Double Dark Chocolate Mate

I was excited to drink this because it meant I finally got to compare this mate to Guayaki’s chocolate mate. This was dark and earthy and dark cocoa stayed on my tongue. I added a splash of milk to see how it would taste as well, and the vanilla soy completely overwhelmed the tea and mixed with the chocolate to make it taste like coffee. I’m not sure I liked that effect because I don’t really like the taste of coffee.

I am bumping this down a few notches because I don’t think the mate tastes as good as the Guayaki mate. I still love it because it was my introduction to mate, but I think I’m going to find better brands out there.

Sipdown!

And thanks to terri for this tea from our swap. Soooo i’m pretty sure it’s official that i just don’t really like mate. In fact i’m pretty sure i mis logged the tea from the weekend that i said was a mate…and was actually drinking a different tea. Because mate? It’s not pleasant. Doesn’t seem to matter if it’s roasted or not, if it’s flavoured, mixed in with other things….it is just not the tea for me. Nope.

BUT objective me says, this isn’t a terrible bagged chocolate type tea. if you like mate. which i don’t. nuff said lol

This is the tea of choice this morning as I need something seriously good to motivate me to get up, go to class and be productive in general for the day. This tea is interesting in that almost all of the ingredients are some form of cocoa or chocolate – yum! The teabags are very powdery with a fine, cocoa-like filling that floats up out of the tin when you open it. The Republic of Tea recommends brewing the tea for 7 minutes, and the end result is a cup of cloudy tea that smells exactly like hot cocoa. It tastes just like hot cocoa too, one you add a little milk and sweetener. If I had any mini marshmallows in the house I would throw them in the cup also. This tea takes me back to my childhood days of sipping a warm, sweet cup of hot chocolate during the winter. This has been one of my favorites for a long time and it looks like it’s time to purchase more as there is only one teabag left!

-Round natural unbleached teabag. Teabag is powdery with a fine cocoa-like filling.
-Teabag smells strongly of rich chocolate. Tea liquor aroma is exactly like hot cocoa.
-Tea liquor is a dark cloudy brown color.
-Deep dark chocolate flavor with a strong sweet cocoa finish.
-Best with milk and sweetener.
-Excellent tea. A rich creamy and satisfying cup.

nom nom nom nom
I’ve probable cause to claim this cup as me favorite mate!

this is great with a spoonful of chocolate ice cream in lieu of milk/sugar!

Thanks to Jude for letting me sample this one. :)

The tea bags smell like hot chocolate – the instant kind, from a box. I’m not a big chocolate person – I like it and all but I prefer fruity candies over chocolate.

However, when I have to decide between chocolates I must go with dark (I’m allergic to milk chocolate). So this would be one I might pick for myself.

ANYWAY I’m new to mate – and my last try was disastrous so I’m somewhat hesitant.

Still smells chocolately… can’t see the bottom of the cup. I smell the “old coffee” smell that must be mate…

Drinking it, it tastes basically how it smells. It’s OK. Not my fave chocolate tea, but not the worst thing I’ve ever had.

Backlogging. Hello yummy tea! First off opening the tin made my chocolate senses tingle! A very chocolaty scent drifts out of the tin and I honestly just wanted to eat the tea pouch. But I didn’t, no I followed the directions and waiting “patiently” for my tea to be ready. Once it was ready to drink I promptly burned my mouth I wanted to drink it that badly! The chocolate flavor was very pronounced in this tea and I really enjoyed it.

MMMmmmm….Chocolaty! Loving this tea!

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 teabags
Additives: none
Water: 12 ounces filtered boiling water (my pottery friends mug is 12 ounces)
Steep Time: a little over 7 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: dark chocolate bar, nutty
Steeped Tea Smell: mate, chocolate, nutty
Flavor: weak watery chocolate
Body: Light
Aftertaste: chocolate
Liquor: dark brown, you can’t see to the bottom of the mug

When I opened the canister I wanted to eat the bags right there and then! I have gotten used to The Republic of Tea’s “powdery on purpose” tins, so the cloud of coco dust didn’t surprise me and I certainly don’t mind chocolate wafting through the kitchen.

I was very excited for this tea, I had been expecting so much from it. What I got was a weak coco, like when you make the “prepare with milk” coco packets and accidentally make them with water.

I added the bags back in per some other reviews.

Next time, 3 bags, and maybe some milk.

Post-Steep Additives: none

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/02/republic-of-tea-teabag-mate-tea-double.html

This is my favorite chocolate tea. It is simply ~ amazing ~. I’d never tried a mate before but I have been wanting to find a chocolate tea to help me keep from drinking hot chocolate and this is definitely ~ the one ~. My favorite teas are the kinds that I can keep the bag in the cup the whole time while I drink it and I can definitely do this with this one. It does not become too strong for me. The taste and smell of the chocolate flavor in this tea is very intense, and there’s not an overpowering taste of coffee like I have experienced with some other ‘chocolate teas’. I will keep buying this blend again and again.