31 Tasting Notes
After first whiff, this tea smells strongly of licorice root, but that’s not one of the ingredients. It also resembles redwood mulch. Upon brewing, it turns a deep caramel brown. The tea liquor aroma reflects cinnamon. Sans sweetener, this tea tastes like medicine with a tinge of orange peel. Blech! With a dollop of brown sugar, my sweetener of choice, I can taste more of the rooibos and the gentle nibbling of the cardamom. Sadly, no scent or taste of vanilla. Even though my partner likes it, I’d only buy this again as a back up for tea latte drinks.
Preparation
The scent, I must discuss the scent first! This blend, resembling coarse ground redwood sawdust, will fill your kitchen with the rich, heady scent of the finest quality caramel you can imagine with a little hint of orange. My partner said it reminds him of pipe tobacco…which is a good thing. Who doesn’t love that smell?! While steeping, the water is a rich, dark red and as time elapses, the color changes into a rich, deep caramel brown. I was amazed that this tea retained the scent once poured and sans sweetener, it tastes like a little cup of heaven…a perfect blend of caramel and a tinge I can only describe as round. This tea has earned a permanent spot in my tea cupboard.
Preparation
I didn’t have high hopes for this tea and it didn’t fail to meet my expectations. The aroma is reminiscent of…a clean, sweaty body, the color is amber and the taste, oh God, the taste. It tastes just like hot water with perhaps the slightest nuance of orange. Thank heaven this was a sample because I definitely will not ever buy this.
Preparation
OMG, this tea is amazing. Strong spicy aroma with incredible orange notes and gorgeous dark amber color…this tea works equally well as a stand-alone tea or as a tea latte. This has earned a spot in my fave beverages to drink. If you have a Biggby near you, save your $5 and buy this tea for about $5.99 for 20 silken sachets and make your own lattes at home.
Preparation
I hate Lipton tea so when my boyfriend grabbed it, I turned up my nose. One day, I was out of iced tea and this was the only thing in the house. I took a chance, brewed it and drank it, and OMG, Lipton finally got it right! This tea is amazing! It’s very light with subtle hints of fruit, and it smells wonderful. This is by far a most refreshing iced tea and at bargain prices, too!
Preparation
I’ve used a cajillion steepers, but this is the best one I’ve ever used. It can steep multiple servings at once and combined with a timer, you dump in your tea leaves and water and just walk away. I was afraid I’d have to use Teavana’s wide-mouth glass mug for this to fit, but it fits all the mugs I have with no drips or spills. Cleaning is tricky, but I just fill it up with water and toss the whole mess out the kitchen window or in the toilet.
As a green tea, this is the lightest I’ve ever tried. I had high hopes since it’s filled with fruit, but it doesn’t intoxicate me as other, even cheaper, green teas have. At least it’s pretty. I think this will be better served as iced tea.