158 Tasting Notes

95

Backlogging from yesterday. Received a sample of this From Naomi – thank ya!
And I have to say, this is the best chocolate tea I’ve had! I decided to try this right after I was disappointed by Read My Lips chocolate tea from Davids Tea. I have to say in comparison, this isn’t strange artificial chocolate tasting me to me at all, it’s more like fresh baked brownies! Scent and taste. And it still tastes like tea, it’s a great balance. I added brown sugar to really make it a decadent treat. I didn’t add cream because I was out but I’m sure that would be amazing!

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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90

Last night I had a little too much fun. It started with wine tasting and then my boyfriend and I walked to the bar down the street since we haven’t been able to go out for ages.
This morning I woke up with a muscle in my back ACHING. It’s still killing me. I have no idea what I did. Is there a masseuse in the house? Ugh!
On the positive side, I opened the mailbox and had a nice surprise! The best part of wakin’ up is new tea in your mail box! My two bags of Caramel Vanilla Chai from 52 Teas! I really enjoyed the Decaf Extra Bold Masala Chai, and caramel and vanilla flavors are my weakness, so I had to drop some dough on those puppies quick.

I was kind of surprised to see that the dry leaves were not really leaves at all but actually resembled soil. Dried out soil with tiny bits of dried out leaves and bark. Very ground up. Hmmmm.
The aroma was very bold clovy chai with apparent notes of caramel and vanilla.
Steeped 1 tsp per 8 ounces at 205 degrees in my Breville for 3 minutes.
Eek. I have never had a tea escape the Breville infuser THIS much… I took a picture to show the sediment that slipped through using only 2 teaspoons of tea – http://i55.tinypic.com/2zom8bb.png
o_O
The little pieces that didnt’ escape got stuck in the holes of the infuser. First time that’s ever happened with a tea in the Breville, also.
I don’t know if I should lower the score more for that? But the tea ended up tasting pretty darn good, especially with a spoon of brown sugar and a spoon of vanilla icecream, (I was out of coconut milk, but icecream works great as creamer!) Totally representative of the name. Caramel Vanilla Chai goodness. A pretty bold chai at that. I’m starting to learn I like my chais a little more heavy than this on the other spices..especially cardamom. This tea is pretty predominately clove and cinnamon. But overall, yeah.. I think it’s pretty good. I’ll have to see if my opinion changes after I have it again. (Although I’m really not looking forward to dealing with the small bits of tea again :/ )

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec
ssajami

I don’t use my usual infuser for teas that are very ground.
You might want to try those disposable fillable tea bags – they work great for the chais with the small bits. Or maybe even a coffee filter might work?

I love the ice cream as creamer idea!

Ashley Bain

I have some tea bags, and coffee filters. But arghs I want the water to really be able to flow well and everything release and no oils or flavors get stuck or absorbed into the paper.
I have an awesome little infuser from For Life that I pour the tea through after it’s done brewing in the Breville – (http://www.amazon.com/FORLIFE-Extra-fine-Infuser-Porcelain-Dish/dp/B001JP1KPO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313947614&sr=8-1) and that’s all the junk it caught in that picture. (I put it in a separate cup to photograph.) So none of that ended up in the cup that I was drinking thanks to my awesome For Life infuser… Seriously the best infuser out there, HIGHLY recommend it. NOTHING goes through those holes!!
But it just seems unnecessary to be ground up THAT small! Rooibos doesn’t even give me near as much problems!

ssajami

That infuser looks AMAZING. I’m going to have to get one of those really soon.

Janefan

I’ve used vanilla ice cream as creamer in a pinch too! I am so looking forward to my pkg of this tea arriving (and I’ll def be trying it with So Delicious Vanilla Coconut Milk Creamer.)

Ashley Bain

curious to hear your opinion on it!

Ashley Bain

and ssajami you’ve gotta! you’ll love it.

ms.aineecbeland

I have yet to try anything by 52 Teas, I am adding the Caramel Vanilla Chai on my wish list. I am learning to appreciate chai teas.

Ashley Bain

It’s sold out but I’d send you some! I bought too much.

CHAroma

“The best part of wakin’ up is new tea in your mail box!” I read the first half of this sentence and immediately sang the Folger’s jingle! But I like your rendition better. I LOVE getting new teas!!! :)

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drank Read My Lips by DAVIDsTEA
158 tasting notes

This is a really cute tea in the bag. With the contrasting colors and little lips and chips. It smells JUST like this chocolate mint icecream candle I have that I absolutely love. I had good expectations.
To me the best part of this tea is the refreshing feeling from the mint after you swallow. I wish there was more chocolate, but all I’m really picking up on for chocolate is an artificial chocolate scent. Which is something I’d like to smell, like in my candle for instance, but not taste. If that makes sense. Maybe like how I like the smell of fresh laundered clothes, but I wouldn’t want that taste in my mouth. That’s how artificial chocolate scent is to me. I’ve worked with artificial scents/flavors in my life a lot so I guess I’m just picky when it comes to that subject. I’ve got quite the judgmental nose and palate.
Thanks to Jenn for a sample of this, really glad I got to try it!

Edit
Yeah, the more I try to drink this the artificial chocolate scent/flavor is getting on my nerves. Not my cup of tea! I’d love to just use the leaves as a pretty potpourri! lol.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec
Erin Hurley

Sounds like me with grape. I love grapes, hate grape flavor.

Erin Hurley

Swap this for my Buttered Rasin Toast?

Ashley Bain

I just had a sample from Jenn! And I won’t be ordering it. bleghh! Sorry! A lot of people seem to like it, though. I actually tried another chocolate tea yesterday that I have yet to log – Joy’s Teaspoon’s Chocolat Pot De Tea… And I loved it! Chocolate flavor/scent that some how wasn’t artificial tasting. Best chocolate tea I’ve tried yet.

Ashley Bain

Those kind of additives in tea actually don’t add much flavor. It’s the artificial flavor that accounts for most of the flavor in flavored teas. Usually things like chips, pretty flowers, dried fruit, sprinkles, etc., just make the tea pretty. That’s what tea companies have told me, anyways. You could try picking these things out and brewing the tea, and chances are the tea will taste the same.

Ashley Bain

(Also note that I took off my numerical rating of this tea, because I wanted to respect the many lovers of this tea. So I’d appreciate respect of my opinion in return.) :)

Angrboda

Ashley, you shouldn’t have to stop yourself from giving points to a tea just because you happen to disagree with the majority on it. If you don’t like it, you don’t like it. I say by all means give it as many or as few points as you like, and if people who like the tea in question have a problem with that then they’re truly the ones who are not respecting your opinion. :)

Ashley Bain

Thank you, Angrboda. I just felt bad upon reading so many amazing reviews on this tea, and thought, hmm.. I don’t want to ruin the reputation of this tea any bit if my taste buds are just different than everyone elses.

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95
drank Lemon Zest by Joy's Teaspoon
158 tasting notes

Received a sample of this from Naomi, thank you! This is a blend of rooibos and honeybush. There’s also lemon bits and pretty cornflower blossoms throughout. It smells like sweet lemons and vanilla cream with delicate herby notes.
The website recommends using 1 teaspoon per 6 ounces of water. I steep in increments of 8 ounces, though, since I always use my Breville. (The minimum amount of water necessary to make tea is 16 ounces for the Breville One-Touch tea maker.)
So I steeped 1 1/2 teaspoons per 8 ounces, at 205 degrees, (Joy’s Tea recommends steeping in the range of 203-212 degrees for this particular tea,) for 6 minutes to get the maximum flavor.
Steeps to an amber liquor. Smells just as beautiful as it did dry. Tastes lovely! This is the smoothest lemon tea I’ve ever had. It’s very naturally sweet. The texture is satisfying. The scent of the dry leaves didn’t carry over as boldy into the steeped tea as I thought it would, and I’d probably like it a wee bit bolder, but this is very enjoyable. It’s like the sweetheart of lemon teas. I feel like maybe it’s not named correctly, like the name should hint at it’s creamy humbleness. It really is a great balance of sweet and tart, with the perfect amount of herbiness and a smooth creaminess that makes it a mellow lemon tea easy to fall for.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 6 min, 0 sec
JoysTeaspoon

Hi Ashley! I feel like Lemon Zest doesn’t necessarily represent the creaminess of the tea either. I need to hire a nail polish namer… :)

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97
drank Movie Night by DAVIDsTEA
158 tasting notes

Goodness gracious great BALLS OF POPCORN! This smells like the movie theatre, both dry and liquor. It tastes like popcorn balls and apples and heaven. I had no idea apples went so well with popcorn. It’s like kettle corn with a hint of sweet apple flavoring. I added a touch of german rock sugar and a pinch of salt. I am literally gulping this down. I need to order this pronto. Thanks Jenn!

*I steeped the recommended 2 tsp per 8 ounces for 7 minutes at 200 degrees.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 7 min, 0 sec
Daisy Chubb

Yeah this tea is pretty much amazing. Glad you got to try it!!

Anna Vu

You have me pretty excited. I just ordered some tea from DAVIDsTEA and the next thing I know, you’re raving about the tea you got from them… Sounds like it’s going to be magical!

Ashley Bain

everything I’ve tried from them is great! I’ve got to place an order soon.

Teavangelical

I added a pinch of salt to this after reading this review. SO GLAD I DID.

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97

First off, I had really been wanting to try this one, Jenn! Thanks so much, really enjoying the samples!!
Dry leaves smell like buttered popcorn and butterscotch. Pretty blend, I love the color of cornflowers. Steeped 1 1/2 tsp per 8 ounces at 205 degrees for the recommended max of 6 minutes.
Steeps to a golden brown liquor reminiscent of rum. The buttered popcorn scent seems to have mellowed out and the butterscotch has taken the forefront. First thing I notice is the good base tea used, especially for a flavored tea. It’s crisp and astringent yet smooth and not bitter. I expected a darker, maltier black tea but this was a good choice.
I’m not tasting a lot of rum. What I am tasting is butterscotch, for sure. Especially as it cools, and especially after I added brown sugar and a splash of coconut milk. That really kicks it up several notches. Lots of buttery butterscotch. But it’s a touch darker than butterscotch, if that makes sense. It has more depth and isn’t as cloyingly sweet. That’s what had always turned me off to butterscotch flavor in the past – it’s intense richness and sweetness. It still tastes like tea. A very well balanced tea.
I’m going to take off a few points because I can’t really taste rum, and I like rum. I’ll have to order some of this and try it with a shot.
All in all a very enjoyable, bright, smooth, balanced butterscotch tea that keeps me wanting more.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 6 min, 0 sec
Daisy Chubb

You know, I didn’t get ANY rum flvaour until my 3rd cup! I know you just have a sample, but it’s strange, it just kind of stuck up on me when I wasn’t expecting it. You might find that happening too, next time you give it a try ^^
For me it happened in the aftertaste, at the top of the mouth, this woosh of rum that I had never tasted before. Crazy!

Ashley Bain

that is really interesting! well rum or not it’s still great!

Erin Hurley

I want it. Pretty much a lot.

Ashley Bain

David’s teas are REALLY impressing me, I have to say. I need to place an order soon with them, and The NecessiTeas.. because I’m craving their vanilla cola iced like no other.

Erin Hurley

I’ve never had tea from either company… maybe I need to set up a trade with miss Jenn :)

Cash & Chris

Definitely try it with a shot; I LOVE that cocktail. Gonna send you lots of davidsteas in this package, they’re my favorite brand by far..

Maxime-Daniel Friðrikson

A great mixture for winter is… Try this tea with a little “Dulce de leche” Haagen Dazs ice cream, a little 100% pure maple syrup with rum. A delightful experience. :)

Ashley Bain

YUM! Winter? Heck. It’s summer and I’m trying that as soon as my shipment arrives.

Ashley Bain

oh and pure maple syrup is all I use, grade B! – obsessed with that stuff!

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100

Peppermint tea and yoga.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 8 min or more
Cash & Chris

could life get much better?

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100

Good ol’ Twinings Peppermint tea. Raising my rating because it’s always there for me when I’m feeling crappy, and it helps tremendously.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 8 min or more
Maxime-Daniel Friðrikson

Always great to kick ass after a long day of work!

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88
drank MateVana by Teavana
158 tasting notes

Goodmorning!
Thanks so much to Erin for a sample of this! I’d been wanting to try this blend for a while. My boyfriend’s a really big fan of mate so he stole most of it to take to work. :P But I did reserve a small cup to review :)
Dry leaves smell like bran flakes. Steeped 1 1/2 tsp per cup at 205 for 6 minutes.
I have to say this isn’t the best mate I’ve had. It’s not bad, though. It’s smooth and decently roasty. But I’d like it more intense, and roasty-er. I am picking up on the hazelnut and chocolate, but it’s faint. It’s like I can taste a hint of Florence from Harney & Sons…which just makes me want some Florence. Which I’m out of, but WHICH Erin included, THANKS ERIN :D.
Basically it tastes like it smells: bran flakes. Cuppa cereal. I added a splash of coconut milk & brown sugar. Enjoyable, but not knocking my socks off. Glad I got to try it, but I don’t know if I’ll be purchasing it.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 6 min, 0 sec
Erin Hurley

Oh yay! Your package arriiiiived! I haven’t had MateVana in ages, but bran flakes sounds about right. Let me know what dude thinks :3

Ashley Bain

as he was running out the door he said MMMMmmmm. So I think Davy likes. lol.

Cash & Chris

I’ve had my eye on this one for a while.. why are Teavana’s blends so damn expensive??

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100
drank Parsley tea by Custom
158 tasting notes

Enjoying a nice cup of super beneficial parsley tea. Read my description for more info, and try it! :)

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 8 min or more
Anna Vu

Oh wow! Parsley tea? How innovating. I just had a mint tea that had been boiled down but never Parsley.

Ashley Bain

It’s surprisingly enjoyable, and I’m trying to drink at least a cup a day now for the health benefits.
I love mint tea. I bet parsley mint tea would be good. Or parsley mint tarragon tea. I love herbs!

MegWesley

When I think of parsley, I think of Peter Rabbit and how he nibbled on parsley for stomach aches. I bet this would be a good tea for when you eat too much. : )

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