600 Tasting Notes
**A review of Lemon Zinger Herbal Tea by Celestial Seasonings, Inc.
Company: Celestial Seasonings, Inc.
Tea Name: Lemon Zinger
Tea Type/Varietal: herbal
Region:
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Liquor Color: soft red that darken when steep for longer or using more than one tea bag.
Leaf Characteristic: fruity tea
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 190 Fahrenheit
Time: 4-6 minutes
I take one tea bag from my Celestial Sampler pack for this tea, and I put it in my cup and adding fresh water, I put this in the microwave for several minutes. Once it is done, I take it out of the microwave and leave it to settle; all the while noticing the rich aroma that is filling the air and my tantalizing my nostrils. It is a fruity mixture (hibiscus seems to be the top note; and there is that roastedness in the cup with scents of lemongrass, and lemon peels.) The tea’s aroma is fruity and citrusy; with a brightly red in coloring.
I sip and sip of the tea slowly because it is very hot and once I am used to the heat and not burning of my tongue, I can begin to enjoy this delightful cup of herbal tea. It is sweet and rich with hibiscus and lemon zest.
Overall tasting notes: great aroma of fruits, like a citrusy wine spritzer or those wine spirits made of fruits and lemon. This is a lovely tea to be enjoyed hot or iced.
Cup’s characteristic: fruity and lemony
Liquor color: light to bright red
Taste: fruity and lemony
Preparation
A review of Premium Green Tea by Stash Tea Company
Company: Stash Tea Company
Tea Name: Premium Green Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: green
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Liquor Color: light golden brown
Leaf Characteristic:
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 170 Fahrenheit
Time: 2-3 minutes
Green tea seems to consume my day of late. When I am not having a cup of powdered juice than I am having a cup of Stash’s Premium Green Tea. I used freshly boiled water, after placing of one tea bag in my cup, and having added the boiled water into the cup, I leave it to steep for few minutes. The tea’s aroma is like that of seaweeds and astringency. As I sip of the tea it is warm on my palette and as I swallow there is that slightly bitter after taste. It is not unpleasant at all. I rather expect for it to taste exactly as it does.
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Overall tasting notes: freshly of the sea, salt, marine algae are what come to mind.
Cup’s characteristic: cup of medicinal tea and very astringent
Liquor color: light golden brown
Taste: This tea has a great ‘umami’ taste that is reveal with each sip or throughout its entirety; the flavor comes through and through, it does not dissipate.
Preparation
A review of Green Magma (Barley Grass) by Green Foods
Company: Green Foods
Tea Name: Green Magma (Barley Grass)
Tea Type/Varietal: green
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup/ powder
Liquor Color: dark green
Leaf Characteristic: powder smell smoothly of freshly cut green grass; it makes you think of fresh green grass or that freshness that conjures green.
Water Temp: cold water
I have been enjoying all the many aspects that this Green Magma powder juice has to offer since it has become my morning ritual for beginning my day with that much needed cup of strength, energy and vitality.
Two teaspoons of the powder placed in a long glass with about 8oz of water poured into the tall glass and stirring it vigorously, briskly at first so that it froth to molten green dew like; it is a thick foam surrounding the rim of the tall glass. And when I take sip and sip or mouthful of the drink, my lips are green with that paste like foam from the glass.
I sip it slow because it is cold but once I get beyond this coldness and simply take in the pleasure of the frothy taste and the strength that comes when I swallow this drink, than it is one gulp than another and gone is this drink.
I don’t drink it slow to make it last because the immediacy that comes from consuming the drink is that wholesome feeling and being alert to having had something that is good for you.
I am so happy to have found this long forgotten (by me) drink. Yum!
**Another review of Premium Green Tea by Stash—cold brew
Company: Stash Tea Company
Tea Name: Premium Green Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: green
Region:
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Liquor Color: golden
Leaf Characteristic:
1st Steeping:
Water Temp:
Time:
I am having this tea not steeped with hot water but with cold water instead. As I was heading out of the doors for the day, I took one of the Stash Tea bags with me, and a bottle of water which I used while at this small deli in Boylston, MA. I simply placed the tea bag inside my bottle of water and let it steep for 5-10 minutes, turning the bottle over every now and again. I am enjoying the coloring that is emerging; that golden color and anticipating the taste of this tea cold.
I had placed an order of fries and once they were brought to the table, I decided to try my tea and took a large gulp of it; and yes there it is, that distinct ‘umami’ aroma/scent/flavor tingling my palette. That fishy aroma was there to meet my nostrils as I remove the cap from the bottle and upon taking sips and more sips of this tea, I am met repeatedly with that mouth watering sea weed in taste. I try the fries and they are nicely hot and slightly salty. I eat the fries, at times dunking them in the little ketchup holder, and by the end I opted to have them plain with no ketchup and they were still hot right to the very end. I sip of my tea between mouthfuls of the fries.
I am trying to explain the sheer delight with this tea and having it with French fries. And they go quite nicely; I should say this was not planned either.
Overall tasting notes: fresh like the ocean on a day when the sea weeds are piled on the shore
Cup’s characteristic: ‘umami’ good with salty food like French fries
Liquor color: golden
Taste: wonderfully pleasant green tea; exceptional even. I had been drinking Trader Joe’s Specialty Green Tea and it is nice tea with that green grassy taste and nothing of this ‘umami’ flavoring or aroma.
I am saying to truly experience green tea; if one had to categorize them or give another examples of what to expect, than I would have to say: Green tea can either be like of Trader Joe’s grassy good cup of greenness or liken to that of Stash Tea where the palette is wooed by this ‘umami’ salivating saltiness found in sea weed, or that offensive (only to myself) Parmesan Cheese in a nice way.
I should say that I continue to enjoy the tea bag even more when I found a water bubbler where it contained hot water and I filled my bottle with this while the tea bag still remained in the bottle. The water bottle being nice and warm against my fingers, as the shape of the bottle sort of warped from the heat of it. Anyhow, when I sip of the tea it is samely pleasant as before except it is hot tea now.
Preparation
**A review of Premium Green Tea by Stash Tea Company
Company: Stash Tea Company
Tea Name: Premium Green Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: green
Region:
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Liquor Color: light golden brown
Leaf Characteristic:
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 170 Fahrenheit
Time: 2-3 minutes
I purchased this Stash Premium Green Tea at Walmart (www.walmart.com) in West Boylston, MA one morning while shopping and waiting for the bus. Walmart has all sorts of teas to choose from, so I selected Stash since I had not had their tea for over a year now.
Using freshly boiled water I put one tea bag in my cup and left it to steep for several minutes. The tea’s aroma is freshly clean and light brown in coloring. It is more like honey. When I sip of the tea there is a slight astringent in the cup and the more I sip of tea it seems to lessen.
I do not find the tea to be sweet at all, instead I find that it has that fishy, marine algae aroma and taste.
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Overall tasting notes: a good example of that ‘umami’ flavoring on the palette, making for a “pleasant savory taste."
Cup’s characteristic: fresh and fishy like that of marine algae or sea weed greens
Liquor color: golden
Taste: not astringent or grassy in the taste but tasting more like sea weed
Preparation
**A review of Green Magma (Barley Grass) by Green Foods
Company: Green Foods
Tea Name: Green Magma (Barley Grass)
Tea Type/Varietal: green
Region: japan/USA
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup/ powder
Liquor Color: dark green
Leaf Characteristic: powder smell smoothly of freshly cut green grass
Water Temp: cold water
Time: less than 1 minute
I take one tall glass and adding two tea spoon of the powder to the glass and pouring enough fresh tap water to fill the glass and stirring it gently at first, than vigorously so that it foams just right.
I love the smell that is filling my nostrils as I stir and stir the mixture; it is a crisp aroma of grassiness. Once I finish stirring what I have is a lovely cup of darkly green drink and when I take a mouthful of the drink and swallow, I am met with a sharply, astringent drink; kind of like sharp cheddar cheese.
The drink is met with greatest of need for it. I am happy to be able to have this juice again; it has been a long time. I am drinking it for the nutrients that it offers: increased energy, support of the immune system, and to help digestion while fighting free radicals.
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Overall tasting notes:
Cup’s characteristic: very strong astringent
Liquor color: dark forest green
Taste: like sharp cheddar; tingling and strongly astringent
**A review of Function’s Urban Detox by Function Drinks
Company: Function Drinks
Tea Name: Urban Detox Pomegranate Cherry
Tea Type/Varietal: juice
Region:
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: bottled juice
Liquor Color: reddish/cherry color
Leaf Characteristic:
I purchased this drink when out doing grocery shopping; I think it is from Price Chopper. Anyhow, I had not seen of this brand and the name: Function Urban Detox caught my attention and made me want to give it a try. I did not drink this right away; instead I put it in the fridge and left it there until the other day as we were leaving for a long day out; I decided to put this in travel jug and take it along.
The juice was iced nicely and refreshing as I sip of the juice while on the road. This drink turned out to be quite pleasant. It is not too sweet and has no after taste. It is an equal mixture of the pomegranate and cherry fruits.
Overall tasting notes: Dry and crisp with the evenly mixture of pomegranate and cherry
Cup’s characteristic: dry and crisp
Liquor color: pomegranate cherry red
Taste: mildly sweet with no lingering after taste and dry when swallowed
**A review of Green Tea by Trader Joe’s
Company: Trader Joe’s
Tea Name: Green Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: green
Region:
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Liquor Color: light brown
Leaf Characteristic:
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 180 Fahrenheit
Time: 2 minutes
I have been enjoying this green tea since rediscovering it again after my herbal tea trials and tribulation as it now seems to have been. I mean that herbal teas, is a difference experience all together and at times not with good results. Anyhow, I am back to drinking plain green teas. Using freshly boiled water I put one tea bag in my cup and leave it to steep for two minutes. The tea’s aroma is clean and fresh and the tea’s color is light brown; almost the color of honey. I take sips after sips of this tea savoring the tingling sensation on my palette and upon swallowing of the tea there is that slight after taste that lingers reminding me that this is how green tea is meant to taste.
Overall tasting notes: crisp and clean with slight tingling on the palette.
Cup’s characteristic: fresh and mildly astringent
Liquor color: light brown (honey colored)
Taste: mild to very astringent if steep for longer
Preparation
A review of Motto Sparkling Matcha Tea by Drink Motto
Company: Drink Motto
Tea Name: Sparkling Matcha Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: Matcha
Region: Japan / USA
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: sparkling bottled tea
Liquor Color: clear with fritz
Leaf Characteristic:
I purchased this tea during a visit to the Harvest Food Co-op in Central Square of Cambridge, MA. This is a store that I visit every now and again, if I am in the area. I had not seen matcha offered as sparkling drink ever. I am very to have tried this, it is very nice. I shook the bottle and opened very carefully and poured the drink in my glass filled with iced.
Drinking of this tea is like having a glass of champagne, except it is not as fruity as some champagne. It is dry and crisp with the tannins tingling on the palette. The medley of matcha green tea, honey, organic agave, fresh lemon juice, and the organic apple cider vinegar mixes very well together. This is truly a lovely experience, I am only sorry to have purchased only one bottle because I thought it was a bit too costly.
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Overall tasting notes: Dry, crisp and citrusy with overall slight tingling effect on the palette.
Cup’s characteristic: fresh and mildly astringent
Liquor color: light pale green
Taste: dry and crisp like having eaten a green apple
A review of Green Tea by Trader Joe’s
Company: Trader Joe’s
Tea Name: Green Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: green
Region:
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Liquor Color: light brown
Leaf Characteristic:
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 180 Fahrenheit
Time: 2 minutes
Using freshly boiled water I put one tea bag in my cup and leave it to steep for two minutes. The tea’s aroma is freshly clean and light brown in coloring. I happily take sip of my tea because this is one of my all time favorite teas.
Overall tasting notes: crisp and clean with slight tingling on the palette.
Cup’s characteristic: fresh and mildly astringent
Liquor color: light brown
Taste: mildly to very astringent if steep for longer
