Sampler Sunday! This is the last single-serve Bird & Blend sampler I had sitting around, back from their Bluebird Tea Co. days, and it’s a lemon ginger tea blended with yerba mate… basically a caffeinated lemon ginger. I do like lemon ginger teas when I feel nauseous (from the ginger, I either go for a ginger or mint tea in those cases) and I’ve been quite nauseous recently… my sister has been similarly afflicted, and we are thinking stress stomach ulcers may be the culprit due to a major family stressor we are dealing with at the moment. Caffeinated lemon ginger tea first thing this morning sounds kind of nice…
While my cup is steeping, I just want to take a moment to say I’ve been going through a lot of stress, frustration, and depression due to several things that I don’t really want to get into publicly, and I’ve been shown nothing but absolute kindness from my “Steepster family” during this hard time and it’s been really appreciated. It means more than you could ever know and I seriously appreciate it. You are all the best. ♥
The aroma of the tea actually smells very juicy lemon citrus, with a touch of a peppery ginger spice note; I’m not getting any of the herby vegetal/smoky notes I typically get from yerba mate, at least from the aroma. I’d have a hard time telling just from the scent that this wasn’t just a typical lemon ginger tea, and it also smells much more lemon heavy than ginger heavy, which is precisely how I like them (I especially don’t like lemon ginger teas filled with a bunch of artificial lemon pledge tasting flavoring or super strong artificial ginger flavoring that burns my tongue off… blech!)
With the taste, the mate makes itself more apparent, but it’s quite smooth and blends well with the lemon herbals. I’m getting some of the dry hay/grassy notes from the mate, but the smoky tobacco notes that I really don’t like from mate aren’t present in the cup at all; in fact, I think the grassiness of the mate is emphasized a bit by the lemongrass, helping bring out a bit more of the lemongrass’ herbiness, as well. The lemon flavor in this tea is excellent! I’ve had a lot of lemon teas that tasted too artificial or “cleaner” in their flavor, but this is very juicy and citrusy to me, it has a pleasant tanginess but doesn’t come close to approaching tart or sour at all. And honestly, the ginger is incredibly mild! It’s just a subnote, a slight warming sensation you feel as the sip slides down your throat, but you don’t really get that strong “gingery flavor” and there is no lingering heat or taste in your mouth. It’s a bit hard to even tell it is there, honestly, which is quite unusual for me compared to most lemon ginger teas I drink. You really have to look for it. Other than my beloved Tulsi Lemon Ginger by Davidson Teas, which I’d still say is probably my favorite non-caffeinated lemon ginger tea option, I’d say this one would be up there, just below it, as a perfect caffeinated option for those days you want lemon ginger but want a buzz to go along with it.
I hope B&B hasn’t changed the blend/mix on this much over the years, as I know this is an older teabag, because I’d gladly get more of this one sometime.
Flavors: Citrus, Dry Grass, Ginger, Hay, Herbaceous, Lemon, Lemongrass, Smooth, Tangy
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I’m so sorry you’re feeling so stressed! I had a period of time in my life when I had a similar experience with stomach ulcers, and I found that Prilosec really helped me.
Also, this tea sounds yummy, I love lemon! I’ll have to remember to add a sample of it to my next B&B order…
Thanks! I’ll let my sister know too.
<3
I hope some of your stresses go away. I know you said in one of your tasting notes you live away from your friends and family so it must be very tough to deal with things like your car repairs and migraines (and anything else, really) when you don’t have support around you. But that also makes you more independent than most! And as you say, your Steepster fam is here.
Hopefully things will make a turnaround soon!
Yes, your “Steepster fam” is here. You are in our thoughts <3.
(And I in no way intended to imply you were only going through the migraines and car trouble…obviously there is other stuff that you don’t need to share. Hope I didn’t offend. I just meant you are much stronger than I could be, being on your own away from family/friends.)
Thanks guys. It is hard, @teasipper. I don’t want to get into details because I don’t like putting my problems on anyone else or triggering sad memories for anyone else, but I have a relative who has taken a very abrupt downturn and with my family so spread out and with me currently having no means of getting up to help due to the car situation, there is extra stress and strain and I think that we are all starting the grieving process in our own way just knowing she may have several years of deteriorating health and distorted memories/memory loss ahead. Just a waiting game right now until some of my family can get back into the state to start dealing with the bazillion things that need taken care of. There’s been a lot of sad nights and I’ve just been overall a bit out of it.
You don’t need to explain if you don’t want, I just had to make sure I didn’t offend you with anything I said. I’m so sorry. And I don’t have much else to say that might help, but like you said, us Steepsterers are “here” for you.
I’m so sorry you’re feeling so stressed! I had a period of time in my life when I had a similar experience with stomach ulcers, and I found that Prilosec really helped me.
Also, this tea sounds yummy, I love lemon! I’ll have to remember to add a sample of it to my next B&B order…
Thanks! I’ll let my sister know too.
<3
I hope some of your stresses go away. I know you said in one of your tasting notes you live away from your friends and family so it must be very tough to deal with things like your car repairs and migraines (and anything else, really) when you don’t have support around you. But that also makes you more independent than most! And as you say, your Steepster fam is here.
Hopefully things will make a turnaround soon!
Yes, your “Steepster fam” is here. You are in our thoughts <3.
(And I in no way intended to imply you were only going through the migraines and car trouble…obviously there is other stuff that you don’t need to share. Hope I didn’t offend. I just meant you are much stronger than I could be, being on your own away from family/friends.)
Thanks guys. It is hard, @teasipper. I don’t want to get into details because I don’t like putting my problems on anyone else or triggering sad memories for anyone else, but I have a relative who has taken a very abrupt downturn and with my family so spread out and with me currently having no means of getting up to help due to the car situation, there is extra stress and strain and I think that we are all starting the grieving process in our own way just knowing she may have several years of deteriorating health and distorted memories/memory loss ahead. Just a waiting game right now until some of my family can get back into the state to start dealing with the bazillion things that need taken care of. There’s been a lot of sad nights and I’ve just been overall a bit out of it.
You don’t need to explain if you don’t want, I just had to make sure I didn’t offend you with anything I said. I’m so sorry. And I don’t have much else to say that might help, but like you said, us Steepsterers are “here” for you.