68 Tasting Notes
Even though Ito En is the equivalent of Lipton Tea in Japan, I really enjoy their iced tea. They are extremely refreshing and don’t contain any sweetner. I tried this one for the first time today and it has a stronger flavor than their regular green tea. It kind of has a grassy/sencha flavor to it. The regular Oi Ocha tastes more like barley/popcorn/gen mai cha to me.
I’m in Barnes and Noble sipping this tea right now. I really shouldn’t request green or white teas at these types of establishments. The employees almost always give you scalding hot water. I let it steep for about 3 minutes before fishing the tea bag out. I can taste the orange but no tea, and there is barely any fragrance to the tea itself. Disappointed!
We serve White Lion tea at the spa I work at. The Winter Blend is one of the least favorite teas that guests pick in the relaxation lounge. I think guests overlook it because they think black tea = caffeine = bad. We also serve Cranberry Hibiscus (herbal) and Moroccan Mint (green). The Cranberry Hibiscus is the most popular, of course. Luckily that means more Winter Blend for me! This is a bold, spicy black tea with fruity undertones. I have been trying to duplicate a ginger milk tea I had at Radiance Tea House in NYC. I usually boil about 3 large pieces of ginger for about 10 minutes. Then I remove the pot from heat and add tea and milk. I steep it for about 4 minutes. Strain and add brown sugar to taste. It’s absolutely delicious!