KittyLovesTea

What a day…if there was such a thing as (pardon my bad English) shittiest day awards then today would be a winner. Nothing has gone smoothly and I am losing one of my jobs.

A nice tea latte can cure anything though and this tea makes an amazing vanilla latte. I don’t usually add sugar but since today was so trying I added a spoon of calorie free stevia to help drown my sorrows.

Tomorrow is another day…I would do well to remember that.

In raw form this tea has the appearance of rooibos but if you look closely you can see black pieces of Ceylon, a few violet mallow flowers and oh so cute star sprinkles in yellow and white.

As I opened the bag I experienced the pleasure of smelling it’s sweet almost vanilla scent with a touch of almond ..altogether it reminds me of marzipan or those sugar almond sweets.

Once steeped the tea is dark red in colour with a sweet almond candy smell. Yummy!

My first few sips reveal a light, sweet and creamy tea that really is reminding me now of sugared almond sweets that I used to eat every Easter. The rooibos is fairly thick but the added sweetness helps tone the flavour down. There is a vanilla like essence about it but yet it doesn’t actually contain any.

There are cakey elements too, the vanilla mixed with sugar and a slight depth of ceylon create a sponge cake like flavour. This tea would go so very well with a slice of actual cake.

Overall it’s a pleasant rooibos blend that remains sweet and delicious throughout. I can smile knowing that a moment on the lips, a life time on the hips does not apply to me with this tea so I get the goodness of something that tastes naughty matched with the goodness of 1 calorie.

For pictures and a 10% off voucher for Bluebird Tea Co. then please view my blog.
http://www.kittylovestea.co.uk/2013/04/02/a-sweet-tea-for-easter/

I have been loving this tea more and more as a breakfast based tea mainly due to it’s super rich maple syrup flavour. My Reddit Tea and Coffee exchange partner sent me 2oz of this tea :D

Anyone else pick out and eat the coloured maple leaf candies whilst waiting for the kettle to boil? Haha just can’t stop myself. Tasty.

I wonder if this would be possible to thicken up some how and pour over pancakes as a quick and easy solution to use when you run out of actual maple syrup?

My first try of this Thailand Oolong and lots more where it came from as I bought 100g bag of it. I’ve been drinking blends all day and I’m a little flavoured out and in need of something natural but warm. It’s freezing outside, more snow is due over this weekend. :( Coldest weather for March in over 50 years in the UK. It’s almost April and we have still not seen any sun.

The Oolong balls are large and a mixture if light and dark greens. Rather nice quality thankfully. :) Plus they have an earthen floral dark scent.

Steeping times are as instructed for my first steep
The tea forms a yellow colour with strong vegetal broccoli tones. Also a hint of flowers.

The first sips reveal a delicate, sweet, floral, broccoli tasting Oolong. Fresh and rich with just the right amount of buttery vegetable essence to make this delicious. There’s not an awful lot of dryness either which I’m really digging.

There is also a slight perfumey taste that has some sweetness with it but also a very green taste, more than broccoli… cabbage? peas? broad beans?

Overall it’s a very nice Oolong, quality and taste are good and it reminds me of something that I tried from Tea from Taiwan before. I got 100g but now I know I will have no problem in finishing this off in due time.

This is a strange tea…it comes in candy looking bright red granules that dissolve in hot water. From what I understand drinks like this are common place in Turkey but I don’t think it really qualifies as tea when really it contains just sugar, vitamins an colouring. More hot drink granules than tea at all, or at least for this brand.

The granules had a faint strawberry smell but artificial and sweet.

The tea once brewed is red/pink in colour with a sweet indeterminable scent.

Jumping Jeepers this is sweet! It’s like I just warmed a bottle of pop up and chose to drink that instead of actual tea. I had some Chinese ready made teas taste similar to this, it’s just sugar with a hint of a flavour but not enough to taste like anything else other than sugar. I’m not getting any strawberry or fruit at all just sugar.

It’s not bad tasting it just doesn’t taste of anything other than sugar. I think someone that likes sweet things would love this as a different kind of hot drink but it’s too much for me.

Ok imagine dissolving some nerds into hot water and you have this ‘tea’. Not worth rating and may have to throw the other flavours away.

No notes yet.

Does anyone else hoard pumpkin tea so they can enjoy it all year round? Well this is the last pots worth of Pumpkin Pie tea from 5 Teas that I have at home with a few cups worth left at work (for emergencies). I still have some of the caramel pumpkin pie tea left which I prefer but that still leaves me a little sad to say goodbye to the original.

I was also sure I did a review for this but Steepster tells me otherwise. Shame on me, my mistake. I can put that right.

In raw form this tea has small cinnamon stick pieces amongst the black tea leaves and it has a wonderful thick, earthy pumpkin scent. Smelling it takes me back to Halloween.

Once steeped this dark red brown liquid has a cinnamon pumpkin aroma that warms my soul by just smelling it’s warmth.

Imagine a slice of pumpkin pie sprinkled with cinnamon on top and that is pretty much what this tastes like. It’s dark and rich with little sweetness but enough and a large cinnamon kick adding a warm spiciness. A little of this tea goes a long way in essence of flavour and if anything were to receive negative marks it would be the mouth drying after taste.

Certainly not something to drink to quench ones thirst but more to indulge in a late Autumn feast. Like a time machine that can change your surroundings by the click of a kettle and submersion into hot water.

My second pot of tea today to help aid my completion of Bioshock Infinite. Apple tea in general is something I have a love/hate relationship with. It’s hard to find an apple tea that is just right without being too sweet or artificial. Plus I have to be in the right frame of mind to drink it too.

In raw form this blend does actually smell like apple pie. It’s a sweet apple with a toasted bread/crust aroma that reminds me of both apple pie and fruit loaf cake.

Once steeped the tea is dark mahogany in colour and a dark, spicy apple scent.

Flavours are delicate with a hint of a spicy after taste. The apple is clean, sweet and juicy with the almond giving the blend a sort of creaminess but keeping it light. A lot of the baked smell has gone since it’s steeped and it’s also not really there in flavour either so it’s more of the inside if the apple pie.

As far as apple tea goes for me this is a tasty spiced apple tea but lacks the baked goodness it’s raw scent offers. At least for me anyway.

Happy Easter Good Friday everyone!

I spent this morning snuggled in bed with my cat Ebony :) He is very loving and gentle, it’s put me in a good mood this morning. Yesterday was at a loss after having a severe headache from the moment I awoke until the moment I went to sleep.

First pot of tea is finishing off this lovely Earl Grey Creme which puts a little frown on my face :( but I have way too much Earl Grey on my shelf already. While it will be missed it will soon be replaced.

Still…vanilla in Earl Grey is always a winner.

See my previous notes for taster review

No notes yet.

In raw form this blend is a wonderful mixture of black Ceylon, large pink/red raspberry pieces and plenty of green chopped raspberry leaves. All being the three first noticeable ingredients. Aesthetically so it looks natural and oh so good.

As I opened the packet I was greeted with a raspberry and strawberry jam like scent that was thick and very sweet.

Brewing Method: Teapot with infuser

Water Temperature: Boiling

Steeping Time: 5 Minutes

Once steeped this tea is orange in colour with a sweet and rich berry jam aroma, much like it’s raw form.

My first few sips reveal a sweet yet mellow, berry jam fruit punch that has little tartness and leaves a clean, fruity after taste. There is also a slight darkness to it which may be the Ceylon and a coconut creaminess which make this more than just a fruit tea.

The more I sip the stronger the coconut essence becomes and it just seems to get creamier and creamier whilst staying light.

Victoria Sponge Cake? I would say so, as near as a tea can be to the real thing. It’s the next best thing which is almost calorie free. :D

I know what I will do next time I get a cake craving, make myself a pot of this tea before crashing on the sofa with my feet up to indulge to my hearts content.

For pictures and a 10% off code for Bluebird Tea Co. please view my blog.
http://www.kittylovestea.co.uk/2013/03/26/cake-cravings-vicks-sponge-cake-tea-will-cure-them/

No notes yet.

No notes yet.

That’s the last of this sample gone and I have plenty to replace it with. Even though I am not a Leo I love orange and thought I would try this whilst I had the opportunity to via swap with Courtney.

More vanilla than I remember but still nice, especially for a rooibos.

For detailed notes please check my previous posts.

Good morning everyone. I have managed to get the day off work (WOOHOO!) so I can relax and have another tea crazy day. I’m going to start off with a morning tea.

In raw form this tea has a spicy citrus smell and is rather twiggy and large in appearance.

Once steeped this tea is yellow in colour with a sweet lemon grass and ginger aroma.

In flavour there are strong lemon tones (particularly lemon grass and lemon verbena) with a spicy undertone of ginger which over all creates a stimulating and warm blend. The mate is rich but is covered nicely by the mix of flavours and would be suitable for those that are not keen on it’s robustness.

The flavours mellow rather quickly so you’re left with a refreshing and mellow lemon flavour in between sips. I believe the ginger works very well with the lemon and it would also be a great drink if your coming down with a sore throat or cold.

One cup down and I am buzzing like a very happy bee. (buzz buzz buzz)
It tastes nice and gives you the caffeine kick it promises. Well done. :)

In raw form you have a wonderful blend of brown/red Rooibos pieces with a generous scattering of yellow calendula petals, finely chopped green stevia leaves and some rough cut but small pink and white pieces of rhubarb.

As I opened the packet I was met with an amazingly strong aroma of rhubarb that has both sweet and sour tones but also an element of creaminess. It’s one of the best smelling teas I have ever experienced.

Brewing Method: Teapot with infuser

Water Temperature: Boiling

Steeping Time: 6 Minutes

Once steeped this tea is red/orange in colour with a pure rhubarb aroma that reminds me of the old penny sweets I used to have as a child.

The first few sips reveal a sweet yet creamy rhubarb taste that is mellow and oh so yummy! It not only smells like the penny sweets but also tastes like them and all in one low fat drink (estimated at just below 1 calorie per cup).

Suitable for those that are not a lover of rooibos, the rhubarb takes away the odd chemical taste that it naturally has and just leaves it’s sweet and light goodness.

It’s also clean and smooth tasting with just a touch of tartness from the rhubarb that blends in very well amongst the sweet elements.

The more I drink the more I find myself falling in love with this unique tea and the smile on my face is beaming. It’s also a hit with my husband who is a coffee person.

I would recommend this tea to anyone that likes rhubarb, childhood sweets or is simply looking for something tasty and unique to try.

For more information and pictures please view my blog:
http://www.kittylovestea.co.uk/2013/03/24/rhubarb-custard-tea-ooohh-my/

My last pot of tea before bed time. I can’t remember the last time I had this tea..must be a few months ago now. The tea bag doesn’t reveal much in terms of ingredient quality or content but the flavour is quite nice.

It’s a subtle orange and floral mix that is light yet sweet and succulent. Not sure I would have chosen orange necessarily for a night time tea but since I am such a fan of orange I don’t mind it. My husband thought I got the wrong tea bags because he also associates orange as being an energizing taste.

There is also a touch of cinnamon that adds a touch of spice to the orange. It reminds me of a few Christmas teas I finished off in January.

The hubby is home but frozen to the bone and in dire need of a ‘cuppa’. We usually brew Earl Grey to share (it’s our favourite) but tonight’s pot is a twist on the classic. I don’t recall ever trying an Earl Grey with strawberry, papaya or lime before so I have no idea what to expect.

The blend has an amazing strong bergamot and sweet fruit (strawberry being dominant) aroma. Also the fruit pieces look a nice juicy red and yellow colours that add an aesthetically pleasing tea.

Once brewed this tea is burnt orange in colour with a sweet fruity yet dark aroma. The first few sips reveal an interesting Earl Grey blend. You can still taste the classic black tea and bergamot partnership but this also has sweet fruitiness and a rather tropical feel. The kind of Earl Grey I could imagine drinking on my own tropical desert island surrounded by bliss. It has a fair strength and remains smooth with it.

Overall it’s a very pleasant tea that any Earl Grey drinker would enjoy. There are enough classic notes to make even the most sophisticated drinker happy but enough sweet fruity notes to put a smile on the faces of those that like to ride on the wild side. :)

Unfortunately my area is under amber alert for snow blizzard warnings after experiencing the worst weather for March in over 50 years. What a nice welcome to spring that has been. A snow warning means it’s time to take advantage of the situation and curl up on the sofa with a blanket and a pot of tea to keep warm. A great excuse to double my tea intake. :D

Spiced apple tea is always warming and hearty which is something I could do with on this frozen night.

This blend smells amazing! You have the sweet and juicy apple mixed with spicy cinnamon and clove to create a very strong and potent blend of Turkish goodness. In appearance you have the wonderful mixture of green, yellow and red colours with the ingredients varying in size for a pretty contrast. Everything looks fresh and natural. :)

Once steeped this tea is yellow in colour with a strong clove and apple aroma. The first few sips reveal: clove, apple, cinnamon. There is also a sweetness from the apple to match the spices whilst leaving you with a clean after taste. This blend is warming and comforting without being too heavy or rich yet still full on flavour.

I will admit that I’m not a fan of cloves at all but there is no thick, sticky clove flavour that makes me pull a face like a child eating vegetables. Instead the clove is more refreshing and mellow which when paired with the sweetness from the apple just lifts it that bit more to make it clove-licious.

I can feel a glow of warmth already :) Super delicious.

Thank you very much Mike from Bluebird Tea Co for this sample. :) Your a star.

This is such an interesting blend and it sounds perfect to celebrate the start of my weekend with. What sounds better than brewing a pot of Elderflower Champagne tea before lounging on the sofa to recover from a busy week? (I do love my rhetorical questions).

In raw form this blend is a very lively mix of which I can see: small dark green/brown Oolong balls, large apple pieces, tiny yellow elderflower petals, nice green lemon verbena leaves and a few dark red hibiscus petals. The other ingredients are hard to spot but with so much going on it’s nice that I have been able to pick out the lot that I did. :) It has a herbal rather strong elderflower scent: that slightly tangy yet sweet essence.

Once steeped this tea is pale yellow in colour with a sweet, light, floral aroma.

The first few sips reveal a mellow, sweet, floral and fruity blend. Very similar to chamomile but with added undertones of flavour and naturally sweet. At first tasting there is a honeyed floralness that strengthens into a sweet, apple melody before smoothing itself out to leave a refreshing and fragrant after taste. As it strengthens the citrus really shines through over the apple and it becomes increasingly buttery from the Oolong.

Overall it’s a wonderful delicate blend and very fitting to it’s name. I feel very relaxed after my first two cups (like it’s already gone to my head). I would recommend this to anyone that likes elderflower, a creative blend that is certainly a very tasty one. :)

http://www.bluebirdteaco.com/products/elderflower-champagne.html

I am pretty sure I have tried Vietnamese tea before as I have vague memories of staying up late last year to watch Full Metal Jacket and drinking a pot of it. I searched my tasting notes but I have over 470 and I can’t find it amongst them or even remember where it would be from. I suppose that is something most people don’t know about me, I am very interested in the Vietnam war. I’m not saying that I agree with war at all but I am just drawn in to it like a moth to light.

My point from the above text is that even though I have tried Vietnamese tea I have no vivid recollection of flavours or smells so I will be going into this tasting session blind. I enjoy doing blind sessions sometimes because it’s the now knowing that makes it interesting.

In raw form this tea has a very earthy, musky, leather like aroma. Very potent and thick. The leaves are black/brown in appearance and have been chopped into small pieces with a few small stalk pieces amongst them. There are also dots of green and yellow leaves amongst the dark contrast. Everything I would expect so far from an Orange Pekoe (OP).

Once steeped this tea is burnt orange in colour with a malted, earthy, wooden and subtly sweet.

The tea tastes sweet, slightly citrus, earthy, woodsy and rich. The fist few sips start with a sweet velvety slight smokiness which progresses into a light wood that gets deeper and darker until you are left with a rich earthy after taste. It’s not particularly strong but it offers enough flavour to be pleasing.

It reminds me of a Keemun but with earthier tones or perhaps even a mil Yunnan. I don’t think it will be a regular purchase but I can certainly enjoy it whilst it’s on my shelf.

Hip Hip Hurray it’s the first day of spring today!!! Officially it is anyway according to online sources. I have been saving this Spring Blend for a few weeks now to celebrate with. :)

In raw form this tea consists of dark brown Keemun (Congou) leaves that are shaped into random knobbly pieces that have been mixed with tiny pinkish/purplish heather flowers. It has a sweet and fruity scent that resembles blueberry or possibly even raspberry (but less sour and more sweet). Yummy. (My husband said it smells like blackcurrant which I can smell so strongly now).

Once steeped the tea is burnt orange in colour with a super sweet berry aroma. Very blackcurrant like and thick now, like cordial.

In flavour this is sweet, berry, sour, rich, earthy and dry. The bilberry is the star of the show with it’s sweet and juicy goodness while the Keemun (Congou) adds an earthy depth. The balance is very nice and it lightens very quickly to leave a fruity dryness upon the tongue.

What a welcome to spring this tea has been, not only has it put a smile onto both me and my husbands face but it also brings back memories of berry picking with my family when I was younger.

Thank you Dinosara for sending me this tea. It’s one of those rare days where my husband asks for a green tea and tonight is the time to try this blend.

In raw form this Bancha looks to be a nice quality colour green but there are some stalks amongst the crisp dry leaves. Also if you look very closely you can spot a few sesame seeds resting at the bottom. It has a light floral yet slightly toasted scent with sweet highlights.

Once steeped the tea is light yellow in colour with a sweet yet light toasted aroma.

My first few sips reveal a sweet green tea that reminds me of sweet pea mixed with broccoli and a nutty, toasty touch that holds itself in the after taste. There is a little hint of something floral or perhaps even fruity which gives the tea a smoothness that slips down wonderfully. Bancha always gives me a dry mouth though after a few mouthfuls and I’m not overly keen on that feeling but taste wise it’s very nice.

Drinking green tea gives me a tea buzz every time and my cheeks have started to go rosy. :)

Thank you Courtney for this sample. :)

Goji berries are not something I have had many times but I do remember experiencing their sour almost cranberry like flavours before.

It’s been such a long day at work and all I want to do is wind down and relax. Something fruity sounds nice and so does the idea of drinking something pink (which this claims to be on the packet).

In raw form this tea consists of large dried fruit pieces, red goji berries, dark red hibiscus petals and little shrivelled yellow petals that look like marigold. Looking at the ingredients list that covers just about everything so you can just about see it’s entire contents from looks alone. It’s nice when that happens. As the pieces are large they look like a mix between pot pourri and trail mix.

In scent this is fruity and sweet with high apple and citrus notes with a touch of something floral. It’s very yummy and juicy smelling. I used to have a lip gloss that smelled similar.

Once steeped this tea is light pink (the same colour as watermelon juice) and has a very gentle fruity aroma with a slight bitter tang.

Yummy. I can taste the melon and the apple :) I love melon. The consistency is light and refreshing with natural fruity sweetness and just a touch of sourness in the after taste. Thankfully the hibiscus is on the light side. While it’s sweet it’s on the lower levels of it but perfect for those of us without a sweet tooth (per say).

I just thought…I don’t crave puddings a lot of the time…I crave the tea form of it instead. If only there was a cheese and onion tea to take away my love for crisps (chips). A moment on the lips a lifetime on the hips…I need to remember that.

Ok back on course. The more I drink the stronger I can taste the melon and apple medley which is at the perfect balance for me. I imagine this tastes amazing as an iced tea, alas I only had enough to sample one teapots worth with (I’m not complaining…if Courtney wasn’t as wonderful as she is I would never have got to try this). Just making a mental note that if I am ever lucky enough to get my hands on some more I will definably try it iced. Maybe even in a slushy style (crushed ice).

The goji or hibiscus is coming through a little more now to create more of a sweet and sour fruit punch. It’s something that I would no doubt love to try again and those melon mad fans (like myself) need to try this.

Look at me I have waffle on a bit, so I will leave it there. I shall just sit back and watch Star Trek – Deep Space Nine.