Cucumber White

I’m normally not very impressed with most tea that comes in tea bags, but when I saw this at the health food store, it really intrigued me. I’m glad I picked it up! I did not let it steep for very long, so that it would not become bitter or too strong. I seemed to choose the perfect time to stop steeping, because I can now taste the mild flavor of the cucumber, as well as hints of lemon and peppermint. It’s very, very mellow, but I love it. I’m surprised it’s gotten such low ratings. It just seems that not as many people are not fans of white tea.

Can’t remember exactly how long I steeped it, but it was around 2 minutes. I don’t have a water thermometer, but I brought the water to a boil over in a kettle and added an eensy bit of cold water while steeping to prevent it from becoming too bitter. I just wing these sorts of things. I’m excited to try this in the summer time, when I can make it iced with a little bit sweetener. I think it’ll be very refreshing. :)

I can understand that this may be too mild for other people’s liking, but if you steep it just right (before it reaches the bitter, bland point; and possibly add some natural sweetener), it is likely come out more flavorful and enjoyable.

I’m still trying to decide what I really think about this tea. It has sort of fruity tart smell to it. But also smells a little like cardboard. Kind of has that taste, too. Maybe it’s trying to pull off something ‘earthy’ & is failing miserably. I’m not entirely sorry I bought this tea but I certainly wouldn’t purchase it again.

This is a very mild tea. I steep it for a long time and enjoy it almost at room temperature. it is a nice mid day tea.

What what WHAT? Why is this tea rated so LOW? Why does everybody hate it so much?
Full disclosure: I am generally not a fan of white tea at all.
The smell is delightfully summery. Like lime-ade in the sun on a freshly-clipped lawn. It’s darker than a usual white tea (I’m guessing because of the addition of black darjeeling tea). But the mouthfeel and taste are just so lovely that I can’t understand the universal dislike of Tazo Cucumber White!
You shouldn’t sweeten this tea for sure. The peppermint is more of a feeling than a flavour. It kind of ices down the back of your tongue and into your throat, then reminds you that it’s there by sliding cold hands along the sides of your mouth. The lime has no overpowering zing to it and kind of coaxes your whole face into thinking that it’s summer. The cucumber lingers sweetly and makes your mouth feel happy and clean.

And, because it isn’t on this page, here’s what the box has to say:
“Cool cucumber, refreshing peppermint, lime peel and all the blessed antioxidants in white tea unite their restorative powers in TAZO CUCUMBER WHITE. Sip by sip, you may feel a spreading calm as the tea replenishes your body and spirit. And if you find yourself smiling at nothing at all, you have reached the coveted peace of mind. Nice feeling, isn’t it?
“Ingredients: white tea, lime peel, dandelion leaves, black darjeeling tea, cucumber, peppermint, lemon myrtle, natural flavours, lime essence oil.
“Did You Know? Louis XIV so loved the rejuvenating effect of cucumbers that he had his royal gardens filled with the gourd. And he ruled for seventy two well-hydrated years. Drink up.”

June prompts for Mastress Alita’s sipdown challenge – a cold steeped tea

This has been a slightly confusing tea. I bought it on impulse because there was a special and I wanted to get two different teas. This sounded enticing for a hot weather tea because cucumber and mint can be so refreshing, as well as lime.

Many reviews say it is terribly bitter. My first cup was hot and it was not bitter to me, but maybe a little brisk. I expected the mint to overpower all else because mint often does, but instead I got way more lime than cucumber or mint. The mint was a tingle beside the lime.

As it cooled, the briskness increased. So maybe hot wasn’t the way to go steeping this one.
I put two bags in a pint mason jar and stuck it in the fridge. The next day (yesterday) I had icy cold…lightly flavored water with great golden color. Really it was like drinking water at a spa – super cold with a hint of lime. I tried adding a little simple syrup but it wasn’t really improved and defeated my purpose. I want a cold, refreshing sugar free tasty summer drink.

So I tried again. I left it longer this time. I forgot there was darjeeling in this so I guess thats why it looks like a glass of iced black that you nearly finished and now the ice has melted.

This is still brisk, a little drying, or maybe it is just the lime being a little puckery. Now the mint seems more muted. It doesn’t taste bitter to me, just tastes the way lime tastes without sweetener. I wish I was getting wow’ed by fresh cucumber flavor. I guess I just need to slice some cucumbers in water and drink. Meanwhile, I will continue to cold steep these bags until they are gone.

I gave a jar of this to a neighbor, who said it was tasty but he didn’t taste any cucumber, either.

I got this a little while ago when I was super burned out on spiced and heavy black teas. I’ve made a pot of it before, but didn’t log it for whatever reason. Anyway, I made it again tonight.

The bag smells more like lime and peppermint than cucumber. As it steeps, the scent gets more minty and the water turns light tan. The flavor is mostly peppermint, with tart lime notes and I guess what’s supposed to be cucumber? I can’t really pick it out. I was hoping for something more refreshing and true to cucumber flavor. I suppose I will have to spend the money and get Tea Forte’s version, which is amazing.

Vegetal, but not bad. Crisp and refreshing.

First off, I’m a huge fan of cucumber water. So, when I saw this at the store, I had to try it. I’m not a huge white tea drinker, but this is super tasty. It’s light, and definitely doesn’t need any sweetener added. It also seems like it would be great iced, which I plan to try in the summertime!

Backlog:

I wasn’t all that impressed with this tea. It is alright … certainly not horrible but, it wasn’t a great tea either. Not one I’d waste my time with in the future. More lime taste than cucumber, with crisp, light white tea notes.

It has a very complicated taste pattern. Extremely bitter, with barely a hint of cucumber. I doesn’t taste amazing, but it isn’t absolutely horrid either. I guess you could say I am indecisive towards it..