Market Spice Tea

I finally got my hands on some more. And yes, the stuff I had before was rancid. This smells of oranges and cinnamon as you would expect. In fact, the entire office now smells of cinnamon and orange.

I’m much happier with this. I can’t say for sure if this will exactly be a staple, but I can easily see me drinking this when I’m in the mood. I bet by fall I will be buying it in quantity as my mood will fit the flavor profile better.

Oh, I should note, I have no clue what the base is. In fact the flavoring totally over power whatever the base might be.

My dad first introduced me to this tea awhile ago. I didn’t like it at the time because I knew nothing about tea (besides jasmine green tea which I loved). He over steeped it. Or rather I should say, he likes his tea very very strong. He is a coffee drinker. I had it again recently and my goodness! It’s awesome. It kinda reminds me of red hots! Or whatever those tiny red candies were called. If you like this tea you should also try Red hot Cinnamon by Indigo Tea.

…Well I wasn’t quite expecting liquid cinnamon hearts mixed with orange flavouring when I tried the sample of this tea that I had kicking around. It’s so sweet I’m half-wondering if it’s sent my blood sugar levels soaring. Indeed looking at the dry leaves they’re glossy with oil – probably a ton of cinnamon oil I’m guessing. Now I don’t mind cinnamon but this is too much for my tastes.

This tea reminds me a lottt of Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice. The cinnamon flavor of this one is less intense and the sweetness from the orange is a little bit stronger. Like Red Hots without the sting. Mmm. As much as I do really enjoy a strong, spicy cinnamon note, this sweeter version is delicious as well. This tea is naturally sweet without sweetener. With this tea available so close (Pike’s Place Market! ) and it’s delicious taste, it will probably be one of my newest staples:] Yum.

I happened by the Market Spice shop while in Seattle for a conference. If they would not have had a sample in the store I would have walked right by it. As it happens, this being their trademark tea and all, the samples were present and I was hooked! I literally drank this everyday all winter. For me it’s the perfect fall/winter tea. A few notes:
1) When you open it up and take a big whiff of the dry tea (and yes, I mean BIG- you’ll thank me later) it smells very orange-y.
2) When you steep it-the cinnamon really shines through! It isn’t so overpowering that you feel like you just dumped a Sam’s Club size tub of red hots in some water and washed it down with 3 packs of Big Red, but if you love cinnamon (like myself), then you’ll be in heaven!
3) Yes, the dry leaves do have an oil on them, but don’t let that stop you. It’s simply the deliciousness pouring through the leaves! :)
4) I’m reordering the giant 3 pound bag from Market Spice very soon-only half or so will be mine. I’ve successfully turned on just about everyone I know to this tea.
5) This tea doesn’t really survive to a second steeping (sadly). It’s about the only negative.

This was the best tea ever. Now they’ve changed it. Why? The new “Market Spice” is nothing like the old one – not sweet, way too much cinnamon. I don’t think I can drink it. I encourage all lovers of the old taste to comment here, comment to Steeps, write, call, do whatever to try to get them to switch it back. Please Steeps, market spice at night was a highlight of my day. Please bring it back

This tea needs to be watched very carefully. Brewed just long enough and it’s a rich, flavourful drink. Over brewed even a little bit and it’s pretty much undrinkable.

This tea was a gift from a colleague, and I have been pleasantly surprised by how much I like it, given how much oil covered the tea bags and how nearly overpowering the scent of spices are when the packet is opened. I find the orange oils brighten the cinnamon, without overpowering it or bringing bitterness into the mix. The tea is quite sweet, bordering on over-sweet. Makes a nice evening cup.

I actually liked this tea, but, it’s bad. Very bad. A very bad, naughty, tea. It has destroyed my ingenuitea. I probably should have known, or been wiser, or something. The only warning on the package says that it should be stored in a glass container. I probably shoul d have inferred something was up from this, but I did not. I steeped it for 5 minutes in a 16 oz Ingenuitea, it’s all cloudy and etched from the oils in the tea and I’ve had a heck of a time getting the cinnamon smell out of the pot. I’m not even really sure it’s safe to drink tea made out of my pot anymore with the damage this tea did.

That being said, a tasting note should be a note on the tea, not how destructive it. I find it to be pretty delicious, just disappointed that it’s possibly cost me a teapot.

I LOVE this signature, orange-cinnamon tea from Market Spice. The actual store in Pike Place Market in Seattle is a complete gem. The tea is aromatic and sweet- without adding sugar. The sweetness is strange in that after gulping it down, there is no sweet aftertaste, but more of a slight oily sensation. I can see how it might be off-putting initially… but this tea is addicting. Wish I had stocked up on more while I was in Seattle…but bc it is flavored with orange essential oils, its shelf life is shorter than other teas