December 24, 2014 - Santa's Secret

Santa's Secret

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.5 tsp
Time: 4 - 6 mins
Temperature: 96° C

Notes: Medium caffeine.

Ingredients: Black tea, peppermint, sprinkles, natural and artificial flavouring.

Review: This tea is pretty good. The aromas of peppermint and vanilla turn minty and sweet when the tea is steeped.

Rating: 8/10

Mood music while sipping away:  The Jackson 5 - I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus

December 23, 2014 - Eggnog

Eggnog

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 mins
Temperature: 96° C

Notes: Caffeine free.

Ingredients: Green rooibos, white chocolate chips, meringue powder, natural and artificial flavouring.

Review: The aroma is interesting, rich and actually eggnog-like. But when steeped, the flavour becomes muted. There is a bit of nutmeg and of course the rooibos but overall it feels like there is something lacking.

Rating: 6.4/10

Mood music while sipping away:  Weezer - The Christmas Song

December 22, 2014 - Sleigh Ride

Sleigh Ride

Suggested serving

Amount: 2 tsp
Time: 5 - 7 mins
Temperature: 98° C

Notes: Caffeine free.

Ingredients: Apple, hibiscus blossoms, pineapple, papaya, beetroot, cinnamon, raisins, coconut, roasted almonds, popped rice, artificial flavouring.

Review: On opening the little canister of Sleigh Ride the aroma immediately reminded me of Forever Nuts, with its warm, nutty aroma. When steeped, however, the flavour of the two is more distinct. Sleigh Ride is fairly tart and has a bit of an apple cinnamon flavour. Quite tasty though I think I prefer Forever Nuts, slightly.

Rating: 7.8/10

Mood music while sipping away:  Sufjan Stevens - Sleigh Ride

December 21, 2014 - Lime Gelato

Lime Gelato

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 3 - 4 mins
Temperature: 85° C

Notes: Low caffeine.

Ingredients: Apple, Sencha green tea, pineapple, lemongrass, artificial creamy lime yogurt flavouring.

Review: There are a lot of interesting flavours that release themselves when brewed, including of course lime - but there are also hints of nuttiness, cream, vanilla, and melon. The aroma from the canister is decidedly lime, which brings to mind summer and freshness. I suspect this would be great as a cold brew.

Rating: 7.7/10

Mood music while sipping away:  Harry Nilsson - Coconut

December 20, 2014 - Apple Custard

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 mins
Temperature: 96° C

Notes: Caffeine free.

Ingredients: Apples, golden raisins, coriander, chamomile, natural and artificial vanilla flavouring.

Review: Having a fairly strong aversion to raise, I was a bit weary of this tea. But the sweetness of the apple along with the spiced tinge of the vanilla and coriander were pleasant. The chamomile and the raisons, however, were a bit too present for my liking.

Rating: 7.3/10

Mood music while sipping away:  Led Zeppelin - Custard Pie

December 19, 2014 - Organic Cream of Earl Grey

Cream of Earl Grey

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 mins
Temperature: 96° C

Notes: Medium caffeine.

Ingredients: Black tea, cornflowers, marigolds.

Review: I first tried Cream of Earl Grey via last year's Advent Calendar and haven't looked back since. The aroma that the cornflowers and marigolds produce is vanilla-like and intermixed with the black tea delivers a strong, yet not overbearing, richness.

Rating: 8.3/10

Mood music while sipping away:  Cream - Strange Brew

December 18, 2014 - Organic Silk Dragon Jasmine

Silk Dragon Jasmine

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 2 - 3 mins
Temperature: 80° C

Notes: Caffeine free.

Ingredients: Organic Chinese green tea.

Review: As with last year, there is a slight bitterness to this tea, which is usual for jasmine-scented leaves; but the jasmine is also slightly sweet and relaxing, while offering a bit of floral perfume.

Rating: 7.4/10

Mood music while sipping away:  Stephane Grappelli & Django Reinhardt - Tea For Two

December 17, 2014 - Peppermint Amour

Peppermint Amour

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 30-60 sec
Temperature: 96° C

Notes: Caffeine free.

Ingredients: Organic peppermint leaves from Oregon state.

Review: The trick to this tea is properly stepping it - so one needs to be careful of the 30-60 second window. If one likes mint then this is perfect, Peppermint has a strong minty taste even compared to the milder spearmint.

Rating: 7.8/10

Mood music while sipping away:  Owl City - Peppermint Winter

December 16, 2014 - Main Squeeze

Main Squeeze

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 min
Temperature: 85° C

Notes: Stimulant.

Ingredients: Green yerba maté, candied papaya, pineapple, safflower, natural flavouring.

Review: This is a slightly fruity, fresh, and light tea that packs quite a punch. The yerba maté is not calleifnated but is a stimulant that is good enough to act as a replacement for coffee.. it could also potentially be served cold, but don’t quote me on that.

Rating: 8.0/10

Mood music while sipping away:  Squeeze - Tempted

December 15, 2014 - Buddha's Blend

Buddha's Blend

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 2 - 3 min
Temperature: 80° C

Notes: Caffeine free.

Ingredients: White tea, green tea, jasmine pearls, white hibiscus blossoms, natural and articifial flavouring.

Review: Last year I had given this tea only 6.5 noting that it "acrid potency that produces a thin stream of sweet vapour to lodge in my throat"; however, this time around I must be more generous. The aroma of Buddha's Blend is wonderful with the hibiscus flowers and jasmine pearls providing a floral peach-like scent. The flavour is also a bit peach-like and slightly bitter. But be warned not to over-steep this tea as it becomes quite astringent.

Rating: 8.0/10

Mood music while sipping away:  David Bowie - Buddha Of Suburbia

December 14, 2014 - Sugar Plum Forest

Sugar Plum Forest

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 min
Temperature: 96° C

Notes: Caffeine free.

Ingredients: Apple, hibiscus, rooibos, ginger, licorice root, raisins, cinnamon, rose hip peel, plum, cardamom, star anise, bruised pepper, cloves, chili pieces, artificial flavouring.

Review: This has a wonderful aroma, somewhere between cinnamon hearts and mulled wine. The flavour is rather more fruity than the cinnamon, ginger, and cloves might otherwise impart.

Rating: 7.6/10

Mood music while sipping away:  GlassDuo - Sugar Plum Fairy

December 13, 2014 - Read My Lips

Read my lips

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 min
Temperature: 96° C

Notes: Caffeine free.

Ingredients: Chinese black tea, peppermint, chocolate, pink peppercorns, sprinkles, natural and artificial flavouring.

Review: This tea is very aromatic but the chocolate does not present itself very well once brewed and the overall essence of the tea is a little watery. The peppermint is also slightly obfuscated, which is too bad as a little more mint flavour would raise the overall taste substantially.

Rating: 7.2/10

Mood music while sipping away:  Duran Duran - Read My Lips

December 12, 2014 - Crème Caramel Rooibos

Crème Caramel Rooibos

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 min
Temperature: 96° C

Notes: Caffeine free.

Ingredients: Red Rooibos, caramel pieces, natural and artificial flavouring.

Review: This tea has a very inviting aroma, more caramel than rooibos. The taste, however, is much more rooibos than caramel, which might be nice for some. I would suggest steeping it a bit longer though, just to get that caramel flavour to come out a bit more.

Rating: 7.5/10

Mood music while sipping away:  Flying Lotus - Tea Leaf Dancers

December 11, 2014 - Mother's Little Helper (organic)

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 min
Temperature: 96° C

Notes: Low caffeine.

Ingredients: Peppermint, lemongrass, hibiscus, rosehips, chamomile, valerian root, cornflowers, and peppermint flavouring.

Review: I had reviewed this last year and still feel the same: that this is a nice tea. It has nice minty and lemony flavours. It has a nice, comforting fragrance. It did have a slight medicinal taste, but otherwise it is still pretty nice. I have nothing really negative to say about it except it could perhaps use something a little more punchy, a little more exciting, but for relaxing than it is rather nice.

Rating: 7.5/10

Mood music while sipping away:  Liz Phair - Mother's Little Helper

December 10, 2014 - Bubbie's Baklava

Bubbie's Baklava

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 min
Temperature: 85° C

Notes: Low caffeine.

Ingredients: Oolong tea, roasted chicory root, pineapple, papaya, cinnamon, walnuts, apple, ginger, roasted almonds, cardamom, rose pepper, pistachios, rose blossom, artificial flavouring.

Review: This tea has a wonderfully rich aroma, but the cinnamon is a little overwhelming when sipping it. Still the walnut and oolong flavours mesh well. The other flavours, on the other hand, seem to get a little lost with everything going on.

Rating: 7.5/10

Mood music while sipping away:  Aladdin - Friend Like Me

December 9, 2014 - Genmaicha

Genmaicha

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 3 - 4 min
Temperature: 85° C

Notes: Low caffeine.

Ingredients: Steamed green tea from Japan, roasted and popped rice.

Review: Last year, I have Genmaicha an 8.5. I had noted that its "roasted, somewhat subtle, flavour of the puffed rice along with the slight bitterness of green tea create an almost perfect balance. The aroma is also subtle but enticing." I don't think anything has changed, it is still a great tea, though I realize perhaps not everyone's cup of tea. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Mood music while sipping away:  Saeko Suzuki - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

December 8, 2014 - Cocomint Cream

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 min
Temperature: 96° C

Notes: Caffeine free.

Ingredients: Apple, coconut, sweet blackberry leaves, peppermint, spearmint, natural coconut flavouring.

Review: Hmmm, I am really not sure what to think of this tea: it definitely has mint and coconut flavours, but is also a bit creamy, buttery. Overall, though it is a bit watery too.

Rating: 6.9?/10

Mood music while sipping away:  M.I.A. - Exodus (feat. The Weeknd)

December 7, 2014 - English Breakfast

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 min
Temperature: 96° C

Notes: Medium caffeine.

Ingredients: Sri Lankan black tea.

Review: This is a lovely cuppa black tea, perfect to give one that little wake-up in the morning. The very popular rich ceylon tea is traditional in British cultures and is quite robust but goes well with milk and/or honey.

Rating: 8.3/10

Mood music while sipping away:  The Kinks - "Have A Cuppa Tea"

December 6, 2014 - Coco Chai Rooibos

Coco Chai Rooibos

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 min
Temperature: 96° C

Notes: Caffeine free.

Ingredients: Organic Rooibos, cinnamon, ginger, coconut flakes, cloves, pink peppercorns, cardamom.

Review: The flavour of the rooibos is a little overpowering though the other ingredients form a bit of a counterpoint, their union is a bit muddled. The coconut barely comes through and the ginger and cinnamon seem to only exist in a faint aromatic waft just before once sips the tea. And yet, I find myself drinking the concoction pretty steadily.
 "I drank so much tea I wrote my letters in kanji Around the block I walked and walked Pretending you were with me" - Red House Painters - Medicine Bottle

Rating: 7/10

Mood music while sipping away: Mark Kozelek - Christmas Time is Here

December 5, 2014 - Organic Detox

Organic Detox

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 3 - 4 min
Temperature: 85° C

Notes: Low caffeine.

Ingredients: rooibos, sencha green tea, lemongrass, ginger, juniper berries, ginkgo.

Review: The purpose of this tea is clear, to help detoxify one's body. Given this more utilitarian purpose, the taste is fairly pleasant, with hints of lemony and ginger. The rooibos is rather strong though and the juniper berries add a bit of tartness, which I think I like.

Rating: 7/10

Mood music while sipping away: Amy Winehouse - Rehab

December 4, 2014 - Pink Flamingo

Pink Flamingo

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 min
Temperature: 96° C

Notes: Caffeine free.

Ingredients: Hibiscus blossoms, apple pieces, carrot flakes, blackberry leaves, eucalyptus leaves, lemongrass, beetroot pieces, freeze-dried tangerine/orange slices and artificial flavouring.

Review: This tisane is definitely fruity, with citrus notes both in the smell and taste of the brew. I can’t help but feel that it would perhaps be better as a summery iced tea.

Rating: 7/10

Mood music while sipping away: Love and Rockets - Pink Flamingo 

December 3, 2014 - Quangzhou Milk Oolong

Quangzhou Milk Oolong

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 min
Temperature: 85° C

Notes: Medium Caffeine.

Ingredients: Chinese oolong tea from the Wuyi Mountains, natural flavouring.

Review: This tea is wonderful: it is subtle and has hints of sweetness, not to mention a milky/buttery flavour. The scent of the dry leaves is almost vanilla-like and they look like little shriveled pearls. Once in the water they unfurl into large leaves that almost look like bay leaves. There is a bit of an aftertastes that again is subtle and dare I say a little smokey?


Rating: 8/10

Mood music while sipping away: Cat Stevens - Tea for the Tillerman

December 2, 2014 - Organic Vanilla Chai

Organic Vanilla Chai

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.25 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 min
Temperature: 96° C

Notes: Medium Caffeine.

Ingredients: Cinnamon, black tea, licorice root, ginger, vanilla. With natural vanilla and cream flavouring.

Review: I must admit to not being a bit cautious of flavoured chais and this vanilla one struck me as a bit odd. The aroma is nevertheless pleasant and the cinnamon and hint of vanilla flavours give it a needed mellowness. But the mixture of these flavours along with the chai and licorice and ginger end up muddling everything. As a friend says, “it doesn’t strike me instantly as a chai...not enough kick”.
Rating: 6/10

Mood music while sipping away: Danny Brown - Smokin & Drinkin

December 1, 2014 - Forever Nuts

David's Tea - Forever Nuts

Suggested serving

Amount: 1.5 tsp
Time: 4 - 7 min
Temperature: 98° C

Notes: Low Caffeine.

Ingredients: Apple, almonds, cinnamon, beetroot and artificial flavouring.

Review: I first discovered Forever Nuts in last year's Advent Calendar. I still love its aroma of nuts, apples, and spices.  When you brew it, the tea becomes a pinkish colour due to the beetroot.  The almond and cinnamon flavours are great but could be ramped up a bit more as the overall flavour is a bit too smooth and easy going for my liking. Still it's a solid tea.

Rating: 8/10

Please feel free to chime in with your thoughts below...