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This is a really solid genmaicha, but I didn’t taste any cotton candy/fruit/sugar notes.

I picked up a new fruity tea on a camping trip along Canada’s west coast. Luckily, there are no cases in the area and I’ve been at home so no danger there. Also we stayed in a little cabin and didn’t have to interact with people.

I don’t know how local this tea shop is (“Tea Center”) but the address on the package says Courtney, British Columbia. I found this tea in a tiny co-op corner store on a small island. So, I haven’t been to Tea Center, nor do I know of the company. I do, however, know I enjoy pineapple and strawberry iced teas. Most of the time caffeine is a turn off, but I think green was a good choice for this blend. I’ve brewed it several times cold and really enjoyed the green tea flavour. No bitterness and it resteeps.

I bought this because I need rootbeer tea in my life. I have to say-this isn’t quite the same as Rootbeer Tea from Earth’s Herbals…but it is still pretty good. I’ve only tried it iced, but it looks like it could do well hot. I appreciate the versatility in it going with milk or staying plain, served hot or cold.

It is slightly cinnamon heavy. It could also do with a bit less licorice root (or swap licorice with anise or fennel). More vanilla would also be welcome. Otherwise, I think it is a nice blend. More “warm winter spice” than what I think rootbeer should taste like, but def. not the worst I’ve had.

Sad sipdown of a lovely rooibos I hope to purchase again soon.

This is a nice roasted jade oolong with notes of roasted barley, orchid, minerals. Lightly astringent (probably because I over steeped this both times I made this tea) but pleasant.

This is an interesting combo of smokey and strong (tannic/very bold) but also fruity (black current maybe?). It is good, but without milk it would be too bitter and tannic for me. A bit of soy milk mellows this blend out, however it isn’t something I would drink regularly if I had other H&S blends available. The cup of tea smells sweet and fruity, but when tasted the mouthfeel is almost smokey and there is a lingering bitterness like if you eat burnt toast and the burnt part has that weird mineral acrid taste. It is difficult to describe, but there is no sweetness. It isn’t bad, and I think many people like black teas that are very strong.

I love the super flavourful coconut in this blend. The one drawback (IMO a deal breaker) is the bitterness of the base. I finished up one of my samples of this from a few years ago be brewing it cold. Even cold brewed it has a substantial amount of bitterness and I find very unpalatable. The coconut is lovely and creamy; the vegetal notes from the base are nice too.