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TeaTiff TTB #2

Martin was kind enough to add a sample of his favorite black tea to the box and I can see why he likes it so much! This is one of the smoothest black teas I’ve ever tried, without even a hint of bitterness or astringency. The flavor is sweet and fruity with a lingering honey aftertaste. Delicious!

TeaTiff TTB #1

I was craving a green tea when the box arrived, so this was the first one I pulled out. I’ve had some bad experiences with Japanese green tea in the past, but this one is delightful! It steeps up to a bright lime green and has a delightfully smooth, delicate vegetal flavor. Definitely something I’d consider purchasing on my own. This box is off to a great start!

This is really nice berry-flavored black tea that I’ve repurchased a couple of times from Fava now. Not sure what the three berries are supposed to be, but I definitely get raspberry. The base tea is nice and smooth with no bitterness or astringency, but still has some body to it. Nothing super special, but a great affordable cupboard staple.

This is a wonderful Earl Grey! Tons of fresh, clean bergamot flavor. The base is just a touch too light for me, but that’s the only thing keeping this from passing up my beloved Letterbox Piccadilly as my favorite morning cuppa!

Having tried and loved the Harney & Sons version of this tea, I was excited to find a blend by the same name at my local tea shop. While I don’t think this one is quite as good as the H&S version, it is a very tasty breakfast blend…robust and malty! A new favorite.

I fell in love with Republic of Tea’s Ginger Peach black tea 8 or 9 years ago and have enjoyed versions of it from many other companies over years, including Market Spice and TeaSource. However, this one from Fava was a disappointment. Instead of the usual blend of sweet peach and spicy ginger, this one is full-on ginger with the addition of cinnamon and clove giving it an almost chai-like vibe. Whatever peach flavoring is present gets completely drowned out by all the spices. It’s not a bad tea by any means, but not quite what I was looking for. I’ll be reordering my beloved Georgia Sunshine from TeaSource once I use this one up!

This is my friend Elizabeth’s favorite breakfast blend and after trying it, I can see why! It’s has a rich, robust aroma and flavor with a nice balance of brightness from the Darjeeling and malt from the Assam. I find it too astringent to drink straight, but it mellows out beautifully with milk. Might be purchasing this for myself one of these days!

This is an ancient sample that’s been languishing in my desk drawer for months. I honestly don’t remember at this point which swap/TTB it came from. But I’m thankful to whoever sent it to me, because it’s really yummy! I’m not really getting Earl Grey, but the lavender flavor is strong and pure without any soapiness. The base tea is also nice and smooth; totally drinkable without milk! A pleasant surprise on a dreary afternoon.

I’m a sucker for a good caramel tea, so had to give this new one from Fava a try. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t work for me. Though it has a decadent caramel aroma, the flavor is just a vaguely sweet medicinal rooibos. And something (maybe the buckwheat?) is giving me a scratchy sensation at the back of my throat. It is a bit better with milk, but still not something I’d repurchase.

This is such a yummy dessert tea! It doesn’t taste specifically like chestnuts to me, but definitely has a nutty flavor with notes of caramel and vanilla layered over a smooth, malty black tea base. I’d definitely consider re-purchasing this one!