Awake- Filterbag

Got a box of this from a friend as starbucks was clearing out their old stash to make way for the new one. I am still trying to wrap my pallet around this one. I can’t seem to get it to taste like anything other than a generic black tea. I think I may have over steeped this because it was on the slightly bitter side even after I sweetened it with my usual rock sugar. I am going to keep trying and adding milk and lessening the steep time.

One of the few Tazo teas I actually like. Not a bad blend of flavors.

I’m never very impressed with Tazo teas, but I have a gift box that I need to go through,lol
Normally when I order this from Starbucks it is too bitter for me to drink.
Today I steeped it at home for only about a minute and it’s actually pretty drinkable:-)
Not my favorite black tea, but it will do.

Certainly not the best tea out there, but for something fairly commonly stocked in supermarkets it’s reasonable if you like a strong tea. This is the kind of thing I buy so I can throw a couple of bags into my backpack so I’m not at the mercy of whatever tasteless bags they have in the school cafe when I need a caffeine hit.

Where it really shines for me is as an iced tea, where the strength gives it a pleasant briskness that I find quite refreshing on a hot day.

I had the full leaf bag version and I brewed it in my huge Wedgwood Shakespeare/Stratford-on-Avon 1964 anniversary commemorative mug so I used two bags. Mine didn’t come out bitter, luckily.

To me, it’s similar in aroma and taste to Twining’s English Breakfast, but stronger, maltier and with some bite to it that hit me right in the back of the tongue and at the throat. The taste notes are somewhat easier to taste individually than in the Twinings, which may mean the Twinings blend is more successful as a blend, though no single taste seems to me to predominate in Awake. I do taste the caramel, and like the Twinings, the finish is tasty — malty and sweet.

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

Nothing special. Usually fairly tasteless in my opinion. Shame starbucks carries this stuff.

The key to a good brew is not to oversteep! Had this several times, experimenting with different steeping times. It really was “invigorating”.

This tea is invigorating and flavorful to me. Not bitter at all unless overbrewed. Good breakfast tea.

Not very tasty, but strong.

Tasting: This was much better than the Bigelow teas I’ve been drinking once in a great while for years. I have a cold right now though, and am taking it with a fair bit of honey. I might have to take it straight up when I feel better to see if the bitterness is a problem and if my cold / the honey is clouding up my taste.

Cost: $3.16/oz at local grocery store (1.5 oz/20 Bag box)

I don’t know where Tazo is getting this black tea from, but it’s awful. Super bitter, not malty and just an overall bad experience. The taste reminded me of how sewage smells.

Even my generic grocery store brand of black teas is in a better position than this. Seriously. Avoid this like the plague, or at least mix it with another, more robust tea. Blech.

Nice, strong flavor. I think I oversteeped it, so it’s a little bitter. Not bad tho.

It’s a great tea to wake you up in the morning, all you need is a little honey and a travel mug! :)

Decent for a bagged black tea. Strong flavor without bitterness.

I like to use two tea bags and then add an equal amount of steamed milk and a spoonful of honey.

This tea is good when I cannot make up my mind on the flavor I want. Nothing special about it though. I am interested in trying it with milk or sweetener. I have never added these to any tea and find it hard to believe it tastes good. Will have to give it a try.

I keep trying to give this tea the benefit of the doubt, but it turns out horribly bitter every time. I have tried fully boiling water, water cooled to about 190, even to 180, varied steeping time, but it still is extremely bitter.

Basic black tea- there’s very little remarkable about this tea, but if you require a cup of black tea, this gets the job done.

it was low key bitter but definitely good and strong at times

Not memorable. But it’s one of the few black teas they server at starbucks.