343 Tasting Notes
I finally got back up to New York City, which allowed me to purchase varying amounts of all of the fall teas, without being stuck to the 50 gram minimum on the website. This one I kind of knew I would love already, so I bought 2oz in addition to the sachets for work. I didn’t find it too sweet, but I didn’t let it steep terribly long and I was using the Keurig water in the apartment which is definitely below boiling, likely not allowing the candy piece to fully melt. I’ll try it again at home with hotter water.
Snickerdoodle cookies aren’t actually a favorite of mine, but I get cinnamon, bakery pastry and general sweetness when a bit of sweetener was added (again – water temp probably played a factor in it). It was a nice evening drink, resteeped fairly well. I can see myself getting through the bag easily.
I have a major sweet tooth; if you do too (and don’t mind rooibos – though I could barely taste it), I would recommend trying this tea.
I was so excited when I found this tea at my local Wegmans, and a plus, it was on sale for $1.99, yes please! I was a bit worried when I read the ingredient list (a few things on there I’m not so fond of) but I added sweetener and I am literally getting one of those caramel covered apple lollipops you get during fall/Halloween time. I am definitely getting caramel, which while in the name, surprises me, and the tartness and crispness of apple. Might have to go back to get another box. I can see this completing with my Teavana Spiced Apple Cider. This is almost a lighter version, but it does have a similar taste profile – so if you hate that, take caution of this!
I happen to love it though! Yum!
I’m at a different work location away from my “work stash” so I decided to bring in this can and do bagged tea so I don’t look like a big weirdo with my loose leaf, tea strainers and other gadgets. Anyway, yes, this is slightly artificial tasting, but I really like it. I use boiling water, use 2 bags in a 12oz mug and a bit of sweetener and it’s quite pleasant. In fact, I’m surprised at how quickly I’ll be getting through the tin. The tea being a rooibos doesn’t hurt either. Not sure I’d re-buy, as at “normal” stores, RoT teas usually go for $10 and with doubling up, the 36 bags that come in this package really only makes 18 mugs. Some of their tea comes with 50 bags, yet the price doesn’t change, peculiar. Anyway, I’ll happily finish up this tin, not sure on the repurchase though – though a good sale would probably tempt me.
Sipdown!
But not alone. I’ve been drinking this mixed with the Teavana Spiced Apple Cider and a teaspoon of Tealux Vanilla Rooibos which I am almost finished with (yay!). This adds a creamy, almost caramel apple taste to the normal cinnamon apple of the spiced apple cider, which I love. I don’t think I ever drank it alone, but I only had about an ounce of it (came in the gift set last year that I got for a ridiculously good price during the heavenly sale). Not sure I’d repurchase, but it definitely adds a nice flavor to my favorite fall-time tea ever.
Sipdown!
Although, not very impressive, since I only got the sampler with 4 bags each of various chais. This one was pretty good, not very chocolatey though. This round, I combined it with a sachet of the caramel chai and it was actually better as the caramel toned down the spices in the chocolate chai. Not sure I’d repurchase, but a little bit of spice always helps when things that my body doesn’t like are blooming outside!
Herbal Traveling Tea Box
You know how restaurants tend to sell wine, beer or dessert “flights”? Small amounts of various items… well I made an iced tea flight. 4 little cups of 4oz of boiling water, 1 teaspoon of tea, steeped and then stuck in the fridge. I want to get the box out by tomorrow and this was the only way I could think to try everything I wanted to, without drinking too much tea (I tend to make 12-16oz at a time)!
Anyway,
Monterey Bay Spice Company Passion Berry Fruit Herbal
I’m getting a hint of passion fruit, but it’s mostly a more or less generic berry taste. The good part is I’m not finding it particularly bitter or sour, though there is a hint of that – so I didn’t need to add sweetener, nice to try, but not something I’d keep.
ESP Emporium Grandma’s Garden
This kind of reminds me of watered down fruit punch. Lots of different flavors, maybe a bit of cherry? Also reminds me of the Tealux Berry Picking Delight, though not quite as tart – at least I don’t think so at the moment.
Darlene’s Tea Port Paradisco Peach
This surprisingly tastes like peach without adding sweetener, but there’s an underlying tartness which kind of requires the sweetener. I’m one of those few people like hibiscus, but does every single herbal blend have to include it? At least with teas that don’t pretend to be something else, it’s fairly obvious, but who thought “oh yeah, some hibiscus sounds great” when trying to make a blend calls paradisco peach; must I place additional emphasis on the peach part, because… ya know, peach.. stone fruit; hibiscus, flower. Just no – other brands use apple – that probably would have been better. Would have loved this without the tart, but my guess is it’s being used as a cheaper filler in this blend. Sad face.
ESP Emporium Vanilla/Cream
Slightly scared of this one, but intrigued enough to make some. So it kind of tastes like hibiscus plus cream. [slight edit since I found it on the website] guess what the ingredients are? Apple pieces, hibiscus blossoms, rose hip peel, flavoring. Why? Can’t we just keep the apple and vanilla flavoring and call it a tasty, forever nuts-esque day?
Herbal Traveling Tea Box
Bleh. I like hibiscus, and even this was just so sour. There was even evident tartness after sweetener, but at least it toned down the hibiscus some and brought out the cinnamon. Without, it was nearly undrinkable. The only way I would ever imagine this would be halfway decent would be iced and sweetened. Teavana Passion is tart, but it’s lovely iced and I don’t even sweeten mine these days. Something tells me this wouldn’t work as well.
Just under 2 tsp but steepster doesn’t allow non-whole numbers. I was hoping the cinnamon would somehow overwhelm the hibiscus and tried this hot. Big mistake, huuuge mistake
Preparation
Herbal Traveling Tea Box
I’m so glad I tried this one. I was almost about to put it in the “not try” pile since the name suggested fruit punch, but I’m really glad I gave it a whirl, since it’s almost exactly like Davidstea Green & Fruity (which also like the name gives you the wrong idea), but is so good! Also, gotta love the green rooibos. I’m swear I’m getting mango even though it isn’t on the ingredients list and some creaminess from this, though I did add sweetener. Think I may be keeping the remainder of this since it is just so delicious.
Preparation
Herbal Traveling Tea Box
This is tasty. It’s chocolate-y and hazelnutty, but not overwhelmingly hazelnut. I can do it in small doses (and with chocolate, ohh Ferrero Rocher… Mmmm) but I wouldn’t eat a handful on their own. Anyway, I’m glad I tried this one but I’m not sure it’s one I would go out of my way to find or keep in my cupboard.
I did add a touch of sweetener for those wondering to really bring out the chocolate.
Preparation
Herbal Traveling Tea Box
Took this from the box since my sinuses have been a disaster the last few days. I don’t know what has been blooming but I needed something to help clear them out (even after using my neti pot). We were about to meet some friends for brunch so I needed something quick and this worked well. One bag in about 12oz of boiling water. Surprisingly drinkable without sweetener but not sure I’d purchase. I already have a quite substantial supply of decaf chai at the moment and this isn’t particularly unique.
