Tangerine Creamsicle

YUM!

It might seem a little late for Guayusa, and hopefully it won’t be keeping me up past my bedtime, but since I usually am up past 3 am anyway, I am not too worried. I needed an energy boost because I have a lot to do this evening, and I’m already feeling a little like I should be napping instead of getting things done.

This is really tasty. The tangerine and cream flavors are balanced, and the guayusa adds a richness to the background, tasting a little earthy, and even a little vegetal, and these notes work very well with the flavors of tangerine and cream. Overall, the cup is smooth, rich and creamy, with a deliciously sweet tangerine taste.

And it tastes better with each sip! Incredibly YUM!

This is scrumptious! Tastes just like it smells, like an tangerine creamsicle!
The smell is awakening, the flavor is creamy more so on the after taste, the initial sip is circusy. As it cools the cream is more prominent and less in the after taste and more in the entire flavor. There is a slight tinge of an after taste that is sort of twangy and dry but not bothersome to me. Like dry wine. Some may not like this but thats fine more tea for me lol. Hubby does not like the Guayusa sediment but it does not bother me at all – then again he is not used to tea as a whole let alone Guayusa.
A very tasty tea that lingers on the palate!

Sample from Azzrian! I think. Did I mention I’m in Saskatoon now? I brought a big grab bag of tea samples and am hoping I don’t mis-attribute things!

Anyhow. Brewed for 6+ minutes at about 185F. This is by far the best tasting guayasa blend I have tried – the combination of citrus and a bit of creaminess really works with the earthy guayasa. I can see myself drinking it again. On iPhone so having trouble rating, but I’d give this about an 81.

Also, mom liked this one. Not keen on flavored teas, but I told her it was natural. She’s really looking forward to the jasmines I brought!!

Thank you Stacy for this Sample

Woo Hoo Steepster is back up (and we all hope the improvements will be well worth the wait!).

Stacy got me again! The last few samples of tea with my order were so fantastic….I can’t live without them! I ordered more tea including this one while Steepster was down! I need to go to tea AA!

I was just finishing the most refreshing cup of Tangerine Creamsicle Guayusa and ready to review it on Steepster when…dah dah…:( the black screen told me to make another pot of tea!

Now I get to use the word…Backlogging! :)

I used a mesh brew basket in a mug for this sample and let it brew 6 minutes.
The steam was edible! It was like a double decker sandwich of flavors entering through the scent and liquor all at once…creamy, citrus, sweet flaky pastry, silky smooth…with such a light finish. Every, every,every (3 every’s) time I taste one of these Butiki luscious favored tea’s I’am blown away.

They’re never sour, overdone, gaudy or cheap tasting.
Butiki tea’s are refined yet simple. By simple, I mean…not fussy.
The natural flavor is beautiful because someone has the good sense to know that real organic flavor can’t be improved on.
The guayusa is supposed to give you a caffeine type of lift but without the gittery effects of caffeine. I don’t know why, but…I drank the tea then went and took a nap. For some reason, I don’t get a jolt from guayusa.

I’ll be watching for my Tangerine Creamsicle Guayusa and my Good Morning Sunshine Guayusa and my Raspberry Truffle and my Rose Violet Calendula Oolong to arrive. All wonderful! (there’s news in the wind of many, many new Butiki tea’s coming our way)shhhh!

Special thanks to Liberteas for this one!

The tangerine is wonderfully done but not overly loud – just right. The stereotypical lima bean taste I usually pick up on from the Guayusa is faint but it all jives JUST right!

NomNomNom

Since 52teas’ Citrus Piledriver was the first and only other time I ever have had guayusa, I am reminded a lot of it. Guayusa really does taste good with citrusy fruits added to it. So now it’s time for the next step…all guayusa with flavors!

So for the first time of having something that’s just guayusa, it’s an interesting flavor for me. When I smell it, I don’t want to drink it…then I drink it, and want more. (I’m like this with basil too, when cooking I’m like don’t add too much! And then I’m eating it, I wish I had more.) The creaminess you’d expect in a tea named Tangerine Creamsicle is probably the reason. It tastes orangey and creamy and with that herby, grassy taste of the guayusa, it’s very enjoyable….Should I probably just go back to sleep since I want to describe everything by ending it in -y?

Hopefully this helps wake me up a bit. I got up at the same time I did yesterday because I went to see sheep and goats that are eating the kudzu around Atlanta parks. I fed 2 of them, they really liked whatever I had a branch of, especially the goat…the goat just ripped it out of my hand. I couldn’t stop laughing.

Or if I go back to sleep, no harm done. This is a dreamy flavor, it really tastes like tangerines and oranges with a touch of cream. If you’re interested in trying a guayusa, this is definitely one to check out. You can get a feel for what the base tastes like and enjoy how well it blends with citrusy flavors! This is going on my shopping list for later when I have less things in my cupboard (and boxes and spice drawer and so on), and I bet it would taste so good iced.

Thank you for the sample, Stacy!

Thanks so much Stacy for this sample!

Tangerine isn’t my favourite fruit, but this tea has been getting such good reviews, I wanted to sample it.

It is really good, citrusy tangerine that doesn’t taste fake. Sweet and smooth. And it really gave me the kick that I needed because I stayed up untill after 1 am last night finishing book 3 of Game of Thrones! Oy, why do I do that to myself? Haha

I resteeped this and put it in the fridge to chill. It was weaker, but still good!

I enjoy citrus as a fruit. But for some reason I don’t usually like it in black tea = Earl Greys. I’m not sure if it’s the bergamot flavoring or what. But if there’s cream flavor added I’m much more likely to enjoy it.

The dry leaf of this smells like tart tangerines – kind of like when you dig into the peel of a tangerine and the oils from the peel are released. So I couldn’t wait to brew some of this up.

Used 2 tsp for 8 oz of water for a stronger taste as the allergies really kicked my butt yesterday. Today I’m left with a lot of sinus pressure and muted taste buds. Anyway, just over six minutes later I’m left with a darker orange liquor. I tried a tablespoons worth and got lots of tangerine flavor! It wasn’t sour, but it wasn’t sweet either; just straight citrusy tangerine. I don’t have any experience with the guayusa base, so while it may be there, I don’t taste anything other than the fruit. A little rock sugar sweetens the cup by bringing out the smoothness of the cream.

As with other Butiki Teas, I’m a fan of this one. I really like the flavorings Stacy uses. They taste pretty natural to me.

I’m hoping the next cup I can let cool down enough to try it cold or iced.

EDIT: I did resteep this and while the tangerine has diminished, it’s still a great second cup!

Just got home from The Avengers and this tea is still on my mind!
First all all, thank you to Stacy of Butiki for sending me this sample! I’m excited to try everything – but this one smelled too good to pass up this morning.

I’m going to write a longer review later once I’ve tried a few more teas, but this one was a real treat! The flavour was very nice and strong – my favourite part was that it was definitely tangerine – I couldn’t confuse it with any other generic citrus flavour! It was very specific, juicy and refreshing. Would make an amazing iced tea I think. Oh and the cream! It’s so nice and sweet, just like a creamsicle. I’m obsessed with making my own creamsicle milkshakes lately (SO not healthy, but SO delicious!) and it reminds me of that!

I’m still a newbie when it comes to guayusa, but so far I’m liking it as a base. This one in particular was quite smooth and produced a dark brew. I used a teasac so the little bits didn’t bother me – all the guayusa’s I’ve tried so far have been quite fine (size wise) – but they hold up to a 5 min+ brew with no bitterness – just a stronger flavour!

Such a treat to try this tea, thank you!

I got this sample from Stacy with one of my orders (not sure which one) It’s tasty but I’m not getting much tangerine from it. This is still great though :D Although it won’t replace my good morning sunshine :D

Shout out to Emilie for a sample of this tea!

Butiki Teas – we meet at last! I’m thinking I wanna do an order with them, but I’ve been procrastinating. I was emailing my husband at work about trying this tea and said “I’d order from them, but right now I got enough tea” and he was like “WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU DO WITH MY WIFE????” Oh boy, maybe he’ll pay for the next tea order, hahahahahah!

And I just realized that I don’t think I’ve had guayusa before. I’ve probably had it mixed in blends, but not the main tea. This will be interesting!

DRY: DROOOL! Amazing creamsicle smell. I’m imagining a yummy orange creamsicle ice cream all melty and delicious.

STEEPED: Transformed into a grassy smell and with a hint of that yummy orange creamsicle smell. It’s like my drippy ice cream fell onto a freshy mowed lawn. Rest assured, it still smells delicious! Steeps up a brown-green.

TASTE: Tangy (almost spicy) citrus with a delicious hit of cream at the end. Earthy, dry, vegetal aftertaste. As it cools, the creamyness is stronger and less grassy taste. No tartness.

Sounds gross when I make tea burp comments, but this one is a burp of strong orange creamsicle taste!

WHO’D LIKE THIS TEA: A tea drinker that wants something a little different. Citrus lovers.

COMMENTS: It sounds gross that I think this tastes like I ate my ice cream off my lawn, but it is really good. I was worried this would be tart but Butiki did a great job in flavoring this tea.

Oddly, I feel full after drinking this tea – I’m not sure why, maybe all the creamsicle burping. With that said, I want to try more guayusa teas so I can compare with this. Overall, very tasty and different than other teas I’ve tried.

EDIT:
After feeling full for 2 hours and satisfied after drinking this tea, I gave in and made an order with Butiki teas. TAKE MY MONEY! RAWWWRR!

I was rifling around in my teas this morning, unsure of which to choose when this tea just jumped out at me. It was a Creamsicle kind of morning.

Upon opening the sample that the lovely Bonnie sent me, I was faced with the bright inviting smell of orange zest which continued through the steeping and into my cup. This was definitely the tea for me!

The tea on it’s own is alive with citrus flavor! I added just a touch of honey and the smallest bit of milk and this tea just exploded with flavor. The creaminess came out and really brought out the creamsicle in this light and airy tea. A very happy tea to brighten up my morning :)

Thank you Stacy @ Butiki for sending me this delicious sample!

Although I had never tried a Guayusa before (which is not proper tea but is still tasty), I was very excited to give this one a go since I thoroughly enjoyed the Pistachio Ice Cream from Butiki and now have high expectations for everything Stacy is working on in the Northeast. I must say that this did not disappoint! The tangerine flavor doesn’t taste artificial in the least. In fact, it tastes very much like biting into a bit of dried real fruit. I found the creaminess to be slightly muted and more of a mouthfeel than a flavor but half a spoonful of agave turned a great fruit forward base tea into a delicious creamsicle of a dessert treat!

This one is going right back on the shopping list and the extra oomph from the added caffeine was just what I needed to get the afternoon going. Well done Stacy!

I have yet to decide whether or not I like guayusa. I received this as a sample this summer and I just finally got to it now. It was very smooth, creamy and sweet. I have found all guayusas I have tried to taste slightly watermelon-y which was also true for this one. It is the only this I did not enjoy about this tea.
I’m grateful for the sample, though it is unlikely this will make it on to my next order.

Last cup! So I’ll definitely have to make a note, as this is one of my favorites. It’s been my first guayusa and it makes me excited to try more.

I love having this one on mornings where I think I might need a little extra kick. It’s a really relaxing tea (the tangerine taste is fairly sweet to me, not as tangy), and the guayusa does always seem to give me more energy. The whole tea just seems like the perfect blend of a grassiness, citrus taste and a light creaminess. I put off the review for so long because I can never pinpoint what it is that makes me love it so much, and I still can’t quite name it. The smell is always amazing, and does actually reminds me greatly of a tangerine creamsicle! (though brewed it’s a bit less so) The tangerine taste is very juicy, and the creaminess to this one is light, making it really refreshing instead of too dessert-y.

I never did end up adding sugar to any of the cups I had, so I’ll have to remember to try it that way with my next order. I’m definitely going to try and keep this one in my permanent teas (as soon I’m allowed more money to spend on tea)! I even got a separate tin all ready for it, with labeling and stuff.

Thanks to Azzrian for the sample.

This is my first guayusa and it’s definitely different than I expected. I can see how the citrus flavors lend themselves to this type of tea. My tea tastes a lot like orange peels. I’m not really getting TOO much of a creamy taste from it. It is pretty good, though. Rather interesting.

Also, I totally forgot to smell the tea before I brewed my sample – d’oh! I’m reading all these notes about how wonderful it smells, too. Urgh. I used my IngenuiTEA to brew this, but I’m noticing now that the tea doesn’t really expand too much. A T-Sac will work just fine for next time.

Oh, and I thought that guayusa had no caffeine – good thing I double checked THAT one (and good thing this is the morning). It has more caffeine that Yerba Mate. I’m certainly awake now, if I wasn’t before ;)

Second infusion: I think this is better the second time around. Not quite so much “orange peel”-ness and I’m able to taste more of the cream. Overall, a very interesting tea.

Confession time: I love Dreamsicles. I love orange sherbet, gelato, sorbet. I love clementines. So I was predisposed to either love this guayusa like crazy, or hate it for not living up to my expectations.

I LOVE IT. This was my first try at a guayusa and my first Butiki Tea. I just received the order today and had had a good whiff of it (ok, fine, I practically shoved half the bag up my nose) when my girlfriend asked me to make her some tea. What kind? I ask. Something good, she says. So I decide to make this.

Oh, the taste. It’s amazing. The tangerine flavor is so real. It’s juicy and fruity yet not overwhelming. The creaminess in the background is just enough. Some teas with a creamy mouthfeel leave your tongue and palate feeling sort of coated. Not this tea. It’s only refreshing. There is a slight earthiness from the guayusa. It’s all good. This will have a permanent home in my pantry!

oh my god… this smells delicious! Another butiki tea that doesn’t disappoint. Really enjoy the subtle – teas of the teas i’ve tried so far. It really does taste like a tangerine creamsicle!

This is super delicious.

My favorite guayusa is still The Killer’s Vanilla, but this is nice for days when I’m not looking for a real comforting, cozy cup of tea, but something a little more tangy and zesty. So perfect.

I love that it has the sharp bite of citrus combined with a wonderful creaminess to make it not at all overpowering – it actually just blends perfectly with the earthy guayusa to make a very satisfying and flavorful drink. I am so glad I ordered this one.

The last of my samples from Butiki. I really enjoyed the Cider Guayusa yesterday, so I have high hopes for this.

The dry leaves smell delicately of orange, creamy rather than zesty, with the earthiness from the guayusa providing a pleasant undertone. It’s quite a straightforward scent, but if it tastes as good as it smells, I’ll be a happy girl.

I brewed this for 6 mins, and needn’t have feared. The tangerine is a subtle flavour, but it’s definetly there. The creaminess isn’t noticable at first, but develops more as the tea cools. I haven’t added anything to this, but I can imagine the contribution a little sugar would make. There’s not a great deal of natural sweetness from the tangerine, so the earthy guayusa does tend to dominate, at least in the intial sip. The creamy tangerine is noticable in the aftertaste, though, which makes for a very pleasant early-afternoon drink.

On balance, I prefer the Cider Guayusa I tried yesterday, so this probably isn’t one I’d order more of. I’m glad I had the opportunity to try it, though. Experience is the key in all things!