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The most effective calm-ya-down blend I’ve tried in a long time. Longer review at http://www.itsallabouttheleaf.com/ (I’m a bona fide reviewer now!)

Woke up craving this for some reason … haven’t been eating well or properly during the past few days (stress), so I’m wondering if the purported nutritional benefits of the acai berry are calling out to me. Mom always said that your body automatically craves whatever nutrient you need the most…

Minty? Got it. Dry lime? Hiding, but I think it’s there. Champagne? I’m a teetotaler so I’ll just have to take 52teas’ word for that one. Thinking this would be really nice chilled, if not iced. Thanks, Lori, for this one—-hoping this cup will chase the cobwebs out of my head; half of a 1500-word article to write this afternoon.

Dry, this looks like very pretty potpourri. Nothing that sets it off distinctly from most calm-ya-down herbals, but nice and light on a rainy afternoon after a tense week. And lemongrass. Lots of lemongrass, which I like.

English breakfast, in my personal set of tea stereotypes, is Irish breakfast that just couldn’t make the varsity team. But this is a really nice surprise. Stout enough to wake you up, not just jostle you. Cheapskate that I am, I tend to use about half the leaf I normally should, but I splurged this morning and put a full two-spoon measure into my travel mug. Glad I did.

There are few flavorings I know of that can put the flavor of rooibos in the background, so if you’re not a roo lover, this isn’t for you. But if you are, this is so nice and smooth and mellow and desserty!

Tried my first cup straight up, 5 min steep, water just below boiling. Next time, I’m thinking a little milk and, yep, lemon meringue in a cup.

…48 bags to get it right…still came out bitter, but then I’m working with a work microwave and multiple interruptions. Bitter again, but bearable on ice.

Well, so much for my smell accuracy … this came to me by way of Lori in a little care package, so there was no package description to read. When I steeped and sniffed this morning, the first two flavor words that came to mind were “darjeeling” and “pineapple.”

Not even close, according to the manufacturer description—green with strawberry, passionfruit, peach. But it’s a beautiful gold color and light and fruity. Something that would definitely fit a Mother’s Day high tea in the garden with gloves and feather boas.

Now that I’m at the bottom of the sample, I’ve finally figured out what I was doing wrong. You just have to steep this stuff double strength to get any flavor at all. Is that the case with all Teavana teas?

I’m still a little inexperienced with sencha varieties, so I don’t exactly know what to look for … but compared to the Oren’s Daily Roast Sencha I tried recently, this is a little yellower and a little lighter. Very nice sweet, pale flavor, but not as nutty as the O.D.R. Good for afternoon when you just need something a little warm and pleasant.