Zen Tea

Despite not being a traditional chai, this tea has made its way into my heart in a way that I can hardly begin to describe. I’m nearing the end of the sample that I bought of this tea a while ago (having rationed it out because it’s too good and I don’t want to drink it all in one go and then not have it anymore), and I’m definitely going to have to get it again in a larger quantity soon. The fact that it is mate and pu’erh already makes it intriguing, and worth checking out for a high caffeine chai. But the taste is what makes me keep wanting to come back.

I generally doctor my chai teas with milk and sugar, and did so in this case, but I did take a few sips before adding in the extras. It was beautifully pungent and spiced, and I think it would be enjoyable in this format as well, though I do have a love for it with the added creaminess and sweetness.

The cardamom is what really seems to hit home for me with this tea. There’s also a plantiness that is unusual in a chai, but more on the side of “unusual” than “unwelcome”. The added sweetness does help round out the flavour, which even without is reminiscent of cinnamon rolls. The sweetness only adds to this comparison in my mind. The flavour tends to hit all at once in a cloud, and it’s so pleasant and enjoyable that I keep on wanting to go back and drink more. Not too rich, not too spiced. Comfortable and full.

Brewed 1tbsp loose in my two cup pot, tea strainer over cup.

This tea really is reminiscent of marzipan in a cup! It’s sweet and nutty in just the right combination. A very nice dessert tea option, though admittedly I found myself craving something sweet-tart to go along with this nutty sweetness. This isn’t a lacking so much as a possible good pairing.

Finishing off the dregs of the first steep, which has cooled down while in the pot, it’s a bit stronger and just as nice a flavour.

This is a tea I’m definitely glad to have in my collection, and look forward to drinking again.

Thank you Evol Ving Ness for the sample!

I enjoyed this one during the week as a cold brew. I think I prefer it this way rather than hot, it doesn’t taste so “syrup-y” if that makes sense.

I didn’t mind this one, quite fruity, but more of a raspberry syrup than an actual raspberry. The rooibos base is fairly strong. Not a staple, but enjoyable.

I am happy to have this back in my cupboard. I enjoy this black with a little creaminess and some sweet strawberry. I find that the strawberry tastes mostly natural.
If I remember correctly, this can get astringent fairly quickly so I like to keep the steeping time low. I guess I could also decrease the temp.

I cold brewed this earlier in the week. If I remember correctly, I think I prefer this hot brewed.
It seems that the cream flavour isn’t as pronounced as a cold brew.

This is a delightful, creamy cup of tea. The strawberry is nice and sweet but not overpowering or too fake. I didn’t add anything, but I imagine a splash of milk or cream would make it even more delicious.
I should have tried to resteep it.
I also should have ordered a bigger bag than just the 20 gram sample.

Sip down
This one seemed to taste more artificial with age. Oh well, I can’t love ALL the teas!

Thanks to Evol Ving Ness for the sample!
I do enjoy this nutty oolong. Nothing new to report, see previous notes!

This oolong got a little beat up in the shipping process I think. There was lots of little bits in my sample bag. Or maybe this tea comes like that, I don’t know.

I rather enjoy this tea. Hazelnut is the most prominent note for me. It is slightly creamy, likely from the oolong base. I am really enjoying roasted oolong lately, and this fits that bill. The vanilla is barely there, just a tiny hint.

I don’t mind this. I really enjoy hazelnut, which was apparent right away. It does taste a tad bit artificial as others have mentioned. I do really enjoy nutty teas though, so I don’t imagine I will have any trouble drinking this!

Sipdown.

With the cranberry honey, this is really berryful and delicious.

It’s now on the ‘will probably get more’ list. :)

Sigh. I do not like the name of this tea. Really? Kyss?

Oh well. It’s a decent fruity rooibos. I find the rooibos in this tea fairly medicinal, but that might also be the rooibos in conjunction with the juniper berries.

Nice enough with a little honey. It really does bring out the berry flavours.

Not sure I’ll get this one again, but if it happens to be on sale the next time I make an order I might sneak 20g into my cart.

PS. It’s snowing. Buses are no longer going to my place of employment. Fingers crossed tomorrow is a snow day! I have so much paperwork and it would be nice to do it while sitting at home in my PJs, drinking tea!

I forgot about this on the counter. I originally tried making it in the steeper I got today, but the jar exploded on my counter (I lost two teas from Pekoe Tea House, oops). After I cleaned up the resulting mess, I made it again. And sat down. And played on the internet, as one does.

So this steeped for at least 15 minutes. It’s very medicinal-rooibos. I quite like it, but I’m not sure I’d get it again. I still have a bunch of “Lemon Verbena” from Granville Island that sort of fills that niche. The cranberry and juniper are really nice in here, though. Tart berry flavours, some weird juniper flavours. They work well with the rooibos.

If you like rooibos, or medicinal teas, definitely give this a go.

Um, yeah, wow. This is seriously good EGC. Majorly creamy, smooth and definitely bergamotty. If I were to have to pick one EGC to have in the cupboard, this would be it. I wish Zen had other teas I liked or wanted to try. I thought I ordered some this past weekend, but scrolling through an embarrassing amount of email order confirmations I don’t see one from them. I guess I’ll see if something comes in the mail soon. :)

This one is pretty good. I’m glad I only got a sample, though. I’m not sure that Vanilla Tea is for me.

It’s a little bitter when steeped. Even after adding a little milk and sugar. It’s also a little too much like artificial vanilla extract, rather than rich vanilla beans. Since my sugar has a couple vanilla pods in it, I’m pretty certain of the differences.

While I’m glad I tried this, I think I’m going to add it to the Swap List. (Sorry Victoria, you’re out of luck. Your package is already all taped up!)

Tea #38 from HHTTB2

I can’t get over how sweet and creamy this is! This is amazing!

The leaves just smell sweet and vanilla-y. I want to fall into this cup and just chill for a couple hours.

All the flavors are in perfect balance. The bergamot isn’t overdone, but definitely has a refreshing punchiness. And the vanilla cream component is smooth and not at all artificial tasting. There’s actually a lingering creaminess after each sip!

When I run out of my current EGC you can bet this will be the replacement.

I wish I could be more professional about this, but the only words coming to my mind are “super friggin tasty”. I tried this for the first time on a whim during one of my Zen Tea excursions over the summer, and both my best friend and I thought it was so good that it’s now become the tea I have to force myself not to order so that I’m not just getting the same thing every time I’m there.

It smells amazing. I think it’s the almond part, but it almost smells like amaretto, except fruitier. Almond and papaya are just a super interesting combination of things to throw in a tea, in my opinion, and they make a nice sweet interesting delicious pair.

Honestly, this is probably one of my favorites now, up there with Uji Sencha and Brioche. No word yet on whether it tops White Christmas.

I can’t believe I made my Zen Tea order back in the spring and there are still some that I haven’t even opened yet. This should have been done a long time ago!

If you like your roasty oolongs, this one is rather satisfying. The first cup is like roasted fruits or something. The second steep is even roastier, and the liquor is even darker than the first infusion. It kind of tastes like toasted bread crusts.

Sipdown! (189)

I’m not into this anymore… Good thing it’s gone. I’m not into Lavender that much. Flowers and tea are rarely for me. :D

It’s late and I should be proof-reading my bf’s essay but I’m too sleepy and my head hurts so instead I’m drinking this tea and talking about the Doctor Who special with a friend of mine. It was pretty great. And now my headache is gone and I’m off to bed. :D

Yay for painkillers, good tea, good friends and Doctor Who!
(I wouldn’t be in the mood for this all the time though. Very rarely in fact. But when I want it, I want it)

This was in the amazing/wonderful overly generous package that I received for TheTeaFairy.
I was in desperate need of energy today – this seemed like the obvious choice. This isn’t really chai – it’s more of a “wellness” tea to me. It is spicy but not really chai like, it has some undefined “herbal” quality to it.
I don’t think this gave me any energy, and I don’t think it’s a chai. Another tea that is totally named incorrectly.

Thank you MissB for sending me a sample of this. Good Choice, this is something I should like – I think this is the tea that I think smells like mint. I don’t think there is any actual mint in here, but there is something that smells, tastes like it.
This is another really unusual experience for me. I can’t even begin to tell you what this is like. Chai, not really, spicy for sure – a little medicinal in a herbal sort of way. Odd little tea that I’m glad to have had the chance to try, but I don’t think I would seek this out again.
Thanks so much MissB