600 Tasting Notes
A review of Yerba Mate Cocoa by Wine Vine.org
Company: The Wine Vine
Tea Name: Yerba Mate Cocoa
Tea Type/Varietal: Mate
Region: Central Mass
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup/ tea powder
Liquor Color: chocolate
Leaf Characteristic:
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 200
Time: 2 minutes
This drink is for those wishing for a low caffeine alternative or for those wishing for a cup of good cocoa.
I purchased this tea during a visit to this little shop down the street from Worcester Polytechnical Institute last week or such. I was on their campus for an event and walking back down the street to wait for my ride; I decided to stop at this shop seeing that they also sell teas; as well as wine, cheese, gift baskets, and beers.
The yerba mate is finely ground with the cocoa (a dusting) is how it is described on the bag. I take one heaping tea spoon of the mixture and put this in my cup and pour in the boiled water, stirring at first slowly and then more vigorously to get the mixture to dissipate in the cup.
The tea is lightly brownish red in color with a chocolaty aroma. When sipping of the mixture, it is very sweet and grainy in texture. I decide to strain the mixture and I find I enjoy it more without all the bits in my cup; since not everything dissolved when I stirred it.
2nd Steeping:
Water Temp: 200
Time: 3 minutes
I simply add the water over the strainer with mixture of the cocoa and yerba mate in it; as this released into my tea mug the tea’s color is reddish brown and with a chocolate aroma. The tea is very light, pale in fact and yet very sweet.
When I say pale, I mean if one wants a strong cup of chocolate than this would not suffice. For tea, it is just fine since tea is meant to be light; unless cream and sugar is added.
Overall tasting notes: Sweet and chocolate flavored cup of yerba mate
Classification: Year, and region of production; Product of South America
Cup’s characteristic: smooth and velvety with a rich cocoa flavoring
Liquor color: reddish brown
Taste: yerba matte sweetened with cocoa dusting; this makes for a velvety cup of matte that is very sweet on the palette. It is good!
Preparation
A review of Green Tea by Benner
Company: Benner
Tea Name: Green Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: green
Region: China
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Liquor Color: light brown
Leaf Characteristic:
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 190
Time: 2 minutes
I purchased this tea while doing grocery shopping at ALDI’s Food Market. They have begun to carry teas other than bottled or Arizona iced tea.
The price is right and the box depicts a lovely tea to be enjoyed, so I purchased it. The tea bags are individually wrapped in plastic. I take one of string tea bag and put this in my cup and adding the boiled water to my cup, leaving it to steep for a few minutes.
Tea’s color is lightly brownish and smells of green tea and when I sip of the tea, it is mildly astringent. I can honestly say that at times I miss and enjoy this flavoring when I come upon it.
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2nd Steeping:
Water Temp: 190
Time: 3 minutes
I steep the tea longer with same boiled water and it smells freshly of the green leaves in the tea bag. I like the teas’ aroma and coloring I can honestly say that this is indeed refreshing; as it taste crisp with a mild astringent.
Overall tasting notes: This tea is crisp and a freshly cup of green tea that is mildly astringent. With longer steeps the astringency is more noticeable.
Classification: Year, and region of production; product of China
Cup’s characteristic: fresh and clean cup of green tea
Liquor color: light brown
Preparation
A review of Vita Blend Tea by Mountain Rose Herbs
Company: Mountain Rose Herbs
Tea Name: Vita Blend
Tea Type/Varietal: herbal
Region: China
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf:
Liquor Color: reddish amber
Leaf Characteristic: tea is very brightly colored
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 200
Time: 5 minutes
I reached for this Vital Blend tea, today, because I am feeling very tired and weak; I need a since of well-being and some energy to boost. This is one of the teas that I purchased from Mountain Rose Herbs last year and I have yet to try it until now. The herbal mixture is confined in this clear plastic bag and when I peel back the tape and opened the tea bag it richly smells of hibiscus and other herbs.
I take one heaping teaspoon of the herbs and put this in the strainer which is over my tea mug and I pour in the boiled water over the strainer, I pour the water in a circle, motioning it over my cup to make sure the entire herb is moistened.
The tea’s aroma fills the air with hibiscus, peppermint and lemongrass; it is a very sweet and pungent aroma. After about five minutes have passed, I remove the strainer from my cup. As I observe the tea’s color, which is very bright like amber and at times darkening to a green herbal mixture.
The tea is very hot, so I take hold of the cup and begin to sip of tea slowly, more-so to just enjoy the aroma against my nostrils since my nose is inches nearest the cup as I am sipping of tea.
The tea is a sweeten mixture of herbs and is delicious. I taste and enjoy the lemon grassiness of the cup which gives it that ginger zingers. I mean it is a lively cup of tea.
2nd Steeping:
Water Temp: 200
Time: 3 minutes
This second steep is shorter and the tea’s aroma is not as pungent as 1st cup of tea. It smells sweetly of herbals. I sip of the tea and I can taste the lemongrass and hibiscus which gives it that slight saltiness in the cup.
Overall tasting notes: This is a delicious tea; well blended with herbs like hibiscus flowers, lemongrass and peppermint. The flavor is crisp with slight peppery notes and a grassy clean finish. Yum!
Classification: Year, and region of production; wild crafted tea from Oregon
Cup’s characteristic: heady herbal mixture of lemongrass and hibiscus; making for a cup of lemon zest herbal tea.
Liquor color: bright amber and at times it is a darkly green herbal tea
Taste: sweet with hibiscus and lemongrass with slight hint of peppermint.
Preparation
A review of Small Pleasures Maple Tea by Epicurean Food International, Inc.
Company: Epicurean Food International, Inc.
Tea Name: Small Pleasures Maple Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: black
Region: Canada
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Liquor Color: maple syrup
Leaf Characteristic:
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 200
Time: 5 minutes
I had given this tea to my mother-in-law and today I decided to give it a try as I had been enjoying the Maple Blueberry Tea that I had purchased around the same time as this tea. I took one tea bag and put this in my tea mug and adding the freshly boiled water to my cup, I leave it to steep for five minutes.
The tea’s aroma is so lovely, that smell of raw maple, sugary even and the color is dark maple syrup. It is like cane sugar with malt added in. When I sip of the tea it is smooth and very sweet, the more I sip of tea the more I can enjoy the maple-malt like taste that is in this cup of tea.
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2nd Steeping:
Water Temp: 200
Time: 3 minutes
This next steep is shorter with the water as hot as before. I must say the maple flavour is well maintained in this cup as well. It is sweetly maple; as if just taken from the tree.
What I am enjoying in this cup is the robustness and more of the malt-roasted. It is smoother as well and most enjoyable and there is a slight astringent that I did not notice when first having this tea.
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Overall tasting notes: Maple syrup flavoring with mild astringent. That dryness at the back of throat derives from the bitterness of the black tea. It is just fine as is since it is sweet enough. Those favoring sugar, milk or cream would enjoy this tea a great deal.
Classification: Year, and region of production; Product of Canada
Cup’s characteristic: rich and robust cup of tea
Liquor color: maple syrup
Taste: dry malt taste and very sweet with the maple flavoring
Preparation
A review of Green Rooibos Tea by Mountain Rose Herbs
Company: Mountain Rose Herbs
Tea Name: Green Rooibos
Tea Type/Varietal: green
Region: China
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup/ loose leaf
Liquor Color: amber
Leaf Characteristic: the leaves are finely cut…tiny little shreds or pulps with hints of green tea and of the rooibos strewn in.
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 190
Time: 3 minutes
I wanted to fix for myself a cup of this tea today and so I reopened the tea box and take one heaping teaspoon of the tea and put this in my strainer which is placed over my tea mug and I then pour the hot water over the tea.
It is a mild aroma with nothing in particular jumping at you and when I remove the strainer from my mug, the tea’s color is that golden amber with reddish hues. As I sip of the tea it is both sweetly and woodsy in an herbal sort of way. I mean it is a little grassy in the taste which is sweetened by the rooibos blend.
I like this tea as it is a satisfying cup of freshly made hand crafted tea that I did not create but instead fixing a cup of this tea for myself, I can envision the fresh herbs as the fragrant mixes in the air to tantalize my senses and palette.
2nd Steeping:
Water Temp: 200
Time: 5 minutes
I infused the second cup of tea for longer with freshly boiled water which makes for this cup of tea to be hotter than previous cup. I like my tea very hot so that I have to sip at it slowly. There is no astringency in this tea and it is not as sweet but there is still plenty of rooibos in this cup of tea.
Overall tasting notes: A smooth cup of Rooibos tea with a subtle herb flavor that is high in antioxidants and it is less sweet than a regular cup of Rooibos tea.
Classification: Year, and region of production; Product of China
Cup’s characteristic: rich in antioxidant and good for you
Liquor color: amber-hued brew
Taste: is sweetly with a mild grassy/woodsy note
Preparation
A review of Pomegranate Green (Sample) by iHeart Teas
Company: iHeart Teas
Tea Name: Pomegranate Green
Tea Type/Varietal: green
Region: China
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup / loose leaf
Liquor Color: light green
Leaf Characteristic: fine leaves when brewed and green in color
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 190
Time: 3 minutes
I finally gave in to sampling of this tea today. When I opened the tea pouch, tea smells very chocolaty and coffee like.
I poured the pouch content into my tea mug and add in the boiled water and left to steep for several minutes. The aroma is that of chocolate and smells sweetly and when I taste of the tea, it is the chocolate that I am met with; tasting more like bitter chocolate and something of this tea makes me think of those black teas I had sampled earlier on that I did not like. Although this says that it is green tea, it taste more like a black tea except the tea’s color is light greenish brown and the tea leaves are green.
Overall tasting notes: Tea has a lovely chocolate aroma
Classification: Year, and region of production; Product of China
Cup’s characteristic: green tea
Liquor color: light brown
Taste: tea is slightly bitter with a chocolate over tone. I did not taste the pomegranate. Or I don’t know what to look for. So I look for the description with another tea company that provides more descriptor for this tea.
Jolie Tea Company of Hamilton, MA offers the same name tea:
Pomegranate Green
Ingredients: China green tea, pomegranate pieces, rose petals.
Description: In ancient Greece, a queen sits with a bowl of ripe pomegranates. Their fragrant scent fills the air with a delicate perfume. Her hand reaches for a dish of seeds that glow like rubies…..
Be transported as a cup of pomegranate green tea steams and releases the bloom of its intoxicating aroma through the room. The color of the tea is pale jade. Anticipating the sweet taste, your hand reaches for the handle.
Preparation
A review of Maple Blueberry Tea by Metropolitan Tea Company, Ltd
Company: The Metropolitan Tea Company
Tea Name: Maple Blueberry Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: black
Region: India
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Liquor Color: reddish
Leaf Characteristic:
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 5 minutes
I like this tea for its wonderful aroma. I use one tea bag and placing this in my cup I add in the boiled water and leaving it to steep for several minutes. This tea brews a very bright liquor and the teas’ aroma is that of maple; providing for headiness in the maple and syrupy when tasted.
2nd Steeping:
Water Temp: 200
Time: 3 minutes
My second cup of tea is similarly the same with a lessening in the taste for the maple and tea is still very bright reddish color; like wine almost. I taste more of the maple than the blueberry since I am not one to consume blueberry I don’t anything to compare it to.
Overall tasting notes: This is a wonderful tea that is easily blended with the maple and blueberry making for a good cup of tea. Tea is naturally sweet with not a need for anything else.
Classification: Year, and region of production; Product of India
Cup’s characteristic: sweet, smooth with a good body and blends very well with the maple and blueberry
Liquor color: bright reddish brown
Taste: tea taste sweetly; naturally sweetened with the maple
Preparation
A review of China Green Tea by Korica
Company: Korica
Tea Name: China Green Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: green
Region: China
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Liquor Color: golden brown
Leaf Characteristic:
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 190 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes
I have this tea daily, because it is so easy to make and good for me. I put one tea bag in my cup and add the hot water to the cup; steeps for a few minutes and when I am sipping the tea, it is freshly astringent reminding me that it is green tea.
2nd Steeping:
Water Temp: 190 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes
I sip this tea throughout the day by simply adding more water into my cup and letting it steep for a short time and when I feel there is not taste in the cup, I add another tea bag and continue as before.
Overall tasting notes: This is one of the mildest green tea that one can have. It is most economical in the pricing and is good for you.
Classification: Year, and region of production; Product of China
Cup’s characteristic: green tea and very mild
Liquor color: golden brown / yellow base
Taste: fresh and clean with mild astringent
Preparation
A review of Golden Tip by Eastern Tea Corporation
Company: Eastern Tea Corporation
Tea Name: Golden Tip
Tea Type/Varietal: black
Region: China
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf:
Liquor Color: bright amber/
Leaf Characteristic:
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 5 minutes
I have not had black tea in a while and I have these store brand teas that I purchased whilst back and I must use them or just let them sit as they have been occupying the shelves. Anyhow, I reached for one of the tea bag and put this in my cup and adding the hot and boiling water to it; I leave it to steep for five minutes.
The tea’s color is amber and has a roasted and grainy texture to it and when sipping of the tea it is smooth and rich.
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2nd Steeping:
Water Temp: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 5 minutes
I simply add more water into my cup and leave it to steep for several minutes. The tea is lighter in coloring and does maintain the grainy textured aroma and when I sip of the tea it is not as strong a cup of tea but good similarly so.
Overall tasting notes: robust cup of tea with a grainy/roasted texture.
Classification: Year, and region of production; China
Cup’s characteristic: black tea
Liquor color: bright amber that darkens with longer steeps
Taste: robust and not at all astringent
Preparation
A review of Herbal Tea (Herba Oldenlandia Diffusa Drink) by Herba Natural Products Inc.
Company: Herba Natural Products Inc.
Tea Name: Herbal Tea (Herba Oldenlandia Diffusa Drink)
Tea Type/Varietal: herbal
Region: China
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup /tea bag
Liquor Color: golden honey color
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 5 minutes
I dissolve one of the bags in my cup and add in the boiled water, stirring it very well until all contents has dissolved. I notice that the liquor is liken to honey and smells sweetly and when I sip of the tea it is indeed sweet and honey like.
Something about drinking this tea makes me think of Chamomile tea with lemon added in it. Since buying this tea from Chinatown, I try to have it every few days but then I stopped because I wanted to have more time with the tea and not finish it at once.
Overall tasting notes: This tea is naturally sweet with hints of Chamomile, ginseng and honey and with this mixture there is that acidic taste liken to lemon.
Classification: Year, and region of production; Product of China
Cup’s characteristic: herbal tea that is very refreshing and sweetly.
Liquor color: golden honey
Taste: sweet and very slight tartness in the taste since it is the honey that prevails.
