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I went in for my yearly hair cut a little early this year (I usually realize how long it’s been around my birthday in September). I know that’s really bad, but I always put off getting my hair cut because I want to be Rapunzel, and then by the time I realize my hair is getting ratty, I keep forgetting to make an appointment, and then next thing you know my birthdays here and it’s been another year since my last cut. This year my hair was longer than ever. No only did I have to stand up while my hairdresser cut the length, but even with my chair all the way down, she had to stand on her tippy toes while stretching my hair up to trim the layers. And it took almost an hour to blow dry my hair, poor girl. I definitely left a good tip for all her trouble. I’m 5’6 and had hair down to my butt when I went in, and now it’s just past bra strap level. And even though it pains me to see even those 4-5inches go, I know my hair looks so much healthier now.

Anyway, I had brought this, cold brewed, with me to the salon. Flavor wise it’s a little thin, but considering that it’s Acai, it kind of works. I always think of things that are acai flavored as lighter and more gentle in taste. The flavor is a little fake, but not all together bad. And there’s a nice lingering fruity aftertaste, that funnily enough packs more punch than the sip itself. The flavor isn’t my favorite, but it’s not bad, and is a good mellow option for staying hydrated when cold brewed.

This is one of those teas that when I have, I want to smack old me on the head. For some reason I used to avoid unflavored black teas like the plague. I guess I assumed all black tea tasted like McDonalds sweet iced tea (which, as much as saying so might get me stoned by the cult following said tea has down here, I can’t stand).
Thankfully, and to my total surprise, straight black teas can actually be good! Especially this tea. I get a great amount of cocoa out of this tea. Cocoa and caramel are the two strongest notes I get. I’ve never had caramelized plum (sounds divine) I can imagine that the dark, tantalizing, fruity undertone that I’m getting here is just that.

Absolutely amazing, this tea is a symbol for everything I was missing when I was shunning black teas.

Backlog
I’ve cold brewed this and brought it to close quite a few time this past couple of weeks. I think the fact that I’ve made it more than once sort of speaks for itself. With as many teas I have waiting to be tried, I haven’t been making the same tea twice for the most part. But there’s something just so satisfying about this tea.

For one, the color of the leaves is just to dark and vibrantly green, and combined with the feel of the wet leaf, it really reminds me of spinach that’s been cooked. It’s just so pretty. And it brews up so green. Most teas are shades of yellow and brown, but this one is distinctly green. I even kept commenting on it to my boyfriend on the way to the store. He didn’t seem to appreciate it like I do though, haha.

But the thing I love most is the taste! It’s so perfectly vegetal, yet delicate, vaguely sweet and refreshing. It’s such an easy pick for when I want something tasty to take to class. I really need to try test resteeping the leaves because at this rate I’m going to run out much fast than I want to.

This is my last sample from Persimmon Tree Tea Company, and the one I’ve been avoiding. I didn’t know that star anise is similar to licorice when I requested this sample. I did realize it when I smelled the tea once it arrived. I really really don’t like licorice. Still, I tried to give this a fair chance, I really really did. But the licorice taste was to strong for me.

On the plus side, I’ve you’re a fan of licorice, this is a tea for you.

Thanks Ost!
I have to say, I was highly skeptical about this one. What makes cotton candy tea different from sugar water? Isn’t cotton candy just spun sugar?

I cold brewed this and took it to the gym with me this morning. And I must say, it really does remind me of cotton candy. I haven’t had cotton candy in years, but something about this really does scream cotton candy, and not just sugar water. There’s something more to this, and I was really surprised! Definitely want to look into purchasing some of this!

Thanks Ost for the sample!

Wow oh wow this smells so good, sweet and cinnamony and gooey. Steeped up the smell is strong enought that I can smell it while it was on my bedside table and I was sitting in bed. It really does smell like ooey gooey cinnamon buns. The kind with extra filling.

Sipping it, it really tastes like liquified cinnamon rolls. Sweet, common goodness. I must admit I was skeptical. “What’s the difference between cinnamon tea and cinnamon roll tea?” But somehow there’s something else to this tea that makes it more than just a cinnamon tea. It really tastes like biting in to the best part of a common roll: the dead center. Lots of cinnamon and brown sugar, a little glaze, and the bread that’s just a touch above doughy.

A perfect cup to end the night, this is going on my to buy list.

Thanks Cheri for the sample!
I must admit, the first and only time I’ve ever had Creme Brulee was on my cruise last month, so I’m not the perfect judge of accuracy here! I can say that this was caramelly and sort of creamy and vanilla-y. I’m not getting much custard from this, but I’m satisfied with what I am getting. I nice sweet dessert tea.

Hmm. I might need to try this one again, hot and then flash freezing, because cold brewing seemed to draw out a plasticy note. I’m not a big fan of green apple, but the good news is, from what I can taste around the plastic notes, the green apple and watermelon seem to play together nicely in this without the green apple taking over. I’ll hold of rating this for now until I try making it again and see if the plasticiness is still there.

I’ve had this one sitting in my fridge for a few days now. I keep taking a few sips, and then putting it back. It’s not that its bad, it’s just that I’m not a fan of banana flavors. The Butterscotch is sweet and yummy, but it doesn’t fully mask the banana like I was sort of hoping it would. So the rest of this will go in my swap pile, and hopefully it will find a more loving home. I’m pretty sure it will, since lots of people seem to love Frank’s banana teas.

Before I ever tried this, I knew I was pretty much guaranteed to love it. I’ve always loved pistachios, and my love for ice cream and green tea, and this was perfect from the start.

Story time:
My friend and I were house sitting, and were both tipsy, and we both dropped our phones in the hot tub, and couldn’t find rice. So, I saw this gigantic jar filled with pistachios, and I say: “lets put our phones in there, because theyre salty like rice.” Now, we were recording ourselves on the webcam at the time so I actually have this on tape. I even told future sober me to remember when we can’t find our phones in the morning, that we put them in the pistachios. I still to this day can’t believe drunk me thought rice was salty and that’s why it absorbed water xD.

First, I want to talk about the base of this tea. It’s everything I love about green tea. If this is what they mean by seaweed type green tea, then I want tons of seaweed type green teas. It’s fresh vegetal and so lovely. Makes me want to do a happy dance.

And then, there’s a fantastic creaminess to this tea, both in taste and flavor. And a delicious nuttiness. And the aftertaste is distinctly pistachio. I’m pretty positive if there was a green tea and pistachio ice cream, and you let it melt, and maybe thinned it out with some water, you’d end up with this tea.

I want more of this, because I feel like 1oz just isn’t enough.