Sencha Tea Bar

TTB 2025. Made per package instructions, no add-ins. I don’t think this really needs any. It’s quite flavorful all on its own. I do find it a little odd that the description (and name) suggest that there’s white raspberries (or at least white raspberry flavor) in this, but white raspberries are nowhere to be found on the ingredients list. At best, that’s sloppiness; at worst, it’s an intentional mislead.
However, this actually is an enjoyable blend! Tart, almost jammy red berry with a very slightly creamy edge from the vanilla and a bit of heft that I assume comes from the base. Feels like this would be good hot or iced. Points for flavor, negative points for the disconnect between the name/description and the ingredients list.

The only ingredients here are lemongrass and mint. I enjoy those flavors, so this was pretty good. I wouldn’t purchase something simple like this for myself, but I got this from a Sips by box, and it’s tasty enough. I like it cold. It has almost a licorice-type lingering finish. Very refreshing.

It has a mild flavor that is reminiscent of fresh cut grass but if steeped to long or at to high of a temperature it becomes bitter.

Sencha is personally one of my most favorite. The fresh and woodsy aroma of the leaves is a scent I can easily distinguish and lift my mood up instantaneously. The taste itself can differentiate as well, to the preference of a person, whether they like someone bitter and woodsy or something more smooth with a small woodsy kick. The aftertaste is continues to be refreshing and enjoyable. A great choice to drink hot or cold.

This particular variety has the typical earthiness and strong bitterness expected of a green tea. Its grassy aftertaste lingered long after I finished my cup, even though its scent was light.

GCTTB6

I pulled this from the TTB to make at a later date as there was only a single serving left. I do not recall who added it to the box but thank you to whoever it was for sharing and the chance to try something new! Unfortunately this was not my favorite. I made it iced and though there was a slight berry flavor, it was more astringent than anything. Check out my full review here: http://sororiteasisters.com/2017/04/26/tryinig-plum-berry-from-sencha-tea-bar-iced-senchateabar/

ETA: Thank you Kristal for the addition of this tea!!

GCTTB6 I pulled out tiny amounts (~1 tsp or less) of a lot of the to try later. This is one of those, as will be after future round 6 entries. I still have 10 or so left.

This was mostly fruit, so I’m hoping the caffeine content is fairly low.

Brewed 1 tsp in 350 mL hot water (my kettle said 188 deg F, but I can’t figure out how to turn the reading to Celsius on the kettle, and I can’t be bothered to convert F to metric manually, either. Normally I use a thermometer, but it is dirty and I didn’t feel like washing it.)

The brew is a pretty light pink, it smells like bai mu dan white tea (vegetal/leafy) and fruit. I can taste a lot of hibiscus in this blend (why!?!), but the white tea was nice. I wouldn’t say this is specifically plum or berry flavoured, more of generic fruit with a lot of tart hibiscus. I this one would be better iced…or without the hibiscus.

GCTTB (round 6) entry

I can see what other raters mean by bitter. However, steeped right, this is a delicious caffeine free tisane. Just be careful with steep time for your water volume. I only used less than one teaspoon of looseleaf for 250 mL water and 2.5 minutes brew time.

GCTTB (Round 6) entry

Loose leaf smells strongly of dried mint, citrusy flowers (chamomile), dry grass or herbs.

Steep 1: Strong scent/flavour of mint at first, followed by a union of mint and mellow chamomile. I absolutely love this combination. Chamomile blossoms give a musty, dried flower petal taste. There is a bit of honey, citrus, and yellow pollen taste from chamomile too. I can’t tell if the mint is a more mild (less manthol) peppermint, or if this is English mint. Either way, well done for not using something with an overpowering menthol flavour.

Steep 2: More of the same, maybe a bit more lemon and chamomile flavour. Chamomile reminds me of summer’s at my father’s property where the barn smells like hot hay on the warmer days. I was allergic to hay/pollen and found this smell to be very alluring. lol

GCTTB DAY 6

You know you have a problem when you are planning out your teas for the next two days because there are so many teas to try and so little time. I’ve only been sampling teas a teaspoon at a time, but there are just so many that I had to go through the remaining ones I haven’t tried yet and yay or nay it based on how much I wanted to try it before I leave for Slovakia. Now I still have too many… I’m gonna have to up my daily tea intake for the next two days, I think.

This one was alright. The berry aroma seemed a little artificial and cloyingly sweet to me, but thankfully it was mild enough that I didn’t mind it too much. The tea was light and pleasant, but nothing that impressed me too much. I haven’t had much luck with white teas so far that I’m starting to think I don’t know how to properly appreciate their flavour. Maybe I just haven’t tried very good ones so far.