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This is nice! Not quite as sweet and caramelly as I would have expected, but a very pleasant nutty flavor with a rich, malty base adding complexity. I did get just a tinge of bitterness in the aftertaste, but I’m not sure if that’s the tea itself or user error (I lost track of time and over-steeped by a minute or two). Overall, I’m quite impressed with these Simpson and Vail teas I’ve been sampling! I may have to finally break down and place an order with them one of these days…

There are few things I enjoy more than a great vanilla tea. Unfortunately, this is not that. It’s ho-hum, drinkable but totally forgettable vanilla tea. A bland Ceylon base with a light, slightly artificial vanilla flavor. It’s not bad, but definitely not something I’d re-purchase. Give me Tippy’s Not So Vanilla or Indigo’s Vanilla Black over this one any day!

Ooo, this is lovely! Reminds me of Mandala’s Yellow Buds which I tried a while back and really enjoyed. It brews up to a pale yellowish green color with a scent like freshly mown hay. The flavor is light, smooth and sweet with notes of hay and corn. (That tastes better than it sounds, I promise!) I would definitely consider re-purchasing this one when my sample runs out.

Wow, this tea is amazing! It smells like a Mrs. Fields cookie stand (do they still have those anymore?) and tastes like exactly what the name promises: smooth, buttery vanilla almond goodness. I’ve had other almond cookie teas before that tasted more like marzipan, but this one actually tastes like a cookie in a cup! One of the best dessert teas I’ve had in a long time.

Hibiscus, how I loathe thee! I’ve lost count of the number of promising-sounding fruity tisanes that turned out to be nothing more than a cup of tart, bright pink hibiscus water. So frustrating! If I wanted hibiscus tea, I would buy it; I buy a tea with pear (or apple or strawberry or whatever) because I want to taste that fruit! Anyway, ranting aside…this is (obviously) one of those herbal blends that basically tastes like hibiscus with a tiny bit of fruit thrown in. Not the worst thing I’ve had, but definitely not what was promised by the name or description.

I got this tea in my mystery grab bag months ago and am finally trying it for the first time. Although I loved all the other 52Teas blends that came in that order, this particular combination of flavors didn’t appeal to me. Sampling it has confirmed that this isn’t for me. The flavors are well-done and exactly what the name promises: lots of cooling cucumber and honeydew melon with a bit of a spicy kick in the aftertaste. And the combination is actually quite pleasant! Just not something I’m likely to reach for again. Anyone want to take this off my hands?

Another sample from greenteafairy! She sent me both the black and rooibos versions of Dammann Freres Pecan Pie. Of the two, this one is my favorite! The rooibos isn’t overly medicinal and the tea has a nice smooth, creamy mouth feel. The flavor is definitely nutty (more almond than pecan) and has a honeyed aftertaste that just hints at the syrupy sweetness of a pecan pie. While this isn’t pecan pie in a cup, it is a very nice caffeine-free nutty dessert tea. I would totally drink it again!

I’ve been a fan of Republic of Tea’s Ginger Peach blend for a long time, so I decided to purchase this one the last time I ordered from Market Spice to see how it measures up. The verdict? I love it! I find myself reaching for this one several mornings a week. The strong, malty base and the spicy kick of ginger are the perfect wake-up brew and the peach flavor is spot-on…sweet and natural and perfectly balanced with the ginger. A new staple in my cupboard!

What a lovely surprise! My expectations were low, as I haven’t had great experiences with Trader Joe’s tea in the past. But this one is delicious…one of the best bagged teas I’ve ever had! You really can’t taste the white tea base, but there is a very distinctive natural-tasting pear flavor and just the right amount of ginger to be warming but not overpowering. I received this as a gift, but I will probably buy myself another box when I run out!

So much cinnamon!!! I’m not really picking up on any of the other flavors that are supposed to be in this one, just lots of sweet and spicy cinnamon…kind of like I melted Red Hots into my cup. The super-strong flavor makes it a good sick day tea, but it’s not really what I was hoping for from the description. Will finish what I have, but probably won’t be re-ordering.