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I was at my local Fava Tea Company store today picking up some tea for my friend’s bridal shower. I need more tea like I need a hole in the head. But I was sucked in by the new seasonal blends and ended up purchasing an ounce of this one to sample. No regrets! This blend is smooth and creamy with a light blend of spices that really does remind me of eggnog. It’s good on its own, but I’m betting it would be amazing as a latte! I may be going back for more…

I’ve never had zabaglione before, but if it tastes like this tea smells, I want to! The dry leaf has a mouth-watering aroma of creamy custard and raspberries. The flavor doesn’t quite match up to the scent, but it’s still quite delicious: lots of sweet, fresh raspberries with a hint of cocoa from the black base. I can still smell a hint of custard, but I’m not really tasting it.

Mmm, this is so lovely! I’ve had other “gingerbread” blends that burned my throat with too much ginger or overwhelmed me with their cinnamon kick, but this one is perfect. It actually smells like you’re baking gingerbread while its brewing and the flavor is pretty much spot-on: a warming blend of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and something bread-y that really makes it taste like a cookie in a cup. Everyone I’ve shared this with has enjoyed it, even those who aren’t really into tea. Almost done with my first 4oz and will definitely be re-purchasing for the winter!

This tea surprised me! I tend to just assume that any fruit-flavored blend from Teavana is going to contain a bunch of dried fruit chunks and a random smattering of tea leaves. But this is actually an oolong tea! Not the best quality (some of the leaves are smashed up and there are a fair number of twigs) but definitely an oolong. And the flavor isn’t overpowering or artificial: it’s a light, natural white grape flavor layered over a smooth oolong base. The only thing I don’t enjoy is a slightly metallic aftertaste. I wouldn’t necessarily re-purchase this, but I will finish the ounce I have with no difficulty!

This one has a strong artificial peach flavor that completely overwhelms the base tea and reminds me of peach gummy candy. Not really picking up on any mango. It’s not bad but definitely not a favorite for me.

This tea has no added flavoring, just Ceylon tea, blackberry leaves, and dried berries. This makes for a blend where the brisk black tea base takes center stage and the blackberry flavor is just a whisper of natural sweetness. Once I adjusted my expectations for a strong fruity flavor, I actually quite enjoyed this one.

A friend gave me a couple of bags of this tea. I abhor the taste of chamomile, but thankfully it’s not really detectable in this blend. Instead, I get lots of lavender and a hint of rose. And somehow, the flavors blend in a way that doesn’t make me feel like I’m drinking perfume. This is actually a surprisingly pleasant herbal tisane and I do find it relaxing.

I received a taster pouch of this in my recent Mystery Grab Bag and it has become my go-to bedtime tea! The strawberry and coconut flavors blend perfectly: the sweetness of the strawberry is a lovely counterpoint to the rich creaminess of the coconut. And the honeybush-rooibos blend is mild and sweet and supports the flavorings without overwhelming them or adding any unpleasant aftertastes. I would definitely consider ordering more of this one!

I got sucked in by the Mystery Grab Bags from 52Teas last week! My package included 5 teas total, including a 1/2 ounce “taster pouch” of this one. While this isn’t a blend I would have gravitated toward on my own, I found it perfect for these hot, humid, end-of-summer days. The green tea base is mild and smooth and the flavoring is light and refreshing: a bit of blueberry, a touch of lime, and a lingering minty finish. Loving it iced!

Tried this at a local coffee shop today. It was a nice basic green tea with a strong green bean flavor and a bit of astringency. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t a standout for me.