Gnat and Bee

Edit Company

Recent Tasting Notes

80

Sipdown

My wife is sick today. She wanted hot tea with honey. I thought that sounded quite lovely, so I brewed a big batch of this (32 oz iced/32 oz hot) to top off the the first bag we purchased a few weeks ago.

Notes: The black tea base and bergamot are both forward in the sip, but the lavender really takes charge in the aftertaste. I really like that this tea holds up hot or iced.

*Adding ice brings the lavender out more, while the bergamot plays the biggest role in the aftertaste.

Flavors: Bergamot, Floral, Lavender

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

80

I’ve been sipping this tisane iced for the past two days, and I’m absolutely amazed by the blend. It has been sunny lately, which inspires iced tea. Since I wanted to find the tea to replace for the weekly office travels, I recently obtained this blend from the local market. I figured it’d ice well enough since I like cold lemongrass and ginger.

Notes: I steeped this for 8 minutes, as suggested on the website. That ginger really pops, but so does the lemongrass and lemon verbena. I added honey to today’s brew – also suggested – and it really adds to the lemon zest – so refreshing! Thankfully I grabbed a full 2 oz bag of this, so that I can have plenty for a few more sessions.

Flavors: Ginger, Lemon, Lemon Zest, Sweet

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

68
drank Ritual Chai by Gnat and Bee
439 tasting notes

Advent tea!
A bit clove heavy for my liking, but a good tea to roust me out of bed and get me in to traveling mode this morning. Its a warming tea, pepper, clove and cardamom, but no ginger. I’d sip this again but wouldn’t seek it out to buy. Thanks Lexie for letting me try it.

Flavors: Cardamom, Clove, Pepper

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

89
drank Golden Milk by Gnat and Bee
1299 tasting notes

January Challenge Prompt: drink a latte
Needed something anti-inflammatory the other day so I pulled this out to make a latte. My mom surprised me with a jar of this one after first her jar of it and really enjoying it.
It’s a really lovely golden milk and it’s nice to be able to support a small business. I prepared this with a small amount of water and then added some frothy almond milk. It was probably 4oz of water to 6oz of almond milk? I can’t quite remember though.
The spices are strong but balanced and the marshmallow root likely adds some creaminess. I have another similar golden masala chai blend and that one isn’t nearly as balanced as this one is and I like how this one is caffeine-free. Caffeine in an anti-inflammatory blend would somehow feel a little less medicinal to me for some reason. There was quite a bit of the spices left in the bottom of my cup but that didn’t bother me. Perhaps that’s one downside to not preparing it on the stove? This would be a delicious daily cup of tea but I’ll save it for those health flare-up days. My mom actually got an ice cream maker for Christmas and I bet golden milk non-dairy ice-cream would be delicious…

Flavors: Creamy, Spices, Turmeric

Preparation
Boiling 1 tsp
Shae

I really like this one too! I agree – a golden milk ice cream would probably be pretty delicious.

Mastress Alita

I love this stuff! My breakfast smoothie today was coconut milk, mango, a teaspoon of matcha, and a tablespoon of this Golden Milk mix. Delicious!

Crowkettle

The addition of marshmallow root to this version of “golden milk” sounds promising :)

Love this kind of stuff (and it should be a vegan ice cream flavour)!

Lexie Aleah

Mastress Alita- That sounds delicious. I’ve never made my own but had a similar smoothie from a local shop before.

LuckyMe

I’m like the only person who hasn’t tried golden milk yet. Something about the chalkiness of turmeric intimidates but a blend like this accented with spices sounds approachable.

Lexie Aleah

It might just take finding a blend that you like and playing with prep methods etc. An easy way as well to try without having to commit would be to check out your local coffee shops and order one. Saku Golden Orange is another one of my favorite ones and has coconut milk in it since it’s a latte mix. It’s turmeric and orange though so not the classic flavor profile your probably looking for.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

78
drank Forest Berry by Gnat and Bee
2285 tasting notes

Shae Advent Day 9

Hot, this tasted like mildly flavored black tea. I added milk and let it cool to room temperature, and now I’m tasting a lot more complexity. I get some berries and a little of something else that I can’t pin down. I thought it might be chocolate, but it doesn’t look like it. Maybe some pleasant earthiness? Forest berry is an apt name for this one.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

drank Forest Berry by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

This tastes like chocolate! It must be the base tea – I don’t think I remember seeing chocolate in the ingredient list. A very satisfying cup, even if I’m not tasting much in the way of berries.

Flavors: Dark Chocolate

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

drank Forest Berry by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

78
drank Full Moon by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

F is for… Full Moon.

Okay, okay, not bad. Honestly, this is pretty good. Certainly not what I was expecting with the huge pieces of hibiscus flower in the blend. I received this as a free sample with my most recent order from Gnat & Bee. It has a juicy, fruity flavor. I’d drink this again willingly, sure!

Flavors: Fruity

Preparation
Boiling 7 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 6 OZ / 177 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

drank Defender by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

No notes yet. Add one?

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

drank Golden Milk by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

I remember Mastress Alita talking about this one a while back, so I was excited to see it as a sample in the gift box I bought for Christmas. I prepared it with whole milk and honey and then put it in the blender to get it nice and frothy. I really enjoyed it. Very comforting, warming. I only have a bit left, but I’ll order more of this once it’s gone.

Preparation
1 tsp
Mastress Alita

Yes, I like whisking it in warmed coconut milk, very comforting. Also settling on those days when my GI feels like bleh.

Shae

Oh yes, the warmed coconut milk feels so luxurious. It’s such a treat. And it’s definitely soothing.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

drank Serenity by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

Steeped extra strong and topped with four ounces of frothed whole milk. So nice. I can taste chamomile and mint (spearmint, maybe?).

Flavors: Mint, Spearmint

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 6 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

drank Embrace by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

I thought about saving this for Valentine’s Day, with the name and the rose petals, but found another that’s actually a dessert tea so I’m having this today. I steeped a tablespoon in 8 ounces of milk (1/2 whole milk, 1/2 coconut milk) for about ten minutes. It came out way too thick (maybe from the marshmallow root?) and it tasted like soap. I’ll try again another day, but for now I’m dumping this and grabbing a pint of ice cream instead.

Flavors: Soap

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 3 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

84
drank Ritual Chai by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

Hmm, I really like this one. I bought it as part of a sampler right before Christmas. It came with two herbal blends, this black chai, a jar of wildflower honey, a candle (Scent: Fireplace), and a beautiful piece of handmade pottery – a large and cozy moon mug! I definitely purchased for the mug. Anyway, back to the tea. The base is bold, the spices are flavorful but not spicy. Definitely more of a sweet-spiced chai. One of my favorites from Gnat & Bee so far!

Flavors: Spices

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

80
drank Golden Milk by Gnat and Bee
1216 tasting notes

This small-batch custom blend tea shop hit my radar from Shae at some point (thanks Shae!) I saw they made their own Golden Milk and I had recently run out of the one I had from Tea Chai Te, so I decided to try theirs.

Since I’m a spice wuss, I usually use Coconut Milk to prepare this, since it is sweet enough to offset any extreme spicy heat, and I also just find that flavor compliments turmeric very well. I tend to froth 1 tsp per 1 cup Coconut Milk, and I am amazed at how foamy it gets! This is actually very nice; it does have a strong earthy, rooty turm flavor (I mean, one would expect!) but I can still taste the sweeter cinnamon and a pleasant warmth on the back of my throat from the ginger and black pepper. The only spice in the blend I’m not distinctly picking out in the flavor is the cardamom. There is also marshmallow root in this blend, which I believe may be contributing to just how creamy this blends up and tastes. Prepared as a warm latte offset with a very sweet milk, I’m getting just the right amount of spicy warmth, and since I’ve been dealing with a bought of sinusitis, that warmth of turm and ginger and spice feels divine. I love that it isn’t caffeinated so I can drink it right before bed when I seem to feel very clogged up, too.

It does get a bit grainy toward the last few sips of the cup, but otherwise this is a very rich, foamy, creamy spiced latte!

Flavors: Cinnamon, Creamy, Earth, Ginger, Pepper, Spices, Spicy

Preparation
1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
Shae

This does sound nice!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

92
drank Chroning by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

92
drank Chroning by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

Mastress Alita’s Monthly Sipdown Challenge
August 2022 → A tea that reminds you of a family member

This is my brother’s favorite tea so I’m always reminded of him whenever I drink it. We bought a pound of it when he lived here which he left when he moved out, so I still have a huge amount left. I really need to get it to him, but I don’t even know if he drinks tea now that he’s on his own. I think maybe he humored me a bit because I like to drink tea and also enjoy making in the mornings for everyone else. So maybe we’ll just have some when he comes to visit if he doesn’t want to take it home next time he’s here.

This is a strong smoky tea but there are other elements here too – spices and flowers and chocolate. This is actually the first time I remember tasting any chocolate. Must have had a few cacao nibs in my brew basket. I think this still must be one of my favorites from Gnat & Bee, if not my very favorite. It’s a seasonal tea for fall, but I haven’t seen it on her website in a couple of years. I feel lucky to have plenty left to enjoy.

Flavors: Cocoa, Smoke

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
DROVAC XIII

I would say send him a few, cause it will bring him good memories even if he dosnt drink it all it will be a great surprise in my opinion.
Specially a smoky tea they are always amazing, so why not !

Shae

I think you’re right, I’ll have to make sure he takes some next time he’s over for a visit. :)

DROVAC XIII

Yes do that ! I am pretty sur he will like it, if he doesn’t you can blame it on me xD

Shae

Haha, no no he’ll definitely love it!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

92
drank Chroning by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

My very favorite tea from Gnat & Bee. I’m surprised I haven’t written about it here before. I drank through this cup without thinking much about it, so I’ll have to come back later for a proper review.

Flavors: Smoke

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
Courtney

I’ve not heard of this company — I’ll have to check them out. :)

Shae

I’m sorry, I missed your note before for some reason! The teas are hit or miss for me, but this one is my favorite. She offers a lot of her blends seasonally, so they aren’t always available year-round. Some other favorites of mine are her Ritual Chai and Golden Milk.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

drank Yin Yang by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

drank Yin Yang by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

ashmanra’s monthly sipdown challenge
January 2023 → a malty tea

Not a fan of this one today. It’s malty, yes. It’s also earthy in a pungent, unpleasant sort of way. I may need to rethink how I steep this one in the future. I still have a few cups left and want to enjoy it at least a little before it’s gone.

Flavors: Earthy, Malty, Pungent

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

drank Yin Yang by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

This is a unique blend with vanilla bean, jasmine, carob, and shatavari root. I think it must be the shatavari root that is giving it that earthy flavor. It reminds me of ashwagandha. I don’t taste the carob or jasmine. I wonder what it would add to the overall flavor if it were stronger. As it is, it tastes like an earthy breakfast blend. The base tea is bold which I appreciate.

Flavors: Earthy

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

drank Yin Yang by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

It’s been a long day, so I’m having a cup of black tea this afternoon (something I normally make a point not to do, because sleep). As a treat, I added some sweetened condensed milk to this cup instead of my regular honey and oat milk. It’s not overly sweet so the flavors are still coming through, but it’s also mega creamy which makes my soul happy today. This is an interesting blend from Gnat & Bee. I’ve bought several of her teas, and some are really good while others are not so great. I would say this one falls squarely in the middle. It’s certainly not a repurchase for me at this point, but I’m really enjoying the cozy vibes I’m getting from it in this moment. It calls to mind a decadent hot chocolate, but light on the chocolate. If that makes any sense at all. It’s faintly floral but also earthy and a bit spicy in the way that ginger is spicy – more of a punchy heat than a spicy heat.

Flavors: Chocolate, Earth, Floral, Spicy

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
Mastress Alita

I recently bought their Golden Milk mix as I was out, but I still need to get some more coconut milk at the store to start making Golden Milk lattes again!

Shae

Oh let me know if you like it! I was curious about that one.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

drank Blueberry Moon by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

Cold brew/steep. A mint tea. I don’t taste blueberries but it’s refreshing nonetheless.

Flavors: Mint

Preparation
Iced 8 min or more 9 tsp 34 OZ / 1005 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

78
drank Sister Grey by Gnat and Bee
2170 tasting notes

Login or sign up to leave a comment.