Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
This here is some stunningly good stuff! We’ve blended organic honeybush with sarsaparilla root (who knew it was spelled that way? I mean, really, how do we get the common pronunciation from THAT spelling?), marshmallow root and organic flavors. This is delicious and refreshing. I dare you to get some and tell me I’m wrong.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
After I brewed this Sarsaparilla Float Honeybush Blend from 52Teas and started sipping, I tried to figure out what I thought about it. Did I like it? I didn’t really have an immediate answer for that. But now, the cup is nearly finished and I’ve not even written a whole paragraph. So, I’m guessing that yeah … I do like it.
I’ve had the root beer blends that 52Teas has created in the past and quite enjoyed them. And when I think “sarsaparilla” – I think “root beer.” But this tastes different than the root beer blends I’ve had. It certainly has some similarities to the root beer teas of the past but this tastes somewhat earthier than the 52Teas I’ve had before. This almost tastes like something I might buy off one of those old-time medicine wagons or perhaps something I ordered at an old tavern filled with cowboys.
Not that I’ve ever bought anything off of one of those old-time medicine wagons or had anything to drink at an old tavern. I’ve never even seen an old-time medicine wagon except for on television and the only thing that would resemble an old tavern is the Western bar photography props at Knott’s Berry Farm. I spent a lot of time there as a kid growing up in California.
But let’s get back to this tisane. I’m definitely tasting a root beer like flavor here, although it is more earthy, as I said. I taste a woodsy note and a hint of the nutty, honey-esque notes from the honeybush. At first, I wasn’t sure if I liked the way the root beer-y, sarsaparilla notes played with the honeybush, but now, I think I do.
As the tea cools somewhat, the float-ish type flavors start to emerge more, I can taste the fluffy, creamy vanilla notes and it’s quite yummy.
So getting back to my original question. Yeah. Yeah I like this. It’s different than I was expecting, but I like it … and as I sip it, I kind of feel like I should be wearing a cowboy hat and boots with spurs on ’em. And knowing me, I’d trip over the spurs and hurt myself. So maybe I should just stick to my Vans. What can I say? I’ll always be a California girl at heart. And by feet, too, I guess.
Be sure to stay tuned for an announcement concerning 52Teas. My previous Kickstarter didn’t get fully funded, so I’ll be launching another Kickstarter soon! I hope you’ll help me take over 52Teas!
Cinnamon Apricot Iced Honeybush Tea from Southern Boy Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: Zoomdweebies
Tea Description:
Organic caffeine-free honeybush with organic sweet cinnamon and apricot flavors. This is a tea the whole family will love. We made a similar rooibos blend with these flavors for a 52teas blend years ago. It was my wife’s favorite and received the name, “Sheri’s Blend”. One of our tea bar customers took one sip of that tea and exclaimed, “It takes just like Christmas!” Personally, I think this honeybush blend is even better.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I remember really liking the Sheri’s Blend from 52Teas which was a rooibos based blend with the same flavors of apricot and cinnamon. And as weird as it is for me to admit, I think I liked that blend better than I’m liking this Cinnamon Apricot Iced Honeybush Tea from Southern Boy Teas.
Maybe it’s the “iced” part, because I am of the firm belief that I prefer honeybush over rooibos so I don’t think that’s the issue with this. Then again, maybe it is the rooibos – maybe rooibos just goes better with the apricot and cinnamon flavors than the honeybush does. I don’t know.
Don’t get me wrong, I do like this tisane. It’s tasty. But its not as tasty as I remember Sheri’s Blend being. I remember tasting a good, strong flavor of apricot that tasted true to the fruit, and here, I’m having trouble finding much apricot flavor at all.
The cinnamon is really dominant in this blend. I taste mostly cinnamon and it seems to be masking the flavor of the apricot a bit. After drinking about 2/3 of the glass, I start to pick up on the apricot notes, but they’re still not as strong as I’d like them to be.
The cinnamon is the top note, with mid-notes of honeyed nutty flavors and a low note of apricot. It’s a tasty blend, but if you’re looking for a strong apricot flavor, this tea isn’t bringing that for me. But if you like a really nice cinnamon flavor that’s a little sweet and a little spicy – kind of like the cinnamon you’d sprinkle on your breakfast toast – this tea delivers!
Overall, a tasty iced tisane, but I’d like it better if the apricot were more pronounced.
Ginger Ale Iced White Tea from Southern Boy Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Zoomdweebies
Tea Description:
Our amazing organic shou mei fannings blended with the organic flavors of ginger and bergamot. We think it makes the ultimate tribute to ginger ale. But what do you think?
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve been back and forth with this Ginger Ale Iced White Tea from Southern Boy Teas. I like it … but I find myself not as happy with it as I was with the original Ginger Ale. I don’t know if it’s because that tea was crafted with Bai Mu Dan and this is Shou Mei.
Or maybe it’s because since having tried that Ginger Ale tea, I’ve been exposed to a few really awesome ginger ale sodas that have knocked my socks off and perhaps my expectations of ginger ale are higher now. Perhaps those experiences have raised the bar for me.
That’s not to say that I’m not enjoying this. I find it tasty and very refreshing. We’ve had some rather warm weather here lately (sorry for those of you who aren’t getting that same warm weather!) and this is really nice for when I need something cold and tasty that will quench the thirst.
Still, I find myself tasting a little more bergamot than ginger and I’m wishing that the ginger had just a wee bit more bite to it. I guess it goes back to what I was saying before, some of the ‘gourmet’ ginger ale sodas that I’ve tried in the last few years have been absolutely outstanding and I find myself wanting that kind of flavor.
Overall, though, if you enjoyed the first Ginger Ale tea from 52Teas, I think you’d enjoy this. It’s tasty. I found that I enjoyed the second half gallon pitcher of the tea more than the first – so, this is one you definitely want to resteep!
This review will publish at the very tail end of Southern Boy Teas’ Indiegogo Campaign to raise funds to build the brand. Support this small business and help it grow!
Golden Monkey Champagne Black Tea from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
Here’s an awesome Golden Monkey black tea blended with marigold petals and organic champagne flavors. Not only that, each pouch contains a unique fortune for 2015. We are only making 70 of these, so get yours today.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
It’s been a while since I’ve had a sip of champagne. As I’ve said before, I’m just not all that big on drinking alcohol. (I’m a TEA-totaler!) But this Golden Monkey Champagne Black Tea from 52Teas is a nice way to enjoy some ‘champagne!’
First of all, I have to mention the fortune! What a fun idea! I liked opening the pouch to discover what my fortune for 2015 will be. Here’s what mine said:
This year: someone will do something “for all the tea in China” and then have a monopoly on Chinese teas.
Yeah, it’s a little corny and silly, but it’s fun. It’s a little ‘out of the box’ and that’s what I’ve come to love about 52Teas – the whole concept is a little out of the box! A different tea every week? That’s a little crazy! But it’s crazy good!
And that’s why I want to keep 52Teas going. Check out my Kickstarter campaign and help me keep this company going – I need your support! Every little bit will help!
But, let’s talk more about THIS tea, shall we?
The base of this tea is a Golden Monkey, and it’s delicious! It’s rich, robust, and full-flavored. It has chocolate-y notes along with that earthy, leathery flavor that I’ve come to love about a Golden Monkey. A hint of smoke in the distance. Undertones of caramel. It’s very smooth and has a pleasant, thick texture to it. There is some astringency at the tail but it doesn’t disrupt from the enjoyment of the overall flavor. It’s not bitter. It’s just really, really LOVELY!
The champagne flavors have been added in a smart way – they don’t go overboard. They’re not too much. It has a light, champagne-y flavor that complements the overall tea. I can taste the champagne but more importantly, I taste the nuances of the Golden Monkey and when you have a tea like this Golden Monkey – you WANT to taste it! I like how the champagne is represented here, in a way that I can taste it (it’s especially noticeable in the aftertaste) but not so much so that it overpowers the excellent flavors of the tea itself.
This is a really enjoyable cuppa. I’m surprised that more people haven’t grabbed this one up! It’s a really lovely tea.
Lime Gelatin Salad Iced Green Tea from Southern Boy Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Zoomdweebies
Tea Description:
Grandma’s Jello!
Okay, but seriously, This is a tea that combines all of the goodness of lime gelatin, pineapple and marshmallow without forcing you to stare down the quivering mass that looks like something from outer space. When these flavors combine with our sweet, buttery Chinese sencha fannings, well, trust me, this is a tea that will blow you away.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Mmm! Lime Jello was one of my all time favorite teas from 52Teas, and I loved Southern Boy Teas’ black tea version of the Lime Jello too. So, I felt very confident that I’d love this Lime Gelatin Salad Iced Green Tea from Southern Boy Teas too.
And it is YUMMY! I have to admit that it isn’t quite as tasty as I remember the original Lime Jello tasting. It’s still really good though. Very refreshing. The flavors are delightful with bright notes of lime that’s sweet with just enough tart to keep it from tasting too sweet.
I also taste a little bit of marshmallow in there. The pineapple is a little more difficult to pick out. It doesn’t just jump right out and say “hello, I’m pineapple.” But you taste something a little different, something that’s fruity but not quite lime and after a while, my taste buds start to recognize it as pineapple.
This is a really enjoyable iced tea. I like that it’s sweet without adding anything to it – you don’t need to add sugar or other sweetener to this tea. It’s really enjoyable as it is.
And what I really LOVE about the green teas (and white teas) from SBT is that you can resteep the bag with no loss in flavor. Actually, I find that the second pitcher is even tastier than the first!
Please take a moment to check out Southern Boy Teas’ Indiegogo Campaign – they’re looking to take their teas to new heights and could really use your support!