VegTea

I don’t think I would describe this as “lighter,” but it is lively. I can definitely taste the bergamot, but it seems to have more body than straight earl grey. There must be some assam – it is definitely malty.

I’m curious if there is a bit of lapsang souchong in the mix or not – there may be a hint of smokiness.

Had this again this morning. I think mint flavored hot tea may become one of my summer favorites – even though the tea is hot, the mint makes it refreshing. The second steep was tasty, too!

Still liking this blend very much for a smooth and strong morning cup of tea. I used slightly less rooibos this time.

It is tea, and right now in my afternoon slump, that is a wonderful thing. But, I’m glad I only have a few bags left so I can replenish my work tea stash with something more exciting. The cinnamon flavor isn’t very strong or spicy – it’s just sort of..there. Maybe it’s a bit stale? It has caffeine and is not unpleasant to drink.

Ok, I’m moving this one up a little. I steeped it more concentrated – maybe 6-7 oz. water, then added a generous spoonful of sugar and probably 2 oz. of soymilk. It is pretty good! I’m definitely tasting the vanilla more, and the tea flavor is nice and smooth. Maybe it was a bit oversteeped last time? This time I made a point not to go over 5 minutes. Even shorter might be sufficient. I recommend it, with some reservation that it might not be very good without milk and sugar.

I was so thrilled to find this at my grocery store – loose, for 99 cents/oz. I really like rooibos, and I wanted to get plain old rooibos for blending with other teas/herbs/flavorings. This is great on its own, or with a splash of soymilk. Nice earthy flavor and a subtle sweetness, like I would expect from a rooibos.

I wanted a little pick me up this morning, but I also wanted that smooth rooibos flavor (plus, I was excited to try the rooibos I found in the bulk tea section of my grocery store!). This was a pleasant surprise. I tried a 50:50 blend (1 tsp each in 10oz boiling water) — I thought the Assam would overpower, but it was the opposite. Next time I might try a little less rooibos. With a splash of soymilk, this blend made a nice creamy, full bodied cup.

A surprise in my lunchbox! I found this hiding in a zippered pocket. I know I haven’t bought this tea for at least a year, so it may be past its prime, but I thought I would give it a try. What a pleasant surprise! I forgot how much I like this tea. It is such a nice blend of green tea and herbal flavors. I might need to pick up some more, or figure out how to blend something similar myself. How hard could it be?

I bought this tea because I was in a pinch and really wanted a black decaf tea to have with chocolate cake. It served this purpose well, and was pleasant to drink with milk and sugar. The jury is still out on whether I really enjoy it. The flavor was a little odd – not as vanilla-y as I would have though, and reminded me a little of coffee although it wasn’t exactly bitter. I might prefer tea with a little vanilla extract, if I want a subtle vanilla flavor. I’ll give it another shot tonight, probably.

Just the pick-me-up I needed before running 13.1 miles this morning!

It is interesting to contemplate what the result might be if they supplied tea at the water stations.. ;)

I think this is pretty close. There might be another spice in the restaurant version, but then again maybe not? Also, I’m not sure if flowery orange pekoe is “authentic” – I’ll have to do some reading, or maybe the restaurant would tell me if I go when it’s not too busy. This attempt is delicious anyhow. :)

I steeped this attempt in about 12 oz water.

Oh, I keep thinking of dorky things to say about this tea:

The Earl’s better half.
Come see the softer side of Grey.

I think there were a couple more, but I can’t remember them, so I’ll spare you. :) But I am still enjoying this tea, and the novelty of having tea in my office at work!

I found a bag of this in my backpack – so, it’s probably 1-2 years old. I recently discovered the hot water dispenser at work, and it is so freezing in the AC I really needed a cup of hot tea. This was really a pleasant surprise. I really don’t remember liking this all that much when I first had it, but today it is great. The ginger (and perhaps other spices, as I see there are a lot of other ingredients) is coming through most strongly, but there is a nice fruitiness without being sweet. Perhaps it is the non-standard steeping conditions – less-than-boiling hot water in my stainless steel insulated mug.

I was excited when this tea popped up at my grocery store – something new! The flavor to me is mostly Assam, but quite good. I had it with a splash of milk.

Oh, and I forgot to mention – I bought a box of 50 bags for $5, so I would definitely say this is a great tea for the price!

Strong, malty, full-bodied flavor. Maybe a little bit of chalkiness, but not unpleasant. A good “up & at em” tea this morning. I had it with a splash of milk. Does anyone make chai with Assam tea? It seems like it would stand up to the spices well.

Nice smooth flavor. I brewed it hot, and added a splash of milk. Funny thing – I thought I was drinking Assam, and I thought there was something wrong with it since I wasn’t tasting the maltiness at all! Nope, Ceylon has no maltiness. Interestingly, there is something almost chocolatey about it. I’ll definitely be using this for blending with other flavors.

A very soothing bedtime tea. The flavors were nicely balanced – the mellow taste of chamomile, sweet peppermint, and a bit of zest from the lavender.

A fragrant Earl grey. A big cup of this tea was a great way to start my morning. Not weak, not bitter – just right for me. I think there might not be a lot of complexity to the flavor, but that’s ok by me.

Tea. Earl grey. Hot.

A bold cup, and I am really enjoying it. I agree with the description of malty. There is a hint of bitterness, but it adds to the experience. This is a good tea for the transition from lovely sleepy, sleepy dreams to harsh reality (can you tell I’m still waking up?). I probably wouldn’t drink it anytime other than breakfast, but it is a nice get-up-and-go sort of cup. I’m drinking it with a splash of milk, but the tea would be fine without it too.

Chamomile lovers only! Luckily, I am one. If you were expecting an intense apple flavor, this might be disappointing. The stronger flavor is a very soothing chamomile, and the apple is a subtle but excellent addition. The apple flavor isn’t “sour apple” or “apples and cinnamon,” but more mellow than either of those. This is one of my favorite teas to drink in the evening when I want a calming cup.

Maybe this is a no-brainer, but I realized that this tea is much better if you heat up the milk before adding. I’ve been adding cold almond or soy milk so I can drink the tea more quickly after steeping, but if the chai gets too cool, the flavors just don’t stand out as much anymore.

Still loving this. It is sweet, easy to drink, and a nice way to start the day.

A very refreshing, light tea, but not weak. It reminds me a little of Constant Comment, with the citrus flavors, but it doesn’t seem to have the bitterness, which is great. I like regular earl grey and was a little afraid this would simply be a watered down version, but this was a very pleasant surprise! Looking forward to having it again soon.

Very nice! I definitely got both the vanilla and spice flavors of this tea. I steeped this my usual way for chais – 2 tea bags in about 10 oz water, then add sugar and milk (in this case, I tried almond milk). Delicious. My first cup was probably a tad on the weak side, but still tasty. I would steep for at least 5 minutes – maybe longer. I didn’t get any bitterness at a bit over 5 minutes. I was afraid this might taste artificial, with the artificial flavors added, but it doesn’t really. Just a nice sweet and spiced cup.

One of my holiday favorites. Actually, I sort of wish I had some right now. This is one of the better flavored black teas that I’ve had – both the spices and the rum flavor come through nicely. I usually brewed two bags in about 10 oz of water, then added a bit of sugar and milk. I’m not sure I ever had it without milk, but I can say that you need a fair amount of sugar to bring out the flavors (as I’ve found to be the case with most chais). My attempts to reduce the sugar in order to be healthier were generally met with disappointment.

This is one of those teas I would drink for several days in a row, then start to feel a bit tired of it. Definitely a nice comforting tea to have around for wintertime, but I almost wish it were a year-round flavor. Maybe next winter I’ll stock up.