The Killer’s Vanilla

This is my first experience with guayusa, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I also tend to steer away from minty teas because I find peppermint too strong for my tastes. This tea is really interesting. I get the vanilla, and feel soothed by the lavender (if that makes any sense). The spearmint is subtle. I’m not sure which part is the guayusa flavor since I haven’t had it before, but overall I am happy and intrigued by this tea.

Thanks to KittyLovesTea for this one.

I recently discovered Guayusa really enjoy it. This one was quite nice and smelled lovely. However I found much more of an taste and aftertaste of mint than vanilla.

This was another sample from BrewTEAlly Sweet. This tea was great! I have only had one other guayusa and I really liked it, and I find I can’t do a strait peppermint tea, it’s just too much mint, so this was a good middle ground for me. The mint went really well with the guayusa. I also only had about half a teaspoon and that flavoured a whole 12 oz cup perfectly, though I let it steep for a good 10-12 minutes. I just made a Butiki order and wish I had ordered this! Next time, I guess. Thanks BrewTEAlly Sweet for this sample!

This is a tisane that makes for an experience — a coming together of wonderful fragrance, pitch-perfect flavor note blending and a little positive energy lift. This is a comfort-food of tisanes. Smooth and interesting. I’m not a fan of mint, generally, but the combo with vanilla is great. Not getting any lavender. It’s like bumping into an old friend on the street, instant feel-goodness.

Second steep just barely worth it, and mostly mint.

Got this in a nice little swap with CK, happy to have the opportunity to try it, might make its way to an order. Meanwhile, it gave me a lift to keep searching online for a used car to replace the dead one in my driveway :(

I had to try this, just for the Amon Tobin reference. Never had guayusa before, though.

The color of the tea steeped amused me. It’s a murky green, and it’s the first time I’ve noticed that color when brewing tea. Pleasant taste, though. I tasted the vanilla first, followed by the lavendar and spearmint. The flavors are balanced in terms of prominance, though. For each sip, the order of herbs I tasted could change pretty easily. I like that in a tea.

It does pack a punch, though. But a relaxing punch, even if that’s contradictory; a refreshing energy boost.

Very smooth blend. No bitterness whatsoever.

What a fantastic blend of unusual flavor combinations – the distinctive flavor of guayasa with the gentleness of vanilla and then that mint catches you. My first experience with this one and I’ve really enjoyed it!

I’m loving this tea. The beautiful blend of mild vanilla and a hint of mint is just amazing. I will say, I wish I had read the reviews about it being high caffinated before drinking it so late. At any rate, I’ll work around it, and have a second brew of it when I get up in the morning. Really impressed by everything I’ve gotten from Butiki Teas thusfar. Good job!

Thanks so much Stacy for this awesome sample! (And for the extra Caramel Vanilla Assam one too!) This is my first guayusa. I’m loving it so far! The vanilla is light and mellow and perfectly balanced. There’s a richness to this blend that I can detect just by smelling it.

Sipping… The mouth feel is nice and heavy and creamy! This is kind of like having vanilla cake. Oh, this is delicious! I’m hoping it will keep me alert for my three hour class today.

Will probably order this the next time I place an order with Butiki!

I had this one this morning as I was finishing up my essay for finals today. I have to say I didn’t taste the vanilla anywhere. I definitely found the mint and the lavender. It took a little while but after a few sips it grew on me. It’s a very calming yet energizing tea! Thank you Shelley_Lorraine for this sample.
http://m.flickr.com/lightbox?id=8809052547
I stopped by the little bakery again and couldn’t resist but buy these.
Salted caramel and coconut lime.
I will be away this weekend at the lake with no Internet I will have a lot to log when I get back :)
I stopped to pick up a few drinks and I think I maybhave found my new favorite drinks.
http://m.flickr.com/lightbox?id=8809097521
Have a great weekend everyone.

Had this for my morning cup. I was expecting a little more Vanilla coming from the name…but it mostly tasted like peppermint tea…I got the floral from the jasmine a bit…but not really a lot of vanilla…

Hmm….It’s not a bad cup. It’s a pretty good cup…but not one I think I will see myself NEEDING to have in my cupboard.