358 Tasting Notes
This is my second (or is it my third?) cup of Columbia Rose today. I am obsessed, I think this is the tea that I have been waiting for all of my life. It has a delicious hearty black tea base with sweet vanilla and rose notes – seriously perfect. No trace of bitterness, and it is very forgiving if you forget and let it steep too long. It also takes milk and sweetener very well and actually enhances the flavors. I have so many other new teas that I need to try but I just keep coming back to this one because I can’t get enough of it. Big thanks to Serenity for introducing me to my most favorite tea EVER!
-Dry blend has black tea with pink and yellow rose petals. Petals float to the top during steeping.
-Dry blend smells strongly of vanilla with a floral rose scent. Tea liquor smells of malty vanilla with a hint of roses.
-Tea liquor is a medium amber color.
-Strong malty flavor with a touch of vanilla. Lingering rose finish.
-Best with milk and sweetener.
-Excellent rose tea. Perfectly flavored!
Preparation
I received some of this in a surprise tea package from a tea friend and was very excited to try it! I love finding good caffeine-free teas to drink at night, so I am not tempted to drink heavily-caffeinated black teas right before bed. This one is pretty good, a little more lightly flavored than I was anticipating, but I can try steeping it for longer next time. It has a warm honey-like flavor that is very good and soothing, and would be ideal for a sore or scratchy throat. Thank you Serenity!!
-Standard teabag.
-Teabag smells of licorice and honey. Tea liquor aroma is of warm honey.
-Tea liquor is a medium brown color.
-Honey flavor with a floral spicy finish.
-Best with sweetener.
-Good tea. Lightly flavored, but soothing.
Preparation
I thought maybe I had a cold, because the flavor was so mild! I am thinking of doubling up on tea bags next time…
I liked the milder flavor, the honeyness of it was so good for at night. Maybe a longer steep time? I did 4 minutes and the tag said 3-5. But 2 bags would probably make it just perfect! :)
Hmmm, two tea bags, and a steeping time of, well, let’s say 8 minutes: that’s what I’ll try later today! : )
This tea smells heavenly, very minty with an almost creaminess to it. The flavor is really good also, it is very sweet on its own and I am always happy to discover a new tea with that quality. (I’m a true Southerner – I love my tea very sweet and add sweetener to almost every tea). What struck me most about this tea is that it has a smoothness to it, that reminds me a little of Mandarin Silk from the Persimmon Tree Tea Company.
-Dry leaves are long and wiry with fluffy marshmallow root.
-Dry leaves smell very minty and sweetly of vanilla. Tea liquor aroma is of warm, sugary vanilla.
-Tea liquor is a clear yellow-green color.
-Clean and refreshing minty flavor with a sweet finish.
-Best with a small amount of sweetener.
-Very good tea. Almost sweet enough without additional sweetener. Smooth mouthfeel.
Preparation
Sipdown! I can’t remember if I actually drank a cup of this before from my 12 Days of Tea pack? I had a blank tasting note for it and just enough to make a little less than 2 cups today, so did I actually drink a cup or just think about drinking a cup? Hmmm. . .I think if I had a cup I would’ve finished it before today – it’s really good! I kept forgetting that there was cheesecake in it and could only really taste it in the aftertaste when I added milk. It’s a cup full of pumpkin spiciness (reminded me of pumpkin pie) and a sweet caramelly flavor. This may just be my favorite 52 Teas blend yet!
-Dry blend has medium black tea leaves and yellow and orange petals.
-Dry leaves smell of sweet caramel and pumpkin spice. Tea liquor aroma is of pumpkin.
-Tea liquor is a medium orange color.
-Caramel flavor with a strong spicy pumpkin finish. Slight cheesecake aftertaste.
-Best with milk and sweetener.
-Very good tea. A cup of creamy pumpkin with a caramel sweetness!
Preparation
I was craving something sweet tonight and as soon as I saw my little sample packet of David’s Banana Nut Bread I knew that this was exactly what I wanted. The smell from the open packet made me think instantly of something salty and sweet (almost like a chocolate covered pretzel), and I got really excited. After steeping, the tea liquor was really, really pale in the cup (almost clear) and I got a little nervous. The initial flavor was more like that heavy bread taste than bananas or nuts, but as it cooled it became sweeter and more nutty. Once I added in sweetener and the banana flavor came out I became completely satisfied. This is a pretty good tea, maybe not one I would have every day but I may buy some just to keep in my stash for nights like this where I’m craving something sweet without all of the calories (or caffeine!)
-Dry blend is made up of pieces of dried fruits and nuts. Fruits plump up in water.
-Dry blend smells salty-sweet and nutty. Tea liquor smells like warm nuts.
-Tea liquor is almost clear, with a pale yellow tint.
-Bready flavor with a nutty finish. Sweetener brings out more of the banana flavor.
-Best with sweetener.
-Very good tea. Lightly flavored. Initial taste is more of bread than bananas, but sweetener brings out a nice banana finish.
Preparation
It was with a touch of sadness that I opened up the last surprise pack from 52 Teas’ 12 Teas of Christmas to find this blend. I enjoyed a pot of this as I was making Christmas dinner with my Mom and I did savor the minty freshness of it. I am very sad that the fun of the 12 Teas of Christmas is over, but all good things must come to an end. I will be looking forward to next year’s countdown of teas all year!
-Dry blend is basic black tea leaves with pieces of green peppermint leaves and white marshmallow root.
-Dry blend smells strongly of peppermint. Tea liquor aroma is malty with a slight hint of mint.
-Tea liquor is a medium brown color.
-Heavy, malty flavor with a creamy mint finish. Marshmallow flavor more noticeable as tea cools.
-Best with sweetener.
-Good tea. Marshmallow adds a touch of creaminess to a standard minty black tea.
Preparation
My fiancée surprised me with a box of this for Christmas. I LOVE everything from Harney & Sons and was really excited to try this one. I think I must’ve not steeped it long enough the first time I made a cup, because it was very weak and I was a little disappointed. This morning I decided to give it another go, because you just can’t give up on Harney & Sons. I made sure that I timed it for exactly five minutes and the result is much better. There is a taste of orange and light spicy taste is noticeable in the background. The flavor is really light – this is definitely not an “in your face” type of tea. If this was decaf it would be perfect for a cup right before bed. Since it’s not decaf, it will be good as an afternoon cup by itself. Not one of my favorites, but I’m happy that I was able to try this one!
-Standard teabag.
-Teabag smells like spicy orange and clove. Tea liquor aroma is spicy.
-Tea liquor is a cloudy dark brown color.
-Fruity citrus flavor with a clove cinnamon finish.
-Best with milk and sweetener.
-Fair tea. Mellow flavor, mostly of citrus.
Preparation
After enjoying the other Celestial Seasoning’s holiday blends that I tried, I decided to pick up a box of this as well. I enjoy the flavor of pumpkin, and really love pumpkin pie, which a couple of the reviews for this tea said it tasted like. You can definitely detect a pumpkin flavor in this tea. There is a surprising element of spiciness in this tea also, actually a lot of spiciness, almost like the finish of a very strong chai. There is also a really sweet element to this tea at the end, almost like a sugary sweetness, I can’t quite put my finger on it what exactly it is. I’m really happy that I got a box of this and I think a latte with this would be the ultimate pumpkiny goodness!
-Regular teabag without a string.
-Teabag smells of spices and ginger. Tea liquor aroma is of warm pumpkin pie.
-Tea liquor is a thick very dark brown color.
-Artificial gingery pumpkin flavor with a sweet stevia finish. Spicy aftertaste.
-Best with milk and sweetener.
-Good tea. Sweet and spicy pumpkin flavor.
Preparation
I have a sample pack of this from one of the David’s Tea crackers that my Mom and I opened on Christmas morning. I’m in denial that Christmas is already gone for another year, so I decided to enjoy a cup of this today to prolong the Christmas spirit for a little longer. This blend smells really minty and vanillaish, and is so cute with the teeny-tiny candy canes. David’s Tea must employ some cute little elves to make candy canes that are so delicate. The tea itself is a little bitter at first, but after adding some sweetener and a little milk the flavor becomes creamy and delicious. The black tea base is stronger than I expected it would be, and it adds a nice, malty undertone beneath all of the sweeter flavors. I will have to remember this tea for next year, this is one that I could drink every day during the holiday season to get in the Christmas spirit!
-Dry leaves have pieces of peppermint leaves and tiny candy canes. Wet leaves reveal partially dissolved candy canes.
-Dry leaves smell minty and sweet. Tea liquor aroma is minty with a hint of orange.
-Tea liquor is a light brown color.
-Slightly malty flavor with mint and a cinnamon-orange finish.
-Best with sweetener, milk optional.
-Very good tea. Perfectly sweet without being too minty. Adding milk makes a creamy cup.
Preparation
I got a tin of this for my Mom for Christmas and we had a cup after dinner tonight. It is delicious, with a creamy flavor that reminds me of black cherries. I let it cool a little as we took for the dogs for a walk and it was still very good even after it cooled down. Great cup of tea to end a beautiful Christmas Day!
It’s like a bouquet of deliciousness, isn’t it! Glad you like it!
That sounds tasty!