El Monstro

The description the company gives is pretty accurate on this one; I don’t have much to add. Refreshing, a very good version of what I think of when I think of the classic tea taste. This would also make a great iced tea no doubt.

Pretty good, I mostly taste coconut, cinnamon, and a little pepper. Theres something else that almost tastes lemonish in the background? Maybe that is the rooibos. I prefer this with a splash of milk, doesn’t really need any sweetener…it has a sweet aftertaste on its own.

Smells like dark chocolate with a little bit of smoke.

Taste is pretty robust and reminds me of a lot of the UK breakfast blends, and the smoked smell comes through on taste as well…almost like a less smokey lapsang. There is a faint note I’m getting in the background that is kind of maple like as well. After it cooled way down it actually kind of tastes like some white teas I’ve tried. Good tea at a good price.

Pre-steeped it has that cocoa smell common in Chinese teas.
That changed the second I steeped it, the smell and taste here is pretty unique. I guess the closest thing I would compare the flavor to is grilled artichoke, and/or maybe marinated olives? Rich and robust, kind of surprised others found it mild. Creamy mouthfeel. Held up well to multiple infusions. A winner for sure.

I’ve been very interested in trying this one for awhile. Smells very cocoa-y in the bag similar to most Yunnans I’ve tried, BUT also has a crisp freshness to it, almost lemon-like.
Taste makes me think of minerals/hot rocks, ripe green grape, and light hints of cocoa, maybe citrus. I also get the “linen” note mentioned on this company’s website. Silky, refreshing and enjoyable mouthfeel, no bitterness or funky aftertaste. I’m liking this more with each sip. Second steep is just as good as the first. Shall I go for a third? Why yes, I think I shall!

After going through a bag of this tea over the past few months, I find it is a nicely refreshing contrast to some of the “darker” tasting, robust teas in my cabinet (not that this is what I’d call a light tea, it is just a nice change). Great with or without sweetener.

The Lapsang blends in nicely with the other teas in the mix, giving a nice smoked taste that compliments rather than dominates (I usually don’t like anything with Lapsang in it). Rich and robust, I accidentally put too much sugar in the first cup, but the tea wasn’t even phased. I let it steep for a long time, and it wasn’t bitter, which is always a plus. This is perfect tea for a cold rainy day…which just happens to be today. My uncle said it tastes kind of like scotch to him.

Mild. Reminds me of high quality chinese black tea in that I’m picking up that cocoa-esque scent and taste, except more understated I guess? One other thing of note here is the aftertaste is pleasing and velvety-smooth…not bitter at all like some teas. Now that I’ve had more of it, it has kind of a unsweetened cookie dough like taste to it.

Smell in the bag makes me think of cocoa, honey, and caramel.
Steeped: it smells rhubarbish.
Taste: This is really good. Kind of citrusy, with a little bit of natural sweetness. That rhubarb like smell is also there on taste in the background. Clean mouthfeel, goes down easy…I want another cup.

Balanced, I can taste the tea base pretty well. The bergamot isn’t overpowering like it can be in some teas.

This really got my attention on first sip in a good way, tastes like clean, fresh hops to me.

Mild. Reminds me of high quality chinese black tea in that I’m picking up that cocoa-esque scent and taste, except more understated I guess? One other thing of note here is the aftertaste is pleasing and velvety-smooth…not bitter at all like some teas. Now that I’ve had more of it, it has kind of a unsweetened cookie dough like taste to it.

I’ve been looking forward to trying this one for awhile. Before steeping I’m getting a deep chocolatey smell, with a fruity sweetness in the background. After I got it in the cup it smells like the yeast rolls my grandmother makes. The taste reminds me of buttermilk biscuits, with a hint of cocoa. It’s also tasting vegetal as it cools. Mild lingering tang in the aftertaste. This is good, and I suspect I’ll like it even more with a shorter steep next time.

First steep: Lightly vegetal, minerally, and has some natural sweetness, no sugar needed (for me at least.)

Second steep: I’m picking up floral (almost jasminey) and somewhat nutty notes. Very good oolong.

Smelled like it was going to be strong, but it ended up being pretty well balanced after I steeped it. Taste to me is buttery, with a faint grassy note that is just right.

Has that chocolatey smell and taste I usually associate with Yunnans, however this is the smoothest one I’ve had thus far. Also has a bit of a sweetness going on in the smell and taste, kind of makes me think of figs, and maybe even spaghetti squash. In addition, I’m also getting a bit of earthy-mineral notes. Great tea. I prefer this one with a little sugar added.

Probably the best bagged tea I’ve had, and the price is right. It is pretty strong. I tend to give it a short steeping time of about 30 seconds, add a little sugar or honey, and it is consistently good that way.

Smells like lemon or lime lollipops to me (no alliteration intended, haha). Initially tasted the same, but now after a couple minutes I am starting to detect the tea in there too. I wasn’t sure on the first couple sips, but after finishing the cup, I like it.

I usually mix some of this into whatever I am using for iced tea, and it adds a mild flavor that makes me think of apricot/peach candy or jams. The scent makes me think of Summer.

This brings to mind mint chocolate chip ice cream on smell, and I was pleasantly surprised to see it tasted the same. This could also pass for mint cocoa if I didn’t already know I was actually drinking tea.

Doesn’t taste too vegetal or grassy to me, which is a good thing. Tastes smooth and smokey. I didn’t bother sweetening it; it is good just as it is. The people I shared it with enjoyed it as well, including people that “don’t usually like green tea.”

Smells: vegetal, salty, and even sugary.
Taste: Very interesting-
I was skeptical a tea could taste “buttery” after reading some of the other reviews on this, but it does remind me a little bit of buttered shellfish (in a good way). I’m also getting a mild grassiness, and faint sweetness. I got this in a sample, and will have to buy some more and experiment with different temperatures and steep times. Overall I think this is a winner.

Man this tea has a lot going on. Out of the myriad of flavors going on I mostly taste cinnamon and a roasty nuts. Has a red color to it that I assume comes from the beet.

Taste and smell is mostly cinnamon and tea, but it’s not overpowering. Smoother mouthfeel and taste than most of the other chais I’ve had. It reminds me a bit of a lot of christmas blends I’ve had. In latte form it’s good, and probably in my top 3 chai latte list. As it’s cooling I’m starting to taste more of the pepper.

Smell: All Berry.
Taste: This is totally reminding me of all of the berry bubble gum I loved as a kid, bringing me back in time. I don’t really taste any of the maple syrup in here, but then again I don’t feel like reaching for the sugar; this seems sufficiently sweet by itself. I don’t like many fruity flavored teas, but I would re-order this.