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Normally I can hardly taste a thing once allergy season hits… or so I thought. Then I went and accidentally chugged a pint glass full of this tea, unsweetened, thinking it was something else. I found out pretty fast that my taste buds still work. I don’t recommend drinking it this way, it’s a very bitter brew, but with a spoonful of honey or sugar it goes down a lot easier. I’ve been enjoying a cup in the morning to help with some of my allergy symptoms. The tea worked well to ease my sore throat and itchy ears (does anyone else suffer from this annoying problem during allergy season? It drives me nuts!) I could also see it being very useful during cold season. Yarrow has been used for centuries as a fever reducer, horehound has always been my choice for sore throats (although I prefer candy drops,) and wild cherry bark is frequently used to treat coughs.

You can read the full review on my blog:
http://www.notstarvingyet.com/index/2015/5/19/tuesday-tea-throat-soother-tea-herbal-alchemy

Every time I’ve complained on Steepster about how hard it is to remove scents and stains from my ingenuiTEA and Mason Jar Drinking Mugs I’ve been told that Smart Soak Tea Stain Dissolver is the product I need. The people who told me this weren’t kidding about how well it worked and I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time scrubbing everything down with baking soda and a baby bottle brush. That method may work, but it is anything but efficient.

Overall, I was suitably impressed with Smart Soak Tea Stain Dissolver from Mandala Tea. I was skeptical at first, but it cleaned everything that I threw at it. I didn’t have to scrub a thing, saving me a tremendous amount of time. Now I understand why so many people recommended this product to me.

You can read the full review on my blog, complete with before and after photos:
http://www.notstarvingyet.com/index/2015/5/12/tuesday-tea-smart-soak-tea-stain-dissolver-mandala-tea-midwestteafestival

It took me a few cups to find the perfect way to steep this tea. Single Origin Teas does not provide instructions on their website (other than to say not to use boiling water,) but once found my preferred time and temperature— all I can say is wow. The flavor is mellow, slightly sweet, and almost nutty; but what really stands out is the texture. This tea is exceptionally smooth and almost buttery when you hold it on your tongue. It feels almost as luxurious as the silk sheets I’ve been lusting over the past few years. Since tea is much more affordable than silk sheets, I think I’ll pick up some more of this while I’m in Kansas City. It will be perfect to enjoy during the hot days of summer.

You can read the full review on my blog:
http://www.notstarvingyet.com/index/2015/5/5/tuesday-tea-white-monkey-single-origin-teas

This week I took part in a matcha blind taste test which was sponsored by Red Leaf Tea. Each tea was rated based on color, flavor, and sweetness. Terra Verve Organic Matcha tied for first place. It had a more traditional flavor than the other samples and tasted exactly how I expect matcha to taste like— sweet with a mildly grassy flavor. It was also the most expensive sample, costing $8.52 per ounce. Because of the hefty price tag, it’s not something I could afford to drink every day, but it is something I’d gladly pull out for my tea drinking guests or purchase for a special occasion.

You can read the results from the full taste test on my blog:
http://www.notstarvingyet.com/index/2015/4/26/tuesday-tea-blind-taste-test-12-matcha-teas-compared-sponsored

This week I took part in a blind taste test of 12 different types of matcha which was sponsored by Red Leaf Tea. Each tea was rated based on color, flavor, and sweetness. Deluxe matcha was one of the teas that scored the highest. It had a sweet and heavily floral flavor that is unlike any other matcha I’ve tried. The texture was great, it didn’t have the bitterness or grainy texture you find in lower grade matcha. Best of all, it was one of the least expensive, costing only $1.56 per ounce

You can read the results from the full taste test on my blog:
http://www.notstarvingyet.com/index/2015/4/26/tuesday-tea-blind-taste-test-12-matcha-teas-compared-sponsored

I’ve tried several other chili pepper teas and have found the flavor to be rather one dimensional. The spice from the peppers tends to downed out all other flavors, which is why I think that the combination of ginger root, cloves and chili pepper is brilliant. All three ingredients add their own brand of spicy to the mix, giving the tisane a lot more depth than chili pepper alone would have. The addition of lemon peel cuts right through all of the spice, lending a tart, citrus flavor the the blend. Adding a spoon full of honey, as suggested, rounds out the flavors a little more leaving you with a drink that is sweet, tart, and spicy all at once. I was looking for a unique blend from Arbor Teas and clearly found it in the ginger chili tisane. I don’t think I’ve come across another blend quite like this, they definitely know how to think out side of the box with their flavor combinations.

You can read the full review on my blog:
http://www.notstarvingyet.com/index/2015/4/21/tuesday-tea-ginger-chili-tisane-arbor-teas

I was impressed with this box from Curious Tea, they definitely paid attention to detail. My teas arrived in under ten days (UK to US) and when I opened the box I found my teas wrapped in blue art paper. I know I’ll be repurposing this at some point, it’s gorgeous! On the lid of the box were cards with steeping instructions, a brief description of the tea, as well as space for taking tasting notes. All of the information I needed was easily found, but I did have to hop online to convert the temperature from ˚C to ˚F since I never can remember the formula, even though I know it’s simple.

I never have and never will have a math-brain. That gene skipped over me and went to my little brother. I on the other hand got the good looks in the family (but don’t tell him I said that ::grins::)

As for the tea, the quality was top-notch. Both selections were teas I would consider ordering again, but unfortunately Curious Tea doesn’t currently offer an option for reordering the teas I enjoy. That is the only negative thing I found with this box, but according to the FAQ they are working to make reorders possible in the near future.

You can read the full review on my blog:
http://www.notstarvingyet.com/index/2015/4/14/tuesday-tea-subscription-curious-tea

I don’t even know where to begin with this tea, except to say that I could drink a lot of it. The mild flavor and light sweetness pair well with almost any meal, or can be enjoyed on its own. I managed to drink the entire 50g (1.76oz) package in under a week. It’s unusual for me to stick with the same tea for so long, I tend to get bored with it, but this seemed to fit all of my moods.

You can read the full review on my blog:
http://www.notstarvingyet.com/index/2015/4/14/tuesday-tea-subscription-curious-tea

The first thing I noticed about this tea is that it is very dry, with a wine-like, or muscatel flavor. When I hear Darjeeling tea referred to as the champagne of teas, this is exactly the type of tea I picture. It has many of the same characteristics of a quality champagne.

You can read the full review on my blog:
http://www.notstarvingyet.com/index/2015/4/14/tuesday-tea-subscription-curious-tea

Just looking at this tea brightened my day. My son and I spent over an hour dropping balls of tea into a cup, then pouring hot water over the top to make them bloom. My favorite part of the afternoon was watching him and the myriad of reactions he had as the tea blossomed. If he could talk he would probably tell you his favorite part of the afternoon was drinking the tea, he’s a bit of an addict, especially if the tea is sweet.

You can read the full review on my blog:
http://www.notstarvingyet.com/index/2015/4/7/tuesday-tea-sunshine-flowering-tea-the-persimmon-tree-tea-company