Tazo

Super epic meh

Monday holiday breakfast at Denny’s. Took this one because it steeps pretty well in questionable water temps. Good chocolate-orange and I think it does have a decent perk-up kick.

(And man, do I need to focus! Ever try to write directions for teaching kids a barn dance two-step when you could demonstrate it in three seconds?)

This one can go bitter when you zone out and forget to remove the bag, so it’s not completely sleep-deprivation-proof. (Storms again. Panicked teenager. Up till the wee hours at a friend’s house—-friend has brand new safe room.) But, oh, how I need the mate’ no matter how it tastes…

Not so great with coffee-dispenser water from an ICU waiting room. Bitter. Then again, I am grateful for something a little warm, familiar, and comforting as we wait for news. (Elderly mom, severe fall, head injury.) That and the knowledge that dear friends are keeping my family in prayer are keeping me upright.

Can I get an amen from the morning people?

Sorry. End of rant. Love this stuff. Chocolate-orange has always been a favorite, and I like the mate’ effect…gently pushes you awake instead of jump-starting your heart like a dead battery. Hope it pushes a little harder. A room full of 16 eleven-year-olds awaiteth to hear about good old prophet Elisha, a floating ax head, and some chariots of fire.

We started a new Christmas tradition last year—now that the teenager tends to sleep till mid-morning, Mom and Dad let him and we go out for breakfast at Denny’s at the crack of dawn.

So this morning, I took my own teabag with me. (Another out-of-town find; I can get it locally, but it was a lot cheaper at Whole Foods. ) And I’m glad I did — I think this is, on my sliding and wishy-washy rating scale, the best Tazo in their current line-up.

Cocoa and orange are the predominant flavors, but the ingredient list also mentions lemongrass and chicory along with the black tea. Whatever blending voodoo Tazo does do with this works wonderfully well. Reminds me of those little chocolate-covered orange cordial sticks (weren’t they once branded as Walking Sticks?) that you could only find at the drugstore.

Our nice, bleary-eyed college-aged server brought me a mini-pot of hot water along with my cup and one bag held up pretty well for two big steeps.

Ugh, this was a bad tea experience because I steeped it for waaaaay too long. I was running late at the airport and ended up steeping it all the way from Starbucks to my seat on the plane. Bitter is an understatement. I’d like to try this tea properly in the future!

Im on my iPod so I can’t give it an (official) rating. Ill fix that later.
So I’m drinking this now and it tastes like paper. I know, teabags, but I don’t have an infuser!!!!!!! Oh well. I’m getting a fake berry aftertaste….. Meh.
(Rating: 40)

I feel like a bit of a tea snob as I write this, but my snobbery will have to be put aside as this brand is the only one that is available at work. Chamomile is just so soothing and even though most folks may consider this to be a great “sleepytime” tea, I find it clears my head and helps me get through the work day. I’ll stick to my snobby brands at home though :)

Backlogging from Dinner

I don’t think I gave this tea a fair first try because I was sipping it with really, really sweet lemon bars at dinner. That made the hibiscus taste really bitter to me and I might have liked it under different circumstances. So, I’m not going to rate this one until I have a chance to give it another try. Preferably with freshly boiled water and in the privacy of my own dorm room.

Way too sweet. I wish I’d looked at the ingredients and CALORIES before buying it.

I bought this on impulse tonight. Youngest and I had it at Starbucks about a year ago, and then tried it at home with lemonade, but I was using the bags for hot tea at the time. TJ Maxx had the big iced tea sachets at a really good price so I picked up a box.

It is definitely bright, tart, and tangy. I did sweeten it as my daughters won’t drink it otherwise. I like it but will much prefer it as others have noted, mixed with lemonade, orange juice, or other goodies. Youngest actually prefers the shaken black tea and lemonade mix, but she was asking for some Hawaiian Punch so I am hoping this will satisfy her desire for something sweet and fruity!