Leaf Tips

My Tea Thoughts:

December 3, 2007

This is a neat tea. Under some lights, it is a vivid orange; under others, it is a clear green, as befits a green tea. But who drinks teas for their color? Certainly not me, CoolCat! But this tea is as tasty to drink as it is to look at! It has a full yet gentle traditional tea flavor, and it certainly brings out the best in green tea. This tea is good for the morning, with its gentle flavor.

At-a-Glance:

Name: Leaf Tips.

Type: Green.

Package: Looseleaf.

Source: China (that's all I know. This was a gift.)

Group: Light.

Key Word: Gentle.

Peppermint Herbal

My Tea Thoughts: November 27, 2007

This tea is really a stunner. It has a multitude of well-matched flavor notes. Dark-flavored herbs and maybe some green tea provide a good, solid base for the tea, while strong overtones of cheerful peppermint are not dimmed in the slightest by the temperature at which Peppermint Herbal is served. If you're looking for an excellent tea to give to newcomers to hot tea, maybe this is the Christmas present you're looking for.

At-a-Glance:

Name: Peppermint Herbal.

Type: Herbal.

Package: Paper Tea Bag.

Source: The Bagel Cafe (company is Harney & Sons.)

Group: Dark.

Key Word: Simple.

Ruby Chai

My Tea Thoughts
October 28, 2007
Wowee! This tea is everything a tea should be. With the slightest sip, it slips eagerly into your mouth. It is full and well rounded, thanks to its Rooibos heritage, and although seasoned with spices, it remains gentle and not too bold. This tea has a right to be called Ruby Chai -- not only is it a glorious, pure scarlet, it is just as valuable and dazzling as the jewel itself! The only difference? The price.

At-A-Glance

Name: Ruby Chai.
Type: Herbal.
Package: Mesh Tea Bag.
Source: H-E-B (company is Numi)
Group: Light.
Key Word: Pure.

Essence of French Rose

My Tea Thoughts
September 18, 2007

Oh my gosh! This tea is too amazing for words, almost! Before you even sip it, though it looks brown and plain, it smells like potpourri! When you take a slurp, it tastes like it smells, but with a bit too much bitterness for me. I'm going to get the agave nectar (see my sidebar)....

There. I added one small squirt of agave nectar, and it is so much better! Two thumbs up for this fascinating idea in tea!


At-a-Glance:

Name: Essence of French Rose.
Type: White.
Package: Pyramidal Mesh Bag.
Source: Beauregard House, a store in Rosenberg, Texas.
Group: Dark.
Key Word: Unexpected.

Night Night

My Tea Thoughts
August 4, 2007

Night Night is a wonderful herbal with myriad flavor notes, from cranberry to chamomile! Amazingly, this blend is not too busy! It is sweet and appley, like chamomile. This tea's full and round, excelled in that aspect only by Silver Needle. Wow! An excellent evening tea with low caffeine.



At-a-Glance:



Name: Night Night.
Type: Herbal.
Package: Looseleaf.
Source: TeaVana.
Group: Dark.
Key Word: Harmonious.

Silver Needle

My Tea Thoughts:
July 21, 2007
WOW! It's no wonder almost every tea store carries Silver Needle -- this amazing tea is round and full-bodied. I believe that this is Pure Tea, as white teas are minimally processed. There's an almost toasty flavor to this tea, if you search for it! This is a satisfying, naturally low-caffeine brew that is great any time of the day.

At-a-Glance:

Name: Silver Needle.
Type: White.
Package: Looseleaf.
Source: TeaVana.
Group: Dark.
Key Word: Round.

White Blueberry

My Tea Thoughts:
May 31, 2007
When you first sip this luscious brew, you can only detect the blueberry. But further holding in the mouth reveals the delicate, distinctive flavor of white tea. It's two thumbs up for White Blueberry!

At-a-Glance:

Name: White Blueberry.
Type: White.
Package: Mesh Bags.
Source: The Tea Garden (a restaurant)
Group: Light.
Key Word: Berry.

Rooibos

My Tea Thoughts:
May 20, 2007
Rooibos, aka red bush tea, is not real tea. It is the most tea-like of herbal teas that I've tried. It is rich and earthy, a terra firma tea. Carrying just a whisper of sassafras, it is definitely not a breakfast tea. Rooibos is an excellent all-rounder tea for any mood.

At-a-Glance:

Name: Rooibos.
Type: Herbal.
Package: Looseleaf.
Source: Adagio Teas.
Group: Dark.
Key Word: Earthy.

Chamomile

My Tea Thoughts:

May 19, 2007

Today I tried Chamomile tea. This herbal brew, sometimes called Camomile, has long been renowned as a cure for colds and suchlike. But it is still a sweet, apple-like tea! Its first notes are complex and mellow, quite similar to Emperor's White, though a bit darker. Then, the apple flavor begins to assert itself, and reaches its peak at the point of swallowing. All in all, a delicious, wholesome-flavored tea.

At-a-Glance:

Name: Chamomile.

Type: Herbal.

Package: Looseleaf.

Source: Adagio Teas.

Group: Dark.

Key Word: Apple.

Spearmint

My Tea Thoughts
May 18, 2007
On first impression, this tea is, quite simply, minty. But swishing it around in your mouth reveals further notes of appealing brightness. Still, this tea is not exceptional, although it isn't bad. I have had better ones, but Spearmint is still a pleasant brew.



At-a-Glance:

Name: Spearmint.
Type: Herbal.
Package: Looseleaf.
Source: Adagio Teas.
Group: Light.
Key Word: Bright.

General Comments

I am making this post to provide a place for readers to post comments about the entire site, as opposed to a particular tea. If you have any general comments, please post them here instead of on a tea post, thus leaving room for comments on the tea itself. Thank you, and happy sipping!

CoolCat

Emperor's White Tea

My Tea Thoughts:
May 16, 2007
Today I tried Emperor's White Tea by The Republic of Tea. It was my very first white tea. WOW! This tea is stunningly sumptuous, with mellow, complex flavor notes, and an almost minty aftertaste.

At-a-Glance

Name: Emperor's White.
Type: White.
Package: Mesh Bags.
Source: Rice Epicurean Market.
Group: Light.
Key Word: Mellow.

Blood Orange

My Tea Thoughts: April 21, 2007
Today I tried Adagio Blood Orange tea. It's simply wonderful! Quite similar to Scarlet. It's sweet and gloriously fruity!

At-a-Glance:
Name: Blood Orange.
Type: Herbal.
Package: Looseleaf.
Source: Adagio Teas.
Group: Dark.
Key Word: Fruity.

Green Tea Tropical

My Tea Thoughts: April 3, 2007
Today I tried MightyLeaf Green Tea Tropical. It is darker-flavored than I expected. It's rather bitter alone, but forms a nice contrast with sweeteners.

At-a-Glance:
Name: Green Tea Tropical.
Type: Green.
Package: Mesh Bags.
Source: Whole Foods.
Group: Dark.
Key Word: Pineapple.

"Scarlet" Tea

My Tea Thoughts: April 2, 2007
Today I tried "Scarlet" tea. It is looseleaf, so I used a mesh "tea ball". It's herbal. I found it light & pleasantly cranberryish, but not overpoweringly. Might be good iced.

At-a-Glance:
Name: Scarlet.
Type: Herbal.
Package: Looseleaf.
Source: Whole Foods.
Group: Light.
Key Word: Cranberry.