4 Tasting Notes
I think this one will grow on me. I’ve seen it suggested both hot and iced in reviews for the same from various companies. This one I tried warm, because in the Minnesotan Tundra warm is good, with about 1tsp of sugar. I also steeped it for 45sec longer than the suggested steep time, as my past experience with green teas have been a more subtle taste that I am typically enjoy. I think I will scale it back by 15sec in the future, as the spearmint was a bit much on this cup. The flavor is what you would expect: spearmint, with it fading to a clean “grassy” after effect. It left my mouth feeling clean, and once it cooled down a bit, it lent itself to being drunk rather than sipped. I think in the summer this will make a great sweetened iced tea, as many have suggested. I think once I get the steep time, and the drinking temperature worked out, this will become a cupboard staple :)
Preparation
This has probably been my favorite flavored tea I have tried since I switched from pop to tea. I only mention the switch to give you an idea of where my tastebud’s fall, I’m not generally inclined to the subtle :) Maybe I’ll get there on day. Anyway, this tea might have been better named “Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal”, as me and my wife both agree that’s what it smells like, however the taste is at a midpoint between Apple Pie, and the Oatmeal. I put about 2 teaspoons of honey/1teaspoon sugar in the bottom of a 12oz cup, and used 2tsp of tea in the infuser (as the instructions suggested 1tsp/6oz, unlike the 1per 8oz i’ve seen on most other teas I’ve bought elsewhere). The result, after 3:45 steeping time (3:00 suggested) was a very definite, full flavored Apple Pie/Oatmeal taste that is perfect for sitting around on a cloudy Minnesotan Sunday afternoon. I would strongly recommend this to anyone who enjoys boldly flavored teas.
Preparation
I first tried Twinings Earl Grey, and really enjoyed it. The smell and flavoring were distinct. I’m not big on subtle tea, I like ‘em bold. When I visited Teavana, I decided to try their Creme variation, and I was not disappointed. I tried it plain first, and while the vanilla taste was there in the aftertaste, it was very subtle. I next tried it with a touch of milk, sugar, and honey…I know a lot to add, and i was worried it would just taste like any old doctored tea from a bag. To my surprise the milk, honey, and sugar all faded to the background and pushed the creaminess and vanilla to the front big time. It’s almost like tasting an Earl Grey Ice Cream, in tea form, if I had to compare it to something. Needless to say, it is now one of my favorites. The only downside, the sugar makes the vanilla flavors come across very rich, imo, which takes it out of the running for an all the time tea in my case.
Preparation
Steeping: 3tsp in 16 oz boiling water for 6 minutes.
Added: Sugar, about 2-3 tsp
This is my first tea post, so bear with me :) This review is technically about my second cup, as the first one I didn’t sweeten much or steep long enough. The second cup was great, however. I enjoyed the sweet choclatey taste as I sipped it, and even more enjoyed the smokey chilli after taste in the back of my mouth after each sip. The only downside to the tea’s taste was that the strawberry flavoring tastes very much like strawberry syrup from Hershey’s, which I am not a fan of. Overall, I’m glad I bought it.