Tazo

This scenario has played out more times than I’d like to admit:

“Oh, a Starbucks! I love coffee, but I could really go for a tea right now. Since I love black tea, I think I’ll get a cup of this Awake thing. What could go wrong?”

There has never been a time when I have not regretted this decision.

Unlike their coffee, which is decent, Starbucks [by way of Tazo] rarely fails to disappoint with their tea. Awake is way too harsh, without even bringing much real flavor. I’ll never get this one again. However, I have once found a way for it to be drinkable: get one bag of this, and one bag of whatever blend they have of unflavored black and oolong teas [the name escapes me and it’s not on Steepster]. Steep it extra-short, under 3 min, and add milk. You may wind up with one of the only black(ish) teas at Starbucks that does not immediately cause remorse.

Bought this last winter when I had a really bad cold. I like it better now that it is more leaf in a sachet than the prior tea bag form. Nice minty relief. Great relief for a sore throat and stuffy nose.

Decupboarding this tea today.

Adding a touch of splenda to a hot mug of this really smoothes out the mint flavor. Didn’t think it could get better, but tastes slightly sweet rather than herb-y now. Having a mug while watching biggest loser and hoping my tummy ache goes away so I can eat dinner. Otherwise a diet of tea sans milk for the rest of the evening!

This tea is always great when one has a cold, sinus stuffiness, upset stomach, any ailment that makes an excuse to drink a hot cuppa.

I taste the spearmint and peppermint and an aftertaste that could be the tarragon, but not sure I’ve ever tasted tarragon so I’m not certain. Very refreshing tea. I enjoy the strong mint aroma and great mint flavor of this one.

Well, there’s good news, and there’s bad news. Which do you want first? (Say the good news. You should always get good news first. Much better that way, no risk of the news giver dropping dead before they have the chance to give you the good news.)

The good news? I knew you’d ask for the good news first, it’s the sensible thing to do.

Here it is. I have almost reached the end of this tea. That is excellent, excellent news. I very stupidly bought a case of it through Amazon back when I thought I liked it figuring I’d save money that way. That’s 6 boxes of tea bags, and I’ve been suffering through the last four boxes trying to rediscover what I thought I liked about this originally.

Ok, the bad news? The bad news is that I never did rediscover what I thought I liked about this originally. Frankly, it has been a steady downhill ride. Every now and then there’s a glimmer. Like this evening, when I had some that had cooled and was actually approximating an iced version, to wash down one of those Amy’s frozen roasted vegetable pizzas with no cheese (back in the saddle on the diet and exercise as of today, I hope). That wasn’t bad, for a few swallows. But probably because with food, it’s disguised enough so that that Om-pickle memory doesn’t penetrate, so the flavor of the cucumber is relatively pristine.

I think I figured out what is causing the pickle memory. I think it’s the lime. The sourness of the lime.

In any case, I am now hard pressed to let this stay at a rating of 51 (down from the original of 63).

Looking back on what I wrote about this tea, I’m constrained to dock it some points. I’d originally given it a 63. Lately I’ve been drinking it a lot more, as I’m now down to just a few of my original “starter tea” tea bag boxes.

One of the problems I’m having is that I really did not like Om, which was another Tazo mixed tea blend with cucumber flavor. I drank a lot of Om trying to get through my stash at both work and home, and it never got any better tasting, in fact it got worse and worse.

Om may have ruined cucumber flavor in tea for me, or perhaps just cucumber flavor in Tazo tea. Though this one doesn’t have the same ingredients as Om, its cucumber flavor is close enough to the same that my sense memory is superimposing a spiciness on the cucumber that gives me that same pickle feel as I had with Om. Pickles being, well, pickled, that flavor undercuts the feeling of freshness I had the first few times I had this. In a big way.

Also, I had forgotten that Cucumber White, as this is actually named, also has black darjeeling in it, which makes it one of those “what temp do I use, and for how long” conundrums that I’d rather skip and just get to the drinking.

As I’m sitting with these white Tazos for longer, the Vanilla Apricot is emerging as a frontrunner, and the Berryblossom is growing on me. The cucumber, sadly, has fallen from favor.

I’ve had this several times now and it has grown on me each time. It’s a lovely golden color and a very gentle flavor, though not “light” as in light weight. Each of the individual flavors is there and the tea is sweet and predominates in the finish. The cucumber is pretty interesting; it adds a freshness to the taste that makes me feel clean while I’m drinking it, as though I’ve just had a spa treatment. The lime is just a dab around the edge. Barely there, but adds some texture. The overall impression it left me with is one of coolness, even though I drank it hot, which I think means it could be a good one to reach for after a stressful day like I’ve had today…

My cup of herbal apple pie :) I always say that I am not going to buy another tin of this, but when I get near to the end (as I am right now) I always change my mind. I find this tisane very unique and delicious. Apple-y and delightfully vanilla-y and good as is, or with a little honey (also lovely with milk, but I think I like it best with just honey). It also pairs amazingly with a good book. Right now I’m reading Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus and I can’t. put. it. down.

Found myself out of milk during evening tea, with lemon squares remaining to be eaten! I knew I loved this one sans additions, so I gave it a whirl for the pairing. It was very, very good. I much prefer a true tea flavor with most desserts, but this hodgepoge of rooibos, herbs, fruits and the kitchen sink was really nice with the pastry. Apple and vanilla predominate, with a fullness from the rooibos. The dessert and tisane were a study in contrasts, rather than a melding of sugarlemonvanillacarameltea like in the previous nights pairing.

I also realized that whilst it’s nice to have with a splash of milk now and again, I do prefer this tisane plain!

I have one more serving of lemon squares, and I have no intention of going to the store for milk today! Let’s see what I come up with for tonight’s pairing (!!!).

My cold has now really come out to play. Cry! A nice big mug of vanilla rooibos and honey makes it a wee bit better. Back on the sofa, surrounded by books, a cat, a dog and handkerchiefs! I am going to pull out the big guns later (Rishi Lemon MEDICINE tea!).

This is the first time I’m trying this with a splash of milk and YUM! I thought it would go great with the last two pumpkin muffins and the appley vanillay goodness mixed with the pumpkin and spices just screams Thanksgiving Eve :) I do like this without milk a lot, but the milk notches up the comfort level :) and makes the flavors melt together beautifully.

Delicious, as always. I’ve enjoyed this tea through the summer, but now that it’s getting chilly I am REALLY enjoying it. An appley delight. How could there be only 3 sachets left in my (second!!) tin?!?

A sweet apple pie end to a BRUTAL day! I can’t even begin to tell you how comforting it was to sip this appley slightly spiced vanilla tinged cup of warmth last night!!

Yummy comforting rainy late sunday night apple pie in a cup with honey tea. ♥

A sweet apple pie end to a sweet apple pie day ♥

Such a favorite in the caffeine free realm! Sweet creamy appley. Comforting and relaxing.

Oh, Vanilla Rooibos, how I’ve missed you! I said I was going to wait til Fall for you, but after enjoying that other apple cinnamon tea the other night, I realized our love is seasonless. You are a sweet apple pie delight- summer, fall, winter, and spring! I’m so glad you are in my cupboard again. Welcome home, baby!

The last two sachets in the tin (sad!) for our evening tea! Delicious with a little local raw cream honey I picked up this weekend! I enjoyed every apple pie-ish sip. I think this one is a bit Fall and Winter, so I am going to hold off on purchasing another tin until the weather gets cool.

Mmmm. So good on this rainy chilly night. Taken with a scant teaspoon of honey. I always think of “herbal apple pie” when I drink this one.

Love this one for winding down late at night. A teaspoon of honey makes it even more comforting. I am very close to finishing my tin, and plan to repurchase. I like it that much. Vanilla, apples, warmth. Sleeeeeeep!

Just in from hearing Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida. We were craving a cup of tea before bed. This one is perfect and soothing. Vanilla, apple. Taken with honey to help my scratchy springtime allergy throat. Nighty night! Or as the Bard wrote in one of his much more famous plays:

Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow.

Yum. We just can’t seem to get enough of this at night! I used 20 oz water, 2 bags, and 1 teaspoon of honey. I think this is the perfect ratio! It’s real apple-y this way. It is very much helping Sick Husband (he is also covered by a blanket I crocheted and we are about to watch movies – all good medicine).

I used one bag plus 2 tsp plain rooibos in 16 oz water in order to sort of stretch it out (I’m going through my tin at an alarming rate!!!) but it’s not nearly as good. Ah well. At least I tried. I think I will try this experiment with the Passion herbal as well just to see. It may come out better since the Passion is so strong (hmm that doesn’t sound right… ;)