618 Tasting Notes
[Backlog] – I really enjoy a rooibos tea blend, but I especially love one that has chamomile, too. Many of the chamomile blends that I’ve tried in the past have been mixed with strange herbs or things that I don’t like. I’m so pleased to see that this one has rooibos, chamomile, lemongrass, coconut, lavender and banana. That’s it! Nothing weird or funky here.
This blend is so delicious! I love the strong chamomile flavor, the banana (you can actually taste it!) and the sweet rooibos. I feel like I should mention that the chamomile is very bright and bold so if you’re not a fan, this blend likely isn’t for you. The chamomile, banana and rooibos blend so well together – sweet, soft and very comforting. I don’t taste a whole lot of coconut, but if I really look for it, I can find it in the background.
One thing this blend could do without is the rather soapy lavender. It’s not strong enough that I can’t finish the cup, but I think this blend would be better without it. Actually.. now that I’m thinking about it, that soapy note could be from a combination of the coconut and lavender. The rooibos is surprisingly a bit mild. It seems to hug the other flavors with its woody sweetness and doesn’t take over.
If you’re looking for a soothing and tasty blend, I highly recommend this one. It’s caffeine free so it can be had any time during the day or night!
[Backlog] – I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest fan of puerh. It’s one of those teas that my tastebuds can’t seem to enjoy. Most of the puerh teas I’ve tried seemed too dusty, earthy and the very worst, fishy! I’ve personally found that there are so many teas out there that I enjoy more so I haven’t gone out of my way to find puerh. I have high hopes for this blend, though, as it’s supposed to have notes of chocolate and strawberry. Lupicia does fruit flavoring quite well, in my experience, so I bet this will be a tasty cup.
Ooh, this is lovely! The beginning of the sip offers a strong chocolate flavor and a bright strawberry. It reminds me a little bit of a melted chocolate bar with strawberry jam. How delicious! The puerh is actually so far in the background that I can’t truly taste it. I suppose it does come out at the end of the sip as something a bit dry and dark. If I gulp the tea, the puerh does become more present. This is where the blend falls flat.. but only because I don’t like puerh. Hah! The tea base does work with the flavorings, though.
I recommend this tea for anyone who loves the combination of strawberry and chocolate. Lupicia could not have made a more perfect blend of the two. Those who enjoy puerh might be a little disappointed as it’s not terribly strong, but really.. it’s all about the chocolate and strawberry!
[Backlog] – I’m always hoping to find a nice chocolate tea, but haven’t really found one that is the most delicious yet! Sometimes the chocolate is too faint or fake… sometimes the tea base is too bold. When I saw this black silk chocolate milk blend pop up for sale, I knew that I had to give it a try. It seemed like it would have a great combination of chocolate and a smooth black tea base. Plus, I love the addition of marshmallow root as I think it adds a creamy element to the blend.
After the tea has been steeped, I smell a rather strong black tea with a tiny bit of chocolate in the background. The first part of the sip is of the black tea base. It’s a little more astringent than I expected, but I do pick up on notes of hay and earth. The chocolate, for me, comes toward the end of the sip. It’s not a strong chocolate flavor, but is faint and dark like cocoa. Happily, I can taste a bit of the marshmallow root in the form of a quick creamy finish. The cup is very drinkable, but I really want the silky smooth black tea and that strong chocolate! They’re just not there for me, unfortunately.
I’m happy that I tried this blend, but it hasn’t filled my needs for a chocolate blend. That being said, it’s not a bad blend and if you’re looking for an average black tea with a hint of chocolate, this is a good choice.
This one has been in my collection for a long time now and I’m slowly moving through everything I have. I’m typically not a puerh drinker, but seeing that it has received great reviews, I must give it a try.
First Steep: I’m surprised to see how dark this cup is given the short steep time. No wonder it’s called Special Dark! Sipping… hm, this is nicer than I thought it would be. I first taste bits of dry bark, wood and cocoa. There is a shadow of dirt that I pick up in most puerhs, but it sits in the background and doesn’t grow too strong. The cup also has a vague creamy element which I’m enjoying. Really looking forward to future cups!
Second Steep: This one is a bit more.. earthy. There is something a little tangy about this cup, too. I’m not sure if it has to do with the earthy note combined with the dry bark flavor, but it’s definitely a little strange. That being said, it is drinkable and there is still that nice chocolate note – a bit weaker than the first cup.
Third Steep: Reminds me a bit more of the first cup. I still taste bark mixed with a bit of dark chocolate and dirt. This cup also has really nice sweetness that wasn’t as prominent in previous cups.
This is definitely one of the better puerh teas I’ve had and I love that there isn’t that fishy scent or flavor. Yum!
Even though I wasn’t thrilled with this tea when I first tried it, it’s been my choice for an morning or afternoon cup. I’ve really been enjoying it with a splash of milk. The tea base isn’t terribly strong and is a little bit on the weak side, but it seems to work with the chocolate flavoring. It’s strange because on its own, the chocolate is more on the bitter, darker side. With milk, though, the chocolate seems to be more between a milk and a dark.
Even though it’s not my most favorite tea in the world, I would add this to a future order. It’s a gentle and sweet cup that’s very drinkable.
I thought that this would be a lovely last tea from 52Teas before the big transition over to new owners. I was really looking forward to the raspberry and cake flavors, but it’s really not at all what it should be. I mostly taste the black tea base with a tiny bit of artificial raspberry. I think there is something in the background that is trying to be cake, but it just tastes strange. It’s a fine fake raspberry black tea blend, but if you’re looking for raspberry birthday cake, it’s definitely not here. I think there are other plain raspberry teas that taste much more natural, too.
Well, although I’m disappointed with this one, I’m excited to try some of the new flavors that the new 52Teas will be creating!
The scent of this tea is pure creamy banana. I can’t really smell much of the oolong, but I’ll be honest and say that I’m just here for that banana and butterscotch.
Sipping… oh this makes me sad that I can’t buy more. It’s such a perfect creamy banana tea! The walnut adds a bit of coarse starchiness to the background reminding me of a banana bread. I don’t really taste the butterscotch, but I think I’m finding it in the tea’s smooth and soft character. The banana is beautiful and natural. I love the oolong base and the way it adds just a hint of that green leafy flavor to the cup. Everything blends together so well.. it’s just perfect!
This one is such a disappointment.. I thought that it would be delicious – creamy, sweet and juicy. What I taste is that general fruity taste that so many of these blends have… not really anything specific, but more of a mix of hibiscus with just a hint of random fruits. I was really hoping for strawberries and cream, but it was mostly hibiscus with a tiny bit of sweetness.
I’ve been wanting to try this tea for the longest time, but never got around to buying a tin. I’m having a very big craving for hot chocolate, but not the additional calories… so onto this blend! I’m surprised to see that a majority of the blend is cacao shells.. for some reason I was expecting there to be more rooibos with just a few shells thrown in.
Sipping… mmm a rich, dark chocolate flavor with a touch of vanilla. The cacao is obviously the main flavor – not creamy like a milk chocolate, but richer and deeper. The vanilla is nice, but reminds me quite a bit of vanilla extract in that it has a note that resembles alcohol. I wish it wasn’t so sharp, but could be a bit more creamy. It would be so nice with the cacao!
The rooibos is somewhat hidden and mostly adds a dry, woody element. As much as I love rooibos, I think that it doesn’t contribute a whole lot to the cup. I’m glad that I finally tried this blend and will definitely enjoy the rest of it.
Hmm.. I am still searching for a lovely creamy strawberry rooibos/honeybush, but I haven’t found one that I truly love. This one isn’t bad, but it is stronger on the rooibos and you really have to search for the strawberry. I don’t see why this is called “Strawberry Cream” as the cream isn’t present at all. I will finish up what I have, but I wish that it had more of a strawberry cream flavor. For me, it’s a simple rooibos with a faint strawberry note.
