Azzrian

Sandy thank you SO much for not only a generous sample but the cutest tin hand painted!!! Your such the artist – I can’t draw a stick figure so am always so happy to get something hand crafted from a friend! Thank you for the note cards as well your the best!
So onto the tea … I actually like it and I say that as I have become disenchanted with Adagio lately so this was a nice surprise!
Excellent ALMOND flavoring not cherry and I too sometimes can’t tell the difference lol but this one is almond all the way. :)
Pretty good oolong base as well.
Have had one of those days where I can’t really fully ENJOY a cup of tea so I have let this get cold (room temp) and still enjoyed it very much, then have re-heated it which does not work well with all teas but with this one it does, and very very yummy hot and freshly brewed!
For a chaotic day this has been keeping me sane!
Thank you again Sandy this was totally unexpected!
I will get ya back :)

Wow I can’t believe I have no tasting note on this one!
I had to go back to my roots of loose leaf today.
This is one of the fist loose leaf teas I ever had in my stash before I had a stash even!
I got this while in St. Louis for my daughter’s neuro surgery appt. (one of many) – we were lucky enough to be able to go to The London Tea Room! We all loved every moment of our time there – wonderful place!
This tea reminds me of the struggles we all went though and the good times as well.
We love St. Louis so many positive changes happened there for my Emma and our family!
Happy dance.
This tea is smokey and fruity.
It has a little bit of a Lapsang Souchong flavor to it but only slightly and please don’t be discouraged if you don’t like LS – London Tea Room does not even mention if the black base is an LS but I just sort of get that smokey thing from it – but only a touch. It is more sweet and vanilla.
Great berry flavor.
I do have to say I have never tasted anything else like it!
If you want something new and different in a black tea this is the one to order!

Yeah well ummm too tart for me – I had to add far too much sugar to enjoy it and then well it was far too much sugar.
I can tell there are some amazing flavors lurking in there waiting to take front and center stage but once again a good blend ruined by filler (hibiscus) SIGH.
Not terrible – I drank one full cup (6oz) but dumped the rest.
:(
Nonetheless I do want to thank Sandy I know I sound TERRIBLY ungrateful and I don’t mean to – it looks beautiful smells great and should be a wonderful blend I just can’t get past the tart. I have never liked tart much though not in candy or desserts or pretty much anything.
So Sandy thank you for being so generous to share this with me I do appreciate it. I have enough left for at least 2 or 3 more cups if anyone would like it.

A nice naturally flavored tea – meaning that I find no artificial flavors on my palate.
Strong but non astringent nor bitter black tea base which seems to hold up well to ice cubes if you want to ice your tea. I like this as often when I cold steep I still do not feel okay putting ice in my tea even with double leaf used.
Perhaps a Ceylon base although I am not sure of that.
I stepped a bit longer at 3:30 and it still is not bitter or astringent!
Made for an even stronger flavor without losing the flavor or the lychee or peach.
It is not an overly strong fruit flavor however so if you are looking for a strong fruit this may not be for you but if you like your teas lightly flavored with more of a good base flavor this IS for you!

I still love this tea its so light and refreshing especially compared to some other heavier oolongs. It is more roasted than the green oolongs obviously but the flavor palate is so light and fruity! Its a juicy tea and while it has the earthy rock mineral flavor which I love it also makes you feel as if you just bit into a juicy ripe peach or something.

Sitting here with the Lady this morning enjoying an always satisfying brew.
Trying to wake up – at least she is waking me up gently. :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapacho

I used to drink this a lot until I gave it all away to a friend who had another friend who was ailing from something. She thought it might help her. I have no idea if it did or not.
I am one of those people who believe in tea’s medicinal qualities, as well as herbal healing etc however that is not my primary reason for enjoying and drinking tea.

Still I felt it fair to post the link above so those who are inclined can learn more about Lapacho.

This is a very nice tea – lapacho or otherwise it is very well blended with excellent flavorings! Just like a creamsicle with a light peppery bite.

This may appeal to Missy and Dylan or anyone who enjoys a chai. While it is not a chai and does not have most of the flavors IN a chai it is somewhat spicy although not overly so and has a great earthy base from the lapacho.

This reminds me of walking in the woods sucking on a fresh orange with that little added kick of vanilla which came through in both taste and mouthfeel.

I will enjoy this somewhat regularly – even more so in winter. Would be quite excellent iced as well.

Note steep time does not go high enough – you DO in fact steep this for 25 minutes then allow to sit just a little.

NEW CON: Only times a steep for up to 10 minutes. I realize it would be a RARE instance in which one would want to go further but I was steeping some Lapacho and needed 25.
I worked it out but just adding to my pro and con list. :)

Sadly I have to agree with CHAroma.
This tea is okay and all but its flavored more like those cheap chocolate eggs you get in your easter basket as a kid, or adult, whatever floats your boat.
The aftertaste is artificial and it coats the top of your mouth in a cloying way.
The coconut is decent though as I have had my share of bad coconut flavorings – its just that there really wasn’t much OF it so maybe if it had more of a presence it would have tasted bad too.
I should not say BAD as this is not BAD – I too would not pass it up but I would not seek it out and won’t re-order it.
No offense to ESP as they have many blends I have tired and enjoyed thus far with my first order from them.
IF this had been the ONLY chocolate tea I had ever tired I am sure I would like it a lot more but I would still identify that fake chocolate flavor no matter what yet needing a chocolate tea fix is what it is so I would like it more if I had not tried better such as Butiki’s DELICIOUS Raspberry Truffle!
http://steepster.com/teas/butiki-teas/22052-raspberry-truffle
I’m just confused by this blend. Dried coconut and coconut flavoring yet the cocobut really does not stand out.
Chocolate chips AND white chocolate chips. Makes me wonder if I stuck a piece of white chocolate in my mouth with regular chocolate (no indication here if it is milk or dark by the way) if I would even taste the white chocolate. Now I need to try this WIN a reason (excuse) to go buy chocolate (again).
Seems to me that the darker chocolate would cancel the white out.
I had to investigate … I dumped a bunch of the dry tea into a cup.
Very large shavings of coconut .. tasted pretty old, lack of much flavor other than just slightly nutty.
Chocolate “chip” more of a fanning of chocolate! I mean TINY – almost did not identify it in the blend at all! Tasted of very bitter milk chocolate EWEEE.
White chocolate – although white in a black tea base was even more difficult to find these “chips”! They are dry and powdery and chalky. SO tiny I could barely pick one up and they mushed between my fingers easily when I did! It did not taste that bad though.
So what we have here is a half hearted attempt at what could be a very nice blend but sub-par ingredients were used.
ESP is going to hate me probably with this review and I cringe to think of that but I have to be real.
I am getting more and more discerning as I try more teas and while I hate to sound tea snobbish … I don’t know how to end that sentence.
So now the cup has cooled a bit and I thought maybe more flavors would come out however it is the opposite. Its as if they took a nap on me.
And this is after munching on chocolate chips and coconut – I should be getting some of that residual flavor but no.
I will rate this low – I would rate lower due to just being completely disenchanted with this tea as a whole but because it is not NASTY and I am not duping THIS cup although I will dump the rest sitting in the pot due to just not wanting to fill up on tea I don’t care for and keep room in thy belly for those that I do – I won’t rate TOO low.
Into the trade box you go Bon Bon!

Got this as part of an Ocho Sampler from Joy’s.
This has a very well balanced and well blended pear and cinnamon flavor.
Also, the tea base is not overly complex but present and the flavors certainly do not overshadow the tea itself.
The pear actually tastes quite natural! Pear is a difficult flavor to get right in my opinion but I feel that this has been blended masterfully so that you get a natural pear essence and not so much that the blend is trying to over compensate or be too upfront.
The aroma is stronger than the flavor itself which I feel is a good thing because usually when you do get a very strong pear flavor it is not all that palatable!
This tea is done right.
The cinnamon is not too assertive – either – another flavor component I find often is over done.
I am very impressed!
I had this both with and without sugar in the raw – I enjoyed it both ways.
I being one with the persistent sweet tooth however liked it a little more with sugar but it was not a startling difference as I only added a touch and that was all it needed!
Would be amazing iced!
Don’t save this one just for the autumn season, pear is delicious any time of year and the cinnamon is not chai like strength. Although again – stronger in aroma than on the palate so don’t let the strong smell worry you!
I have found all too often flavored teas to be on one of two ends of a spectrum – either SO strong and riddled with fake flavorings that you just can’t even drink it unless you don’t mind chemical crud in your tea OR so weak that you strain to savor any flavor at all.
This tea is done perfectly so that you know exactly what flavors you are getting without having to play hide and seek with them yet not so overly done that you gag on it!
Great selection – you should get some!

Wow really can’t believe no one has reviewed this yet! Well I just have to say it then ….
FIRST
okay got that out of my system…
A delightful savory yet sweet tea that is not too sweet at all nor overly savory. I feel this blend is quite masterful honestly.
A hint of tangy but not tart lemon.
Ripe sweet strawberry.
Followed by herbaceous notes that have a graceful presence.
The tea steeps to a typical red rooibos color.
While it sounds like it would smell amazing the aroma really doesn’t “do it” for me.
In the bag it smells sort of chemical like.
Steeped I really only get a slight berry note.
It is a really pretty dry tea though with dried berries, and a decent presence of pretty rose petals although I do not taste the rose in the tea.
Now there is a slightly tart after taste but I get that with pretty much any lemon flavored tea but the tart is only in the after taste.
This would also be delicious iced.
I would order this again.
Price is fair 1.76 oz or 50g for 5.50 (and up)
https://www.espemporium.com/p-390-strawberrylemonbasil-rooibos-tea-blend.aspx
Mainly because I love a good strawberry lemon tea and have been searching for a great savory tea and I LOVE LOVE LOVE basil so this pretty much has me unless I find something similar and better.

Thank you Sandy for sending me this sample.
You know I don’t hate it.
Its really not bad its just a bit weak.
Still, I had it for an evening sip and it was hydrating and enjoyable.
I had read the tasting notes before hand so perhaps I was impressed more because it wasn’t AS disappointing as I was anticipating but it really was pretty good.
I sure didn’t toss it out.
The more I tried to find the fault in it the more I enjoyed it really.
Its probably not something I would have scraped pennies together to order but I would not refuse it either.
It was enjoyable and while the flavors sure didn’t do a tap dance on my tongue they were present and hung out casually in the background talking to each other. Even if they did tend to ignore my taste buds a little I still liked the after taste and the pleasant non nonsense nature of their chatter.
Anyway enough of that – I liked it enough.

Its good – its really quite good – but I feel like there is something missing. Its not so much the flavor itself, as it tastes quite yummy but its more that there is this lacking in the mouthfeel! I want something more robust and creamy perhaps, something that sits in my mouth more heavily and says “HEY I’M HERE!!!! I’M DECEDENT!” This is almost too polite to me.
Its crisp not cloying thats for sure but in this case I would not mind a little more cloying!
At least grab me and tell me you love me too!
I love mascarpone, I love tiramisu, I grab that stuff and shove it in my mouth and devour it!
I want to feel that way with this tea!!!
I do enjoy it quite much, and I am sure I can add some milk, or creamer, or whatever and doctor it up but I don’t want to doctor it up I want to love it just the way it is.
Isn’t that how love should be?

Anyway – the romance is on simmer for now yet not simmering, it certainly is not on FIRE!
Yet I am still very fond of it.

I think I am avoiding the break up because I still see such good qualities and such potential in this tea, yet potential is not what IS, only what could be with some changes.
We should strive for THE ONE, and not settle for what COULD be, or POTENTIAL!
SIGH I am just not one for liking to change things that are not of my own creation.
Wait oops I thought I was speaking to a client for a moment – sorry this is the tea forum.
My bad.

What I like about this tea is that it is perfect for any season!
This has the chocolaty notes and cake like notes perfect for fall and winter.
It also has light berry notes perfect for spring and summer!
Its warm but with a light lifting mouthfeel!
Its not one to coat your mouth in flavor but has a lingering essence that stays with you reminding you of the goodness you just encountered!
I even like it cooled which I do not usually find with this flavor profile! I believe it is due to those lighter berry like notes!

Got it! YAY! Happy dance!
So I bought mine on ebay from a seller who seems to have the inside link on how to get these and resell them cheap!
Mine was 180ish I don’t remember exactly how much but it was under 190 including shipping!
It got here in TWO days! I know this is not an ebay seller review LOL but I was FLOORED to have it here on my counter SO FAST!
WOO HOOO

So now – thus far here are my thoughts:

PRO: SUPER easy to work. I figured I would have to have my husband show me at least a few times how to run it but I understood it right away and even setting the custom brew is idiot proof!

CON: You have to brew at least 2 cups of tea at a time. Thats okay when I only want one small cup I can use my regular kettle.

PRO: HUGE brew basket! Allows the leaves to really unfold but then again I have only brewed two cups at a time. I suppose if you made a whole pot and added the right amount of leaves they could get a little smushed in there – I will let you know when I do this.

PRO: Its not as big as I thought it would be over all – far smaller than my obnoxious Keurig coffee maker! So it does not take too much space on my counter! Yay! I don’t have enough space as it is!

PRO: IT looks PRETTY! I like shiny things – its shiny! LOL

PRO: Sturdy!

PRO: Keeps tea warm!

PRO: DOES in fact have a sound when tea is ready! I could not live without that feature!

MOre to come but those are my initial thoughts!

Got a sample of this in my last order:
I used to LOVE chai – always what I would order at a coffee or tea place. Then I lost interest because of all the other wonderful options in tea. Its been a long time since I have indulged in a chai and this was a wonderful way to come back to the goodness!
Autumn is my favorite season and while it is summer here now I just amped up the air con and pretended I was mid October! :)
The flavors are very well balanced and I added a little vanilla coffee mate which the tea took to very well. Oh oh I think I have some whipped cream in the fridge!
I love that this chai can handle additives but even on its own it is delicious!

A very light lovely cleansing oolong! Not a “typical” oolong either.
Sweet honey notes with a lovely earthy essence but not OVERLY earthy!
Some floral notes, yet not OVERLY floral!
Some fruity notes, yet not OVERLY fruity!
LOL this tea has a little bit of everything within it yet nothing is lost, muddled, or confused!
This is a very complex BLEND yet a very easy to drink and easy to distinguish on the palate!
I feel this is an excellent beginner oolong yet satisfies the long time oolong lover!
Just beautiful!

Morning Cup.
Strange tea – good but interesting. Steep instructions are nothing like other black teas I have encountered – 185 to 190 for 3 mins. Okay not FAR off but unexpected early in the morning! Yeah I managed to get up early today.
So what do I do? I do it the way I do most black teas.
At first I thought to myself “ah ha I was right” as the brew was lovely – then after it began to cool it became bitter. Well so I was wrong. I will re-steep going by the instructions.
Regardless – from what I tasted prior to the bitter coming through it was very nice!
I will rate and add more notes once I steep it correctly.

I am drinking SOMETHING but I have NO idea what it is – after trying maybe 8 rooibos and 3 black tea bases for a custom blend – along with a tea for my daughter’s cold brew for work tomorrow, along with some from yesterday, and ummmm some green rooibos, I have no idea what the heck this even IS!
Its green some kind of fruit, maybe some spice? Sort of tastes like a Gurmans tea I have but I have not pulled out my Gurmans in over a week. Hummmm
Well its a re-steep and its good so I will log it here. Does this happen to others? I CAN’T be the only one!

NUMMY! I am not big on chocolate teas but Stacy of Butiki won my heart with this one!
So huge chunks of berries which means once the tea has lived out its life I have a SNACK!! Haha.
Then these wonderful vegan chocolate nibs which you just have to be NOT tempted to eat before brewing so they can melt into the steep!
A WONDERFUL base that DOES show through the flavorings which are quite well balanced!
I was sitting there sipping then making this obnoxious sound with my mouth doing this smackedy smackedy tap tap sound motion in order to get all the flavor out of the chocolate which also enhanced the base flavor – I know its SO not necessary but I was trying to REALLY get ALL the flavors as I am considering this base for a blend Stacy and I are working on together (run on sentence? Perhaps!)
AN E WAY …. my daughter thought I was insane – but then I am. So what?
Its great.
I love it and that is coming from someone NOT big on chocolate teas!

Got this in today – SUPER fast shipping from Design a Tea! WOOT! Thanks!
I got this free actually with a code when I bought another tea (Marzipan Sunset which is YUMMMMM)
I had a hard time deciding which tea to get next as I have sampled quite a few good ones from them.
I am glad I got this.
Funny I have been seeking the perfect “wine” flavored tea for a long time and while I love Iced Wine – Design a Tea’s being the best I have found thus far ironically, this is more of what I was desiring!
This is a lovely plum and vanilla flavored tea but what resonates more with me is the wine flavor!
Letting it cool some to get more of a room temp to it and I am sure it will be stellar!
Would absolutely order again!

Another wonderful tea from Joy’s.
The buttery nutty sencha gives a lovely backdrop to the flavors of almond and cherry allowing for a creamy milky mouthfeel!
A little more pricey than ESP’s of the same name but I have not tried that one yet.
What I love about this is you can in fact still taste the base of this blend quite well.
My daughter and husband also enjoyed this one very much and it was nice to have a cup of tea with them.
Hubby said it was “tasty and no over powering and for me just right”
Its sweet but not cloying and the cherry flavor does not have that funny after taste commonly found with cherry flavored teas.
I am in love with Joy’s teas – oh and she has a MEAN oregano as well! I have been sprinkling it on top of everything I have ate today! VERY aromatic and flavorful. Well okay thats not tea related but wanted to give it a mention :)

Its yummy but I don’t think I am in love with it as much as others are. Its still a dang fine tea though and I feel that Joy’s makes all their teas of the best quality! I just wish it was a tad sweeter. To me it smells a bit better than it tastes yet it does have a very very creamy mouthfeel and an EXCELLENT natural lemon flavor!
I think this would be AMAZING iced with some raw sugar.
YES I AM capitalizing things a lot in this review for some reason.
I also realized I have not had ANY caffeine today!
Hummmmmm time for something with a little “ZEST” to it haha see what I did there?
I too agree with what someone else said (apologies to the person who’s name I can’t recall) this tea is not really ZESTY more sweet and creamy.
Its very nice and I will be ordering some!

Just wanted to note – I re-steeped this three times and it was still going strong! YIPPE!