Mojito Marmalade

I’ve noticed that Tea Forte teas smell absolutely amazing. This tea was screaming to be iced, so that’s what I did! The strongest notes are citrus and mint. It’s refreshing, but I feel like there are far too many flavors going on. Tea Forte makes nice teas, but they seem like they are trying too hard to be sophisticated with all of their blends. My mouth gets confused with the mint, the citrus and some other flavor I can’t identify. It’s interesting, but not something that I would purchase. Thank you very much to Ottawa Tea for a sample!

(Backlogging)

Based on two experiences: my wife’s and my own

Experience buying from Tea Forte: Positive. Website is very colorful and easy to navigate. Sent free samples after responding to an invitation on Steepster. Package came in reasonable amount of time. Other than sending my address, no e-mail or phone contact.
Age of leaf: Unknown. Steeped within weeks of receiving.

Packaging: Creative: each tea came in a silver and somewhat transparent plastic bag with five smaller “Single Steeps” packs attached to a colorful paper backing describing each tea. The tiny tea foil packs themselves are the most colorful and most professional-looking tea packages I have ever seen—with a picture of the fruit that the tea replicates prominently displayed on it.

Dry leaf: sweet smelling, reminiscent of lime and mint.

Brewing guidelines: (package states 12 oz. I used closer to 16 oz.) I used a metal basket strainer inside a ceramic 16 oz. Cup. Two steepings: 1st: boiling, 3mins. 2nd: boiling, 5 mins. (the next day). Small amount of Stevia added.

Aroma: similar to dry leaf, but not as strong.

Color of liquor: brownish looking green.

Wet leaf: << I can’t remember >> : (

Flavor: Good. I did taste like a Mojito.

Value: Free sample, but their price on their website is more than I would be willing to pay if I purchased it.

Overall: We both enjoyed it. Like all the rest, it had some flavor on the second steeping, but not much. This was one of the most enjoyable of the five Single Steeps for us.

I brewed this and then left it in the fridge overnight. It turned out a bit murky from the mint. I guess I should have made the effort to drink it in the same day. The orange comes across quite sharp and cleanerish. I wish I had enough of this to try again with different brewing parameters because this doesn’t taste very pleasant, but maybe my methods aren’t doing it justice.

It tastes medicinal, and not in any good way. —It tastes like I’m drinking my grandmother’s Tiger Balm. It has a plastic-like menthol aroma and flavor. The aftertaste reminds me of Vapor Rub, if I mixed it with hot water and sipped it from a teacup.

This is such a relaxing flavour combination: orange, spearmint, citrus, sweet rooibos. It tastes like a spa! Normally mint + orange is awful (toothpaste + orange juice), but it works really well here. I can taste all the distinct flavours in the name (lime, mint, orange zest) but it also comes together well.

I’ll be buying more of this if I ever purchase from Tea Forte.

Equal parts spearmint and some sort of citrus. I wish it was more lime and the orange pieces in this looked a little gross. Orange petals instead of orange peel pieces, tea companies!! But the flavor overall is great. Nice summertime cup late at night. Basically, this is just a note to say I tried this. :D

Sipdown (130)!

Finished this one off hot the other night. It’s a little weird drinking this one as a late night tea because it is soothing and comforting but also there are really bright, and lively flavours in the blend as well that seem more like the kind of thing that makes you want to get up and go, and be productive. Bright juicy citrus notes!? Ah – better get a move on with my day and get started on all this shit I have to do.

I think there’s some weird association in my brain between strong, bright orange flavours and early mornings and starting your day. Likely something to do with the “orange juice for breakfast” mentality that I have where if you’re eating breakfast and also drinking orange juice it must be at an appropriate time of day (ie. not two in the afternoon) and you must be eating something hearty and good for you. And the idea of that translates into “you must be properly adulting”. And that then becomes “well, if you’re properly adulting then you must have your shit in order”.

So, to summarize, orange flavour means productivity which means not a good tea for night time…

Makes sense, right?

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxu02vp_Vm0

A weird name for this tea. Marmalade is not something you ever find in a mojito. Like usual the spearmint takes over all flavor. There are some citrus notes but not quite as many as expected.

i think i’ve finally come to the conclusion that i really only seem to like mojitos in alcohol form, while on vacation. lol any other time of year or form, they just aren’t my thing. Maybe it’s because the mint to “whatever other flavour” just never seems as balanced as in a real drink. at least now i know. no more mojito teas.

Really enjoyed the rooibos in this one, and the aftertaste of spearmint.