Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls & Rooibos Tropica

After enjoying this tea for a few weeks I decided I should finally write a blog about it. When I went to make some I realized that I didn't have enough. D'oh! I had to make a trip out to the Mall of America to pick up more of this delicious tea.

Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls
A Flavored/Scented Green Tea
Contains 5-10% of caffeine content in relation to an average cup of coffee.
The leaves are hand rolled into the shape of a pearl.
According to Teavana: may help to prevent cancer, lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar level, good for digestion, prevent cavities and aging.
While some of that my be true and some wishful thinking, the smell of this tea seams to bring a sense of relaxation and kind of calm healing.
The stresses of life seem to melt away when you smell this tea.

Rooibos Tropica
A Rooibos | Red Tea
Contains 0% of caffeine content in relation to an average cup of coffee.
Rooibos Tropica is a blend of green rooibos, strawberry, peach, sunflower, cornflower petals, and orange peel.
According to Teavanna: improves digestion, good for skin and allergies, high in vitamins and minerals, high antioxidants.

Review:
This tea has a tendency to go fast. I probably drink this tea more often than the other teas I have. When infused, the Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls unfold, slowly releasing a rich and smooth fragrance and flavor of fresh jasmine. The smell reminds me of the day in India when the ladies made strands of fresh jasmine and put them in their hair. There is something very calming and soothing about this tea's aroma. I wish I could have my entire house smell like this tea all the time. The smell translates to the taste as well. This is a smooth fruit and flowery tea that goes down easy and warms and relaxes you from the inside out. This is a wonderful stress reliever. The other thing I enjoy about this tea is watching it during the steeping process. The Pearls float at the top when the water is introduced. As they soak the water in they slowly open and sink to the bottom. It's like watching a time lapse of a flower opening. When the tea is ready they leaves look like a small patch of grass.

Rooibos Orange

A Rooibos | Red Tea
Contains 0% of caffeine content in relation to an average cup of coffee.
Rooibos Orange is a refreshing combination of Rooibos , citrus peels and orange blossoms.
According to Teavanna: improves digestion, good for skin and allergies, high in vitamins and minerals, high antioxidants.

Review:
MMMMMmmmmnnn. That's good.
Reminds me of an earthy version of an orange creamsicle.

With this tea it's all in the aftertaste. This team smells absolutely delicious.
However it's a little deceiving. When brought up to your mouth your nose pulls in a strong sweet orange smell. Your brain tells you that there will be a mouth watering orange flavor.
Then when you take a sip for one second the tea tastes nothing like orange.
It is an earthy flavor that I attribute to the rooibos. Then the citrus peels and orange blossom flavors connect with the back of your tongue as you swallow. Ah. Your brain is now being sent the signals it was looking for. Wow. That's strong. In a good way. This tea is like the Lemon Green & Rooibos Vanilla tea where it's a hanger. The flavor lingers on your tongue for quite a long time. It's quite unlike the Strawberry Kiwi & Rooibos Peach. Because the flavor lingers longer, you could slowly enjoy this tea until it went stone cold. This is something at I really enjoy about this tea. It has potential to last the entire commute to work and maybe a little longer. Or throughout the better part of an evening. Re-heating my be a necessity.
The recommended process is 3 tsp with 32 ounces of water steeping at 208º F for 5-6 minutes.
I recommend that as well if you are looking for a strong cup of tea. Depending on your flavor-richness-scale you may only need to steep for 3-4 minutes.
This tea is a deep orange-brown. It takes on the exact color of the dry tea leaves.

Strawberry Kiwi & Rooibos Peach

Strawberry Kiwi
A Herbal Infusion Tea
Contains 0% of caffeine content in relation to an average cup of coffee.
Strawberry Kiwi is a delicious combination of strawberry and kiwi pieces, rosehip, hibiscus, and apple bits.
According to Teavana: High in Vitamin C and antioxidants; naturally caffeine free.

Rooibos Peach
A Rooibos | Red Tea
Contains 0% of caffeine content in relation to an average cup of coffee.
Green Rooibos and safflowers with sweet peach pieces.
According to Teavanna: improves digestion, good for skin and allergies, high in vitamins and minerals, high antioxidants.

Review:
I love this tea! This is the tea that got me addicted the instant it hit my taste buds.
This is a tea that everyone and their brother would like.
I sampled this as a cold tea in the store. I've not had it hot before and I have no intention of trying that way.
The recommended process is 3 tsp with 32 ounces of water steeping at 208º F for 5-6 minutes.
This is my recommended process: 3-4 tsp with 32 ounces of water. Place into refrigerator overnight and enjoy the delicious tea on the commute to work the next day.

This is mother nature's version of red cool-aid. It is sweet and refreshing.
There must be some non-listed magical element in this tea. It contains zero caffeine and somehow gets me going like it's loaded with it.
It is light to the pallet at introduction with traces of peach and kiwi. It then ramps up to a nice strawberry with a hint of apple after taste. It is the kind of flavor that on reflex you immediately lift you cup for another taste. This is the kind of tea that leaves you making multiple attempts to have more after you've finished it. Many times I can be caught with my head tipped all the way back, my cup completely vertical, and I'll be tapping on the bottom of the cup to have every last molecule.
When this tea is ready it will be a rich red color with the fruit pieces and rooibos on the bottom and the safflowers open and floating at the top.

Lemon Green & Rooibos Vanilla

Lemon Green
A Flavored/Scented Green Tea
Contains 5-10% of caffeine content in relation to an average cup of coffee.
Lemon Green is a refreshing blend of Sencha with lemongrass and lemon peels.
According to Teavana: may help to prevent cancer, lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar level, good for digestion, prevent cavities and aging.
While some of that my be true and some wishful thinking,
I do have to say it smells incredible!

Rooibos Vanilla
A Rooibos | Red Tea
Contains 0% of caffeine content in relation to an average cup of coffee.
Rooibos Vanilla is Rooibos flavored with authentic Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans.
According to Teavanna: improves digestion, good for skin and allergies, high in vitamins and minerals, high antioxidants.
This is easier to believe than the what they claim for the Lemon Green.

Review:
This is a boldly flavored tea. I wouldn't suggest it to someone who isn't a strong tea drinker.
This, quite literally, would not be their cup of tea.
It's made with 2-3 tsp for 16 oz of water.
(I couldn't imagine drinking more than that in one sitting with this stuff)
Steeping 5-6 min at 175ºF
This tea is most enjoyable at a warmer temperature. It's a little assaulting on the taste buds if drank too hot and less enjoyable if you let it get too cold.
This is a wonderful stand-alone hearty tea. The flavor is still lingering in my mouth an hour after I drank it. It's very much a one-two flavor punch. At first you clearly taste a strong earthy vanilla then after you swallow you get a smooth cool lemon. It's a great tea to drink after dinner while you are sitting next to the fire watching a movie.
The Rooibos leaves give the tea a rich red color and the Sencha gives an earthy brown color.

An Introduction To My New Addiction

I have a new addiction. I'll give you some hints as to what it is:
1. It comes from dried plant leaves.
2. It's typically sold by the ounce.
3. It make you feel good.

Got it figured out yet?

It's fresh loose leaf tea. What were you thinking?!!

This is my supplier:

www.teavana.com

Like Crash Effect, Teavana is socially conscience.
"In a desire to help the world community where our premium teas are grown, Teavana annually donates 1% of all profits from teas sold to CARE International. CARE International, in a partnership with Teavana, then allocates those funds to projects that will benefit the people of the countries where our teas are grown."

All Teavana teas are a part of the Teavana EquaTrade program.

This past holiday season Bobbi and I had been out at the Mall of America frequently where Teavana has a storefront. I had walked past the store many times and always thought that it smelled good but had never ventured in.
I knew I was in trouble the instant their tea hit my taste buds.
(The little buzz I caught wasn't bad either)
I've always liked tea since I was a kid. My mom was a tea drinker and she used to let me have sips of her tea.
This was not my mom's tea. This was something different. I realized that there is a world of difference between fresh loose leaf tea and that bland, weak crap that comes in a white bag that tries to pass itself off as tea.



I have been enjoying a few different teas over the last month.
I'm going to create a series of blog entries as I journey into the exploration of the ancient world of tea. I have to admit, I'm a little intimidated since there are thousands of teas, each having a rich history and a wide variety of flavor.

I know this will not be as established and complex as Michael's Beer Blog but it should be fun none-the-less. Please stop by to enjoy a spot of tea.