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(this review is for the pure chamomile in pyramid mesh sachets)

A nice chamomile, definitly enjoyable. Hints of the typical chamomile notes like sweet dry grass, lemon, dried meadow flowers. My sachet contained fairly fresh flowers (as opposed to the cheap old chamomile tea bags I normally prefer), so the cup was slightly more vegetal and had a bit more zing to it. Makes for lovely iced or hot tea drunk straight. It could probably tolerate milk and/or light sweetener or fresh fruit added (lemon, orange, or peach slices would work well).

Another of the Trader Joe’s teas I purchased this week. This is basically Celestial Seasoning’s Sleepy Time. It is a delicious blend of chamomile, peppermint, lemongrass, spearmint, passionflower leaf, orange flowers, and blackberry leaf. I found it tasted mostly like spearmint/peppermint/chamomile and I didn’t taste the other ingredients as much. This brews really well hot or cold; I enjoy one tea bag in 500mL boiling water brewed 4-5 minutes and then I add vanilla almond or soy milk.

The best part about vacationing in the US is that I can go to Trader Joe’s. I picked up a number of bagged teas (all decaf/herbal tisanes) because most hotels only have lame English breakfast/green teabags. I didn’t realize there were 40 teabags in the box, so I guess I’m going ot be drinking this for a while to come.

This was not as brisk or acidic as I expected. If anything, it was more pleasant than English breakfast often are. Malty, thick mouthfeel, very flavourful. I really enjoyed mine with soy milk, but I imagine it would take well to being enjoyed straight. No sweetener needed, the leaf doesn’t need it. Nothing really stands out about this blend, other than not being unpleasant in any way (doesn’t over steep quickly, is smooth and palatable). This would make a really nice daily drinker in the evening.

Thank you to Stash for sending me this free sample on one of their new fair trade teas.

This has so much potential, it could have been a great cup for someone else. Unfortunately, I am not the best taster for something with dandelion root and chicory, because the roasted root taste is bitter and very…rooty. The chicory is just gross (as is all chicory). I just don’t find any redeeming qualities in a cup of bitter root water. I think anyone who enjoys dandelion root and chicory would really enjoy this, however. The ingredients themselves are high quality and ethically acquired (fair trade).

As it turns out, this doesn’t steep as well as a coldbrew. Half a perfect cup ouch (~2g), 400 mL cold water, 30 minutes and the water is clear. At 45 minute the water is very light amber, but smells fragrant. I think perhaps the flavour steeps out before all of the tannins.

Hot, it tastes more of cocoa shells and coconut, but cold is tastes very heavily of coconut filling in chocolate bars (very thick, sweet, overpowering coconut). It isn’t bad, but isn’t for anyone who doesn’t love coconut.