600 Tasting Notes
**A review of Nettle Leaf Tea by Sweetgrass Herbals
This is a tea that I received as part of my 2013 CSA Spring Share and at first I was not to quick to want to have loose tisanes but in time, once having purchased a mason jar for steeping of the tea, I was good to go.
I would place one or two heaping tea spoons of the herbs in the jar and pour in 8 oz of water; I would use bottle water and putting a cover on it, I would leave it to steep for the allotted time of 15 minutes. With this particular tea, I did read that it can be steeped over night and I tried this as well.
The longer steep brought about more of the tea’s color to a golden red and when steep shorter it is simply golden like honey or apple juice that one buys in bottles.
Tea is not bitter but mildly medicinal in taste. For me drinking this tea was to have been for such benefits as healthy hair and nails and I am sorry to say that I have not notice any changes for the better in my nails or hair; in fact they are samely weak and brittle and the tea does not have bearing at all.
I received other teas to sample so I can for now, forget about this one and move to other teas and perhaps look forward to returning to it since I still have more of this tea left.
Preparation
**A review of Light Up Your Life Tea by Sweetgrass Herbals
Company: Sweetgrass Herbals
Tea Name: Light Up Your Life Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: Herbs
Region:
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: mason jar / loose grassy floral bits
Liquor Color: lightest pinkish to a darker red when steeped longer
Leaf Characteristic: mulch and straw like; very fine with the grassy shoots, which are long and very prevalent in that it is a grassy/floral aroma.
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: room temperature when steeping in jar. And I have tried this tea hot for 1 minute heated as the color darkens. I have seen where it is recommended that herbal teas not be boiled/steeped hot etc and to simply steep it cold/room temperature in a jar. And this is due to the leaves/herbs/plants not doing well in hot or boiled water. I think if you steep it first as instructed and wish to enjoy the tea hot after it is made, one can still enjoy the many subtleties of the tea.
I have enjoyed it as a hot cup of tea; after the fact of making it room temperature with bottled water in a jar. And when it is warm it is almost like liquor in my cup.
Time: 15 minutes
I have just recently started using the Light Up Your Life Tea; it is a delicious blend of tulsi, basil, nettle, oatstraw, red clover, self heal, California tea & stream mint is a bright, uplifting & nutritious tea that is excellent for drinking anytime. It will promote mental clarity & focus, supply the body with deep nutrition, gently strengthen digestion and natural elimination processes, and energize mind & body with its nutritive properties.
I can attest to this tea as being a wonderful delight; that is fresh and fruity with a naturally sweeten palette in that the way the basil and tulsi intermingle brings delight in this cup of tea and its aroma is very aromatically floral. It truly is a pleasant tea which is meant to be enjoyed all day long.
Some attributes are: uplifting, bright and I feel it does promote mental clarity as claimed. I find as I sip /inhale the intoxicating liquor and swallowing of the tea that it does something to me. I feel good.
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2nd Steeping:
Water Temp: room temperature
Time: 15 minutes
The tea’s color is not as darkly red as it is lighter pink and still has that wonderful floral aroma and it is sweet smelling as well. I taste more of the clover and the tulsi and the slightest hint of mint. I think that the cup I had before was mintier and yet the clover seems to have stolen the show in that the palette was tingling and alive…peppery even; and not unliken to paprika; there was a zestyness to it.
Overall tasting notes:
Classification: Year, and region of production; Product of USA 2012 (13)
Cup’s characteristic: uplifting and bright cup of tea; promoting mental clarity with an alert feeling.
Liquor color: pink rose to darkly red when steep for more than 15 minutes.
Taste: tea is very sweetly and zesty from the Tulsi and red clover intermingling with the mint playing fiddle; it is like the name…streaming along is the mint and the other ingredients.
I am saying that I have truly enjoyed this tea. It is versatile (hot or room temperature; think of wine but warmed; or do I mean fermented/pressed even).
Preparation
It is recommended that herbal teas (plants/flowers/edibles of the plants) not be cooked or boiled since they will not withstand. It is best to steep the tea longest if desired than after straining / removing of the leaves/plants etc. and tasting the tea; if still wishing to warm it than do so. A way to explain or understand the concept would be to do the reverse of when making iced tea. In that the tea is boiled/cooked and left to cool and ice and lemon / garnishing is added to it when serving. So with these teas, do the opposite.
One could say; well, if you prepare sushi raw, would you then cook it if that is your preference? it is room for thought but I lack rooms. My experiences with tea is unlike other tea reviewers or perhaps not. No one has ever agreed or find me irresistible…simply irresistible; but not a song. People mock me/ young and old.
seule771 you can prepare your tea or herbal teas as you like, the main point is to meet your taste, if you drink a tea, it’s to love it and from this you are exactly like all the other tea reviewers :)
A review of Green Tea by Benner
Company: Benner
Tea Name: Green Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: green
Region: China
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: tea bag/ cup
Liquor Color: light brown
Leaf Characteristic:
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 195
Time: 3 minutes
I bring fresh cold water to a rolling boil and left to cool slightly (about 1 minute); I take one tea bag and put this in my tea mug. Adding the water to my cup, I leave it to steep for a few minutes.
This tea smells strongly and when tasted it is mildly astringent. I mean I know that I am a cup of green tea. It is not bitter but close enough.
Overall tasting notes: A delicate and refreshing cup of green tea that is mildly astringent as it is fresh in taste.
Classification: Year, and region of production; Product of China
Cup’s characteristic: green tea for a clean palette
Liquor color: light brown
Taste: refreshingly light with mild astringency; slight tingling on the palette.
Preparation
A review of Green Tea lemon & Ginseng by Benner
Company: Benner
Tea Name: Green Tea Lemon & Ginseng
Tea Type/Varietal: green
Region: China
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: tea bag/ cup
Liquor Color: lightest brown
Leaf Characteristic:
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 190
Time: 3 minutes
This green tea that I fixed for myself has a lovely mixture of lemon and ginseng. It is evenly distributed in my cup of tea. The tea has no astringent since the lemon and ginseng seems to soften the tea while giving it that extra kick or do I mean zestfulness? It is yummy and good for me since it is a natural source of antioxidants.
Overall tasting notes: This is a delicate and refreshing cup of tea. I find the lemon and ginseng to be evenly distributed making for a very smooth cup of tea.
Classification: Year, and region of production; Product of China
Cup’s characteristic: green tea with hint of lemon; smooth and refreshing
Liquor color: lightest brown
Taste: smooth lemony taste
Preparation
A review of China Oolong Tea by Twinnings
Company: Twinnings
Tea Name: China Oolong
Tea Type/Varietal: oolong
Region: China
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: tea bag/ cup
Liquor Color: light amber red
Leaf Characteristic:
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 200
Time: 5 minutes
A cup of oolong tea is what I aiming for today. I take one tea bag and place this in my tea mug and pour in the already boiled water and let steep for a good five minutes. As the tea’s aroma reaches my nostrils I am reminded of its distinctive flavoring and aroma which is that of roasted and burnt toast like but not strong.
As I sip my tea, it is of the out doors that I am thinking of burnt wood and smoke not filling my eyes for watery eyes but that fleeting smell of something having been burnt.
Overall tasting notes: This is a fine oolong tea from China, expertly blended to deliver that refreshing cup of tea that I have enjoyed. It is refreshing with a delicious taste and aroma.
Classification: Year, and region of production; Product of China
Cup’s characteristic: oolong tea with a fresh roasted like aroma
Liquor color: reddish amber
Taste: is of roast or mildly burnt of burnt toast; taste is distinctive.
Nettles is a wonderful tea, although not particularly flavorful, at least it doesn’t really taste bad. It’s a really nutritious tea, but it’s benefits for bones, hair, & nails take quite awhile to manifest. On the other hand, it’s benefits for allergies as a natural antihistamine can show up much quicker. If I make & drink a Qt of it per day, I can be virtually allergy free. Then I can drop down to a pint a day, or a qt every other day, but unfortunately I’m one of those people that will drink it until I feel really good, & then become a slacker. Next thing you know I’m whining about my allergies again. Then I remember & start steeping. :)