Compass Teas

I’m liking this much better than the Vanilla Cinnamon Bun tisane, which I found tasty but a little disappointing. The Yerba Mate manages to cancel out some of that orange-y flavor that I found so disturbing in the Vanilla Cinnamon Bun, and makes for a smoother, cinnamon bun-like experience.

This is really good, and it’s waking me up (and since it’s 1:04 in the afternoon, I need to wake up).

Backlog:

Thank you to TeaEqualsBliss for sending me some of this tea.

This is a pleasant spearmint – it tastes … well, like spearmint. It is very soothing and calming. Was feeling a bit squeamish earlier, this did the job!

This is pretty good. The cherry notes are a little tart, but also just sweet enough. The rose in this offers a nice flavor contrast to the cherry. Overall, pretty good.

Didn’t get any champagne flavor, but it was not necessary. I got the raspberry and I got the gentle white tea, and together they are delicious!

This tea’s name is misleading. It’s more of an orange rooibos with a hint of vanilla. Actually, orange rooibos is one of my favorites, so I’m happy with that blend of flavors, but it is not the cinnamon-vanilla taste I had expected. That said, as an orange rooibos is it is quite delicious.

I must agree with TeaEqualsBliss (who sent me this tea! thanks!!!) – the dry leaf smells like a peppermint patty! I can smell a chocolate-y tone in this tea, even though there is no chocolate in it! Once brewed, the liquor takes on a softer aroma. The mint and vanilla are distinct, with the black tea in the background. But – and maybe it’s my imagination – I can still smell a hint of chocolate. YUM!

This tastes so nice. The black tea is solid and strong. The peppermint is the strongest flavor but it doesn’t overwhelm the cup. The creamy vanilla note is quite nice – not a strong flavor, but just enough to give this a very creamy appeal.

Thanks to TeaEqualsBliss for sending me this chai!

This is nice. The combination of black tea and chicory provides for a very strong, deep flavor for the chai while the rooibos lightens it just enough so that it isn’t too heavy. The spices are evenly balanced. This is a sweeter tasting chai – a good one for those who find most chai to be too spicy.

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 12 oz
Tool: kati loose tea system
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes (http://steep.it/)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: not much (old sample)
Steeped Tea Smell: cinnamon, spice
Flavor: black tea, cinnamon, pepper, woody
Body: Full
Aftertaste: sweet spice
Liquor: translucent dark brown

This was a gift from TeaEqualsBliss.

This is a different kind of chai, I like the rooibos and black mix. I need to try with honey.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/04/compass-tea-company-loose-leaf-black.html

Thank you to TeaEqualsBliss for sending me some of this tea!

This is pretty tasty. It definitely does have that “fruit punch” kind of taste but I can also taste the green tea and the yerba mate. I like that the hibiscus is not terribly strong in this. Mostly, it seems to be there for some color.

A strong cherry taste – sweet but a little tart too. A very cheerful blend!

I like this tea very much. It is so very subtle and yet so full of flavor. Hints and whispers of flavor, yes, but, I like how they play upon the tongue.

Sweet, delicious and just tart enough to make it interesting.

This is a really unusual blend, but I like it, and am really glad I had the opportunity to try it. I just got finished writing a review for it (it should publish soon on The Tea Review Blog).

The peachy flavor is very nice here – almost silken in the way it floats upon the velvety mouthfeel from the Oolong. I like this a lot.

Yum!

This is an interesting blend of black, Oolong and white teas with Yerba Mate. The base works well (although, I do recommend a low brewing temp) even though there are so many different types of tea. It has a very unique flavor, and it is one that I want to spend a little more time with before I rate it…….

Thank you to TeaEqualsBliss for sending this tea my way!

I am finishing off the last that TeaEqualsBliss sent to me.

Yummy Blueberry! A little nutty, a little berry, sweet and tasty. Nice.

Thank you to TeaEqualsBliss for sending me some of this tisane.

This is delicious! Both my daughter and I love it.

The blueberry flavor is sweet but has enough tartness to keep it interesting. It reminds me of warm blueberry pie filling. YUM!

I brewed it in my Libre Mug which I find I love more with every use. It works especially well with rooibos because I can keep them steeping in the main chamber as I sip.

Thanks to TeaEqualsBliss for sending me this tea!

I tend to have my doubts when I encounter an herbal breakfast blend/morning blend, because, well, there’s no caffeine in them herbs! How is it going to wake me up?

But this nice. If you don’t like mint, though, this isn’t going to be the morning herbal for you, because it is a strong spearmint flavor. The citrus is a nice flavor and rounds out the mint nicely, but the mint is still quite strong. Fortunately, I don’t have a problem with that. I’m just happy there’s no hibiscus in this!

A nice mint/citrus blend, tastes minty but not medicinal. Decent.

I have to admit that while this is very good, I’m a little disappointed by it, only because the orange makes this more like a creamy orange spice blend rather than a vanilla cinnamon bun. It would be so much better without the orange.

Tasty and yet disappointing.

Steep Information:
Amount: entire sample
Water: 1000ml boiling water
Tool: Swivel Teapot
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: I forgot! I was too excited.
Steeped Tea Smell: chamomile, lemongrass, citrus, mint
Flavor: lemongrass, chamomile
Body: Light/Medium/Full
Aftertaste: mint
Liquor: translucent green-yellow

Gift from TeaEqualsBliss, thank you.

It’s OK, it’s nicer than plain chamomile but not anything special.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/compass-teas-loose-leaf-herbal-tisane_27.html

A very pleasant mint tea, I like that this is spearmint rather than peppermint. I usually prefer peppermint, but the spearmint is a nice change of pace, and rather invigorating to the palate that was expecting the flavor of peppermint.

Cool and crisp, but still mildly minty – not overwhelmingly so. A very pleasant mint green tea.

I like this one. It is very refreshing and crisp. I like the aroma of the dry leaf, it just smells so clean and fresh.

This has a nice balance between green tea and mint.

It’s suppose to snow like 6 inches tonight. I so want something to get my mind of that. Jamaica sounds nice. This tea will do for now.

This tea reminds me of Todd and Holland’s Brazilian Delight. I prefer that one, the fruit stands up nicer. This is my first experience with green rooibos. I think I prefer the red, since I love how rich it is. But I would try more blends with green rooibos.

I get the medicinal feeling, too like Meghann. It has a rather small Coldeeze dryness on my tongue. That might be the papaya. The blend is good, nice aftertaste. I would of enjoyed more fruit, like pineapple in it…mmmm.

Thank you LiberTea for this tea. I really needed it after driving though unplowed snowed out streets. :)

I enjoyed this so much yesterday that I decided to have another cup today. The flavor is so nice and it is pleasantly warming, which is quite welcome on a day like this.

I do think that my taste buds are back in check! I am able to detect all the flavors of this cup. This makes me very happy!

You can read my full-length review of this tea here: http://www.teareviewblog.com/?p=16015

Thank you to TeaEqualsBliss for sending me some of this tea.

It’s YUM! I like the way the orange and vanilla come together in the cup – it’s like a spiced creamsicle.

The black tea is the primary focus in this blend, it is strong and brisk! I needed that! I feel nice and warm and cozy now that I’ve finished this cup.

Completely YUM!

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: hot spigot water
Tool: kati loose tea system (my Review here.)
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes+ (http://steep.it/) since i forgot about it for a little
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: mint
Steeped Tea Smell: mellow mint with hints of black tea
Flavor: mint, followed by black tea
Body: Full
Aftertaste: astringent, bitter
Liquor: opaque dark orange brown

A gift from TeaEqualsBliss, thank you.

I should have watched it closer and only did 2 min, and added sugar and cream – next time.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/compass-teas-loose-leaf-black-tea_13.html