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Matcha TTB

I had this as a latte with breakfast. It was an open sample and I’m thinking it may have lost some of its flavor, because I didn’t really pick up on much almond in the scent or the flavor. It was just a mild, sweet, slightly nutty matcha. Not bad, but not what I was expecting. I’m not going to rate this one since I suspect flavor loss.

Matcha TTB

This tea had such a unique flavor combination, I just had to try it. And I wasn’t disappointed…this is delicious! The main flavor is sweet, juicy pineapple, but the chai spices add a nice warmth and there is also just a hint of smokiness from the gunpowder base. I’ve only tried a few things from 52Teas and this one is definitely my favorite so far!

Mmm, this is nice! A very light, smooth cup with lots of sweet, juicy peach flavor and just a hint of jasmine floral in the aftertaste. I enjoyed this hot before bed last night, but I’m guessing it would also make a delicious iced tea!

This was my first experience with Lapsang Souchong! I’m not a huge fan of smoke flavor in food or beverages, so the strong smoky flavor of this tea wasn’t my favorite. However, it definitely seems like a high quality tea. The leaves are large and unbroken and have a lovely sweet/smoky scent. And although the flavor was too smoky for my tastes, the tea was nice and smooth with no bitterness or astringency. With a splash of milk to calm down the smoke, I found this a pleasant breakfast tea.

This was the sample that came with Republic of Tea’s latest catalog. RoT tends to be pretty hit and miss with me and this one was definitely a miss. It wasn’t horrible, it just really didn’t taste like much of anything. I was hoping for a smooth, creamy vanilla/lemon blend; instead I got a weak, barely-there artificial lemony flavor. Still glad I got to sample it, though…at least I won’t be tempted to waste my money on this one!

Another sample from lolainred! I’ve heard her talk about this company, so I was glad for a chance to try one of their teas. Unfortunately, I made it in a hurry and I’m afraid I over-steeped it. My cup came out quite grassy and vegetal with a bitter tang to the aftertaste. Not going to rate this one, since I didn’t really give it a fair trial.

I tried this one at work today and I really wasn’t a fan. The smell and taste reminded me of seaweed (not that I’ve ever eaten seaweed, but there was a salty tang to it that made me think of the ocean.) There was also a good bit of astringency that left my mouth feeling puckery after I finished the cup. Overall, this was drinkable, but not something I’d reach for again.

Not sure why this one has had such low ratings from others. I find it to be absolutely delicious and the perfect holiday tea! The black/oolong base is perfectly balanced: deep and rich but with a nice silky mouth feel and the flavor is spot-on chestnut. I find myself reaching for this one on those days when I’m not in the mood for a straight black tea but I also don’t want the sweet/heavy flavor of the many dessert teas I have in my collection. I gave my roommate 2oz of this one for Christmas and she has already finished it and gone back for another 4oz bag!

I’ve been wanting to try this one for ages and I’m so glad I was finally able to get my hands on it. This may be my new favorite dessert tea! The black base is smooth and blends perfectly with the warm flavor of a sweet, nutty pastry. I love it plain but it also makes an AMAZING tea latte!

A big thank you to lolainred for sending me a sample of this one! I’ve loved every black tea I’ve tried from Whispering Pines and this one was no exception. It has a heady scent and rich, full-bodied flavor. Deep bittersweet chocolate is the main note, but I’m also picking up on some baked bread and malt…so delicious! And I’d be willing to bet this is one of those teas that I can keep on steeping all day long. (So I will…)