The Republic of Tea

Thought I would try something a bit bland after my sugary chai mix first cup of the day. This fits… still has a slightly vanilla flavour so as not to clash with the chai aftertaste, but not too flavourful. Boring but appropriate, if that makes any sense!

Kind of re-discovered this while unpacking the rest of my tea collection over the weekend, and brought it to leave at work so I could finish the rest of it off. I went through a phase of loving this blend, and it seems I’ve outgrown it or fallen out of love with it because it just doesn’t hold the same charm now! It’s okay, but honestly not much better than mediocre. Very smooth and almond-y but otherwise not very notable. I tend to brew it for a while to make it as strong as possible.

This wasn’t disappointing today, but I think that’s because I knew what I was getting and lowered my expectations. Not too bad… still about half a tin to go through though!

Every time I try this, I want to lower my rating. It’s not that it’s horrible, I just remember it being so much better! This will definitely be the last tin I’ll buy of it—I’m always disappointed when I give it another try.

This tastes really blah today, unfortunately! Disappointing.

This is one of the first “fancy” teas I ever tried and it was a staple for years… I think I’m on my 4th tin of it by now. The appeal has kind of waned over the years, though. It’s a decent enough vanilla blend, but there are way more interesting/exciting ones available now. It’s very smooth and the almond kind of tones down the vanilla a bit but I think I like other teas better at this point.

Nice tea, can’t wait to try it over ice.

Very nice dessert tea. I recommend adding a little cream to it. Smell is excellent.

Typical white tea with a slight orange overtone not a bad tea!

I decided to try this tea and bought the gift pack that came with a full leaf seeping basket/tong (I have become a huge fan of full leaf now!) I had to chuckle at the other reviewer who wrote that the smell is reminiscent of bubble gum because that is EXACTLY what I thought to. And indeed when steeped (5 minutes) it takes on a very lovely seasonal flavor! It is hard to peg exactly what I taste, but it is reminiscent of allspice clove-like flavor. It makes for an earthy falvor that gets me in the mood for Thanksgiving or Christmas ham dinners!

When I placed an order for some bulk Blackberry Sage I decided ti try some sip-by-sip samplers of which this was one of them. It was my first experience to Earl Grey tea, and boy was I wowed! I love it so much I turned around and ordered a bulk bag a couple days after my first sip of it! I have only tried it hot and steep it 5 minutes (to make decaf I steep in a little bit of hot water for 60 seconds, dump and then steep for the 5 minutes). I usually drop 3 grams (i.e. 3 packets) of sweetener for a 14 or 15 oz mug since I like my tea on the sweet side. It has a wonderful but not overpowering citrus tang to it. So far this has become my favorite tea!

This was one of a few tea’s I bought in the sample travelers tin when I first discovered The Republic of Tea. It made me fall in love with them and their tea at first sip! Even my mother, self proclaimed as “not a tea person” tasted this and was wowed! The blackberry adds just the right hint without being too strong, and the sage adds a nice earthy flavor to balance the fruit. I have not tried this iced, only hot. I steep 5 minutes (to make decaf I steep in a tiny bit of hot water for 60 seconds, dump, then steep a full cup for the 5 minutes). This is using the full leaf, another thing I have come to love. I typically like my hot tea on the sweet side going with 3 grams of sugar (i.e. 3 sugar packets) to my tea cup of about 14 or 15 oz. For me this is the money zone!

A strong cinnamon scent, but tastes like plain rooibos. Feeling pretty neutral about this tea.

For a bagged tea, this is a pretty nice cup. Steep it for a short period of time to halt the bitterness, maybe about 2-3mins. Has just the right amount of grapefruit flavor.

Simple goodness.

Sweet berry flavor but not to strong.

This is the tea that got me hooked on loose-leaf teas- a nice blackberry black tea that’s not too sweet or fake-tasting.

Nice! And the jelly that Republic of Tea made with it is excellent.

For some reason this tea is tasting particularly gross to me tonight. Urgh, I guess that’s a sign that, healthy for me or not, it’s time for me to get rid of this. >:(

This feels quite a lot like taking medicine. :S