Inkling Send Message

I got this tea in my mystery grab bag months ago and am finally trying it for the first time. Although I loved all the other 52Teas blends that came in that order, this particular combination of flavors didn’t appeal to me. Sampling it has confirmed that this isn’t for me. The flavors are well-done and exactly what the name promises: lots of cooling cucumber and honeydew melon with a bit of a spicy kick in the aftertaste. And the combination is actually quite pleasant! Just not something I’m likely to reach for again. Anyone want to take this off my hands?

Another sample from greenteafairy! She sent me both the black and rooibos versions of Dammann Freres Pecan Pie. Of the two, this one is my favorite! The rooibos isn’t overly medicinal and the tea has a nice smooth, creamy mouth feel. The flavor is definitely nutty (more almond than pecan) and has a honeyed aftertaste that just hints at the syrupy sweetness of a pecan pie. While this isn’t pecan pie in a cup, it is a very nice caffeine-free nutty dessert tea. I would totally drink it again!

I’ve been a fan of Republic of Tea’s Ginger Peach blend for a long time, so I decided to purchase this one the last time I ordered from Market Spice to see how it measures up. The verdict? I love it! I find myself reaching for this one several mornings a week. The strong, malty base and the spicy kick of ginger are the perfect wake-up brew and the peach flavor is spot-on…sweet and natural and perfectly balanced with the ginger. A new staple in my cupboard!

What a lovely surprise! My expectations were low, as I haven’t had great experiences with Trader Joe’s tea in the past. But this one is delicious…one of the best bagged teas I’ve ever had! You really can’t taste the white tea base, but there is a very distinctive natural-tasting pear flavor and just the right amount of ginger to be warming but not overpowering. I received this as a gift, but I will probably buy myself another box when I run out!

So much cinnamon!!! I’m not really picking up on any of the other flavors that are supposed to be in this one, just lots of sweet and spicy cinnamon…kind of like I melted Red Hots into my cup. The super-strong flavor makes it a good sick day tea, but it’s not really what I was hoping for from the description. Will finish what I have, but probably won’t be re-ordering.

Another sample from greenteafairy. I was intrigued by this one, as I don’t think I’ve ever had linden leaf before. The main flavor in this blend was definitely rhubarb! (And maybe strawberry? But I could be imagining that, since those two flavors just go together automatically in my mind.) But there was also a leafy, herbal aftertaste that I’m assuming was the linden. Overall…nothing exciting, but a pleasant herbal blend.

Another sample from my swap with greenteafairy. I was excited about this one, as I love pecan pie and nutty teas tend to be some of my favorites. Not sure the name quite fits this one, as I’m not getting much pecan flavor. It’s definitely nutty, but more almond/marzipan to my taste. It has a nice smooth base and just a hint of sweetness and overall it’s quite delicious…just not exactly what I was expecting.

I received a sample of this in a recent swap with greenteafairy and was excited to try it out with breakfast this morning! I think I over-steeped it by a minute or two in the bustle of getting ready for work, but thankfully the base didn’t go bitter or astringent. I didn’t pick up on any specific fruits, but there was a nice sweet fruity flavor going on that I quite enjoyed. Not a standout for me, but happy I got to sample it! One of these days I’m going to invest in some French tea and it’s nice to be able to find out ahead of time which ones I really love and which ones aren’t worth paying the crazy shipping fees for.

I was so excited by this new addition at my local grocery store: bags of loose-leaf tea alongside the boxes of Lipton and Bigelow! I haven’t tried much from this brand before, but this one sounded tasty and the price was pretty good: $5 for 1.5 ounces. I’m not sure what makes this an “energizer” tea, as the ingredients list and flavor indicate that it’s simply a fruit-flavored black tea. However, the flavor is quite pleasant: natural-tasting raspberry and passionfruit with a slightly tart note in the aftertaste. I may have to try some other flavors next time I stock up on groceries!

Another disappointing catalog sample from Republic of Tea. This one smells lovely, like mulled apple cider! But the flavor is weak and watery licorice with the barest hint of cinnamon.