips! – and the fragrance was sweet and fresh. The leaves look so fresh and perfect!
And the tea they produce tastes as good as the dry leaves look. Sweet with notes of light vegetation, and a hint of hay. I’ve compared the flavor of silver needle tea as the taste of the air that surrounds a field of freshly cut hay and that is true of this tea also. I love the fresh taste of this tea, it’s so crisp and pure and light!
And even though it is a delicate taste, there is a certain invigorating quality to it as well. It’s a gentle vigor, like something that softly calm and relax you while still allowing you to maintain a certain level of alertness. It doesn’t leave me feeling overly stimulated – most white teas don’t! – but, it isn’t something I’d necessarily drink right before bedtime as it may cause me to stir a little longer than I want to when I try to get some shut-eye.
I prefer a high-quality Silver Needle tea like this one to be served while it is hot, although it does make a very refreshing iced tea as well. It doesn’t need sweetening – I find that adding sugar or other sweetener to a delicate white tea will overwhelm it – instead, allow the natural goodness of this tea to come through unadulterated.
I love this Silver Needle from Nature’s Tea Leaf … and I’m LOVING that it’s organic! Another great tea from this company – if you haven’t tried anything from them yet, I highly recommend visiting their site the next time you’re in need of some top-notch teas!
White Persian Melon from Golden Moon Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Golden Moon Tea
Tea Description:
First in the world to find flavored white tea, Golden Moon Tea presents rare white tea enlivened with the nectar of succulent melon. This luxurious delicacy is light, refreshing and exotic.
Ingredients: White Bai Mudan Tea Scented with Sweet Melon Nectar
WHY IT’S SPECIAL:
** Persian Melon has a flavor that is a mix between a cantaloupe and a honeydew
** Uses the flavor of the Persian Melon, which is a popular flavor in the Middle East
** Emits a sweet and refreshing aroma of freshly cut melons
** The subtly of the White Tea base allows the Persian Melon to shine
** Fantastic iced
WHAT TO BE CAREFUL OF:
** This tea is only for those who love cantaloupe and/or honeydew
** The Middle Eastern Persian Melon is rarely found in the U.S.
** The melon flavor is assertive, yet balanced
** White Persian Melon has low amounts of caffeine
** Recommended for up to 3 steeps
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
White Persian Melon from Golden Moon Tea is one of my top five favorites from this company.
There is just such a light and lively flavor to this delicate Bai Mudan. The aroma is sweet and juicy fresh and reminds me of why I am longing for summer.
This tea is so excellent iced but also wonderful hot.
I love cantaloupe but unfortunately eating it gives me a headache every time, but this tea I can drink endless amounts of with no nagging headache. Perhaps this is due to it being Persian melon and not cantaloupe but the flavor profile is very similar and I can get my cantaloupe fix this way. It is a little lighter than cantaloupe though and I see where the description of a mix between cantaloupe and honeydew comes in because honeydew to me was always a bit more watery in flavor.
White Persian Melon also has a tad bit of a wine like flavor to me, almost bordering on a brandy like essence which I really enjoy.
As the tea cools even slightly the sweetness peeks out more. I would not personally add sweeteners to this tea although I could really see the flavors explode with it, especially a sweetened iced tea. I just usually try not to add sugar to my tea and I really do not feel this one needs it. I can see how adding sugar could take it from this light refreshing state to a decedent dessert tea.
Unfortunately I only have a sample of this one, thanks to a Steepster.com friend, but this is one I plan to order for summer time sipping!
Organic White Delight from The Rabbit Hole
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: The Rabbit Hole
Tea Description:
White chocolate melts into juicy raspberries to deliver a smooth and creamy drop. This tea is delicious hot or iced and is a refreshing alternative to fat filled desserts.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh wow! YUM! This Organic White Delight tea from The Rabbit Hole is true to it’s name, it is definitely a delight!
The dry leaf looks really appealing with its large shreds of coconut and dried raspberries tossed with white tea leaves. It brews up very light in color, but certainly NOT light in flavor!
Yes, it is a delicate tea (most white teas are!) but, that doesn’t mean it’s flavorless … just the opposite! There is a whole lot of yummy going on in this teacup! The overall flavor is sweet and creamy, with notes of chocolate (YES, chocolate!) and raspberry. The coconut adds more of a creamy tone to the cup than a strong, distinctive coconut taste. That is to say that this doesn’t taste strongly of coconut … although if I really focus on the sip I can taste a very faint coconut-y taste. Instead, the coconut seems to enhance the creaminess of the cup.
The chocolate is distinct, however, and you know me … I like it when the chocolate is THERE. And it’s there! The description suggests a white chocolate flavor … and yes, I do taste white chocolate, but, the chocolate tastes just a little richer than white chocolate. Imagine white chocolate with creamy milk chocolate. That’s what I taste here. And it’s delicious!
And you might be thinking that the white tea is overwhelmed by these other flavors – but it isn’t! I taste the creamy, sweet, slightly vegetative notes of the white tea here. There is a really lovely balanced taste with this tea. It is flavorful while maintaining its light, refreshing taste.
This is really good served hot, but I allowed some of it to cool because I was in the mood for some iced tea (It’s getting warmer!) and it tastes AMAZING iced! This tea is a winner. I’m not surprised – The Rabbit Hole seems to offer nothing BUT winners! If you love chocolate teas – add this one to your shopping list!
Doke Organic Silver Needle Second Flush from Driftwood Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Driftwood Tea
Tea Description:
This second flush Doke Organic Silver Needle White Tea shows how this family run garden is constantly innovating (Chinese Silver Needles are only harvested once per year). Like most second flush pickings these loose leaves are slightly darker yet, here this simply concentrates the delicious white tea flavours – a truly extraordinary Silver Needle tea.
Key Flavours: Soft dried fruits – apricots and peaches – hints of straw and a delicate sweet long lasting aftertaste.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Doke Organic Silver Needle Second Flush from Driftwood Tea offers a crisp, clean, and juicy sweet cup.
It seems that it has been a long time since I reviewed a white tea, or at least a straight white tea. This tea from Driftwood is a nice reintroduction to a quality white tea.
The mouthfeel is what I can only describe as medium, not light yet not heavy, it is somewhat brothy but it has a very nice cleansing effect on the palate.
There is a slight drying sensation in the after effect of the sip.
The natural sweetness is delicious but I find the fruity notes very light, more apricot than peach on my palate.
The straw note is stronger than the fruit note but it is a sweet straw which makes for a contemplative cup.
This tea is quite grounding and I find it would be good for meditation relaxation.
I must admit this is not my all time favorite tea from Driftwood tea, but then again they have so many teas I have throughly loved, and obviously white tea is not something I drink a lot of. I enjoy it, but have to be in the mood for a straight white tea.
With that said, this is a very unique white and I respect that Driftwood Tea takes such great care in selecting cherished teas for us to purchase.
You can read more about Driftwood Tea and its founder, James Henderson Robe, here.