Having read terrible things about Teavana and their safety/quality control practices (particularly regarding carcinogenic pesticides in their tea leaves: read more here http://foodbabe.com/2013/08/21/do-you-know-whats-really-in-your-tea/), I’m not happy that this tea is made by Teavana. However, that is this delicious tea’s only negative point.
I find it wonderfully tasty, sweet on its own without having to add honey (I don’t always take honey with my tea, but this one is perfectly honeyed without adding any honey to it myself…quite delightful). I love vanilla, and this is a harmonious medley of the two. The honey is dominant, to be sure, but I don’t consider that to be a disappointment. It tastes great just the way it is.
Something about this tea is wonderfully comforting to me. It’s like a warm, soft blanket, as you’re curled up before the fireplace, with a warm glow from the fire washing over you. It is definitely one of my favorites. I like to drink it when I’m stressed, to help me unwind.
I saw that several people were trying to mix their own version of this tea using teas from companies other than Teavana. If anyone has had success, I’d like to hear about it. I’m going to try this myself with some tea companies recommended by the Food Babe for the safety and purity of their teas (Numi, Traditional Medicinals, and Rishi Tea).
Preparation
Comments
I purchased some honeybush tea from Mountain Rose Herbs and cut a vanilla bean into it. I let it sit for a few weeks to infuse/settle. It didn’t taste creamy like this one, but it did taste lovely and vanilla-y.
I’ve since added some cardamom, cinnamon bark, and cloves to it and am enjoying it as a gentle vanilla chai. Mmmmm.
I purchased some honeybush tea from Mountain Rose Herbs and cut a vanilla bean into it. I let it sit for a few weeks to infuse/settle. It didn’t taste creamy like this one, but it did taste lovely and vanilla-y.
I’ve since added some cardamom, cinnamon bark, and cloves to it and am enjoying it as a gentle vanilla chai. Mmmmm.