This one is also by Bigelow and is called Pomegranate Pizzazz.
Flavor: Tart, but not too tart. It has heavy apple taste without being sweet like an apple. There is also a cooling aftertaste, perhaps from the licorice in the ingredients, however, it does not actually taste like licorice.
Suggested Additions: No lemon is needed for this one, it is tart already. This tea might be really good iced. A teaspoon of raw sugar was too overpowering and took away a lot of the tart taste. Half a teaspoon might be better.
Ingredients: Apple, hibiscus, blackberry leaves, natural pomegranate flavors, other natural flavors, orange peel, malic acid, licorice root, pomegranate and apple juices from concentrate.
Purpose: A summery taste to counter an overcast, non-summerlike morning. No caffiene. This tea is also a good tea for people who aren't quite convinced that tea is good.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Orange and Spice
This tea is made by Bigelow and is called Orange and Spice.
Flavor: It has a mild and mellow taste with a hint of something sweet, perhaps licorice? It also has a late aftertaste of citrus followed by a cooling sensation. As it steeps longer, a nutty flavor comes out, which I assume is from the chicory listed in the ingredients. This tea is best when steeped for quite a long time.
Suggested Additions: This tea would be good with a lemon wedge or orange slice, but I didn't have any so I can't tell for sure. I added a teaspoon of honey- the act of stirring the honey into it seems to enhance the citrus taste, so don't just drop the bag up and down by the string; be sure to stir. Honey sometimes has a spicy aftertaste, which is why I chose that. Raw honey or molasses might also be good for the same reason.
Ingredients: Rose hips, spices, hibiscus, orange peel, chicory, natural orange flavor (soy lecithin).
Purpose: I drank this tea out of curiosity. There's no caffiene, but I don't need any today. I might drink it again because it has a pleasant taste, but there are a lot of others I like more. However, for first-time tea drinkers, or people who don't really like tea but drink it to be polite, this is a good mild tea.
Flavor: It has a mild and mellow taste with a hint of something sweet, perhaps licorice? It also has a late aftertaste of citrus followed by a cooling sensation. As it steeps longer, a nutty flavor comes out, which I assume is from the chicory listed in the ingredients. This tea is best when steeped for quite a long time.
Suggested Additions: This tea would be good with a lemon wedge or orange slice, but I didn't have any so I can't tell for sure. I added a teaspoon of honey- the act of stirring the honey into it seems to enhance the citrus taste, so don't just drop the bag up and down by the string; be sure to stir. Honey sometimes has a spicy aftertaste, which is why I chose that. Raw honey or molasses might also be good for the same reason.
Ingredients: Rose hips, spices, hibiscus, orange peel, chicory, natural orange flavor (soy lecithin).
Purpose: I drank this tea out of curiosity. There's no caffiene, but I don't need any today. I might drink it again because it has a pleasant taste, but there are a lot of others I like more. However, for first-time tea drinkers, or people who don't really like tea but drink it to be polite, this is a good mild tea.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Irish Breakfast
I am house-sitting for my aunt and my very Irish uncle, so it seemed fitting to drink Irish Breakfast Tea while at their house. It is made by Twining's.
Flavor: On its own, the tea tastes very much like any other breakfast tea- black, somewhat tannic (although not as much as some), and caffeiney goodness. With extra milk, as the packaging suggests, this tea takes on a creamy texture with a faintly nutty aftertaste. It is almost as if Earl Gray and the Emerald Nut Company got married and had an Irish breakfast tea baby. It is nearly a breakfast in and of itself.
Suggested Additions: The label says, "best taken with milk and sweetened to taste." Translated, I took this to mean, "This tea is strong and some people may not like it." However, its not super strong the way unflavored Lipton black tea is, or even like Earl Grey. I decided to try to follow the Irish tradition of lots of dairy and carbs for breakfast. So, I drank this tea with two different types of bread, plenty of butter, and an extra bit of whole milk in my tea. I also used a generous spoonful of raw sugar.
Ingredients: Black tea.
Purpose: An Irish experience and caffeine!! I need it today.
Flavor: On its own, the tea tastes very much like any other breakfast tea- black, somewhat tannic (although not as much as some), and caffeiney goodness. With extra milk, as the packaging suggests, this tea takes on a creamy texture with a faintly nutty aftertaste. It is almost as if Earl Gray and the Emerald Nut Company got married and had an Irish breakfast tea baby. It is nearly a breakfast in and of itself.
Suggested Additions: The label says, "best taken with milk and sweetened to taste." Translated, I took this to mean, "This tea is strong and some people may not like it." However, its not super strong the way unflavored Lipton black tea is, or even like Earl Grey. I decided to try to follow the Irish tradition of lots of dairy and carbs for breakfast. So, I drank this tea with two different types of bread, plenty of butter, and an extra bit of whole milk in my tea. I also used a generous spoonful of raw sugar.
Ingredients: Black tea.
Purpose: An Irish experience and caffeine!! I need it today.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Pomegranate Delight
This tea has a long name. It is made by Twining's and is called "Premium Black Tea: Pomegranate Delight" to differentiate from some other premium black teas also made by Twining's.
Flavor: At first it just tastes like black tea, but then it is followed by a heavily fruited taste, without having the overwhelming sweetness of fruit, or the tartness of pomegranate. It smells really good too. There is a tiny bit of a vanilla taste, as well, which may be added as a way to hide how tart pomegranate can be.
Suggested Additions: Nothing suggested by the makers of the tea, however most black teas I like to sweeten with one tablespoon of white sugar. It doesn't need to be super sweet, but it tends to take the edge off the black tea, which can sometimes have a bitter taste.
Ingredients: Black tea, natural pomegranate flavor, other natural flavors.
Purpose: Caffeine! I didn't get enough sleep last night. However, I am also enjoying this tea with a pomegranate-flavored Greek yogurt and some cereal. It seems to be a perfect match. So I can also drink this tea just to enjoy the flavor.
Flavor: At first it just tastes like black tea, but then it is followed by a heavily fruited taste, without having the overwhelming sweetness of fruit, or the tartness of pomegranate. It smells really good too. There is a tiny bit of a vanilla taste, as well, which may be added as a way to hide how tart pomegranate can be.
Suggested Additions: Nothing suggested by the makers of the tea, however most black teas I like to sweeten with one tablespoon of white sugar. It doesn't need to be super sweet, but it tends to take the edge off the black tea, which can sometimes have a bitter taste.
Ingredients: Black tea, natural pomegranate flavor, other natural flavors.
Purpose: Caffeine! I didn't get enough sleep last night. However, I am also enjoying this tea with a pomegranate-flavored Greek yogurt and some cereal. It seems to be a perfect match. So I can also drink this tea just to enjoy the flavor.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Sweet Thai Delight
Yogi Tea makes a tea called Sweet Thai Delight.
Flavor: Somewhat sweet and earthy, this tea has a cooling aftertaste that would make it a great iced tea. For some reason I taste jasmine, even though that is not one of the ingredients.
Suggested Additions: I once brewed this tea, cooled it, added a touch of sugar, some ice, and a splash of coconut milk just like you see in the Thai restaurants. However, the coconut milk clumped up into little coconut globs. It tasted ok, it was just awkward having little globs in my tea. As I drink it today, I have added a half teaspoon of white sugar, and enough milk to lightened it to a soft caramel color, and am drinking it hot. (Not too much sugar is needed because the tea contains stevia, a natural sweetener.) The directions on the bag say, "Add your favorite sweetener and milk or milk substitute. For a delicious twist, try with a splash of coconut milk." I really don't know how to add coconut milk without getting those little globs. If anyone knows, let me know what I'm doing wrong.
Ingredients: Rooibos leaf, cinnamon bark, anise seed, carob pod, "natural" coconut flavor, "natural" butterscotch flavor, stevia leaf. (I don't know what makes a flavoring "natural.")
Purpose: Rooibos does not have caffeine. However, the hot tea followed by the cooling aftertaste is somewhat stimulating, so it is a good way to wake up your tastebuds, if not the rest of you as well. This tea is somewhat exotic in flavor, so it does kind of take you away to another place.
Additional Bonus: Yogi puts little words of wisdom on the paper tags on the ends of the string. Today's word of wisdom says, "An attitude of gratitude brings opportunities."
Flavor: Somewhat sweet and earthy, this tea has a cooling aftertaste that would make it a great iced tea. For some reason I taste jasmine, even though that is not one of the ingredients.
Suggested Additions: I once brewed this tea, cooled it, added a touch of sugar, some ice, and a splash of coconut milk just like you see in the Thai restaurants. However, the coconut milk clumped up into little coconut globs. It tasted ok, it was just awkward having little globs in my tea. As I drink it today, I have added a half teaspoon of white sugar, and enough milk to lightened it to a soft caramel color, and am drinking it hot. (Not too much sugar is needed because the tea contains stevia, a natural sweetener.) The directions on the bag say, "Add your favorite sweetener and milk or milk substitute. For a delicious twist, try with a splash of coconut milk." I really don't know how to add coconut milk without getting those little globs. If anyone knows, let me know what I'm doing wrong.
Ingredients: Rooibos leaf, cinnamon bark, anise seed, carob pod, "natural" coconut flavor, "natural" butterscotch flavor, stevia leaf. (I don't know what makes a flavoring "natural.")
Purpose: Rooibos does not have caffeine. However, the hot tea followed by the cooling aftertaste is somewhat stimulating, so it is a good way to wake up your tastebuds, if not the rest of you as well. This tea is somewhat exotic in flavor, so it does kind of take you away to another place.
Additional Bonus: Yogi puts little words of wisdom on the paper tags on the ends of the string. Today's word of wisdom says, "An attitude of gratitude brings opportunities."
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Holiday Chai
This tea by Stash is called Holiday Chai Black Tea.
Flavor: It is has a spicy chai flavor just like any other chai, however, it has a bit of a rum-like aftertaste. As I continued to drink the tea, I noticed there is less of a spicy-chai-burn like in the other chai I have tasted. My conclusion is that although on the first sip, the flavor is there, the spices present are not as strong as other chai. This may be a good tea to start out with, if you are not sure you like chai.
Suggested Additions: The box suggested milk and sugar, which is appropriate, since that is how chai is traditionally meant to be drunk. I tasted it first without any additions, and feel that the taste had a somewhat "unfinished" flavor to it. I used about a teaspoon of white sugar, and since we were out of milk, I used a packet of powdered non-dairy creamer that has probably been in the cupboard since the house was built in 1929. It was quite creamy, and the creaminess blended the flavors quite nicely, and made the rummy flavor pop out more. If I didn't have such a mistrust of artificial products, I would be tempted to switch to "Borden Cremora Royale" (the creamer), however I have no idea what was in it, and prefer natural things. Perhaps next time I will try it with real cream.
Ingredients: Blended black teas, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, ginger, gingerbread and Jamaican rum flavors, nutmeg oil.
Purpose: A unique and fun twist on something traditional. Although this is made with black tea, and I drank it for the caffeine, I do still feel tired, so perhaps this is also a milder black tea. Or perhaps I should sleep more at night.
Flavor: It is has a spicy chai flavor just like any other chai, however, it has a bit of a rum-like aftertaste. As I continued to drink the tea, I noticed there is less of a spicy-chai-burn like in the other chai I have tasted. My conclusion is that although on the first sip, the flavor is there, the spices present are not as strong as other chai. This may be a good tea to start out with, if you are not sure you like chai.
Suggested Additions: The box suggested milk and sugar, which is appropriate, since that is how chai is traditionally meant to be drunk. I tasted it first without any additions, and feel that the taste had a somewhat "unfinished" flavor to it. I used about a teaspoon of white sugar, and since we were out of milk, I used a packet of powdered non-dairy creamer that has probably been in the cupboard since the house was built in 1929. It was quite creamy, and the creaminess blended the flavors quite nicely, and made the rummy flavor pop out more. If I didn't have such a mistrust of artificial products, I would be tempted to switch to "Borden Cremora Royale" (the creamer), however I have no idea what was in it, and prefer natural things. Perhaps next time I will try it with real cream.
Ingredients: Blended black teas, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, ginger, gingerbread and Jamaican rum flavors, nutmeg oil.
Purpose: A unique and fun twist on something traditional. Although this is made with black tea, and I drank it for the caffeine, I do still feel tired, so perhaps this is also a milder black tea. Or perhaps I should sleep more at night.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Gunner's Tea
This one is interesting. It is called Gunner's Tea, made by the Eastern Shore Tea Co. It is a loose-leaf tea, and the bag has a picture of a man with a rifle and his faithful retriever.
Flavor: It is a black tea, somewhat heavy in the tannins. The aftertaste is of apple and indeterminate spices. It has a quite unusual metallic smell. The bag describes the tea like this: "For the essence of fall in portable form, take along a thermal container of Gunner's Tea. The rich, orchard blend emphasizing the evocative scents of fall, [...]. An extraordinary cup, warming fragrance, delicious. On the water, in the field, or beside the fire."
Suggested Additions: Lemon and sweetener are recommended by the company. I chose a teaspoon of raw sugar; since raw sugar tends to have a bit of a spiciness to it, I thought that might pair nicely with the ingredients. Also for some reason I use raw sugar more often in the fall, so there's that theme going on as well.
Ingredients: Fine Indian and China teas, Flavor, Cinnamon, Spices.
Purpose: I am mostly drinking this tea for the caffeine, and because while going through my teas this morning, I couldn't remember why I hadn't had any of this tea in a while. I now remember that I was only mildly impressed with it. The flavor is not unpleasant, but it is definitely unusual. I would like to drink it again sometime, and try brewing it with whole spices, such as clove buds, cardamom pods, or a cinnamon stick. In other words, mostly for experimentation.
Flavor: It is a black tea, somewhat heavy in the tannins. The aftertaste is of apple and indeterminate spices. It has a quite unusual metallic smell. The bag describes the tea like this: "For the essence of fall in portable form, take along a thermal container of Gunner's Tea. The rich, orchard blend emphasizing the evocative scents of fall, [...]. An extraordinary cup, warming fragrance, delicious. On the water, in the field, or beside the fire."
Suggested Additions: Lemon and sweetener are recommended by the company. I chose a teaspoon of raw sugar; since raw sugar tends to have a bit of a spiciness to it, I thought that might pair nicely with the ingredients. Also for some reason I use raw sugar more often in the fall, so there's that theme going on as well.
Ingredients: Fine Indian and China teas, Flavor, Cinnamon, Spices.
Purpose: I am mostly drinking this tea for the caffeine, and because while going through my teas this morning, I couldn't remember why I hadn't had any of this tea in a while. I now remember that I was only mildly impressed with it. The flavor is not unpleasant, but it is definitely unusual. I would like to drink it again sometime, and try brewing it with whole spices, such as clove buds, cardamom pods, or a cinnamon stick. In other words, mostly for experimentation.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Tiger Chai
This tea is called Tiger Chai Tea, loose leaf tea by Eastern Shore Tea Co. Interesting to note is that it is subtitled, "A spicy Indian adventure," and enhanced by an image of a Bengal tiger roaming freely between some circus tents. Sounds like quite an adventure to me!
Flavor: Heavy on the spices, this tea does not have have the heavy tannic taste that some black teas possess. Instead, you can feel the soft burn of ginger, clove, cinnamon, and a few other "warm" spices. Also, I have added a bit of milk, so the whole thing has a bit of a creamy texture going down.
Suggested Additions: Chai is a traditional Indian tea made with spices, sugar, and milk. So to call it chai and put anything besides that in it, would make you a liar. If you don't want sugar and milk, just call it spiced Indian tea. Also, to say "chai tea" as the label on the bag says, is redundant. But now I sound like a tea snob, so whatever, I can't win. I do one-and-a-half teaspoons of white sugar, and a splash of milk- just enough to make it a light brown color. In traditional Indian households, the milk-water mixture is boiled in a sauce pan with the tea and spices in a special method which I am unable to replicate, but its effect is to make the flavors of all the ingredients seem more integrated and rich-tasting. A friend of mine makes it like this, then pours it over ice after it has steeped for a while. I have tried it iced in this way as well and it is very refreshing, although I feel the flavors are more present when the tea is warm. If you choose to ice it, I would suggest allowing it to steep for a bit longer before pouring it over the ice.
Ingredients: Blended black teas, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, black pepper, vanilla beans, honey, vanilla flavoring
Purpose: an invigorating way to wake up in the morning, a refreshing mid-afternoon treat, and, according to the packaging label: "Work sometimes is a circus but we have the perfect antidote for you: Tiger Chai Tea."
Flavor: Heavy on the spices, this tea does not have have the heavy tannic taste that some black teas possess. Instead, you can feel the soft burn of ginger, clove, cinnamon, and a few other "warm" spices. Also, I have added a bit of milk, so the whole thing has a bit of a creamy texture going down.
Suggested Additions: Chai is a traditional Indian tea made with spices, sugar, and milk. So to call it chai and put anything besides that in it, would make you a liar. If you don't want sugar and milk, just call it spiced Indian tea. Also, to say "chai tea" as the label on the bag says, is redundant. But now I sound like a tea snob, so whatever, I can't win. I do one-and-a-half teaspoons of white sugar, and a splash of milk- just enough to make it a light brown color. In traditional Indian households, the milk-water mixture is boiled in a sauce pan with the tea and spices in a special method which I am unable to replicate, but its effect is to make the flavors of all the ingredients seem more integrated and rich-tasting. A friend of mine makes it like this, then pours it over ice after it has steeped for a while. I have tried it iced in this way as well and it is very refreshing, although I feel the flavors are more present when the tea is warm. If you choose to ice it, I would suggest allowing it to steep for a bit longer before pouring it over the ice.
Ingredients: Blended black teas, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, black pepper, vanilla beans, honey, vanilla flavoring
Purpose: an invigorating way to wake up in the morning, a refreshing mid-afternoon treat, and, according to the packaging label: "Work sometimes is a circus but we have the perfect antidote for you: Tiger Chai Tea."
Friday, May 7, 2010
Cinnamon Apple Breakfast
The full name is "Cinnamon Apple Breakfast Black Tea" and it is by Twining's of London.
Flavor: It definitely tastes like a breakfast tea- it has a slight tannic taste but with more focus on the black tea. The initial taste is an apple cinnamon flavor, and the after taste is apple as well, but the middle definitely shouts breakfast tea. The smell is wonderfully cinnamon-y.
Suggested Additions: I put a teaspoon of sugar in, to make it slightly sweet but not overbearing. Since apple juice is used as a sweetener in some baked goods, I would be curious to see how the tea would taste with a dash of apple juice, or perhaps warm apple cider.
Ingredients: Tea, Spiced apple flavoring (for the health conscious out there- this flavoring is artificial), Apple pieces, Cinnamon, Raisin flavoring (also artificial)
Purpose: To be enjoyed with breakfast. And to wake up. This tea definitely wakes the taste buds up- not in a blaring alarm clock kind of way but a soft tone of voice saying, "Honey, its time to wake up now."
Flavor: It definitely tastes like a breakfast tea- it has a slight tannic taste but with more focus on the black tea. The initial taste is an apple cinnamon flavor, and the after taste is apple as well, but the middle definitely shouts breakfast tea. The smell is wonderfully cinnamon-y.
Suggested Additions: I put a teaspoon of sugar in, to make it slightly sweet but not overbearing. Since apple juice is used as a sweetener in some baked goods, I would be curious to see how the tea would taste with a dash of apple juice, or perhaps warm apple cider.
Ingredients: Tea, Spiced apple flavoring (for the health conscious out there- this flavoring is artificial), Apple pieces, Cinnamon, Raisin flavoring (also artificial)
Purpose: To be enjoyed with breakfast. And to wake up. This tea definitely wakes the taste buds up- not in a blaring alarm clock kind of way but a soft tone of voice saying, "Honey, its time to wake up now."
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Citrus White
I did some searching, and cannot seem to find any reference to this tea on the internet. It is called Citrus White iced tea, from Gold Peak Teas. Mom picked it up for me along with a meal from Boston Market.
Flavor: White tea has a very light flavor. It hints at flowers and berries, and evokes the idea of late spring (so of course, this is the perfect time for me to be drinking it). The lemon is not too strong or citrus-y, just enough for you to be able to taste it in each sip. It is a sweetened tea, and if I had to guess, I'd say probably honey or cane sugar is what was used to sweeten it. Most companies don't use honey, so it is probably cane sugar. If I had it my way, I'd go a little lighter on the sweetener.
Suggested Additions: Because this is a manufactured tea, they've decided what to add in the way of flavoring or sweeteners. I toyed with the idea of adding a bit of water so that it is not quite so sweet, but the flavor is so delicate that I decided I did not want to risk losing the taste along with the sweetener.
Ingredients: Unknown. This tea is not listed on Boston Market's webpage, nor on Gold Peak Tea's site. Because I did not go to Boston Market with my mom, I was not able request nutrition information from the manager. If you frequent a Boston Market near you, feel free to inquire. If you do, let me know what you find out.
Purpose: Pure enjoyment. This iced tea just makes me happy.
Flavor: White tea has a very light flavor. It hints at flowers and berries, and evokes the idea of late spring (so of course, this is the perfect time for me to be drinking it). The lemon is not too strong or citrus-y, just enough for you to be able to taste it in each sip. It is a sweetened tea, and if I had to guess, I'd say probably honey or cane sugar is what was used to sweeten it. Most companies don't use honey, so it is probably cane sugar. If I had it my way, I'd go a little lighter on the sweetener.
Suggested Additions: Because this is a manufactured tea, they've decided what to add in the way of flavoring or sweeteners. I toyed with the idea of adding a bit of water so that it is not quite so sweet, but the flavor is so delicate that I decided I did not want to risk losing the taste along with the sweetener.
Ingredients: Unknown. This tea is not listed on Boston Market's webpage, nor on Gold Peak Tea's site. Because I did not go to Boston Market with my mom, I was not able request nutrition information from the manager. If you frequent a Boston Market near you, feel free to inquire. If you do, let me know what you find out.
Purpose: Pure enjoyment. This iced tea just makes me happy.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Gold Ceylon
This tea is called Mrs. Mays' Pure Gold Ceylon Cafe Tea. The company is Mrs. Mays' Naturals.
Flavor: Ceylon tea is a type of black tea grown in Sri Lanka. It does not have the bitter or tannic taste of many of the other forms of black tea. This particular one is light and rich and does not taste herby at all. It really lives up to its name, because it tastes like the color gold.
Suggested Additions: I am so accustomed to flavored teas that I felt I should add something but I did not want to ruin the flavor of the tea itself. So I added three cardamom pods and a teaspoon of raw sugar. The cardamom adds to the exquisite-ness of the tea (as both are from the same region of the world. The raw sugar seems to enhance the golden taste. In addition, at the end of the tea, I usually chew on one of the cardamom pods for a quick breath-freshener. Cardamom in cooking really does not resemble mint at all but if you were to chew on one of the pods, it does leave a cooling, minty fresh feeling in the mouth, which I'm sure people would prefer over the smell of tea and whatever your last meal was.
Ingredients: 100% pure Ceylon tea
Purpose: This has no specified medicinal purpose, although the warmth helped thaw me out this morning after a particularly chilly night, but that would be true for any tea. This tea has a calming mellowing effect on my nerves, although it does contain caffeine, so it will also keep me more alert today. My sole purpose for drinking this tea is enjoyment.
Flavor: Ceylon tea is a type of black tea grown in Sri Lanka. It does not have the bitter or tannic taste of many of the other forms of black tea. This particular one is light and rich and does not taste herby at all. It really lives up to its name, because it tastes like the color gold.
Suggested Additions: I am so accustomed to flavored teas that I felt I should add something but I did not want to ruin the flavor of the tea itself. So I added three cardamom pods and a teaspoon of raw sugar. The cardamom adds to the exquisite-ness of the tea (as both are from the same region of the world. The raw sugar seems to enhance the golden taste. In addition, at the end of the tea, I usually chew on one of the cardamom pods for a quick breath-freshener. Cardamom in cooking really does not resemble mint at all but if you were to chew on one of the pods, it does leave a cooling, minty fresh feeling in the mouth, which I'm sure people would prefer over the smell of tea and whatever your last meal was.
Ingredients: 100% pure Ceylon tea
Purpose: This has no specified medicinal purpose, although the warmth helped thaw me out this morning after a particularly chilly night, but that would be true for any tea. This tea has a calming mellowing effect on my nerves, although it does contain caffeine, so it will also keep me more alert today. My sole purpose for drinking this tea is enjoyment.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Nettle Leaf Tea
This is another Nettle leaf tea, made by Traditional Medicinals this time.
Flavor: Nettle has a woody, herby flavor, but not all brands are the same. TM's nettle tea has a pleasant, heavy, herby taste all the way. It is not a bad taste, but usually, just a tiny bit of a sweetener will give it a much lighter taste. It is a good idea to try out several brands if you can, because the process for growing, harvesting, and packaging the tea will affect the flavor.
Suggested Additions: I usually add about one teaspoon of white sugar. I feel that flavor-wise, white sugar is most effective at enhancing the herby flavor without making it too heavy of a taste. Also, sometimes, if the mood strikes me, I will use a teaspoon of raw sugar instead, which gives it a similar flavor but adds a tiny bit of spice to it. Lastly, today it is over 80 degrees out, and a bit warm for drinking a hot tea. I let the bag steep long enough to let the water get to room temperature, and then poured the whole thing over ice. It is quite refreshing as an iced tea.
Ingredients: Urtica dioica (nettle leaf)
Purpose: Traditional Medicinals considers this one of their tonic teas, which means the full effects are felt when drunk daily for a long period of time. However, TM has been very careful in not stepping on the toes of the FDA. However, nettle leaf has many uses, and the one that interests me in particular is its aid in fighting hay fever. I do enjoy the flavor of this tea quite a bit, however, I go through two boxes of it during the fall allergy season, so I usually restrict my drinking of it to that time. Today however, I am testing to see whether my "cold" is actually a spring allergy (which I do not usually get); if it clears up after a few days of nettle leaf tea, then I will have my answer. As a note, TM provides contraindication information on the box, so it would be a good idea to read it to be sure it is right for your particular needs. Nettle tends to have a diuretic effect, so be sure to plan that into your day as well (ie, don't drink it just before a long car ride).
Flavor: Nettle has a woody, herby flavor, but not all brands are the same. TM's nettle tea has a pleasant, heavy, herby taste all the way. It is not a bad taste, but usually, just a tiny bit of a sweetener will give it a much lighter taste. It is a good idea to try out several brands if you can, because the process for growing, harvesting, and packaging the tea will affect the flavor.
Suggested Additions: I usually add about one teaspoon of white sugar. I feel that flavor-wise, white sugar is most effective at enhancing the herby flavor without making it too heavy of a taste. Also, sometimes, if the mood strikes me, I will use a teaspoon of raw sugar instead, which gives it a similar flavor but adds a tiny bit of spice to it. Lastly, today it is over 80 degrees out, and a bit warm for drinking a hot tea. I let the bag steep long enough to let the water get to room temperature, and then poured the whole thing over ice. It is quite refreshing as an iced tea.
Ingredients: Urtica dioica (nettle leaf)
Purpose: Traditional Medicinals considers this one of their tonic teas, which means the full effects are felt when drunk daily for a long period of time. However, TM has been very careful in not stepping on the toes of the FDA. However, nettle leaf has many uses, and the one that interests me in particular is its aid in fighting hay fever. I do enjoy the flavor of this tea quite a bit, however, I go through two boxes of it during the fall allergy season, so I usually restrict my drinking of it to that time. Today however, I am testing to see whether my "cold" is actually a spring allergy (which I do not usually get); if it clears up after a few days of nettle leaf tea, then I will have my answer. As a note, TM provides contraindication information on the box, so it would be a good idea to read it to be sure it is right for your particular needs. Nettle tends to have a diuretic effect, so be sure to plan that into your day as well (ie, don't drink it just before a long car ride).
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