1183 Tasting Notes
I was looking for an Almond Oolong that compared to one of the ones that I’ve had, and this one came pretty close to it. I tasted the wood, almond, and some smokiness with this one. Sweetness was there and I drank this without any sweetener usually, but I admit that it’s good with some stevia, agave, or sugar.
It’s pretty simple and I am glad I had some. I used to think this one was probably one of my favorites with the exception of Rishi’s Tie Guan Yin. Now, I’m starting to lean more towards Green Oolongs, but still, I really liked this one.
The demographic this tea might appeal to could be a newer tea drinker who likes almond or black teas since this is what this one resembles. There are better ones out there, yet this one is a good cheaper substitute.
Flavors: Almond, Roasted, Wood
Preparation
I like this one, but again with a little bit of bias because of the blackberry leaf and the lotus flavor. It’s really fruity, and very refreshing after a workout. As for the recovery angle of this tea, it’s specifically talking about recovering IMMEDIATELY after training, and after breathing your lungs out and beating the crap out of your body. It only helps to build muscle by lowering inflammation and giving you a wake up jolt after wards. My muscles weren’t so sore after I drank it, but it’s no magic medicine or supplement like creatine (which you can argue whether or not such supplements are good for you).
It’s honestly better with honey, but not bad at on its own. The turmeric really brings out the flavors, and is the source of its body. Really, the quality and the ingredients with their health benefits are the reason for my higher rating. I’d recommend it, but not highly and NEVER to a connoisseur. Someone who likes to try something new smooth and fruity would like this one.Flavors: Blackberry, Ginger, Green
Preparation
I have a love hate relationship with Yerbe Mate. I either think that it tastes literal butter mashed with land grass and perhaps some cannabis on the side (I hate the smell of it), or buttery greenness that can go with almost anything. They are good as chais. They are good with flavors and cream. They are also good with chocolate, which is what this is, and it is one of the closest teas that you can get to a mocha, yet not the first nor the best example to do so.
How they are near to accomplishing this task is by using a roasted mate and chicory for the base, which provides the coffee like aroma and taste. The cocoa umphs up the mocha parallel. So, what you get is a roasted, light herbal cocoa with an extra kick of caffeine.
Cream, sugar, and honey can work with this, but more so with the sugar. I personally think that it doesn’t need anything. Honestly, this is best as an alternative to coffee for those who want something different, want a light hot cocoa, or trying to give up their coffee. This is one of the tea drinker’s mochas, but one of many others nonetheless.
Flavors: Cocoa, Coffee, Dirt, Roast nuts, Roasted
Preparation
This is a cool idea for bagging a matcha. Sencha is the leaf base of this tea, with the powder diffusing in the smaller pores of the biodegradable bag. I really don’t need to describe this tea in detail if you know what a Sencha and a Matcha taste like. If you don’t, it’s clean, green, grassy, and sea mist goodness. Matcha is probably one of the healthiest drinks out there without sugar and cream added, and you can definitely drink this one without those additives. It comes very close to Aiya’s ceremonial matcha in terms of taste, but only lighter and not quite as fresh though still good quality matcha.
I’d highly recommend this tea if you want to try Matcha, Sencha, or are looking to budget for a matcha if you can’t find a close, cheaper Asian market. Though 13 bucks may seem hefty, you are getting 50 tea bags out of it-A LOT OF TEA.
Flavors: Freshly Cut Grass, Grass, Seaweed, Sweet, Vegetal
Preparation
I have to say, I didn’t think that I would like Rooibos plain, but I did. I especially wonder what it tastes like as a pure matcha now. This is the closest that I can get to it then, I really like it. If you know what a rooibos tastes like, then there’s really nothing further to add then citrusy, sweet yet partially creamy candy. With the added powder, the enhanced profile almost reminds me of the smell and taste of dates. I may buy it again, but otherwise I’ll be saving my money for other teas.
Flavors: Citrus, Dates, Nutty, Sweet
Preparation
I actually got this as a loose leaf at Schuler’s Books in a french press. I really enjoyed it (and need to find better verbs than “enjoyed”). The day was frigid in East Lansing, and I was hanging out with one of my friends in desperate need of warmth and conversation. I got both while drinking this tea.
Rooibos is an interesting one, being an herbal, but also being naturally sweet and almost citrusy, yet oddly smooth and maybe creamy like a candy. The vanilla adds more cream to it, and while Vanilla is either overused as a flavor or just the right accent, it was a good pick for the rooibos. It’s vanilla profile was also enhanced by having actual vanilla beans with the flavor.
I would be willing to buy this if I was looking for a good Rooibos that I could afford, but I wouldn’t immediately go to this one. I linger back and forth from this to an Early Grey version if I could find it. There might be other vanilla rooibos that are better, but this one is still pretty good.
Flavors: Candy, Citrus, Vanilla
Preparation
I got this one at a Schuler Books and Music store in the form of an iced tea, and it was exactly what I needed at that moment. This tea is naturally sweet, and tart making sugar unnecessary. I primarily tasted the black tea body which was smooth and slightly astringent, but complimented nicely with the black berry and accented by the sage. Very refreshing. Also, I got both the loose leaf version and this one, which are pretty similar…they must have pre-brewed it and then put it in the fridge.
I wonder how it would have tasted hot, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy my own tin of it. Still, I was amazed that a chain bookstore coffee shop offered this quality of tea, and I would definitely buy it again as an individual option.
Flavors: Astringent, Blackberry, Sage, Sweet, Tart
Okay, this time I’m drinking it again, but with less water and between 4 and 5 grams of tea leaves. I tasted the milk MUCH more this time with the vegetal notes. I also get a little bit of walnut. I still prefer the Milk Oolong and the Tie Guan Yin, but I am enjoying this tea a lot more right now.
And yesterday, August 24th, 2015, I liked it even more. The cream and butter qualities were more apparent this time than the last one. The tasting notes were the same, but more balanced and it resembled the Milk Oolong more but toned down (though that’s exactly what it is. I enjoyed every steeping and appreciated it more.
Flavors: Milk, Vegetal, Walnut