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I’m not having much luck on the matcha front today. I was still craving an iced matcha, even after the lemongrass fiasco. I should have grabbed one of the flavors I know I like (grapefruit or english toffee), but instead grabbed this one. I made it hot a few days ago and it was ok. Not good or bad, just ok. Today I made it iced. It’s definitely better hot. I don’t really taste the butter cookie. Just a sweet vanilla flavor with a really strange aftertaste. Like its been sweetened by something artificial. I’ve almost got it covered up by a combo of almond, coconut, and regular milk, but it sneaks through. I don’t know if I just don’t like the black flavor or the butter cookie flavor. Either way, I think I’m sticking with green matchas from here on out.

Okay, I need to go find to a reliable tea from my favorites cupboard to help me recover from the disappointing start to my afternoon tea.

Oh no. This is not good. Not good at all. When I opened the bag the smell wasn’t too pleasant but I was hoping this would be one of those teas that has a strange aroma, but a good flavor. Not the case. This is just weird. And I really love lemongrass and lemongrass sodas. Shoot.

The boss man is out of town for the weekend with his cycling team doing a training camp of sorts. I’m at home. On the sofa. It’s totally quiet. The kids are in bed. I need something incredibly indulgent to celebrate. Enter Tisano Cacao “tea”.

This is a funny drink to call tea, but I’m not one to argue semantics, it’s a plant product, so cool, it’s an herbal tea. It also gets the title of my new favorite herbal tea. Holy smokes. I love super duper dark chocolate, think one notch sweeter than baker’s chocolate. This tea is actually a little sweeter than even that, but it is so rich and smooth with absolutely no additions. The only addition I added was some Hojicha in my second cup to add a little extra roastiness to it.

Ahhh… alone on my couch, the tv all mine, no one making any requests of me, and this cacao tea in my hand. Shhh…. I’m savoring.

I stared at my tea cupboard for awhile in a daze this morning. I still can’t taste much so I needed something strong flavored. I really wanted something spicy but the only truly spicy tea I have is the Butiki’s Winter fire, but I wanted something rich and possibly chocolaty. I thought about going crazy and mixing a few together but knew I’d end up with something too strange to enjoy. Suddenly I saw a tiny little sample tin in my sample drawer that I barely ever notice anymore because its made with chocolate and puehr. Two things I thought I didn’t like.

It was finally time to give this one a go. And man. This is a keeper. It is very similar in it’s bready cinnamon quality to my new favorite cinnamon swirl bread, but then has a thick chocolatey layer on top. And the best of all, it has some chili’s in there to add some kick. Nothing nearly as hot as winter’s fire (which I really enjoy) but the flavor is there and lingers just a bit. I really like this and will be adding it to my regulars list. I can imagine sitting by a fire during a rainstorm (I wish it was snow, but in Oregon, we get rain) and sipping on this all night. Love.

Update: Steep #2 Not as spicy or chocolaty, but still very cinnamony.

I couldn’t wait any longer to try this. The try my sizes are big enough to make at least 2 16oz mugs so I have some left for when I finally kick this cold and can truly taste it.

I’ve always totally disregarded any tea with any mention of chocolate associated with the flavor. I think I had a couple low quality, artificially flavored chocolate teas that made think chocolate and tea were just not a good combo. Seriously, like the left over milk from cocoa krispies mixed with tea. Gross. But then I tried the infamous Laoshan Black and Laoshan black chocolate Genmaicha and whole new world of flavors opened up.

So I decided to give Dark Chocolate Tea a try. The kukicha twig tea is what really sold it to me in the description. The roasty flavor sounded like an obvious compliment to dark chocolate. It’s also got Yunnan and a little nilgiri to add some complexity. And of course cocoa nibs. (I also just read the description again and there is espresso powder, that would normally turn me off, but I didn’t notice it at all)

Yum. I’m so thankful to have gotten over my fear of chocolate tea. This tea is so crazy tasty. Especially once it cools a bit. The chocolate flavor really emerges and the nilgiri and kukicha balance it so well. I’m so glad I have more to try when I can really taste all the flavors.

I wonder if it resteaps as well as cinnamon swirl bread. I doubt it, but I’m off to give it a try.

I’m in complete shock. Seriously. I made this tea because it was the only thing in my sample pouch that was totally herbal and I didn’t mind wasting if I couldn’t taste it. This was one of the samples I received with my David’s order. Not chosen by me. Nor would I have ever chosen a rooibos. I have never liked them. The after taste just kills me. But, wow, this one is really good! Maybe my cold is doing me a favor and blocking the aftertaste in which case it goes to show there is often a silver lining!

Anyway, I’m so glad I made this. Too bad there isn’t enough for another mug on a day I’m not sick. I don’t know if I would order it only because I’m not entirely sure of what it normally tastes like. Or maybe I should order some to have on hand for occasions such as this. Hmmm…

This cold has got me down. In the last two weeks, I’ve had the actual flu, which turned into a sinus infection and eye infection. Last friday I finally felt 75% better. Saturday morning I woke up with another cold. I fear this one is turning into another sinus infection. One of the many annoyances of being sick is that I have all these teas to try and my tasters aren’t working properly! I’m trying my best not to waste any new ones before I can actually enjoy them, but I couldn’t wait on this one any longer, and I was hopeful it would be a strongly flavored chai that would make me feel a tad bit better.

I made it using the stovetop method so that I had the highest chance of getting the most flavor out of it and added some milk and honey. This is an amazing chai. The spices are so perfect and I love that the ginger and peppercorn make it a little spicy. I wish I could taste the Laoshan Black underneath and but I’m sure that’s cause my taster is on the fritz.

I’m currently on my 3rd steep of this. For number three I added more water to the pan, brought it to boil and then covered it and let it sit while I ran errands. Still just as strong in flavor and spice. This time I used almond milk as dairy isn’t doing my any favors with my sinuses.

I think I’ll try for #4, cause, why not?

Wow! First tasting note for this tea. I feel so powerful!

I bought this matcha when I bought my first batch from Red Leaf last week. It’s not the first one I’ve tried, but the first one I’m writing about as it needs a presence on the site. I bought this as I love to drink grapefruit juice and tea in the AM, but sometimes the drinks don’t mix so well, one hot, one cold, one bitter and sweet, one vegetal. I’m not sure what made me think two things that don’t taste all that great together in two separate glasses would taste very good together in one glass, but alas, they do! The grapefruit flavor is spot on perfect. Not the sugary sweet canned flavor of grapefruit, but the fresh squeezed fully pulpy flavor. I feel like I’m actually drinking a glass of grapefruit juice. I will be restocking and having this for breakfast every day. I’m so happy with it.

Classic Base
Robust Flavor

Made using cold method and only water. The little dude asked if I was having bug juice for breakfast. Of course I said yes. I’m keeping this yummy secret only for myself for a while. I can see my husband hoarding in on this one.

Backlog from yesterday.

This another from sTEAp Shoppe and another winner. I don’t typically like citrus-y or fruity teas, but this mentions being good for when you have a cold and as I seem to be living in a period of neverending colds from the little creatures in my house, I thought I’d give it a go. Super glad I did. It tastes like a soothing lemony-apple cider, which is funny as there isn’t any apple in it anywhere. It must be the mulling spices that just make me think of apple cider. I really like the look of this too. Thew whole slices of lemon and lime are really appealing. I’m going to need to order more of this soon as I almost went through my whole sample pack yesterday and my cold is still holding strong. Definite winner.

This is my first tea from 52 teas. And it was a great one to start with. I made it with honey and frothed milk to make a latte and it was literally like drinking a cup of coconut cream pie. Glad I grabbed his last bag of this. Sorry guys ;-)

I’m glad to see he reblends the super popular ones. I’ll reorder this for sure.