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“This poor tea! No tasting notes and it’s four years old – not even a tasting note from me and I received an entire big pouch in a mystery grab bag. As I’m thinking now that this tea was made...” Read full tasting note
“I really love the combination of Sencha with Tulsi.” Read full tasting note
“It’s weird because I like juniper berries, the various berries in here, and pepper, yet I am very underwhelmed by this blend. I’m truly thinking that I just don’t care for tulsi. There are flavour...” Read full tasting note
“This week’s tea! I started out with trying to work on a strictly tulsi blend but I found that the flavor wasn’t quite as round as I wanted – I realized quickly that’s because the tea was needed to...” Read full tasting note
Tea of the Week for November 6, 2016!
Earlier this year, I played around with some Tulsi when I blended the RandyCandy and the Hot & Unbothered blends. I enjoyed the result of both those teas, so I decided that I wanted to further explore the joy of Tulsi! This time, I decided to try blending it with some berry flavors!
This is really tasty! I started with a blend of organic Tulsi (Green, Purple & Wild Leaf Tulsi) and added some organic Chinese Sencha. Then I added a blend of berries (strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, blueberry & juniper berries) – ok, ok, so juniper berries aren’t actually berries but because I added juniper berries to this blend, it just seemed like the appropriate time to mention that. Then I added some crushed black peppercorns as well as some long pepper.
The result? A really tasty beverage that tastes a little bit herb-y/vegetative, a little bit warm and spicy, a little bit sweet and a little bit tart. The berry is really nice in this and I like the contrast in flavors between the cool, herbaceous basil/mint notes from the tulsi and the hint of zesty heat from the pepper.
It tastes a little bit like what taking a hike into the woods and foraging for berries might feel like. Or at least what I imagine that might feel like (as I’ve never actually foraged for berries before and I would no doubt end up picking the wrong berry). It has a rustic, woodsy kind of flavor to it, somewhat earthy and nicely spiced!
organic ingredients: green tea, tulsi (green, purple & wild leaf varieties), strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, juniper berries, black peppercorns, long pepper and natural flavors.
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This poor tea! No tasting notes and it’s four years old – not even a tasting note from me and I received an entire big pouch in a mystery grab bag. As I’m thinking now that this tea was made right after a certain someone was first elected - which in itself is really stretching the years and is making me cringe at the age of this delightful tea. This tea SCREAMS that it’s for me – berries and basil!!! So many berries here! I think it might be best with two teaspoons since it has so many berries in a scoop. But this time I steeped up a teaspoon and a half. This is fairly balanced (though keeping the age in mind) – a variety of berry notes, a bit of basil from the three types(!) of organic basil, and a savory note of two types of pepper to really give it an inspired kick and different level to these other flavors, all on a base of green tea. How great is this berry combo: strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, juniper berries! This poor tea deserved and deserves more appreciation. I also wonder how all of these ingredients would taste on a black tea (though the green base is perfect enough!) To be honest, this blend reminds me a bit of Bird & Blend’s Bramble Ramble (though that one doesn’t have basil or pepper), so these two teas might be fitting the same cupboard niche right now, so I’m not drinking this one as much as I should.
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for full mug // 40 minutes after boiling // 2 1/2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 22 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
It’s weird because I like juniper berries, the various berries in here, and pepper, yet I am very underwhelmed by this blend. I’m truly thinking that I just don’t care for tulsi. There are flavour variations yet it seems like every time I encounter a tulsi blend, it’s just so flat or off to me. I think for that reason I won’t even rate this one. What’s strange is I wouldn’t call this a warm blend, as it isn’t spicy enough for me to call it that, yet it’s not cool or cooling either. It just sits in the middle, in a puddle of lukewarm herbaceousness.
This week’s tea!
I started out with trying to work on a strictly tulsi blend but I found that the flavor wasn’t quite as round as I wanted – I realized quickly that’s because the tea was needed to give it some fullness. I enjoy the light, fresh, herbaceous flavor of the tulsi but when it comes right down to it, when I’m drinking a hot cuppa, I want some substance to it so I needed a little bit of Chinese Sencha to a well-rounded flavor and especially texture.
I really like the combination of Sencha with Tulsi – the tulsi adds a warm spiciness to the cup and the Sencha is smooth and buttery. I brewed this for 3 minutes at 180°F – no bitterness – just a really nice, unique green tea experience with lots and lots of berry flavor and a pleasant peppery undertone.
Oh, that one sounds delightful!
A berry tea with no hibiscus (I didn’t see any in the tea description) is a rare and precious thing.
YES. this blend deserves points for not including hibiscus!
I rarely use hibiscus, it is not a go to with berry teas for me, generally only used when I make an herbal/fruit type of blend that needs a little body and/or a hibiscus type flavor profile. I do not generally care for hibiscus unless it’s used thoughtfully – which is what I try to do when I use it.
Yes, I’m very glad your teas aren’t drowning in hibiscus!