Ultimate Citrus Spice Flavored Black

I’m sitting here in Philadelphia enjoying a little bit of Florence, Italy. Two lovely, nostalgic, delicious steeps. I’m surprised more people don’t like this one! I am always the oddball :) I’m so glad this one is part of 52teas permanent collection because I’ve never tasted anything like it, and want to keep it in my cupboard continuously!

I feel like I am really starting to get in my groove as far as the teas I absolutely adore. I’ve done a lot of experimenting over the last 6 months, and have come to a few realizations:

-I love unadorned Chinese black teas!!!!!
-I continue to love Assam teas.
-I will always have a weakness for flavored teas with milk and sugar, but they are no longer my main focus. Give me a good Chinese tea that I can take plain, or a flavored tea that I can take without additions, such as this tea or Kusmi’s St. Petersburg, and I’m as happy as a clam!
-Earl Grey = ♥ Jasmine = ♥ Earl Grey, jasmine and rose together?? ♥ times 100!!!!!
-I love oolongs, both darker and greener!
-I have not fallen in love with green tea, no matter how I try. I adore the French greens that are flavored as a once in awhile afternoon treat, but if I never had another plain green tea I have to be honest – I really wouldn’t be all that put out!!! I will continue to try them hoping for some magic, but…
-I think 52teas Black Currant Bai Mu Dan is the only white tea I have flipped for.
-I am so surprised how much I am loving the herbals and the rooibos and honeybush tisanes. About 10 years ago I declared that if I couldn’t have a caffeine tea, I would not drink tea!!! My husband starting to not be able to sleep because of the teas this year (ah! Aging!) changed my mind real quick. I am delighted by so many of the flavors I’ve been experiencing. The key for me is NOT to compare them to TEAS and just think of them as their own flavored beverage things.

This is really good. It has cooled to a drinkable temperature and the citrus flavors really pop as it cools.

I like the orange and lemon flavors in this… sweet, but not too sweet… with a nice edge of tartness. A very pleasant tasting tea!

I’m off to write a review for the Tea Review Blog!

Another surprise from Meghann M, thanks, girl!

I must say…this one isn’t my favorites from 52 Teas thus far. BUT…here’s my official review…

It’s not bad, but I don’t think I would buy for myself. It seems a bit soapy or artificially flavored or something…I can’t really put my finger on it. I think I would probably like the Citrus flavored black BUT the mixed spice is what is throwing me for a loop. It’s too much for my liking. HOWEVER, if you are all about spice and such – you’d probably like it.

Frank & 52 Teas – you know I love ya…but…
I’m not feelin’ this one.
I can certainly finish what’s in my cup and what I might try and do next time is infuse less loose leaf for a lesser time and maybe I will like it a bit toned down.

Don’t hate me, Frank, and for the LOVE OF the tea gods, don’t sick Chelsea on me! LOL – j/k

This makes a flavorful iced tea. I thought it was a bit bitter the first glass, but it has really grown on me. I’m going to be sad when this tea runs out, but happy that they still have some in stock!!! Great summer tea.

I’m a bit ambivalent about this tea. To be honest I’m not sure I I like it or not. I certainly don’t hate it. The smell fo the loose tea reminds me of Black Jack gum for some reason, and the taste of the tea is fine. When hot, there isn’t really a taste of spice or citrus to me, just a generic tea taste. As it cools, the spice seems to show up first. I kind of felt like I was drinking spicy water, so I put in a teaspoon of honey, which seemed to perk up those spicy notes, but I really didn’t taste the citrus until the last couple of swallows.

It isn’t unpleasant, but unless further cups impress, I may be bumping my rating down. I figure I might play around with the steeping time just too see if maybe the tea is drowning out the rest of the taste.

Just rec’d this as a sample in my order and I’m just not sure about it. I really can’t decide whether I like it or not. . .From the other reviews on this one, I think I agree that the spices kind of throw you a bit. . its still good and I’m really glad I was able to try it. . .

But I think its time to try the next one. . . .Ginger Ale!

I was expecting something a little more like orange-flavoured chai, but this tea is quite different. The cup I made might be on the strong side as I had a bit more tea than one cup needed, but not enough for two.

The scent is sort of a lemony-floral with only the faintest hint of spice and the tea was turned a vivid orangy-red shade when the steeping was done. It does have a distinctly tart, orange tang at the start of each sip, but it’s natural tasting and not hibiscus-derived (thankfully). The spices are very mild in my opinion and I have to look for them to find the cloves and cinnamon – not that this is necessarily a bad things either. After the orange flavour fades, my taste buds are taken over by a lemony flavour that I think is mixed with the flavour of cloves. It’s like this tea has two seperate and distinct parts.

The resteep (@ 5:15) is considerably less citrusy and the spices are a bit more noticable.

Not my favourite offering from 52Teas I’ve gotta admit. I’m not really sure exactly what is putting me off it, but I guess it’s just not to my tastes. Other people have commented saying that this tea is good iced, but unfortunately I don’t have any left to test that theory out. Ah well.

Received this as a free sample in my recently LARGE purchase from 52Teas. Always love to try new samples and this one was a new one for me. I am not really in love with this one though. It doesn’t rock my socks off like some other 52Teas blends. But that is ok. Glad I got to try it. I would drink it again but don’t think I would order this one for myself.

My second pouch from Frank’s Oops Week. As far as spiced teas go, this one is not bad. I would have expected maybe a little more citrus with ‘ultimate’ in the name. It did have flavorings, citrus peels, and lemongrass to add to the citrus flair. Then there were the spices you would normally associate with a tea of this type….kind of a cinnamony, clovey? touch. I am not usually a person who likes spiced teas, but this one with its more overpowering citrus notes, and lighter spice notes works for me.

Having a big icy glass of this now. It’s such a nice bold black tea with plenty of citrus and spice notes. I really enjoy this one hot or iced.