The Republic of Tea

So, I am on a roll. Apparently if I show my travel cup at the tea counter in Whole Foods, they give me free tea. This time they gave me one for my cup, and one to take home and try. Heh! They seem to not see the point in charging for one tea bag and hot water- is the cup part really that expensive? But I digress :)

I decided to try this one because I wouldn’t have the guts to buy a whole tin of it untested. And alas, I am not quite as impressed as others who’ve reviewed it. I can sorta get the red velvet cake scent from this if I sniff it, but brewed it just tastes overwhelmingly of rooibos. I like rooibos, but I was expecting something a touch…sweeter perhaps (without me having to add sweetener)? I tend to think of red velvet cake as sickeningly sweet. The red velvet cake taste does seem to be here, but as a backdrop.

Hmmm I like this just fine, but I can’t see myself buying it.

I really want to try this one. Don’t have the nerve to buy a whole tin though!

Mixed with ginger peach tea

My first milk oolong. Thank you to Queen of Tarts for passing this along. I know this is not the best example of milk oolong, but I figured it was a good place to start in order to see if this type of tea has its place in my cupboard.

The leaves are huge…..and very green compared to most oolongs I have tried. I am drinking this one sans additions! I do get a bit of a green taste…I am guessing that is the vegetal taste people talk about when referring to a greenish oolong. Also, I see why it is called “milk” oolong; I definitely taste a milky creaminess even though the color of the liquid is lightly yellow-green and clear. This one is not something I would buy, but I will drink it. I can’t wait to try a few other milk oolongs! The second steep was about the same.

Another one that will be missed. Good strong red tea.