2977 Tasting Notes
The chocolate and hazelnut flavors are sweet, but don’t taste as natural or complex as Harney & Sons Florence (my only other choc/hazelnut reference). Then again this is a decaf tea, which sometimes makes a tea bit “flat.” It’s also a bagged tea, so a comparison to Florence is unfair on many levels, I know.
Tastes a bit bitter even though I used the midpoint for brewing time. I took a couple sips and immediately added a splash of half and half to try to smooth it out.
Overall, it’s ok but not great. Probably forgettable, but I was craving this flavor combo and decaf is the way to go this late. I probably shouldn’t even be drinking chocolate!
Preparation
I decided to make this b/c I didn’t want to fuss w temp and add-ins. Did notice that the coconut shavings had settled to bottom of bag so I stirred the mix up a bit before spooning it out. I brewed a scant 2 tsp in 16oz water for 8 min (filled the IngenuiTEA to the brim!)
Then I added a splash of organic half&half after all since I had it on hand (bought specifically for tea.
I’m moving this rating closer the the lip-licking smiley face because that’s how I feel about this blend. The touch of cream made it taste just like a blended pina colada, only hot!
Preparation
16oz? Wow, you really musta been craving this!=D
yup, and I drank it all and enjoyed every drop!
I’m sorry…whenever I hear/read “honeybush”…well, I have to confess that my mind dives into the gutter. Not sure I can ever buy or order a tea with that word in it. My husband would have a field day! :-)
It’s Here It’s Here It’s HERE !!!!!
My mailing envelope was punctured but luckily my teas were not!
(puts kettle on before she’s even got the package open. )
dry smell: chocolatey, malty, and a definite undercurrent of fruitness
brewing smell: strong roasty smell upon first pouring the water over
liquor: orangey-brown
scent: chocolate first, then malt with a hint of “roasted” scent
taste: there’s a definite “mate” earthiness, more so than I was hoping for. The chocolate hits you afterwards. The malt is in there somewhere but I’m having a hard time distinguishing between it and the roasted flavor of the yerba mate. (probably just my tastebuds are a bit off today due to a sore throat.) Anyway, I like that it’s brisk upfront and then rounds out into a deeper sweeter chocolaty-er flavor. Sugar and/or cream may mute this effect but I don’t want to add either to this cup.
This is the first yerba mate I’ve really liked, so that’s saying something. I think I’m going to hold off rating until I’ve had a couple more cups or even tried it cold. I’m not as blown away as I hoped to be, (then again I’m not a mate fan) but I am definitely impressed. I think my husband, who drinks mocha and mate, will really like this, which is nice because there are very few teas we both like.
Preparation
I didn’t taste too much of the malt either, it’s just slight and overpowered by the mate, which I don’t mind. I like it straight but I just love it with milk, and perhaps a bit of sugar. And actually I really like it chilled.
Thanks Gander, I’m looking forward to trying it all those ways. I do think more of the flavor comes out as it cools.
hubby finally tried it, thinks it has a good chocolate flavor but the malt is not really there. (Maybe milk would bring it out?)
again, looks like I need to try this at 4-5 min not 7-8!
It tasted like chocolate tea to me. No difference from other ones that I had. I’m going to try it with some sugar and milk and see how it goes.
Milk chocolatey, but not as good as H&S’ Florence. Seemed to lack depth and taste a bit artificial. Plus everyone at the table thought we tasted mint, although apparently there was none. Must have been power of suggestion or a taste-association with chocolate. Didn’t taste the rose (weren’t told they were in there). Good with milk and sugar, just not my favorite chocolate tea.
Inspired by the Steepster select mention of Chazuke, I just used this to make some. 1 cup green tea, plus leftover rice, furikake (a topping made from dried seaweed & toasted sesame seeds) and some black sesame seeds.
The sweetness and toasted sesame flavor of the furikake drowned out the green tea! I liked it better before I added it, so next time I won’t. The tea by itself (with rice) did seem smooth and not bitter at all. Chazuke would probably be good with genmaicha too.
Preparation
strong, slightly artificial pear scent out of the bag, which definitel tones down as it steeps to a pale yellow liquor. I can smell green tea as it steeps.
The pkg said to use boiling water (100 celsius) but mine was not quite, as I didn’t want to scorch green tea, and figured the flavoring would come out anyway. Still, there’s a bit of a burnt smell underneath it.
On first sip, I get a slight sweetness from the pear that doesn’t quite mask the slightly bitter/oversteeped green tea. The aftertaste is bitter and drying to the mouth. I guess the water was too hot…
No more European herbal teas for me today, they’re just not working out. At least I’m cleaning out my cupboard :-/
Preparation
Sour cherry smell out of the pkg, adds light floral scent when steeping. Immediately turns pink, then darkens to deep pinkish purple (magenta?) as it brews. Looks like a hibiscus tea would.
Taste is tart up front, then fuzzy. I don’t know how else to describe it, not knowing what acerola or elder flower taste like on their own. I don’t particularly care for the puckery/fuzzy combination of mouthfeels. I do suspect this may be good iced since there is a bit a juiciness under the tart lemon and sour cherry.
Acerola is a sour tropical cherry that is high in vitamin C, read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malpighia_emarginata
I’m actually getting a weird aftertaste from this tea, almost chemically? It was a bag I rec’d in a swap so no idea how old it is, etc.
How exactly good is the Florence? People have been raving about them!
I had it at a tea house last weekend and drank the whole pot (probably 2 cups). I’ve been thinking about it ever since and counting the days until I can buy some (I don’t really have a “tea budget” but I went way over it this month!)