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I had this with breakfast again this morning. This time, I made sure to get a nearly heaped table spoon and used just under boiling water for three minutes. The tea, as with many teas, only tasted better as it cooled, and I definitely got a nice balance between sweet and tart. The sugar and cream I added just took it all up a notch, and I think I’ve found the sweet spot. That said, I wish I didn’t need as much leaf for one cup. And while I generally enjoy the flavor profile, I don’t think I’ll be reordering this one, which is fine because there are still so many other wp teas I need to try (that, and I’ve started a recent love affair with WP’s Autumn Jade TGY, aaaahhhh). So my wallet can’t exactly heave a sigh of relief just yet. And I’ll certainly not have any trouble finishing off this pouch!

When brendon said this tea was vacuum sealed, he wasn’t kidding. I had to pry the package apart and my efforts only became more savage when the package wouldn’t open. With a combination of teeth and some grunting, I broke into it.

And. Honestly? I don’t even care how this tea tastes. The smell alone is worth buying it again and again. It’s literally like being in a wind-swept garden just overflowing with lilac bushes. I told brendon I wanted as floral a tea as possible, and his words were “my TGY tastes like a thick lilac soup” and I cannot tell you how spot on he was. I fell in love with tea all over again this afternoon, guys. And isn’t falling in love the best part?

It really does taste like a thick, creamy lilac garden, complete with a hint of fresh air if that’s even possible. Brendon, please say there’s more of this. I added a bit of rock sugar to amp up the florals and it was perfect.

I drank this tea while listening to a podcast that I’ve subscribed to for years now (dan savage’s lovecast). A girl had called in, and was crying. A few months ago, she’d told her parents that she was a lesbian, and they’ve since stopped talking to her except to share literature with her about how people have been cured of their homosexuality. Her desperation and heartbreak was so palpable, and I cried with her. Regardless of how well-intended people can be, it’s so devastating to think that some people would actually rather die than be who they are. I don’t think there is ever an excuse to isolate your children, even if you whole-heartedly believe they are sinning. I have been extremely lucky in my life: I’ve made life choices that I imagine my parents would rather I’d not made, but they loved me so much more than they disliked anything I did, and because of that, were always a soft place for me to land. I just wish that were the case for everyone.

Anyway, enough of that. everyone who loves drinking flowers should get this tea. And everyone who doesn’t love drinking flowers should start thinking about loving drinking flowers! I would rate this tea in the high 90s if the rating scale were accessible, but alas it still isn’t. But there you have it!

First let me say how amazing communicating with brendon regarding my order has been. Knowing I wanted a few different teas, he kept track of what I was looking for and messaged me when everything I wanted was in stock. And then helped me decide what to get to replace GO, which I unfortunately flat-out forgot to do. Anyway, I was really excited to try this tea, not only because of the rave reviews and romantic descriptions, but also because my cupboard is sorely lacking in black teas. Anyway, I think I did something wrong in the way I brewed it this morning, because I felt as though the tea was rather weak. I think I’ll use slightly less water next time (I used a davids tea heaped perfect teaspoon in about 10 oz of water). I am beginning to be able to identify the ways in which Chinese blacks differ from Indian blacks, which is kind of neat, and definitely picked up on the honey-raisin sweetness. I want to comment further, but honestly think I need to have another stab at it to get the full effect. So far I’m impressed and excited, though!
I am definitely getting a nice balance of tart and sweet and bready, which if I can coax more out of it would blow my mind.

This tea smells amazing-like a perfect combination of coconut and fresh banana cream, and a slight trace of what I can only assume is the honeybush if you inhale deeply enough. I have tried this tea twice—once with a bit of cream, which ended up overwhelming the tea, and once without additions. Despite a ten minute steep both times, the strength of the flavor was just very minimal, despite the absolutely delightful aroma wafting up from the cup. Not to worry, though—I think I’m just realizing that perhaps honeybush teas are too lightly flavoured for this need-to-be-punched-in-the-face-with-flavor girl, and will therefor be finishing up the package by making lattes. Because mm banana coconut milk!

I am so tired I could cry. Have you ever been that bone-exhausted? And you want to know what’s worse? I don’t even have such bad hours. I work ordinary business hours and am part of a choir that rehearses once a week for three hours. And then on top of that I just have normal social commitments, but seriously nothing too over the top, and I’m still so exhausted I just want to run away.

This tea did not make anything better this morning. It has lost 100% of its flavor, and is not even recognizable anymore. Let this be a lesson to me, and you, and whoever else wants to learn, to never hord tea unless you can, like, vacuum seal it or something. Because it backfires, and you lose.

Yup, all gone. I had like 4 oz left, and had to toss it all out. It was not even a little bit salvageable.

have a good day, guys!

So this note is actually for the flavoured chocolate bar, because that seems to be how people are logging the chocolates as well. Fine by me.

I don’t really have much to say that hasn’t already been said. The idea of flavouring high-quality milk chocolate with really delicious teas sounds amazing, until you crunch down into actual tea leaves. That’s just wrong, and it astounds me that anyone actually thought that would be enjoyable. Munching on actual tea leaves doesn’t exactly sound like something most people would ever want to do. Really ruins the experience.
I’m exhausted and have a busy weekend coming up. Busy but good. My husband and I sing in a choir, and this weekend we’re performing Mendelsshon’s Elijah with the orchestra, which is such an incredible experience. Incredible but nightly rehearsals are still exhausting. Happy Friday, my friends!

Have this as a latte, they said. It will taste delicious, said sil. Just toss a buttload into a steepster and heat up milk until you’re terrified it’ll boil over, then heat it up a touch longer because you’re a badass and steep for ages.

So I did.

And it was delicious. Better than what you would imagine strawberry milk to taste like, because it actually tasted like fresh, orchard-picked (wait, do strawberries even grow in an orchard? what is an orchard, anyway? like an expanse of supple land where things grow? whatever, it sounds good) so yeah, orchard-fresh strawberries in fresh cream. I guzzled this down as I watched my country do the right thing, while the jays were busy kicking some profound ass. A great, great night for Canada! Let’s start undoing some damage, shall we?

So now this tea is all gone. I have the other strawberry one, strawberry pie, I think? Anyway, that’ll have to do until I can get my mouth on this one again.

So excited to try a new (old) cult favourite!

I e-mailed liberteas to get steeping instructions for this, and she suggested that I steep it just under boiling for about ten minutes for maximum flavor. I said I liked my teas sweet, but she suggested that this would probably be sweet enough on its own.
So I steeped two heaping tsp in about 12 oz for ten minutes and started sipping. it is a very natural-tasting strawberry, although I don’t know that I got too much in the way of vanilla, but in fairness I was very distracted by this problem I’m having. I think the problem is this. I find pretty much every tea to taste too thin to me unless I add milk. Like, I do not actually understand how people find plain tea very fulfilling when at best it can taste like flavoured hot water. This is absolutely not the fault of the tea, and I feel bad that I’m venting about this particular problem on this tea’s page, because the tea itself was mouth-watering, and I am just dying to try it as a latte because I think that would blow my mind. No—the problem isn’t the tea, it’s just the concept. Like, maybe i’ll just need to add milk to everything. I don’t know—I’m kind of annoyed because I want to enjoy more tea without additions for the simple reason that it’s easier and less complicated to prepare, but if I’m after a thicker mouth taste, then I need to add things.

Ok but seriously, I would re-order this tea. It is a deliciously full strawberry flavor, and I’ve been needing more caffeine-free options. I really hope she makes this part of her permanent collection!

This is the first 52 teas order I’ve placed since the company changed hands, so I was excited and nervous. I’m starting to realize that when it comes to flavoured blends, I’m liking green tea as a base more than I thought I would. It’s mineraliness seems to pair so nicely with a variety of flavours without being astringent like many a black base, at least without milk and/or sugar which is how I take pretty much all my blacks, flavoured or not. Anyway, in the bag, this tea smells of straight up vanilla and toothpastey mint, which is generally fine by me. Sometimes mint in tea turns my stomach after the tea has steeped, but that somehow wasn’t the case here, which I’m thankful for. You can taste all the elements of the tea, and even more so as it cools. I might add a touch of sugar next time to see if that amps up the marshmallow, but it really doesn’t feel necessary. And as other reviewers have mentioned, the aftertaste in your mouth really does resemble how you would imagine a grey mist to taste like. How neat!
Brewed at 185 f for two minutes, one tsp for 9-10 oz of water,

The bottom line is that I like this but don’t love it. Which is a great start!