This is another one by Stash. I have to say I love the creativity of the names of their teas.
Flavor: It is simultaneously warming and cooling. The warm, slightly spicy flavor starts first and then almost immediately is cooled by a soft minty aftertaste.
Suggested Additions: I added just the tiniest bit of white sugar. There was a faint bitter taste, perhaps from the white tea, or from the mint. But just a little sprinkle of sugar corrected that.
Ingredients: White tea, peppermint, ginger root.
Purpose: A light amount of caffeine in this tea helps you wake up a little. This tea is reminiscent of a white Christmas morning: crisp and clean and cool but simultaneously warm and cozy.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Mint Magic
A gift from a friend, this tea is made by Celestial Seasonings, and was purchased only because there was a wizard on the box. However, its contents are just as good as its box.
Flavor: This tea is pleasantly minty. It is not overwhelming or cooling to the back of the throat like a pepperminty candy cane would be. It is also not a bitter-mint or toothpastey taste like some of the spearmint flavors out there. It goes down smooth and has a slightly sweet, citrus aftertaste.
Suggested Additions: There is a certain sweetness in the tea already so I don't feel a sweetener is necessary. If you do decide to add a sweetener, be careful. Adding too much to a mint tea often leaves you with something that tastes like toothpaste. Honey might enhance the deeper flavors like citrus or add a hint of spice so that might be something nice to experiment with. If you are really brave, perhaps a splash of chocolate milk might make things really interesting.
Ingredients: Spearmint, peppermint, roasted chicory, cinnamon, orange peel.
Purpose: A nice, wintery way to relax and warm up. Yes, mint has a cooling effect, but the hot tea would counter that. There's no caffeine, so enjoy it any time of the day.
Flavor: This tea is pleasantly minty. It is not overwhelming or cooling to the back of the throat like a pepperminty candy cane would be. It is also not a bitter-mint or toothpastey taste like some of the spearmint flavors out there. It goes down smooth and has a slightly sweet, citrus aftertaste.
Suggested Additions: There is a certain sweetness in the tea already so I don't feel a sweetener is necessary. If you do decide to add a sweetener, be careful. Adding too much to a mint tea often leaves you with something that tastes like toothpaste. Honey might enhance the deeper flavors like citrus or add a hint of spice so that might be something nice to experiment with. If you are really brave, perhaps a splash of chocolate milk might make things really interesting.
Ingredients: Spearmint, peppermint, roasted chicory, cinnamon, orange peel.
Purpose: A nice, wintery way to relax and warm up. Yes, mint has a cooling effect, but the hot tea would counter that. There's no caffeine, so enjoy it any time of the day.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Eve Tea
This one is made by Stash.
Flavor: Earthy, slightly spicy, with a sweet aftertaste. Even after a long steep time, it is not overwhelmingly earthy or spicy. It is a pleasant blend of tastes that is not "too much" of any one thing.
Suggested Additions: I grabbed the honey just in case, but in the end I never put it in. Honey, I feel, would enhance the spicy flavor just a bit but I found it not lacking in anything so I decided not to try and fix something that wasn't broken.
Ingredients: Cinnamon, orange peel, spearmint, and natural flavors of vanilla, orange, cinnamon, and clove.
Purpose: This tea is a bit warming because of the spices and earthiness. Also it has no caffeine, so it is appropriate for Christmas Eve when you are ready to hop into bed and get an early start when the kids wake you up at 4 am to see what Santa brought.
Flavor: Earthy, slightly spicy, with a sweet aftertaste. Even after a long steep time, it is not overwhelmingly earthy or spicy. It is a pleasant blend of tastes that is not "too much" of any one thing.
Suggested Additions: I grabbed the honey just in case, but in the end I never put it in. Honey, I feel, would enhance the spicy flavor just a bit but I found it not lacking in anything so I decided not to try and fix something that wasn't broken.
Ingredients: Cinnamon, orange peel, spearmint, and natural flavors of vanilla, orange, cinnamon, and clove.
Purpose: This tea is a bit warming because of the spices and earthiness. Also it has no caffeine, so it is appropriate for Christmas Eve when you are ready to hop into bed and get an early start when the kids wake you up at 4 am to see what Santa brought.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Ginger Tea
As promised, here's the Ginger Tea from Yogi Teas.
Flavor: Initially, it is not super strong. However, the aftertaste is somewhat more "burny" than the other ginger tea I reviewed. It almost has an oily feeling as it goes down, but not unpleasant, just smooth. I also do not taste any other flavors besides the ginger. I do not sense the same hint at sweetness that was present in the first tea. If you let this brew for a long time, however, there is a certain sweetness that presents, as well as a much stronger ginger taste.
Suggested Additions: Drinking it straight is just perfect for me right now. It is later in the day, and I am ok with the additional zing that this one has. Honey may add to that zing, but I am not really in the mood for something sweet.
Ingredients: Ginger, lemongrass, licorice root, peppermint, black pepper
Purpose: Again, ginger is used traditionally to help with digestion. I'm drinking it today because I'm feeling like my intestines can use a little help in any possible way I can provide. In the absence of something stronger, a tea can at the very least have a soothing effect.
Flavor: Initially, it is not super strong. However, the aftertaste is somewhat more "burny" than the other ginger tea I reviewed. It almost has an oily feeling as it goes down, but not unpleasant, just smooth. I also do not taste any other flavors besides the ginger. I do not sense the same hint at sweetness that was present in the first tea. If you let this brew for a long time, however, there is a certain sweetness that presents, as well as a much stronger ginger taste.
Suggested Additions: Drinking it straight is just perfect for me right now. It is later in the day, and I am ok with the additional zing that this one has. Honey may add to that zing, but I am not really in the mood for something sweet.
Ingredients: Ginger, lemongrass, licorice root, peppermint, black pepper
Purpose: Again, ginger is used traditionally to help with digestion. I'm drinking it today because I'm feeling like my intestines can use a little help in any possible way I can provide. In the absence of something stronger, a tea can at the very least have a soothing effect.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Ginger-Aid
This one is made by Traditional Medicinals. Keep a look out soon for Yogi Tea's version of this one.
Flavor: The first sip was a mild ginger taste. The second sip seems like it might be ginger with a minty aftertaste. The third sip gave me that characteristic ginger-burn feeling in my throat (a good warmth!). I do not taste any bitterness that sometimes accompanies a strong ginger taste, and although it is not sweet, there is a sort of sweet feeling in the mix, as if any moment now, it might become sweet. As time passes and the tea continues to steep, it gets a stronger ginger flavor, so be sure to take the bag out when you feel you've reached your "ginger limit."
Suggested Additions: I would suggest a bit of honey to make things interesting. I find that honey tends to enhance the flavor, so in this case that flavor would be the spicy parts. However, I did not do it this morning, as I am looking for something gentle, soothing, and warming. I also don't feel that it needs a sweetener, only that the honey might change the flavor.
Ingredients: Ginger rhizome, blackberry leaf, stevia leaf, lemon myrtle leaf.
Purpose: My stomach problems from a few days ago have not gone away. The nauseous feeling is gone, but my entire large intestine seems to be mad at me for something and I can't figure out what. So, ginger to the rescue! (Ginger is used traditionally to help with digestion.) This tea is gentle and soothing and I felt much better after only half a mug full.
Flavor: The first sip was a mild ginger taste. The second sip seems like it might be ginger with a minty aftertaste. The third sip gave me that characteristic ginger-burn feeling in my throat (a good warmth!). I do not taste any bitterness that sometimes accompanies a strong ginger taste, and although it is not sweet, there is a sort of sweet feeling in the mix, as if any moment now, it might become sweet. As time passes and the tea continues to steep, it gets a stronger ginger flavor, so be sure to take the bag out when you feel you've reached your "ginger limit."
Suggested Additions: I would suggest a bit of honey to make things interesting. I find that honey tends to enhance the flavor, so in this case that flavor would be the spicy parts. However, I did not do it this morning, as I am looking for something gentle, soothing, and warming. I also don't feel that it needs a sweetener, only that the honey might change the flavor.
Ingredients: Ginger rhizome, blackberry leaf, stevia leaf, lemon myrtle leaf.
Purpose: My stomach problems from a few days ago have not gone away. The nauseous feeling is gone, but my entire large intestine seems to be mad at me for something and I can't figure out what. So, ginger to the rescue! (Ginger is used traditionally to help with digestion.) This tea is gentle and soothing and I felt much better after only half a mug full.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tummy Tea
I am pretty sure there is another tea out there by the same name, made by a different company, but this one is made by American Indian Herb Company. Unfortunately, I have discovered by a Google search that this tea is probably no longer available on the market.
Flavor: It has a very mild but warming taste in the beginning, and a slightly minty (cooling) aftertaste. There actually isn't much flavor at all. It is possible the tea has lost its flavor due to age. I am not entirely sure how long its been in the cupboard.
This tea is described on the box as "smooth and warming with just the right amount of mints and spices." I agree with this description. It also is described as having a "full-bodied flavor" which I am not sure describes the tea I am drinking. This is further proof that perhaps my box of Tummy Tea has reached the end of its shelf life.
Suggested Additions: I am too lazy to bring my mug back downstairs to add anything to it, but if I felt like moving, I'd try a spoonful of honey. Since the tea is very mild, you can almost imagine you are just drinking warm water, which is soothing in and of itself.
EDIT: I have just had another mug of this tea, and added one spoonful of honey. It is a good addition. I feel that the honey brings out some of the flavor of the tea, which has developed a kind of earthy, mildly spicy flavor. On this second mugful, I think I would agree with the description of "full-bodied flavor."
Ingredients: Chamomile, catnip, spearmint, papaya, peppermint, fennel, ginger, dillweed, slippery elm bark, cloves.
Purpose: I woke up at 7:30 this morning with a tight knot of pain in the center of my abdomen. It comes and goes, but its 11:30 and I'm still feeling it. Moms usually say "you need to go sit on the pot" but my mom instead made me some Tummy Tea. No caffeine in this tea, it is intended "as a relaxing after-meal beverage" to aid digestion.
Flavor: It has a very mild but warming taste in the beginning, and a slightly minty (cooling) aftertaste. There actually isn't much flavor at all. It is possible the tea has lost its flavor due to age. I am not entirely sure how long its been in the cupboard.
This tea is described on the box as "smooth and warming with just the right amount of mints and spices." I agree with this description. It also is described as having a "full-bodied flavor" which I am not sure describes the tea I am drinking. This is further proof that perhaps my box of Tummy Tea has reached the end of its shelf life.
Suggested Additions: I am too lazy to bring my mug back downstairs to add anything to it, but if I felt like moving, I'd try a spoonful of honey. Since the tea is very mild, you can almost imagine you are just drinking warm water, which is soothing in and of itself.
EDIT: I have just had another mug of this tea, and added one spoonful of honey. It is a good addition. I feel that the honey brings out some of the flavor of the tea, which has developed a kind of earthy, mildly spicy flavor. On this second mugful, I think I would agree with the description of "full-bodied flavor."
Ingredients: Chamomile, catnip, spearmint, papaya, peppermint, fennel, ginger, dillweed, slippery elm bark, cloves.
Purpose: I woke up at 7:30 this morning with a tight knot of pain in the center of my abdomen. It comes and goes, but its 11:30 and I'm still feeling it. Moms usually say "you need to go sit on the pot" but my mom instead made me some Tummy Tea. No caffeine in this tea, it is intended "as a relaxing after-meal beverage" to aid digestion.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Christmas Tea
Christmas Tea, by Twining's.
I almost didn't review this tea, because I thought I'd already reviewed it. But as it turns out, it was Holiday Chai, not Christmas Tea that I reviewed.
Flavor: I went right ahead and added my additions without tasting it plain first so that may have skewed the results. But I thought this tea was weak on the "tea" flavor- that slightly tannic and hearty taste, even though it is a black tea. It also has a slightly spicy, slightly sour citrus taste.
Suggested Additions: I thought this was a sort of chai-tasting tea so I went right ahead and added a little sugar and a generous amount of milk. As it turns out, its not spicy enough to be a chai. The presence of an orange-citrus taste really doesn't work well with the milk. It didn't come out horribly; I still enjoyed the drink a lot. But my suggestion really would lie closer to the raw sugar or honey end of things. No milk is needed, and raw or brown sugar would add just a tiny bit of spice to the flavor. Put a cinnamon stick in to stir with and you're good to go.
Ingredients: Black tea, artificial flavourings. I do wish Twining's had more natural stuff, but their teas are generally delicious, artificial or not.
Purpose: A friend was making tea and suggested I drink what she was drinking. I declined, thinking I'd tried this one and hadn't liked it. Today, I saw the box sitting there and thought, "I guess I could try it just to remind myself why I didn't like it. As it turns out, I do like it. Although, I should have prepared it differently.
I almost didn't review this tea, because I thought I'd already reviewed it. But as it turns out, it was Holiday Chai, not Christmas Tea that I reviewed.
Flavor: I went right ahead and added my additions without tasting it plain first so that may have skewed the results. But I thought this tea was weak on the "tea" flavor- that slightly tannic and hearty taste, even though it is a black tea. It also has a slightly spicy, slightly sour citrus taste.
Suggested Additions: I thought this was a sort of chai-tasting tea so I went right ahead and added a little sugar and a generous amount of milk. As it turns out, its not spicy enough to be a chai. The presence of an orange-citrus taste really doesn't work well with the milk. It didn't come out horribly; I still enjoyed the drink a lot. But my suggestion really would lie closer to the raw sugar or honey end of things. No milk is needed, and raw or brown sugar would add just a tiny bit of spice to the flavor. Put a cinnamon stick in to stir with and you're good to go.
Ingredients: Black tea, artificial flavourings. I do wish Twining's had more natural stuff, but their teas are generally delicious, artificial or not.
Purpose: A friend was making tea and suggested I drink what she was drinking. I declined, thinking I'd tried this one and hadn't liked it. Today, I saw the box sitting there and thought, "I guess I could try it just to remind myself why I didn't like it. As it turns out, I do like it. Although, I should have prepared it differently.
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