Josie Jade

This tea looked really good to me when I saw it in one of Teavana’s emails. I love marzipan teas and the rose petals and candied violets decided it for me. The ingredients list rose petals, but I didn’t see any in my bag, and the only candied violets were in one large, kind of strange-looking, clump. The tea liquor smells amazing – all warm marzipan with a really nice sweet floral note. The flavor is lightly of almond and it’s the strong floral finish that leaves the most impression. I really can’t detect any cinnamon at all. Adding sweetener alone seems to only bring out an artificial over-the-top floral-sugary taste, but adding milk and sweetener brings out a more toned down floral flavor and also creates a little creaminess for the almond marzipan base. I will admit that I am a little let down by this tea, I was hoping for a bolder flavor instead of all of the fake floral notes. I don’t dislike this tea, but for the rather expensive price I probably won’t be purchasing any more.

-Dry blend has small black tea leaves, orange petals, pieces of almonds and purple candied violet pieces.
-Dry blend smells nutty, sweet and slightly floral. Tea liquor aroma is of sweet marzipan with a floral hint.
-Tea liquor is a medium orange brown color.
-Faint almond flavor with a strong floral finish.
-Best with milk and sweetener.
-Good tea. Weak almond/marzipan flavor. Floral notes are slightly artificial.

I had high hopes for this tea when I discovered it at Tin Roof Teas. I love fruit-flavored black teas and I love this tea store also. The dry leaves smell just like raspberry yogurt and the tea liquor aroma smells like warm, tart and sweet raspberries. In the past I haven’t really loved this tea, but after experimenting I’ve found that I enjoy it with just sweetener added, which enhances the berry flavor. If milk is added it brings out the creamy, yogurt flavors, which I apparently don’t enjoy as much. This tea would probably be excellent iced as well. I am surprised that I don’t love this tea more, especially since other reviews compared it to Tower of London by Harney & Sons, which I love. I think the Tower of London blend has more of a honey flavor to it, while Anna’s is obviously a yogurt flavor and that may explain my non-love for this tea. I like it, it’s enjoyable to drink (maybe just not every day), but it doesn’t compare to Tower of London in my book.

-Dry blend has black tea leaves and pieces of green raspberry leaves.
-Dry leaves smell like creamy raspberry yogurt. Tea liquor aroma is of warm, sweet raspberries.
-Tea liquor is a medium golden brown color.
-Light malty flavor with a hint of fresh raspberries. Nice, tart finish.
-Best with sweetener. (Milk brings out yogurt flavor).
-Very good tea. Nice tart raspberry flavor with the addition of sweetener.

I’ve had this tea for forever and this is my first time trying it. It was one of those teas that I was so sure of in the store that I just had to purchase it, but after getting home I would smell it and be like why did I buy this again? I used some of this in the 12 days of tea gift that I made for my Mom for Christmas and this was her most favorite out of all the teas, she absolutely loved it. The dry leaves smell overwhelmingly smokey, and I’m not quite sure if I’ll like that as a flavor or not. There is a nice hint of vanilla and berries in the smell also that makes it nice. The flavor is overwhelmingly woodsy with a very strong smokey finish. The berry and vanilla flavors come out more as the cup cools, and there is a nice tartness to the berry flavor. I just can’t get past that lingering smokiness that is left in my mouth! Although I probably will be giving the rest of this bag to my Mom, I wouldn’t mind having a mug of this tea to enjoy outside at night around the fire pit. Unfortunately we don’t use our fire pit very often, so I won’t be purchasing more any time soon!

-Dry leaves are small and black with a few dried fruit pieces.
-Dry blend smells very smokey with an undertone of berries and vanilla. Tea liquor aroma is strongly smokey.
-Tea liquor is a clear dark brown color.
-Strong, woodsy flavor with a hint of berry tartness. Lingering smokey finish.
-Best with sweetener.
-Good tea. Intense smokey flavor. Vanilla flavor becomes more pronounced as the cup cools. Sweetener enhances the nice berry flavor.

I a few samples of The Republic of Tea’s chocolate rooibos blends that I am excited to try. I have a hard time making myself switch from strong black teas to caffeine-free teas in the evening, and I am hoping that these delicious-looking blends will help. The teabag smells chocolatey and has that sweet odd scent from the rooibos. (I’m not a huge fan of rooibos, but am trying to be open minded!) The flavor is alright, it is kind of subtle. I added a little sweetener as I hoped it would enhance the sweeter flavors and also some milk as suggested, but both of these overwhelmed the tea. I was hoping for a more smooth and creamy cup. Although it’s not as good as I hoped, it’s still a nice caffeine-free cuppa for before bed, but probably one that I wouldn’t necessarily purchase a full tin of.

-Round natural unbleached teabag.
-Teabag smells of chocolate and rooibos. Tea liquor aroma is of sweet, warm red velvet cake and icing.
-Tea liquor is a deep reddish-brown color.
-Light chocolate flavor with a mellow red velvet finish.
-Best with a small amount of sweetener. (Milk overwhelms the delicate flavor.)
-Fair tea. Very thin and weak flavor. No creamy cake-like flavor as expected.

I suppose I am having my own little “Sipdown Saturday” today, in between furiously reading Anna Karenina! This tea came to me from Nicole (thank you!) and it smells heavenly. I love anything coconut flavored, and have had a few other coconut oolongs in the past that have been quite nice. This tea is very pretty in it’s dry form – nice, big olive green twisted leaves. The flavor is wonderful, nice and smooth and nutty, with a touch of natural sweetness also. It is not artificial-tasting like some coconut-flavored teas often are. This is my first experience with Queen Mary Tea, but I would certainly order from them after experiencing this tea. They have a very nice website, and their tea room looks so very cute. If I am ever in Seattle I will definitely be dropping by!

-Dry blend has large, twisted green leaves with a few twigs. Leaves unfurl during steeping to large, full-sized leaves that float to the top.
-Dry leaves smell of creamy coconut with a hint of sweetness.
-Tea liquor is a clear, pale yellow color.
-Smooth coconut flavor with a creamy mouthfeel. Lightly sweet finish.
-Best with a little sweetener.
-Very good tea. Sweetener brings out nutty flavors. Very light and satisfying.

I received this tea in the mail today from a swap with nwolf93 and am so excited to try it! It smells good – really sweet with a touch of cinnamon. I’m not the greatest fan of cinnamon, but this tea seems like it has just enough to give it a little spiciness to compliment the other flavors without it being overwhelming. I was worried to see that the tea appears to be a little thin after steeping, but the flavor is perfection – very creamy with marshmallowy goodness. David’s Tea absolutely hit the nail on the head with the flavor and name of this one! I added milk and sweetener, but this tea is so sweet by itself that it would probably be best with milk and just a little sweetener next time. I’m very happy I received this one in the mail today, as it’s a perfect tea to enjoy on a rainy day. Now if I could only build a fire inside and make some smores to go along with it!

-Dry blend has black tea leaves, lots of twigs, tiny marshmallows and pieces of brittle. Marshmallows partially dissolve during steeping.
-Dry blend smells very sweet, like vanilla icing, with a hint of cinnamon. Tea liquor aroma is of warm sugar and cinnamon.
-Tea liquor is a cloudy medium yellow color.
-Toasty with a creamy marshmallow flavor. Sugary-sweet finish.
-Best with milk and sweetener. Not much sweetener is needed.
-Very good tea. Very warming on a chilly day or as an after-dinner dessert tea.

I received a sample of this from Serenity, along with her high recommendations for this tea! I have been waiting for the perfect moment to make a cup, and with today’s dreary weather and two unwatched episodes of Downton Abbey on DVR this is that moment! I had to give my little Chihuahua some allergy medicine, and our Greyhound is on pain medicine after her dental cleaning, so they are both sound asleep next to me and the house is nice and quiet at last! :)

This tea is really good! I followed Serenity’s instructions for 2 tablespoons of tea and also added some milk and sweetener. It is a nice, strong black tea with a slightly florally-sweet note. It leaves that black tea aftertaste in my mouth, which is just perfect. I think that after a cup of this tea I will be rejuvenated enough to get some more of my english homework done, yay! This is definitely an ideal tea to start the day with, and so onto the shopping list it goes!

-Dry blend is a mixture of black, brown and green colored leaves.
-Dry blend smells malty and a little floral. Tea liquor aroma is malty and musky-floral.
-Tea liquor is a dark brown color.
-Strong, mouth-filling flavor. Slightly astringent. Delicious malty finish.
-Best with milk and sweetener.
-Very good tea. Rich and robust. Very satisfying as a morning cup.

I am finally getting around to trying this sample that Nicole was so kind to send me. I accidentally (kind of) fell asleep while I should’ve been studying earlier, so now am a bit groggy and need a tea to wake me up so I can get back to my stacks of homework. This tea has a nice, very light fruity scent. I added a little sweetener to this tea, which seems to help to bring out the faint fruity flavor. As soft as this tea’s flavor is, I don’t think that it would stand up very well to milk. The fruity flavor tastes mostly of mango and apricot to me. Overall, a pretty good cup of tea to wake up from a nap!

-Dry blend has tea leaves and a few twigs with small blue and yellow petals. Petals expand during steeping.
-Dry leaves smell lightly of sweet fruit. Tea liquor aroma is of mangoes.
-Tea liquor is a clear orange color.
-Warm fruity flavor with a somewhat malty undertone. Smooth, honey-like finish.
-Best with a little sweetener. Milk would overshadow delicate flavors.
-Good tea. Sweetener brings out banana flavor. Would be perfect as a fruity iced tea during the summer.

This is my second (or is it my third?) cup of Columbia Rose today. I am obsessed, I think this is the tea that I have been waiting for all of my life. It has a delicious hearty black tea base with sweet vanilla and rose notes – seriously perfect. No trace of bitterness, and it is very forgiving if you forget and let it steep too long. It also takes milk and sweetener very well and actually enhances the flavors. I have so many other new teas that I need to try but I just keep coming back to this one because I can’t get enough of it. Big thanks to Serenity for introducing me to my most favorite tea EVER!

-Dry blend has black tea with pink and yellow rose petals. Petals float to the top during steeping.
-Dry blend smells strongly of vanilla with a floral rose scent. Tea liquor smells of malty vanilla with a hint of roses.
-Tea liquor is a medium amber color.
-Strong malty flavor with a touch of vanilla. Lingering rose finish.
-Best with milk and sweetener.
-Excellent rose tea. Perfectly flavored!

I received some of this in a surprise tea package from a tea friend and was very excited to try it! I love finding good caffeine-free teas to drink at night, so I am not tempted to drink heavily-caffeinated black teas right before bed. This one is pretty good, a little more lightly flavored than I was anticipating, but I can try steeping it for longer next time. It has a warm honey-like flavor that is very good and soothing, and would be ideal for a sore or scratchy throat. Thank you Serenity!!

-Standard teabag.
-Teabag smells of licorice and honey. Tea liquor aroma is of warm honey.
-Tea liquor is a medium brown color.
-Honey flavor with a floral spicy finish.
-Best with sweetener.
-Good tea. Lightly flavored, but soothing.

This tea smells heavenly, very minty with an almost creaminess to it. The flavor is really good also, it is very sweet on its own and I am always happy to discover a new tea with that quality. (I’m a true Southerner – I love my tea very sweet and add sweetener to almost every tea). What struck me most about this tea is that it has a smoothness to it, that reminds me a little of Mandarin Silk from the Persimmon Tree Tea Company.

-Dry leaves are long and wiry with fluffy marshmallow root.
-Dry leaves smell very minty and sweetly of vanilla. Tea liquor aroma is of warm, sugary vanilla.
-Tea liquor is a clear yellow-green color.
-Clean and refreshing minty flavor with a sweet finish.
-Best with a small amount of sweetener.
-Very good tea. Almost sweet enough without additional sweetener. Smooth mouthfeel.

Sipdown! I can’t remember if I actually drank a cup of this before from my 12 Days of Tea pack? I had a blank tasting note for it and just enough to make a little less than 2 cups today, so did I actually drink a cup or just think about drinking a cup? Hmmm. . .I think if I had a cup I would’ve finished it before today – it’s really good! I kept forgetting that there was cheesecake in it and could only really taste it in the aftertaste when I added milk. It’s a cup full of pumpkin spiciness (reminded me of pumpkin pie) and a sweet caramelly flavor. This may just be my favorite 52 Teas blend yet!

-Dry blend has medium black tea leaves and yellow and orange petals.
-Dry leaves smell of sweet caramel and pumpkin spice. Tea liquor aroma is of pumpkin.
-Tea liquor is a medium orange color.
-Caramel flavor with a strong spicy pumpkin finish. Slight cheesecake aftertaste.
-Best with milk and sweetener.
-Very good tea. A cup of creamy pumpkin with a caramel sweetness!

I was craving something sweet tonight and as soon as I saw my little sample packet of David’s Banana Nut Bread I knew that this was exactly what I wanted. The smell from the open packet made me think instantly of something salty and sweet (almost like a chocolate covered pretzel), and I got really excited. After steeping, the tea liquor was really, really pale in the cup (almost clear) and I got a little nervous. The initial flavor was more like that heavy bread taste than bananas or nuts, but as it cooled it became sweeter and more nutty. Once I added in sweetener and the banana flavor came out I became completely satisfied. This is a pretty good tea, maybe not one I would have every day but I may buy some just to keep in my stash for nights like this where I’m craving something sweet without all of the calories (or caffeine!)

-Dry blend is made up of pieces of dried fruits and nuts. Fruits plump up in water.
-Dry blend smells salty-sweet and nutty. Tea liquor smells like warm nuts.
-Tea liquor is almost clear, with a pale yellow tint.
-Bready flavor with a nutty finish. Sweetener brings out more of the banana flavor.
-Best with sweetener.
-Very good tea. Lightly flavored. Initial taste is more of bread than bananas, but sweetener brings out a nice banana finish.

It was with a touch of sadness that I opened up the last surprise pack from 52 Teas’ 12 Teas of Christmas to find this blend. I enjoyed a pot of this as I was making Christmas dinner with my Mom and I did savor the minty freshness of it. I am very sad that the fun of the 12 Teas of Christmas is over, but all good things must come to an end. I will be looking forward to next year’s countdown of teas all year!

-Dry blend is basic black tea leaves with pieces of green peppermint leaves and white marshmallow root.
-Dry blend smells strongly of peppermint. Tea liquor aroma is malty with a slight hint of mint.
-Tea liquor is a medium brown color.
-Heavy, malty flavor with a creamy mint finish. Marshmallow flavor more noticeable as tea cools.
-Best with sweetener.
-Good tea. Marshmallow adds a touch of creaminess to a standard minty black tea.

My fiancée surprised me with a box of this for Christmas. I LOVE everything from Harney & Sons and was really excited to try this one. I think I must’ve not steeped it long enough the first time I made a cup, because it was very weak and I was a little disappointed. This morning I decided to give it another go, because you just can’t give up on Harney & Sons. I made sure that I timed it for exactly five minutes and the result is much better. There is a taste of orange and light spicy taste is noticeable in the background. The flavor is really light – this is definitely not an “in your face” type of tea. If this was decaf it would be perfect for a cup right before bed. Since it’s not decaf, it will be good as an afternoon cup by itself. Not one of my favorites, but I’m happy that I was able to try this one!

-Standard teabag.
-Teabag smells like spicy orange and clove. Tea liquor aroma is spicy.
-Tea liquor is a cloudy dark brown color.
-Fruity citrus flavor with a clove cinnamon finish.
-Best with milk and sweetener.
-Fair tea. Mellow flavor, mostly of citrus.

After enjoying the other Celestial Seasoning’s holiday blends that I tried, I decided to pick up a box of this as well. I enjoy the flavor of pumpkin, and really love pumpkin pie, which a couple of the reviews for this tea said it tasted like. You can definitely detect a pumpkin flavor in this tea. There is a surprising element of spiciness in this tea also, actually a lot of spiciness, almost like the finish of a very strong chai. There is also a really sweet element to this tea at the end, almost like a sugary sweetness, I can’t quite put my finger on it what exactly it is. I’m really happy that I got a box of this and I think a latte with this would be the ultimate pumpkiny goodness!

-Regular teabag without a string.
-Teabag smells of spices and ginger. Tea liquor aroma is of warm pumpkin pie.
-Tea liquor is a thick very dark brown color.
-Artificial gingery pumpkin flavor with a sweet stevia finish. Spicy aftertaste.
-Best with milk and sweetener.
-Good tea. Sweet and spicy pumpkin flavor.

I have a sample pack of this from one of the David’s Tea crackers that my Mom and I opened on Christmas morning. I’m in denial that Christmas is already gone for another year, so I decided to enjoy a cup of this today to prolong the Christmas spirit for a little longer. This blend smells really minty and vanillaish, and is so cute with the teeny-tiny candy canes. David’s Tea must employ some cute little elves to make candy canes that are so delicate. The tea itself is a little bitter at first, but after adding some sweetener and a little milk the flavor becomes creamy and delicious. The black tea base is stronger than I expected it would be, and it adds a nice, malty undertone beneath all of the sweeter flavors. I will have to remember this tea for next year, this is one that I could drink every day during the holiday season to get in the Christmas spirit!

-Dry leaves have pieces of peppermint leaves and tiny candy canes. Wet leaves reveal partially dissolved candy canes.
-Dry leaves smell minty and sweet. Tea liquor aroma is minty with a hint of orange.
-Tea liquor is a light brown color.
-Slightly malty flavor with mint and a cinnamon-orange finish.
-Best with sweetener, milk optional.
-Very good tea. Perfectly sweet without being too minty. Adding milk makes a creamy cup.

I got a tin of this for my Mom for Christmas and we had a cup after dinner tonight. It is delicious, with a creamy flavor that reminds me of black cherries. I let it cool a little as we took for the dogs for a walk and it was still very good even after it cooled down. Great cup of tea to end a beautiful Christmas Day!

I got a tin of this for my Mom for Christmas and we’re having a cup of it after opening presents. I also received some as a gift from a friend in teabag form. Both are excellent versions of an earl grey tea. I like that the black tea is very robust and mouth-filling and that the bergamot is balanced just right, not too overwhelming. It has a great strong earl grey flavor and is perfect with a little milk and sugar. Merry Christmas indeed!

-Standard teabag.
-Teabag smells strongly of bergamot. Tea liquor aroma is of malty bergamot.
-Tea liquor is a cloudy medium brown color.
-Bold malty flavor with a nicely balanced bergamot finish. Lingering lemony bergamot aftertaste.
-Best with milk and sweetener.
-Excellent tea. Strong black tea base with a perfect bergamot flavor.

I loved the original cotton candy blend from 52 Teas, so I was excited to try this one as well since blueberry is one of my favorite flavors. The dry leaves are fruity and blueberry smelling. The tea liquor is a golden yellow color and the flavor is really delicate. I can definitely taste the blueberry and the light sweetness of the cotton candy comes through at the end. This one is better as it cools down. At the first sip the blueberry flavor tasted a little artificial, but this lessens as it cools down slightly. This is the perfect tea for Christmas Eve Eve!

-Dry blend has medium green rolled tea leaves. Tea leaves float to the top while steeping.
-Dry leaves smell like sugary blueberries. Tea liquor aroma is faintly of blueberries.
-Tea liquor is a clear medium yellow color.
-Slightly artificial blueberry flavor with green tea. Light sugar and berry finish.
-Best with sweetener.
-Fair tea. Very light blueberry flavor. Little cotton candy taste.

I love the cute little kitten on the label of this tea, and I smiled as I was opening the packet. The dry tea smells very strongly of lemon, almost like a creamy lemon aroma from a lemon cake. The color of this brewed tea is a pretty pale (almost clear) yellow. The flavor is very light also, with only a wispy touch of lemon present. It is much better with sweetener, which brings out some of the marshmallow flavors. Overall, a very light and delicate tea. I can imagine I would enjoy this best during the summer, as it is very refreshing.

-Dry blend has medium size green tea leaves and pieces of white marshmallow root and lemongrass.
-Dry leaves smell like lemon cake. Tea liquor aroma is faintly of creamy lemon.
-Tea liquor is a clear pale yellow color.
-Soft lemon flavor with a smooth finish.
-Best with sweetener.
-Very good tea. Delicate lemon cake flavor.

I will admit that I wasn’t terribly excited about this one when I opened it. I’m not a huge fan of honeybush, but I did get a little more interested when I smelled the tea. It’s aroma is really sweet and fruity, exactly like bubblegum. I brewed it for 6 minutes and the tea liquor smells the same as the dry blend. This tea is really flavorful – very fruity and leaves a sweet taste (again, like bubblegum) in your mouth. I think it reminds me of that zebra-striped gum that i had as a child!? This isn’t one of my most favorites, but my fiancé loved it!

-Dry blend is finely chopped honeybush with a few pieces of dried fruit.
-Dry leaves smell like fruity bubblegum. Tea liquor aroma is sweetly fruity.
-Tea liquor is a medium brown color.
-Very sweet flavor with a fruity finish.
-Sweetener optional.
-Fair tea. Slightly artificial bubblegum flavor. Very sweet without any added sweetener.

I’m a bit behind on my 12 days of tea, but I’ve been a little busy and this just means the fun will last longer! This one smells amazing when you open the package. Takes me back to going to the county fair as a child and getting a big wand of pink cotton candy. The flavor of the cotton candy really comes out once you add a little sweetener. It also becomes more flavorful as it cools. I want to try a cup of this iced!

-Dry blend has large black tea leaves, large blue cornflowers and a few orange safflowers.
-Dry leaves smell like sweet cotton candy with a hint of black tea. Tea liquor aroma is sugary sweet.
-Tea liquor is a clear golden yellow color.
-Soft cotton candy flavor with a short sweet finish.
-Best with sweetener.
-Very good tea. Smooth and lightly flavored cotton candy taste.

I saw some of the Celestial Seasonings teas while out shopping and decided to pick up two flavors after reading some of the positive reviews on Steepster. I made this tea as a to-go cup for my fiancé yesterday and he called and said that it was filling his car up with a wonderful smell. I decided to have this tea as my first cup today and it has not disappointed me! The smell is wonderful – like a cup of vanilla-nutty-sweet goodness. The flavor is yummy too; it is less sweet than it smells, but is still a tea that would be enjoyable without sugar as it is sweet enough on its own. There is a heavy marzipan-like flavor that finishes with a sweet vanilla note. This is a tea that I may need to stock up on as it would be good all year round!

-Regular teabag without a string.
-Teabag smells sweetly like vanilla icing. Tea liquor aroma is of sugar and cinnamon.
-Tea liquor is a cloudy dark brown color.
-Marzipan nutty flavor with a sweet vanilla icing finish.
-Best with milk and sweetener.
-Very good tea. Marzipan and vanilla icing flavor.