Azzrian

Full review on March 16th on http://sororiteasisters.com/ but here are snippits:

2012 Margarets Hope Muscatel (2nd Flush) from Darjeeling Tea Lovers is such an easy tea to drink. It’s light but full bodied, has that wonderful muscatel wine like flavor of fermented grapes, but is accompanied by an almost bubbly mouthfeel.

The more the tea cools the more rich and full it becomes. I find it reminding me almost of a pu-erh with notes ranging from peat, oaky, and other aged woods. While the cup begins rather light by the end of the more cooled cup it thickens up and becomes far heavier in the sip.

What an interesting tea! One everyone should try in order to understand a truly wonderful Darjeeling!

So last night I steeped some Cinnamon Swirl Bread by sTEAp Shoppe. I got two great steeps out of the leaf and went to bed. I did not dump the leaf as I knew there was more to give. However when I woke up this morning I still did not want to waste the leaf but on the other hand needed a really STRONG cup of black tea to give me a boost after only a few hours of rest.
So I added some Fengquing Dragon Pearls from Teavivre!
VERY nice combo!
The pearls woke the Cinnamon Swirl Bread right back up without covering the wonderful flavors or the yummy puerh!
Can taste the pearls wonderfully as well.
Best of both worlds in two excellent teas!

At first I thought I had only one cup of this sample left. Then I could not find it! Panic set in! Then I found it – and there is more than one cup left! WOO HOOO. Enjoying it now. One of the best puerh blends I have had the pleasure of sipping!
Such a lovely treat to cure the sweet tooth!
YUM!
Thanks Janet of sTEAp Shoppe for making killer tea blends!

Full Review on March 15th here http://sororiteasisters.com/
For now here are the snippits:

Oriental Beauty (Dong Fang Mei Ren) from Driftwood teas does what Oriental Beauty always does for me, surprises me. I am always taken aback by this tea because I adore oolong, but this is never what I expect an oolong to be! This tea is light, sweet, and fruity, with notes that lean toward muscatel, and juicy peach.

One thing that is a bit different from this Oriental Beauty is that the honey notes are really thick, as in lay in the back of your throat thick, and so wonderfully sweet. Also unlike some Oriental Beauty this tea does not have that drying sensation in the back of the throat. The tea coats the throat and lingers lightly with honey kissed floral notes.

Driftwood Tea certainly does bring us a wonderful example of a high quality Dong Fang Mei Ren with a light smooth taste and mouthfeel. Light, yet so very flavorful! You won’t be wishing for more flavor because this tea has it all from woodsy, sweet, fruity, spiced, and, muscatel, almost in a Darjeeling way, to apricot and floral notes.

Full Review on http://sororiteasisters.com/ on March 14th but here are the snippits:

White Lion Tea is served in spas and I can absolutely see why! Every blend I have sampled from White Lion Tea has been excellent! They are all in their own way either relaxing, or rejuvenating, and I can see how you could easily find one of their blends to fit your mood and needs perfectly!

You can taste the toasting of the coconut, which sets it apart from many of the other coconut tea blends out there. The pineapple is lighter and a nice afterthought that is not too powerful but present in the sip. It gives the tea a fruity punch toward the end of the sip.

I love the glass jars! Even though you want to keep them out of direct sunlight to preserve the flavor of the teas, they are so kitchy, so cute, and they look amazing displayed!

Citrus Punch Matcha from Red Leaf Tea is really rather quite yummy! The reason I say that is because honestly I was a little apprehensive about trying this matcha.
I really thought it would be too tart, or too bitter, but its not! Its fresh, natural tasting, mix of orange, lemon, and lime. It reminds me a lot of a juice I used to drink when I was younger called Five Alive.

I made a latte with almond milk, and a splash of vanilla creamer and this matcha really tasted like a smoothie, or a Julius.

I am eager to try this matcha blended with some sparkling water or ginger ale as well!

Sometimes, with some matcha flavors I worry about a chemical after taste, and I am amazed that so much flavor can be packed into this dusty fine matcha powder! I don’t know how Red Leaf Tea does it, but I am so happy that they do!

Red Leaf Tea also has a fruit punch flavor I am dying to try, I have that on my shopping list! Then they recently released Apple Pie, Berry Pie, and French Butter Cookie, all which instantly made it on my shopping list as well.

Keep coming out with the amazing flavors Red Leaf Tea, and like a minion I will keep on buying!

As for this flavor, love it!

Get some here:
http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/citrus-punch-matcha.html

Full review on March 12th 2013 on http://sororiteasisters.com/ but here are snippits:

This tea can be purchased by the ounce or in a try me size which is really special because yellow teas are not only a little more rare to come by but usually you won’t find a means to sample them easily.

I was really happy to find this tea in my most recent package of tea samples from my SororiTea Sister Jennifer. I love yellow teas and am always eager to try a new one. I do recall having seen this tea offered by Compass before but I sort of spaced it out and never got around to ordering any. Also I will admit, orange flavored teas are not generally my “go to” flavor in teas, yet I am so happy to have had the change to sample this one. It’s quite delightful!

Full Review on March 11th on http://sororiteasisters.com/

Here are snippits:

I have a handful of favorite strawberry teas and I have to say this one rivals them all. Considering the cost point of just a tad over 2.00 USD per ounce, this one may be the best so far. Not that I mind paying more for a better tea, but this is right at the level of my favorite strawberry teas that are more expensive.

This is a stash keeper in my book. Fresh juicy strawberry flavor with a creamy dessert finish.

Red Leaf Tea mix of Passion Fruit and Coconut in Almond Milk.
Reminded me somewhat of a Pina Colada.
Excellent mix.
I don’t care for the Coconut alone, or without milk but in the Almond Milk, which was Vanilla flavored this blend was YUMMY!
So much better – and healthier than a milkshake or alcohol.
May not be as healthy as straight unadulterated traditional matcha but you know what – I have a sweet tooth so this is a better way to satisfy it.
:)

Full review on http://sororiteasisters.com/ March 10th 2013 but here are the snippits:

Finally a tea blend using hibiscus done right! Miami Mango from Steep City Teas is refreshing, sweet, excellent hot, or iced, and just a perfect blend. Fruity, with definitive flavors of mango, and a lightly zesty flavor that makes you feel revived and energized. The hibiscus in this blend is truly necessary to give it the added zip and tang that it has yet it is not overly done as in so very many teas that have hibiscus in them!

This tea takes you right to the edge of tart but is absolutely not puckering or sour, the sweetness is just perfect, like being kissed by candied lips but not being spoon fed sugar.

Lets not forget though, through all of these sunny flavors, this is a tea, that is one thing that is fairly easy to forget as you get lost in the plentiful flavors of this blend, however there is a nice black tea base used here that is mild and compliments the true nature of this tea.

Ahhhhh Caramel, Apples, Oolong. Wish I had ordered this when it came out. Thankfully I have some since LiberTeas and I split a monthly subscription.
This is really good!
The apple could be more prominent but that is not from lacking apple in the blend. I got a huge chunk in this steeping.
The caramel is lovely and the oolong base quite good.
I won’t be reviewing on SororiTea sisters or making a huge note here due to that it is no longer in stock and I don’t see the point as it is merely a teaser for those who could not get it and those like me who would love more but can’t get more.
Bummer.
Great blend however kudos to 52Teas!

Full Review on http://sororiteasisters.com/ on March 8th 2013 but here are snippits:

In the dry leaf form, Butterscotch from Angelina’s Teas has a funky vinegar like aroma that is off putting, however due to my long search for the perfect butterscotch tea I steeped it anyway. I am glad that I did. While this may not make it to my top ranks in butterscotch flavored teas, it is quite nice, especially nice the more it cools. This may be resigned to being an iced tea for the summertime, but once steeped that off putting vinegar aroma fades and leaves behind a mildly sweet butterscotch flavor. Even yummier with a dash of milk and some sweetener. I prefer almond milk and sugar in the raw or german rock sugar myself.

Angelina’s shipping was super fast which of course is a plus.

As for this tea, its just all right, nothing to jump up and down about, but absolutely one to keep around for iced tea in the summer at the price it is offered at its not a bad idea!

Yesterday my daughter found a really nice shop in our town that we did not know existed. It was a combo of a fine foods shop and a coffee / tea shop.
They had some loose leaf tea but no one was there to talk about it. It was in glass jars and I had no idea how fresh the teas were or where they were from.
My daughter got some gourmet hot cocoas, we each got some sweet treats, snagged a giant cinnamon roll for my hubby.
We got some carrot bisque soup from the deli (it was amazing!) and I snagged some of this.
I was not expecting much but I just really wanted to give it a try.
You see I went right from bagged teas mostly celestial seasonings and Biglow, to ordering loose leaf online.
Although we have some selection of Twinings bagged in my city the selection is not much at all – and all bagged for the most part.
Then I saw this cute little purple tin and thought “Why not?”
Well I do love the tin lol not that I will reuse it for this tea after – or perhaps not any tea, but the tea itself, its MEH.
I did not steep it long as others said it got bitter quickly, and even at only 2 minutes the tea was quite dark. I know its supposed to be CTC but the cut seems more like fannings, I had so many pieces at the bottom of my cup it was ridiculous.
I did not get much muscatel flavor at all.
I mean it was not horrid, but it was something I would expect out of a tea bag at a hotel at best.
Not really disappointed though as it was an experience I probably should have had much sooner and now I know.
I will probably use it for iced tea in the summer for my family who always comes by for iced tea. They don’t care if it is fancy and good flavor or not. They just want it made for them and ready to go.
I may also use it to test my blending ability with a butterscotch flavoring I purchased earlier this month.

Full Review coming March 8th on http://sororiteasisters.com/
Here are the snippits:

Janet does it again with her Cinnamon Swirl Bread from sTEAp Shoppe. Her blend of 2008 Loose Puerh and Yunnan Gold Needle Black tea, with just the right mix of cinnamon, cocoa nibs, vanilla bean, and maple crystals make this tea taste like you just toasted up some sweet cinnamon bread!

The aroma that fills your home when you steep it is nothing short of delicious.

Janet really does a great job with her blended teas. She takes great time and care in making sure she has them perfected before putting them up for sale. Her selection has grown slowly but steadily over time and I can say that this blend is masterful. I am not generally a big fan of cinnamon teas, or spicy teas, with the exception of an occasional chai latte, but this Cinnamon Swirl Bread tea is a stash staple.

Full Review on the 6th of March on http://sororiteasisters.com/ but here are the snippits:

The moment I opened my sample bag of Rainforest Nectar from Della Terra Teas I knew two things. First I knew that I was going to be ordering more soon. Second I knew I had to have it iced. This tea is scrumptious hot, but iced, it is just nothing short of dreamy!

As I sit here writing this review this tea sits, iced, in a tall glass, yet I still can smell the wonderful aroma that I am used to only smelling when a hot tea sits cooling beside me. This tea is strongly scented and flavored of everything tropical.

As I sit here watching the sunset on this rather pretty, and warm, winters evening, I can’t help but long for summer to hurry and get here only because I know this is the tea I will be sipping all summer long!

Full review on the 5th on http://sororiteasisters.com/ but in the mean time here are the snippits:

Peach Oolong from Della Terra Teas is a must try if you love peach flavored teas or oolong tea!

I have many favorites from Della Terra Teas and have reviewed several here on the blog. I am really glad I got to try this one though. The peachy flavor is fresh and juicy, the oolong flavor offers a good support to all the peachiness, and the green tea has a really yummy butteriness that makes the blend taste a little like a buttery peach cobbler.

This tea verges between a replacement for fruit juice in the morning and a dessert tea after dinner.

This is delightful! I do not regret my purchase from Georgia Tea Company one bit! 2 out of 3 teas tasted this far both true winners!
I do think I love the Almond Cookies more but this gets an A in my book too!
Just noting this for now – a better review will follow later! :)

Okay – Steepsters … I LOVE almond cookies. I always buy any almond cookie tea I can get my hands on. Usually they are in the form of a tisane, which is okay and all but come on I WANT TEA … well – this is IT!
This is THE tea!
I think I could safely say if I could have only ONE tea (which honestly would be a nightmare) but still … this would be it!
First its SENCHA and a good sencha at that. I can taste the tea in this blend!
Its buttery which offers the best backdrop for this flavor!
OMG THANK YOU Georgia Tea Company!
Full review on http://sororiteasisters.com/ on the 4th of March but here are snippits:

Holy Almond Cookie! Almond Cookies from Georgia Tea Company has really made me fall in love! Georgia Tea Company – be put on notice, I will be making an order with you again soon!

I can taste the almond, obviously, the green tea gives a wonderful flavor and a healthy base, and yet I swear I can taste the crispy crumbly cookie in here too! You know how good almond cookies have that buttery, crispy, crumbly texture? That is this tea! And if I had to describe this tea any other way I would go with vanilla cake batter.

Not sure why this one gets so many low reviews.
I am admittedly – too much probably – not a fan of Adagio however this one is rather nice!
It smells JUST like cream soda, I even smell the fizziness!
The taste is a nice mellow cream flavor, a hint of maple, cocoa notes even, but mostly just a creamy goodness.
I taste the black base, I mean its just a Ceylon but its good.
I could see this being excellent in blends as well – which I created a couple using this tea and am eagerly awaiting them to come!
I can see this being a staple for sure just to have a nice light morning creamy tea.
Good one Adagio, I may have to reconsider my previous feelings about you.
I will just stay away from the white fruit teas – had bad luck with those.

Full review on March 3rd on http://sororiteasisters.com/ here are the snippits:

I have not had many Talbott’s Teas – honestly I don’t know if I have had any. This was a great introduction to the brand as I do enjoy this tea.

Caramel Sundae Escape from Talbott’s Tea is a mellow, caramel tea that has absolutely no astringency or bitterness. It is sweet but not overly so. The chocolate notes are slight, if you are really wanting chocolate decadence this may not be the exact tea for you but the chocolate notes are present. This is by far more a caramel tea, and after all it is named Caramel Sundae Escape. However it is part of the Chocolate Lover’s collection so some may be a little disappointed it is not more chocolatey!

Regardless, this is a really delicious cup! I was surprised at just how many bits were in the blend, plenty of caramel chunks for sure!

I just made a blueberry matcha with:
Blueberry Matcha
Soy Milk
Non Dairy Vanilla Creamer
AND…..
Whole blueberries – which reminded me of boba like in a boba tea!
Just poured into my Libre Tea glass – which I use often at home now for matcha blended in a hurry. I often don’t have time to make my matcha traditionally as I would like, as I am logged into work so this is how I do my matcha blends – cold matcha.
The Libre glass works well for this!
Anyway … this was so very very good!
When I shook the glass I feel like some of the natural blueberry juices were released making this a creamy, dreamy, blueberry vanilla delight!
I am almost out of the blueberry matcha too. This is sad because I always have blueberries in the fridge.
Oh well back on the TO ORDER list!

Full review on http://sororiteasisters.com/ on the 2nd of March but here are the snippits:

Marie-Antoinette from Nina’s Paris has a wonderful aroma. I just love sitting here smelling it fill the air around me with the scents of roses and fresh apples. Its almost too good to drink! The apple aroma is that of mulled cider, or the smell that fills the air every year at the Apple Festivals that are commonly held in my area. It just makes me feel warm and sunny on this cold snowy winter’s day.

The more I sip it the more it grows on me. I think any person who loves apple flavor should try this tea. Its so subtle, does not try to flood your taste buds over with flavor but yet it is so true to what apple tastes like when you bite into one. I can even taste apple skin in this tea.

My easy morning cup today.
A really wonderful tea with so many flavors.
Almond, cherry, vanilla, cinnamon, see previous notes.
So good!

Full review will post on http://sororiteasisters.com/ on the 1st of March but here are my snippits:

The first word that comes to mind while I sniff the dry leaf is sweet honey sugar succulent dripping with lust omgoodness! Okay that was more than one word, but seriously, I do love oolong, but some oolong are far superior to others and this is like the king of dessert-y oolong!

The caramel is perfection, the elderberry brightens the cup and makes it just a tiny bit “zippy” the honey note gives the tea its depth of character adding to the caramel aspect its like something sinful. There is even a spicy note within this tea. Then there is a wondrous floral note that just gracefully lingers all over the tongue, roof of mouth, back of mouth, its dancing around everywhere with sugar berries, caramelized honey, earthy elderberry, and the nuttiness of almond that also adds a slightly, but never bitter astringency, yet this tea remains so smooth all at the same time.