Meghann M

After reading so many tasting notes about so many fellow steepsterites getting colds, and stuffy heads, I figured this tea sounded like a good clear my head tea for this afternoon. Mighty Leaf claims this has a high dose of antioxidants and that is just what my body needs right now. I hope to make it at least through Christmas without getting sick. Only a few more days to make it.

About this tea, it certainly smells of lemongrass. The taste is sweet and grassy lemon grass with warm ginger running through it. I’m not getting much of the tropical fruits, but there is more to the tea, something that gives it a fullness on the tongue. I wish there was more of a tart citrus lemon to this, it is quite medicinal with just the lemongrass and ginger coming through.

I’ve been using this for iced tea, sometimes plain, sometimes as a base to blend in other berry or citrus tisanes. It was really good with the Lemon Youkou. Anyways, today, for the first time, I decided to try this hot. I was considering tossing the tea, because I was downright sick of it iced, but thought it needed a chance hot first.

My oh my is this a good breakfast tea. I added 1/2 teaspoon of german rock sugar and would have added milk, had I had any. This is mighty fine. Many more steps up from traditional lipton (thank goodness). I could see myself drinking this as a daily cup. It’s a nice pick me up. This tea may be just what I need to get into unflavored black teas. I feel another Harney order coming on! (black blends here I come)!

Finishing up this delightful sample from Laura R. I really enjoy the smooth sweet strawberry and the buttery sencha. I find this blend to be much more flavorful and the sencha more tasty than other strawberry greens I’ve tried. I would love to have more of this on hand in the near future.

I had such a strong craving for this tea last night, but as this is caffeinated, I opted to wait until morning. This is such a delightful tea. I love the brightness. Made a big mug to enjoy while being lazy and watching a movie. I can be lazy now that I’ve done the dishes, 2nd load of laundry is done and a cake is in the oven, and it’s only 7:30!

Another warming evening cup. I wish there was more ginger flavor and warmth coming through in this. Love the pineapple flavor and strength though!

Another Christmas tea sample from 52teas. There is such a strong banana aroma to this tea that I had to increase the rating from the last tasting. The flavor that comes through is a smooth sweet sencha with banana and light peach flavors. I really am getting banana candy taste in this tea. I used the whole sample (about 4 tsp) in a 3 cup teapot and steeped for 2 minutes. There were several floaty bits in this tea, but I blame my strainer as it wasn’t as fine a strainer as the IngenuTea strainer I usually use. This tea was very warming and exactly what I didn’t know I needed tonight. Very delicious!

Got a little behind on my teas of Christmas posts, as this is yesterday’s tea. I was so excited to open this sample as my 2oz pouch has long since been gone. This was one of my first teas from 52teas and still a very favorite tea to me. I love the strong black current aroma this tea gives off even though it is light and sweet in flavor. I find this bai mu dan base very fearful. Have a second steep cold brewing in the fridge to drink this evening.

Another tea of Christmas I’ve been slowly enjoying all day. I got to try a few sips hot, but forgot it on the counter before running errands this evening, so I’m enjoying it cool/room temperature this evening. I probably shouldn’t be drinking this caffeinated tea this late into the evening, but I don’t have anywhere to be early tomorrow am.

I agree with the others on the “thin mint” girl scout cookie semblance of this tea. I wish I had a little half and half to add to this as I think it would make a great chocolate mint tea latte. Delicious tea, glad I have enough for a few more cups:) Also glad this is from the permanent stock and I can add more to my shopping cart!

This has been a tea I am drinking every day. I hope Frank blends another amazing chai soon. Maybe that is what the special Christmas tea blend is? I can’t wait find out what that blend will be.

Another tea decupboarded. Received this from a friend. Not one I would choose to drink again. It’s pretty weak in flavor even though it’s bright in color.

Finished up this tisane I received from a friend.

After having Chai with Chocolate and Chocolate Cheesecake Chai, I had to revisit Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Chai. I enjoy the mixture of spices Frank uses in his chais. I haven’t found one I’m not in love with, even the spicy Mayan Chocolate chai. This tea has a strong, sweet vanilla flavor. I may have to pick up some star anise to make this my perfect chai, although I’m not sure how it would add/detract to/from the other flavors present. I just really enjoy anise in my chais (tazo full leaf chai is a favorite). I still haven’t figured out how to brew chai at home with milk, stovetop or not, but I do enjoy it neat with a little bit of sugar or honey. Thanks Frank for another winner!

Such a relaxing, calming cuppa. I really enjoy this tea. I look forward through drinking my way through the rest of the box. Yum!

Have this as part of a Mighty Leaf sampler I picked up. Their tea sachets are hand sewn around the edges and very pretty.

I grabbed this one in celebration of my Mighty Leaf order shipping (I had to get some Spring Jasmine, I was so impressed by this one in loose leaf). Also, in celebration of my Damn Fine Tea order shipping. Squeal…I love that I can track the ML order and am excited to get the awesome teas and even awesomer tins from DFT.

Back to this tea, it has the right flavor of bergamot for me. More citrusy orange than floral perfume. The black tea base is bright and a pleasant sip along with the bergamot. I could enjoy more of this, but will wait before ordering anymore. I would still like to pick up more of Lupicia’s Earl to see if it is still my favorite.

Another tea from the GM sampler. I used my Adagio tasting set to brew up this tea, and was impressed I was able to pour the tea into the cup without spilling most of it :) I love how these leaves unfurl, they get so large!

The leaves smell like rice to me, maybe rice steeped in coconut milk, but rice is the first thought that comes to mind. Brewed the scent is even stronger. It reminds me of the rice the Thai shop near my last job made. The taste is sweeter, has more coconut taste to it. This would be a good accompaniment to a homecooked meal of curry. I like how unique this tea is, I really haven’t tasted anything like it. It’s much different than a milk oolong flavor. I plan to try multiple steeps.

Didn’t realize I had so many teas left in my Golden Moon sampler! Picked this one out to go with a mediocre chocolate chip cookie this afternoon. This tea made the experience more than mediocre. There are sweet honey notes that I am really enjoying in this tea. I am getting something else too, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s a little woodsy, but not in the same way a rooibos is. I love being able to enjoy a black tea in the middle of the afternoon, and this one made for a tasty treat.

I’m really enjoying today’s tea of the day sample. The apricot and cinnamon are so rich and flavorful they really cover up the rooibos flavor I don’t enjoy. This cup is very warming, maybe the addition of the cinnamon is what makes it more warming. I enjoy 52teas apricot flavoring, as I’ve experienced it in apricot fusion, and it doesn’t fail me in flavor here. I must get more of this tea. This sampler has been a great way to taste teas I may not have purchased on my own.

I’m happy to revisit this tea as the 3rd tea sample in 52teas Christmas sampler. This time around I tried this tea black with just the slightest pinch of sugar. I really like how the sugar brought out more of the coconut and cream flavors. I think I prefer this with milk, as a LaTea, but it is a very flavorful coconut tea without the milk. Delicious.

Finished off the sample from the first day of Christmas. I like this much more with a shorter (5 minute) steep time. The woodsy rooibos flavor doesn’t come through as much.

I still love the scent of this tea. I let it hover right below my nose as I used the heat to warm my hands and the citrus and lemon balm scents to lift my spirits. So this all makes me happy, but drinking the tea is kind of meh. If anyone would like a few bags, let me know. I have a few to spare.

Since my Chai with Chocolate tin is still sealed, and this is half-full, I decided it was best to have this, and maybe compare the two after my previous cup. This blend tastes spicier than the Chai with Chocolate. I see more pods in it (is it cardamom that is in the green pods? I forget). I added just a pinch of sugar and no cream and really am enjoying this as a dessert tea. If only I had the decaf option available as well. I hear it was wonderful! As is, caffeine is fine as I don’t work early tomorrow. I’m hoping to get some reading done though!

On the 2nd day of Christmas..

Tea of the day from 52 Teas is Chai with Chocolate. I forgot how divine this tea is! I grabbed a gingerbread bagel and plain cream cheese at work to enjoy with this tea this evening. What a delicious pairing this was, the spices really showed themself in the blend with the molasses and gingery sweet bagel. I hope to enjoy a few more of these bagels with this tea as I will certainly be opening my 4oz tin I forgot I had this winter. Thanks for the reminder as to why I bought such a large amount of this tea! I can’t believe I went through this many cold days with out this chai, and I’ve had it all along!

On the first day of Christmas Frank gave to me, Pina Colada Honeybush as the first tea.

I’m so excited about this sampler package! I opened my tea when I woke up at the ungodly hour of 3:30am to find out what kind it was. I was very happy to see this tea in the package. I haven’t had this in several months and am happy to be able to revisit it today, as my stash had run out.

This smells like a very fresh batch, as it smelled more strongly of rum than I remember, such a treat for the middle of December, especially when it is in the single digits in IL. I steeped this tea longer than recommended (10minutes) as I was doing too many household chores to remember my tea :( This tisane is still good at 10 minutes, but the woodsy rooibos flavors I don’t enjoy are much stronger when steeped at this amount of time. I’m glad I have a few more cups to enjoy.

I can’t wait to see what tea will be in tomorrow’s package!

Forgot I had this in my cupboard. I love love love this tea, which surprised me at first as it is a rooibos blend. It just has so much wonderful coconut and amaretto flavor! I will savor this tea.