Name: Santa's Secret
Company: DAVIDsTEA
Type: Black Tea
Price: $8.50 for 2 oz.
Suggested Amount: 1.25 for 8 oz.
My Amount: 1.75 for 8 oz.
Caffeine: Medium
I need to start with this: I can't stop smelling this tea. I mean it's actually been becoming a serious problem. Every time I walk by my tea counter, I have to open up the tin and give it a sniff. Also, I'm a sucker for the novelty, and the mini candy canes break my heart every time.
I will say however, that in my personal–and most likely unpopular–opinion, this tea makes for a great potpourri and a not-so-great tea.
Don't get me wrong, I don't actually think this tea is bad. I just don't see the hype that has had me waiting the whole year to actually get my hands on this tea.
I like the idea of the peppermint and black tea mixture, but I just felt that the tea was too weak to live up to the peppermint. After a bit of sugar, I could go for it, but it isn't something I would purchase again. So far, I've only really liked the Sweet Almond Green (which I did love) from DAVIDsTEA's winter collection and I'm a little bummed about it.
Anyone else enjoying the winter collection more than me?
1st Steep:
Ingredients:
Black tea, Peppermint, Sprinkles, and natural an (←don't know what that last one is)
Tea Liquor:
Flavor: Peppermint, Smokey, Smooth, Weak
Rating: (3/5)
Name: Popcorn Tea
Company: Teapigs
Type: Green Tea (Genmaicha)
Price: $9.99 for 15 Sachets (1.3 oz.)
My Amount: 1 Sachet for 8 oz. water
Caffeine: Low
First of all, let me start off by complaining about how Genmaicha is called Popcorn tea. When somethign is called a popcorn tea, I EXPECT IT TO TASTE LIKE YUMMY BUTTERY, SALTY POPCORN. For strictly scientific research purposes, I ate a whole bag of popcorn before drinking a Genmaicha tea. Let me tell you- I was let down.
ANYWAY, although I don't think Genmaicha should be called Popcorn Tea, I still am a huge fan of Genmaicha. For those of you who don't know, this tea is traditionally a green tea mixed with toasted rice. This used to be be done by the Japanese working class in order to make their tea go further. Nowadays, Genmaicha is enjoyed all.
As for Teapigs' Popcorn Tea, I could definitely see myself going for a cup of this instead of a bowl of popcorn while watching a movie on a Friday night (or more realistically while I'm watching an episode of X-Files...).
What I love most about this tea is how robust the taste of the green tea is as well as the light–yet very complimentary– nutty flavor. Like many green teas, the second steep was my favorite steeping of them all.
This tea makes me feel like I'm sitting in front of my fireplace after coming in from playing in the snow. Sorry if that's oddly specific, but thats honestly how it makes me feel. It's just an awesome comfort tea, and I would recommend it to anyone.
1st & 2nd Steep:
Ingredients:
Green Tea, Toasted Rice, Popcorn (literally less than half of one popped kernel)
Tea Liquor:
- 1st Steep: Yellow-Green
- 2nd Steep: Maintained Yellow-Green
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Flavor: Smooth, Nutty, Smokey
Rating: (4/5)
Name: Good Hope Vanilla
Company: The Republic of Tea
Type: Rooibos
Price: $10.00
Suggested Amount: 1 bag per 6 oz.
My Amount: 1 bag per 6 oz.
Caffeine: Caffeine-Free
I saw another blogger review this tea and they way that they went on about it made me want to get it STAT. So, I overcame my laziness and hiked on over to my local grocery store (who, uncharacteristically have a huge Republic of Tea stock). I immediately came back home and steeped myself a cup.
... I was apathetic. While I can see why some people might like this tea, it was a little bit underwhelming as a Vanilla tea. I was just expecting a little more pizzazz with the vanilla, and I only really tasted an okay cup of rooibos.
I will say that the woodsiness of the rooibos made up for some of its downfalls. I guess I would say that if you're looking for a bagged Rooibos (and not vanilla...) then this wouldn't be a bad place to start.
Also the packaging was a little unsettling in how they played up the whole "African Chic" aesthetic. However, unfortunately this inauthenticity is not uncommon in the tea market.
1st & 2nd Steep:
Ingredients:
Rooibos, Natural Vanilla Flavor, and Vanilla Beans
Tea Liquor
- 1st Steep: Deep Red-Brown (It's actually quite beautiful)
- 2nd Steep: Light Brown (not as sexy as the first steep)
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Flavor: Woodsy and slightly vanilla
Rating: (2.5/5)
I need to start with this: I can't stop smelling this tea. I mean it's actually been becoming a serious problem. Every time I walk by my tea counter, I have to open up the tin and give it a sniff. Also, I'm a sucker for the novelty, and the mini candy canes break my heart every time.
