8 Tasting Notes
I’m probably biased when it comes to this drink (I really wouldn’t call it a “tea”, tea flavored is more like it). My grandfather drank these daily for years. When I would visit his house he’d always ask if I’d like a green tea as he pulled one of these out of the fridge. He passed away last year. I miss him everyday and this is one of those little things that brings back memories for me.
I will rate it rationally on the taste. It is refreshing, cheap (I got this 12 pack of 16oz bottles for $5 on sale), and crisp. The bottle says “citrus”, with photos of oranges & limes on the label, but what I mainly pick up is grapefruit in it.
It is sweetened with aspartame, which will keep me from making this more than just an occasional beverage. Nostalgia aside, if I was at a restaurant having lunch, and this was offered, I would prefer this over a Coke or Pepsi.
Flavors: Grapefruit, Tart
Bought this tonight in a sampler box while I was shopping for chili fixing to make this weekend. Decided I needed some caffeine with it, so brewed the peach sachet for three minutes, and then added a black pearl sachet for the final three minutes. Once it was done I put in a teaspoon of Splenda and poured it over a glass of ice.
It is really tasty this way (I’m not big on hot fruit tisanes) so typically it’s going to be used to flavor a black tea or just treated like Kool-Aid. Yes, I would recommend the peach to be made in that fashion, as I don’t prepare it any other way.
Flavors: Fruity, Peach
Preparation
I’ve tried this chai made a few ways, straight (meh), with a dash of cream & a tsp of sweetener (not bad), steeped in milk (ok), and today I made it with frothed milk & two teaspoons of Splenda (next time I’ll cut it back to just one).
I prefer it the way it was prepared tonight, but it’s still a very weak chai. I let it steep for ten minutes in the milk, and wish I would have used two bags instead of one. It’s not bad, I am enjoying it, but the only flavors that I’m getting off of it are cinnamon & light clove. Doubt I would buy this again, and I’ll probably get some loose leaf chai once I run out of this.
Flavors: Cinnamon, Cloves
Preparation
This is the first Earl Grey I’ve had in probably fifteen years. From what I understand, it’s not typical of a traditional Earl Grey to have marigold flowers in it. I have reviews (and will review more) of the Lipton pyramid teas. I like them, for a supermarket brand they’re not bad at all (I also tend to find them on sale around here for $1.50 a box).
This tea is delicious hot (I add a little Splenda), with light orange notes. As it cools it does take on a Froot Loops flavor, not sure why that is, but I still find it enjoyable. Sometimes I do double the strength and pour it over ice. It would rival any chain coffee shop ice tea I’ve had. It’s not fancy but it makes a yummy cuppa, isn’t that what tea drinking is all about?
Flavors: Citrus, Fruity, Orange Zest
Preparation
What can I say, I really enjoy this tea. It tastes good hot and makes a delicious glass of iced tea. I found these on sale for $1.25 a box. I wasn’t sure if I would like it or not, so I only bought one box, big mistake because now they’re gone.
Very smooth basic black tea, I’ve yet to have a bad cup with it. As long as it is on the store shelves it’ll also be in my cupboard.
Flavors: Smooth
Preparation
This is the first rooibos tea I’ve tried. My wife is an EMT and a gas station attendant gave her a few packs of it to try (he recommended it). She doesn’t really drink hot teas in the warmer months, so I became the beneficiary of the two sample packs.
I took my first sip, after steeping per the directions for 5 minutes, and it had a familiar smell I couldn’t quite place…but other than that it was like drinking hot water. Went and got the tea bag out of the plastic container I had placed it on and dropped it back in the water.
All of a sudden it just hit me like a ton of bricks. I KNOW what this smells like!! It smells exactly like the old pipe tobacco my dad used to smoke, ACK. Definitely not tasty, and I’m seriously considering this being a drain pour…I can’t do it.
I will try a loose leaf Rooibos one day, after the memory of this swill fades from memory.
Flavors: Tobacco
Preparation
Woo Hoo, my first review on Steepster!
Admittedly, I am new to the world of teas. What is a budding enthusiast to do? Buy a bunch of teas at the supermarket to try, before getting into the loose stuff. :)
Well, I gave Lipton’s Blackberry Vanilla blend a whirl. I do like the pyramid filters. I feel like the quality of the tea is better than the dust often found in standard bags. Now onto the taste. Wellllll, Lipton didn’t lie when they said it was tart. I tried it without sweetener at first, but ended up putting a teaspoon of Splenda in it. It is way too tart for me to enjoy hot. To be honest, it doesn’t taste right to me hot. It reminded me of hot, watered down, Kool-Aid.
I let it sit in the mug on my end table until it cooled off, and then I poured it over ice. It was actually good that way. That is why I’m giving it a 50 rating. Detestable when hot, not bad when cold.
Flavors: Blackberry, Fruity, Tart