7 Tasting Notes
Wow. If you want a tea that tastes exactly like what it says, this is a good one to try. You can taste the nutty overtones very strongly, and there’s a hint of chocolatey caramel that mixes distinctively with the cashews. If I chew on my ice cubes it’s like I’ve eaten a little sweet treat without the guilt. I am on an iced tea kick, as usual in the summer, and this one is brilliant over ice. I use a splash of half & half to up the creaminess, and I sweeten with splenda. I’m sure it would be just as lovely with other sweeteners, especially honey (I imagine it taking on a honey nut cheerio flavor) — overall I think this tea is really wonderful for a hot summer day, or as an after dinner tea. Really, it’s great any time of day, but I don’t really place time restrictions on tea with the exception of chamomile (bedtime). Love it, love it!!
Preparation
This is definitely up there on the “best teas” list, and while I’m still new to tea in general (about a year now of tea tasting beyond the bagged stuff I had as a kid) I think strawberry is one of those flavors that everybody loves, but sometimes it can be disappointing. This tea certainly does not disappoint. The actual pieces of strawberry in the tea give it such a wonderful fruity flavor, and with some cream and sugar it’s almost like I’ve made strawberry shortcake in a cup. Sometimes it reminds me a bit of the creamy instant strawberry oatmeal but less overpowering. It’s definitely a great breakfast tea to have alongside toast or corn flakes, but it’s also great on its own. I’ve also tried it iced and found that it makes a nice refreshing afternoon iced tea latte as well (I add more milk to my iced teas). Fabulous tea, highly recommended.
Preparation
As far as teas that taste exactly like what they are intended to mimic, this one totally hits its mark. The package says no additional sweeteners are necessary, but I’m the habit of adding milk/cream and sugar in everything. I did sip it first, and was mostly overpowered by cinnamon but not a lot of sweetness. I think it would actually be better without the milk, but my picky tastebuds love some extra sugar.
I can taste hints of clove that remind me of a strong chai, but overall I think this reminds me most of Celestial Seasonings “Tiger Spice” (which I’ve taken to calling tiger blood, lol) only taken down a few notches on the strongness front. Tiger spice is way more overpowering and so strong it makes me feel the need to sneeze. Cinnamon bear gives me a nice mix of that cinnamon flavor without being too overwhelming. It’s definitely not subtle by any means, but with a couple spoons of sugar it’s pretty awesome. next time I’ll do without the milk, because I think it adds a weird flavor note that doesn’t go well with the cinnamon, but for those who may find this too strong, a bit of cream or milk might help. I’m not sure if a different kind of milk might work better with this tea (almond? coconut?) but I will experiment a bit.
Overall, I like it and if you’re a fan of tiger spice but think it may be too strong, try this one. Its totally like biting into a cinnamon bear gummy.
Preparation
Celestial Seasonings never disappoints — this is another one of their teas that has a very strong flavor even in a smaller cup. 2 teaspoons of sugar and a splash of vanilla almond milk makes this a perfect cup for me. The honey is strong enough that you notice it without being overpowering like some honey teas. The vanilla is harder to distinguish, even with the vanilla almond milk, but it definitely contributes to the overall flavor. Overall, while I generally enjoy my caffeinated black teas in the morning, this has made a wonderful cup of “wake me up” this morning without the addition of caffeine. It seems counterintuitive coming from chamomile, but it really does help me meet the day with a smile.
Preparation
Imagine the Samoas girlscout cookies in a warm, fuzzy liquid form. That’s what this tea reminds me of. A bit of milk — 2% or vanilla almond and a couple spoons of sugar. The cocoa flavor of it is just enough of a hint, but not so much that you forget it is actually tea. The coconut smell and flavor is very crisp and delightful. I was sad when I learned it had barley, as I’m working toward going gluten free — but I wont let this tea go to waste in that process. I like it a lot, and if I end up unable to finish it I will definitely pass it along to another tea lover to enjoy. It’s great anytime of day, but adds a nice touch as an after dinner treat.
