Tazo

Tried this morning. Not that impressed. It didn’t have the bold, wake-you-up flavor I remember.

Tazo’s description is actually pretty accurate! The tea is sharp and light-bodied, perched just on the edge of bitter and sweet. It’s refreshing, and comfortingly “unsurprising”—perfect for your daily mug of green tea.

Amount: 2 filterbags
Additives: none
Water: 20 ounces, hot water spigot at Starbucks
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes to first sip, and then I kept it brewing
Served: Hot
Smell: sweet, honey
Flavor: sweet, vanilla
Body: light
Aftertaste: sweet, woody, cinnamon

I don’t normally like rooibos teas. So according to me the rating I am giving this tea is good for a rooibos tea. I liked this tea but the vanilla was overpowering. Once I got past the vanilla it was enjoyable, smooth, and relaxing. I expected a fanning grade tea but got a better grade tea than most Taza teas that I’ve tried. Therefore the tea bags were larger. Tossed out the tea bag and then realized I should have tried for a second steeping.

I was doing some school work at starbucks and decided to get something simple. I gave this a shot because I had never heard of it being on the menu. Deeeeelish, I sweetened it a bit. The teabag was kept in the cup but I never noticed any faulty flavor toward the end.

Ugh! What in the world…..I could only take one sip. Don’t do it to yourself.

Ok maybe not all Earl Greys are made equally. This one just seems to have a lack of flavor that so many other’s bring out. Even in loose leaf I was sorely disappointed. Eh it’s ok, with a little sugar and cream it makes for a good tea to find on almost every corner in America. ;-)

(backlogging from last week again)

I got a blank stare from the Starbucks cashier when I ordered this, and was informed by another employee that they don’t make these any more (officially), but she listed the ingredients and told him how to ring it up for me. The girl who made it, though, must not have been listening because she left out the syrup and I was well on my way to work by the time I tasted it and realized this. When she handed it to me, she called it an “Earl Grey Misto” so I’m guessing that means a plain tea latte? I’ll have to ask them what I need to order next time when I want the syrup.

The ironic thing is that I usually requested no syrup but I actually wanted it that time. Oh well, it was healthier for me that way!

Had this without the syrup today (so I guess it’s basically just earl grey tea & skim milk)… this is my chai alternative for Fridays when I feel like something less spicy. Unfortunately, I got stuck in traffic on my way to work and wasn’t able to remove the tea bag so it oversteeped by a good 10 minutes but I just added a lot of extra hot water and it turned out okay.

I really like the Tazo black teas, and steamed milk is so much better than just adding my own boring milk. Without the over-steeping, it woud’ve been perfect! I like it better with the syrup, but I can’t taste anything with this cold anyway so I didn’t want the extra calories.

I like how the rooibos holds up in the milk, what I don’t agree with is the amount of sugar in it a whole 32g of sugar?! Oh my. I’d hate to work my butt off to try and burn those extra calories. I enjoy the vanilla sweetness that it has albeit a tad artificial, but it’s sort of like the same complex I have when I go to the Cheesecake Factory: Everything is so good, but I really shouldn’t think twice about consuming it. Tea lattes should definitely be more about the tea than the milk or sugar that goes into it.

It enjoyable and a once-in-awhile indulge, but definitely not something I would drink everyday.

YAY LOOSE LEAF! Starbucks finally got smart and changed over to whole leaf teas from Tazo. Makes all the difference! China Green Tips is by far one of the most classic green teas I’ve tasted. Very bold grassy taste that says “I’m a green tea!”. Perfect straight. Put down that creamer & sugar!

I had hoped the tarragon would make this more than just another mint tea. It didn’t. Instead I have a lingering taste of the spearmint.

This tea does get bitter rather quickly. It is sweet, with a very strong bitter note. Not to my liking.

Smells like a cleaner
Did I eat a vitamin?
Tart, sour, orange-y.

Yep, that about sums it up.

As an unfortunate side effect of being bagged-and-boxed tea, it has a slightly cardboard taste amongst the rather more enjoyable darjeeling and oolong. As others have pointed out, it isn’t as complex or textured as it purports, but the notes are balanced and defined, with a pleasant, mild aroma of jasmine which belies the boldness of the mixed black teas. Not the best tea in the world, but I look forward to it in winter. Steeped lightly, it’s best on its own; if left longer for the black teas to develop, it is nice with a splash of soya milk – the soya milk has enough of its own flavour to stand up to the tea.

The lemongrass really stands out in this tea. Not too much, but subtle enough, while a lighter green taste floats around in the cup. I really enjoy drinking this, especially at night. So warm and calming.

When I was TA-ing and commuting six hours a day, this used to be part of my morning ritual of getting up at 4am to be on campus by 730 and in the classroom by 930. Somehow, I enjoyed drinking 2 large cups of this with vanilla soymilk AND sugar before noon. While I don’t have much to say about it vis-a-vis flavor—it’s pretty regular—I would like to comment on the shakes currently settling into my hands from the strength of the brew. I guess the body gets sensitive as it ages, because I’m not even sure I can finish this cup.

I bought this as a tea for my kids as they’re always asking for mine (but as mine is almost always black tea that’s a big NO). Gave them a few choices and they went with the apple. This isn’t usually my kind of tea, but the aroma of this one was way too tempting to pass up. The darkness of it makes it taste like a real tea (so satisfies that craving for me), plus has the yummy flavors of apple cider on top of it. The kids drank this in record time and said they enjoyed it so looks like it’s a keeper. Tazo has yet to disappoint me.

One last note: I found when making more of this that I don’t smell the caramel in the cup, but I can when I placed a bit in a spoon for tasting purposes. Odd, but not in a bad way.

My sister swears by this tried and true tea. I liked the taste but I prefer my Sencha Tea over this one. The taste was alright, I prefer loose leaf over bagged tea so maybe that’s why it did not blow my hair back. Not a bad tea at all just not one of my favorites.