5 Tasting Notes
This is a delicious, decadent tasting tea! I like opening the tin, seeing the coco powder escaping from the bags, and smelling the rich chocolaty aroma.
It’s really close to good dark chocolate or straight coco powder, not a sweet artificial taste like with a swiss miss style hot chocolate powder or a hershey chocolate chip. More like the urgent, pure taste of a Ghirardelli dark chocolate chip, or adding rich coco powder to a recipe.
After all my raving about strong, straight dark chocolate, the truth is, I prefer this tea with a little milk. That makes the flavor more full to me, and it doesn’t need any sweetener. With a little milk, the back of my mouth and tongue get a really sweet chocolaty flavor all on their own. Without milk, it’s not bitter, but just a little flat and too blunt.
I really enjoy this tea, I’m trying it hot now on a rainy day, and I just got an idea to try it iced. If I could pull it off, that would be delicious too!
I don’t feel jittery after drinking this tea, but I’m not sure if I feel more energetic from the mate either. I’ll have to pay better attention and see.
Preparation
I’m not a big fan of this tea. I was expecting more of a gingery desert tea, and I taste more of the chicory/barley. I guess it does really have the floury taste of a gingerbread cookie, but somehow that’s not as nice in a tea – and I really want more ginger.
Preparation
Hm, I’m just not that into this one. When I think about it, this tea has a light earthiness that’s not too strong and easier to take for someone newer to puerh (me) while having some floral overtones, so I shouldn’t be surprised by the taste. The “magnolia” sets up an unreasonable expectation for me that this tea will be more floral, which I know is silly. I guess this is a good tea to drink if you want the health benefits of puerh but don’t really like the usual strong earthy flavor, but I wouldn’t expect floral. I imagine this disappoints people who like puerh because it’s not as flavorful as a strong puerh and disappoints people who like floral teas because the earthiness overwhelms the magnolia. It’s a hard one to win, I think. With my expectations in check, I’ll probably enjoy the next cup more, as I’ll know what I’m picking.
Preparation
A nice Oolong that has a sweet floral fragrance. It’s got a nice flavor, a little grass and smoke and a sweet floral taste that’s a part of the tea, not added. The floral aroma comes right out, takes a back seat to other flavors, and returns for an even richer aftertaste.
Preparation
This is my all time favorite tea! Of course from day to day my preference will change, but I always come back to Zhena’s Red Lavender. A sip leaves a sweet breath on your tongue like drinking a good cup of King’s tea while standing in a broad field of lavender blossoms.
The lavender is instant relaxation in a cup, and the rooibos is a delightful complement. Great as a hot tea, and even better iced on a summer day.
This tea is also certified Fair Trade & organic, so you can enjoy it without reservations.
