Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Kärma Blends
Tea Description:
Add romance to your day with our Apples and Snowflakes. Inspired by the season of fall, just the aroma of this tea is enough to put you in another world. Flakes of white mint candy add a sweet touch. We promise you will replace your apple cider with this one!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Wow! This tea is WONDERFUL!
The white tea base has a delicate flavor: soft and sweet. Not quite what I’d call “grassy” but more like a warm hay kind of flavor that complements the flavor of clove very well.
But what really knocks my socks off about this blend is the flavor combination of clove and mint. Mint tends to be a rather selfish herb and often overpowers the other flavors in a blend, but, the clove keeps it in check, creating a contrasts in flavors that is both cool and crisp from the mint and warm and spiced from the clove.
The apple starts out quite subtle, but as I continue to sip, I notice the apple more and more. By the end of the cup the flavors are a little like apple cider with a hint of mint. The overall flavor is something that is very familiar, but, at the same time, unlike anything I’ve ever tasted before. Very warm and cozy and absolutely memorable.
I like this one very much!
Winter Chai from Tea Forté
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Tea Forté
Product Description:
Classic spices familiar to chai drinkers evoke the aromas of the holidays in this crimson rooibos herbal.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Even though I’ve already tasted this tea and reviewed it, I received more of it as part of the Warming Joy Collection that I received, and enjoyed it so much that I decided to feature it again. 
Interestingly enough, when tasting it this time, it struck me as hauntingly similar to the Vienna Cinnamon tea (also from Tea Forté) that I reviewed just recently. Then, after reading through my previous review and the description and ingredients list on this tea, I realized that the cloves is what gives these two teas such a similar taste profile.
The overall flavor is sweet with a gentle, warming spice. The lemongrass plays to the fruitier tones of the rooibos, and helps brighten the flavors.
I think I’m enjoying this more this time around than I did the first time I tried it. It certainly has a comforting effect – it is warm and soothing – and it is a very welcome addition the the Warming Joy Collection!
ITFA Global Tea Taster’s Club, October’s Shipment, Part 1: SiaoSyue – Winter Jin Syuan
Leaf Type: Oolong
Produced By Dignitea Garden
For More Information, visit the Tea Farms webpage
About ITFA Global Tea Taster’s Club:
By subscribing to the Global Tea Tasters Club, you will receive tea from ITFA tea farms 6 times per year. Each time, we will select a different region to feature and as we grow in tea farm members, so will your tea experience.
Your tea will also be accompanied by info about the tea and the tea farms themselves.
To know where your tea is coming from, who has grown and produced it, to taste the difference in teas from around the world…what could be better?
Taster’s Review:
October’s shipment of teas for ITFA’s Global Tea Taster’s Club brought me teas produced in Taiwan. And when I think of teas from Taiwan, I immediately think Oolong! And, yes, this shipment featured three different Oolong teas (as well as one Black tea). Yay! I do love Oolong!
And of course, my favorite Oolong is Ali Shan! And so what better way to start off these tastings from October’s shipment than with an Ali Shan Oolong?
This Ali Shan Jin Shuan SianSyue Oolong from the Dignitea Gardens is the first tea that I selected from my October package, and it is LOVELY. It has a remarkably light roast to it, giving it a hint of nutty, buttery flavor without a strong roasty-toasty taste. 
It is remarkably fragrant, with a beautiful floral note that reminds me of something between orchid and lily. This floral note translates to the flavor, but while the floral taste is there, it is in keeping with the overall lightness to the cup, and does not overwhelm.
In one sip, I notice not only the delightful floral notes, and the nutty flavor, but hints of buttered popcorn, and a very subtle undertone of spice. For such a light tea, there is a surprising amount of flavor and body to the cup.
This tea is a perfect example of why I adore Ali Shan so much.
Holiday Fruit & Spice Blend from Mark T. Wendell
Tea Type: Black Tea
Where To Buy: Mark T. Wendell
Product Description:
A blend of select black tea leaves with orange pieces, bits of cranberry, ginger and cinnamon. A winter season favorite that is now available year-round.
Tasters Review:
I know Anne already reviewed this one about 2 weeks ago but I figured since the timing is right – being the holidays and all – and because this exceeded my expectations – I thought I would write about it as well!
Holiday Fruit & Spice Blend from Mark T. Wendell is better than I thought it would be! Sure, it smells just like you assume it would but this is a tasty flavored black tea…juicy cran and the spices are just-right! The draw for me on this one – is that the spices seemed to have been Taylor-made just for me! Okay…maybe not…JUST FOR ME…but the spice is done nicely and not over the top and the cranberry flavors are exceptional!
Winter Mint Tea from Octavia Tea
Tea Type: Rooibos
Where To Buy: Octavia Tea
Product Description:
WINTER MINT
100% caffeine-free red tea (tin)One of our best-selling teas, Winter Mint blends rooibos, sweet vanilla and a touch of chocolate-mint into a soothing treat and healthy alternative to dessert. Also called red tea, rooibos is rich in antioxidants and anti-aging properties.
NET WT (per tin): 4.06 oz (115 g)
- Rooibos
- Dried apple pieces
- Vanilla chips
- 100% organic peppermint
- Chocolate
- Natural vanilla flavor
This tea is made from 100% natural ingredients.
(Contains milk and soy products)
Tasters Review:
You may have noticed over the past week or two SororiTEA Sisters have upped the amount of Holiday Related Tea Posts! Well, indeed, we have! The Holiday Season is HERE afterall! To add to our ever-growing list of Holiday Teas or Seasonal Teas…Here is another one! One from Octavia Tea and it’s called WINTER TEA.
Winter Tea smells like Mint Chocolate Chip before infusion…right as you open the package. Post infusion smells like Vanilla-Chocolate-Mint-Rooibos.
Taste-wise is first and foremost Mint then Chocolate then Vanilla then Rooibos then spice then back to chocolate then Vanilla-Rooibos! Yup! It’s a great wintery rollercoaster of flavor folks! And I wouldn’t have it any other way! This has a lot happening here but everything follows suit with what you would expect based on the idea of this tisane and the ingredients!