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This tea reminds me of salonpas— the Asian medicine muscle-relaxant patches. If you didn’t grow up on Chinese and Japanese medicines, like I did, maybe it doesn’t seem medicinal at all. But to me, the combination of the slightly minty with the herbal rooibos and the apple-pear is rounding it out that way for me. Not bad enough I dumped it out, but I don’t actually like it either. I kept forgetting to review it, so I kept drinking a sample and thinking the same thing and then forgetting which tea it was that made me think this.

I had this again some weeks ago, between my last taste note, and really liked it. And then because I’ve been mostly just trying aimlessly to finish some of the samplers, I didn’t remember which one it was and ended up misplacing it among my rooibos samples, so I didn’t find it again until tonight.

Still has the floral/fruity scent, and overall it feels very light for a black tea, which I think is why I’m growing to like it more. Not bitter, not sweet, not sour, but complex all the same. I’m considering getting a full tin at this point because I find I really enjoy it as a tea to wind down the day with.

I’ve been terrible about actually reviewing my teas, so this is the second or third time I’ve made a cup from this sampler. The hibiscus colors the tea a pretty vibrant pink, which is at least interesting for aesthetics, especially if you appreciate pink, though it’s not my favorite.

Tastewise, the moment the liquid touches my tongue there’s a hint of sweetness, that’s quickly followed by sour as the lemon and lime become the dominant notes. It’s not unpleasant, as long as you appreciate the sour citrus flavor, but it is prominent. The green tea gives it a slightly earthy base that ties the flavors together. I remember I was surprised (because I wasn’t paying much attention to what the flavor makeup was when I made the cup), but enjoyed it quite a lot the first time. And this cup is not bad, but I think not quite what I was in the mood for, so it’s getting a lukewarm rating today.

Smelling it actually reminds me more of rose, pretty perfumey, which is not my favorite. Though to be honest I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered an elderberry on its own, so perhaps it’s just how elderberry smells. The taste reminds me a bit of cranberries, slightly tart and a little bit sour. Tea flavor is pretty mellow, and the whole thing is pretty woodsy. Overall I’m enjoying it, but I don’t think it would be an everyday tea for me.

Supposedly this is an Earl Grey, and though I can see hints of that, I wouldn’t have said it was unless I’d seen the packaging. It’s very mellow with a slightly sweet smell (the mallow flowers possibly), though the taste is mostly black tea and a hint of jasmine and other florals for me. I don’t really taste the apple, though I could smell them in the loose tea before I brewed it. It’s not immediately jumping out as a favorite, but I could see it being a tea I come back to. We’ll see if it grows on me as I finish off the sampler.

As it says, it’s very light for a black tea. Can taste the earl grey notes, not as much of the jasmine. Would be a pretty good everyday tea, I think. I like earl greys, but I find (at least the way I drink them) they end up so strong and intense that I only really like having them on occasion. Might get myself more of this one to put at work. I’ll see how I feel after finishing the sample, though.

As a side note I realized recently the mugs I have are actually 15oz mugs, so I guess I have not actually been using 8oz when I make tea, heh.

Kind of forgot how much cinnamon this had. Not unpleasant, but somewhat surprising since I hadn’t had it in a while. I made a full pot when I had it, too, and the second cup was really sweet, like as if I’d put sweetener in, which I hadn’t. I don’t recall that happening when I brewed a single cup in a teabag before, so I’m wondering if the stronger/lengthier steeping at the bottom of the teapot had something to do with it. Strengthening the sweetness of mint perhaps.