Kamiya Papaya

I still like this blend; one of the only things from Teavana that I have enjoyed a lot! Sweet and fruity… a yumlicious afternoon tea.

This one smells really sweet as it steeps. There is a goldish color to the liquid. I can smell the papaya and really want to just eat it out of the cup. The taste is very smooth with a little tang to it. There’s a lot going on, at least it seems there is but all of it is really yummy. So glad I opted to get some!

So the BF wanted some tea today. He’s a big fan of fruity teas and it was early enough in the day that caffeine intake was not a consideration so I thought I’d revisit this one.

I noticed that I gave it pretty high marks in my first note. A 76. My tastebuds may have changed, or maybe having this on the heels of a straight dark oolong was a mistake. Or it could just be that the tea is old. But I am scratching my head wondering why I rated this so highly.

It’s sweet. Incredibly sweet, like someone dumped sugar in it, or perhaps high fructose corn syrup. Cloying, really. The base is not coming through, and although I could go with that if I liked the flavor sitting on top of the base, I am not liking that either, at least not today.

It’s not horrible, just not that great. Lowering the rating. This one has been discontinued, so I’m noting it for my own record-keeping purposes.

This is my 2nd cup of this tea. I’m trying to “acquire” a taste for it because I have 2 ounces that I don’t want to waste. I brewed it stronger this time. The package directions call for 1 tsp. per 8 oz. of water. I brewed 2 1/2 tsp. for 12 oz. of water. I did not sweeten it because I’m still trying to detect all of the individual flavors of the blend. I like it a little better his way (stronger), but I still would not re-purchase. Too floral. Not fruity enough.

EDIT: Halfway through this cup, I started to notice a “bubblegum” flavor… Anyone else getting that as the tea cools off a bit??

This is a nice and simple tea, by my standards. It is delicious hot or cold and the fruit flavor is not overpowering or artificial tasting. Has a nice light gold color and I’m picking up on the cinnamon more in the scent than in the taste of the tea.

I think the heat bubble has finally burst! It was nice and rainy and cool today. Time for some hot oolong! I’ve drank this a few times before but haven’t logged it.

I just love the smell of this tea. It’s got a spicy smell, maybe from the cinnamon, with a hint of fruit in it.

This blend definitely has a cozy and comfortable feel to it. It warms me right up every time. Though I think Sweet Oolong Revolution is a better Teavana oolong blend, I really do like this one.

I really can’t seem to pick out any of the individual flavors in this steep, but it tastes a bit more oolong-y than I expected this time around, the blended flavors definitely add to the tea, but there is definitely oolong flavor coming out. Whatever I did to steep it this time, i hope I do it again next time because this was definitely a huge success!

The flavor is subtle, but definitely there. Very drinkable, in a good way. It’s a really tricky tea to steep though, if the water is too hot or you oversteep, it becomes bitter real quick and it’s not fun to drink at all, but when steeped correctly the taste is so good.

Yesterday during a trip to the mall, I visited Teavana. We don’t have a lot of dedicated tea stores around here, so it’s always nice to go in and be surrounded by tea and other fun tea stuff.

On a whim, I picked up the Kamiya Papaya Oolong. It sounded different and I was in a fruity mood. Last night I programmed the Breville and took a sniff of the tea. It smells candied and not so tea-y. Still, I was looking forward to it knowing that many teas taste so differently once brewed.

195/3 minutes as on the package. (Thanks, Teavana, I love that the recommendation for all teas are printed right on the label!)

When ready, the tea smells heavenly. (Teavanaly?) It’s a true papaya scent, not sugary. The taste is fruity without being over the top. It’s a delicious wake up cup of tea. The tea itself is minimized by the fruity taste. It’s still nice, but difficult to discern from the papaya. I can taste a hint of cinnamon, but if there are other fruits, they take a back seat to the papaya. This is what I was looking for, though, this morning and I’m very pleased. I also think this would make a very nice summer iced tea.

What can I say? I love this tea. However, there is a bit of a processed after taste. I’m not sure how else to describe it. It tastes so good at first, but then this plastic-like after taste hits you. It’s usually why I don’t like fruity teas from Teavana. However, the initial taste is wonderful. Lite, fresh, and a bit sweet-spicey. It’s best when it’s cold and mixed with sugar. Especially for those feeling the heat wave.

Looking for a new fruity oolong to add to my collection, I happened to be by my local Teavana and thought I’d take a peak. I’m a huge fan of tropical flavors, and the description of this one sounds right up my alley.

The tea is nothing special to look at or smell; a plain-looking rolled oolong with bits of pale dried fruit. The scent is not very tropical and honestly leaves something to be desired – though I don’t agree with Chris’ description of it as “Christmassy,” I believe that speaks to how little it reminds one of island life.

Steeping, it releases a LOT more sweet fruit smell, and the deep golden liquor it leaves behind is a fantastic example of a flavored oolong done right. The first and last taste on your tongue is subtle, smooth earth, topped off with just enough papaya flavor to earn its name. I can’t detect much presence of the other fruits visible in the tea, but they’re most definitely responsible for the sweet steeping scent. I would like a bit more tang out of a tropical tea. More pineapple would certainly be welcomed.

Putting my expectations based on the name and ingredients aside, this tea impresses me more than most of Teavana’s tepid fruit infusions. I’d buy this again.
-Cash

i tried this iced a couple of months also, as per a recommendation from a guy that worked at the store. I was a little worried about it, it just did not seem like something i would be interested in. But i was very surprised and with each sip it got better and better. So i just got some of this and and tried it hot. I have the same reaction. It is getting better on each sip. I like the sweet fruity (but not overpowering) taste. it has a great smell. I would recommend this to others.