Michelle Szetela select Send Message

This was such a wonderful tea: Lovely apple and caramel aromas, nice rounded flavors, a very small hint of sweetness. Equal parts apple and caramel flavors as well. Added some vanilla creamer for an even creamier flavor.

A little on the sweet side if too much sugar (or sweetened creamer) is added, but a lovely chocolatey tea; excellent aroma, both before brewed and after. Not so much an orange or cardamom aroma when brewed (more of the latter before being brewed), just traces, but a strong chocolate aroma after brewed. Excellent with some cream or vanilla creamer. Very creamy!

This tea smelled AMAZING – just like marzipan. I did oversteep by a minute or two, and would not recommend steeping it more than three to four minutes. Adding simple creamer or milk (nothing flavored) brings out smooth nutty notes. Very slightly sweet, no bitterness that would be explained by anything other than steeping a bit too long.

I suspect I may have oversteeped this tea; it was a bit astringent and bitter for my taste. Not a bad tea – I think perhaps the first African tea I’ve ever tried – but it didn’t blow me away. Held up well with milk; toasted, malty overtone.

This was such an interesting herbal tea: While the peppermint is the dominant aroma and flavor, there were subtleties of sage as well in its aroma (although I didn’t taste any sage to speak of). Drank straight up without honey, and it was lovely: The peppermint lingered.

Slightly odd raspberry aroma; a bit medicine-y. Good flavor, again not a strong fruity flavor, but hints of raspberry lingered. Cream did not overwhelm, and added a creaminess that made this a good dessert tea. Definitely not to be oversteeped; be careful with steeping time.

This tea has a deep cherry aroma – a very dense, deep wild cherry aroma, almost woodsy. Once brewed, the cherry flavor is light and subtle, almost an aftertaste that linger. The addition of cream and sugar add tasting notes of cherry vanilla. Initially the aroma reminded me of cough syrup, but I rather enjoyed the cherry aroma after smelling it a few more times, focusing on its depth.

While this tea has a beautiful deep red color (thanks to the beetroot pieces, I’m guessing), it doesn’t have much of a flavor. A bit of blueberry, and general fruitiness, and a bit of a tang, but it doesn’t taste like much of anything. Even adding honey just made it taste like sweet hot water with slight fruity elements.

I was a bit unsure about this tea when I bought it; I know I’ve had matés before but I had ambivalent experiences previously. This particular maté smelled lovely – slightly grassy, with cinnamon and floral overtones. Once brewed, this particular maté has a lovely cinnamony, spiced flavor, with very faint anise (licorice) and floral aromas. I had mine with honey, with added a nice depth to the predominant cinnamon and spiced flavors. I would order this again.

A nice evening tea; brewed for about 7 minutes. Has a nice nutty flavor, and nutty aroma (with some slight tropical fruity flavors – pineapple, mango, papaya, but mostly nuttiness and some caramel and cinnamon). Much nicer than I had thought, and something I’d have again, especially since it’s a rooibos (which means I can drink it even in the evenings).