Teariffic

Runa, Guayusa Tropical Ginger

2010-07-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

Runa, Guayusa Tropical Ginger,
8.5

This is not what I would call a delicious tea, but it is definitely good to drink. What I mean by this is that the flavor is not the focal point. It's smooth, drinkable, chuggable, and something I could see myself drinking every day. I imagine that people could add sweetener or use it in a latte if they really wanted it to taste better. It is energizing enough and gets bonus points for being fair trade.

Good Earth, Vanilla Chai

2010-03-10T08:03:00.000-08:00

Good Earth, Vanilla Chai
6

It's not the worst tasting Chai that I've ever had, but its definitely not good either.

Good Earth, Original

2010-03-01T08:44:00.000-08:00

Good Earth, Original
8.5
Sweet and textured, with all kinds of spices. Quite delicious and flavorful. It would be hard to drink alot of this often, but still quite tasty. It is probably one of the best high energy teas though. It would be amazing as an iced tea. I have no idea how it got this sweet without sugar or sweeteners.

Zhena's Gypsy Tea, Fireside Chai

2009-12-21T16:36:00.000-08:00

Zhena's Gypsy Tea, Fireside Chai
9

An absolutely delicious red chai blend. I chugged it with delight. It's even mostly organic and I'm sure I can reuse the tin.

Stash, Peach Black

2009-04-27T08:41:00.000-07:00

Stash, Peach Black
8

Good. Definitely a nice break from the norm. Very fragrant. Very slightly sweet. Somewhat silky and makes my throat feel good. One of the less "black" tasting black teas.

Note: This tea isn't nearly as good when cold as it is when hot.

Stash, Spearmint Cinnamon, Loose Leaf

2009-04-27T08:39:00.000-07:00

Stash, Spearmint Cinnamon, Loose Leaf
7

Good. Smells awesome. Very easy to drink. Minus points for lacking caffeine.

Stash, Chocolate Hazelnut, Loose Leaf

2009-04-12T13:04:00.000-07:00

Stash, Chocolate Hazelnut, Loose Leaf
7

Good. I wouldn't drink it every day but it is definitely a nice break from the norm. Slightly tart and slightly gritty. Interesting taste, though I don't recognize the taste of either chocolate or hazelnut.

Stash, Rosebud, Loose Leaf

2009-04-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

Stash, Rosebud, Loose Leaf
9

Delicious. This is something I would drink every day.
Despite the mention of berries in the ingredients, there was not strong berry taste at all, which I view as a great plus. This tea was very smooth and very tasty. Nothing flavorful, but it was sweet, but not too sweet.

Stash, Honeybrush, Loose Leaf

2009-04-10T08:44:00.000-07:00

Stash, Honeybrush, Loose Leaf
9

Smooth. I just drank the whole cup very quickly, so it must be good somehow. It tastes a bit like rooibos lite. Great to drink in the evening.

Roundup

2008-09-28T12:22:00.001-07:00

It's been a long time since I have written a post here. I think at this point I have solved which are my favorites / daily drinks.

Lemon-ginger (Stash Tea)
Moroccan Mint (Stash Tea)
Vanilla-Almond (The Republic of Tea)
The Original Chai Tea Latte Mix (Oregon Chai (just add water)).

I do drink others when I need something different (such as plain white, red ginseng, orange, or pumpkin spice), but those first 4 are definitely my favorites.

Stash, White Chai

2008-03-25T08:32:00.000-07:00

Stash, White Chai
7

The bottom line: I drank the whole thing, quickly, and didn't notice until it was gone

There is nothing memorable about the taste, but nothing bad either. I just drank the whole cup very quickly, so it must be good somehow. Great for a morning tea.

2008-03-18T13:54:00.000-07:00

???, Hawaiian Ginger Jasmine
8

Very fragrant (jasmine), ginger textured, but sweet. You can't really taste the ginger other than the texture and slight spiciness.
Good tasting, but not something I would drink every day.

Pom, Orange Blossom Red

2008-01-19T18:21:00.000-08:00

Pom, Orange Blossom Red
6

Very fragrant, tasty enough. Nothing spectacular. A good red iced tea. Slightly sweet.

Stash, Moroccan Mint

2007-11-18T12:00:00.000-08:00

Stash, Moroccan Mint
9

Bottom Line:
Good with a bit of sweetner (I use agave)

I fell in love with Moroccan tea when I had some at a restaurant for the first time. So incredibly sweet, with a bit of a gritty texture to it (the sugar and other stuff). Absolutely delicious for a change of pace. Its too bad I'm not a green tea fan, though this is still good.

Edit: I have been drinking this stuff often lately, its now in my top 3 and has gone up a rating.

Stash, Orange Spice Black Tea

2007-11-18T11:44:00.000-08:00

Stash, Orange Spice Black Tea
7

Bottom Line:
Bitter in a good way, with a citrus infusion. I love it.

The citrus makes it slightly sweet tasting, though its clearly bitter because of the orange peel and the black tea. Not bitter in a bad way though. Orange tea has always been one of my favorites, but its not for every day drinking. Good for a change of pace, especially during winter months. There is nothing remarkably different about this tea being from Stash, though it is slightly sweeter seeming than most.

Stash, Pumpkin Spice

2007-11-04T12:01:00.001-08:00

Stash, Pumpkin Spice
7

Bottom Line:
Delicious and light. I could drink it even when I'm not in the mood for tea.

Pleasing enough taste. Light and refreshing. Doesn't taste like tea at all, only hot spice water. Smells great. I can taste the pumpkin and I can taste the spice. I bought this tea for halloween, but I can see it going better with thanksgiving dinner than I can with candy. This tea is good, but still not good enough to dethrone my favorites. This tea would probably be my first choice after those though for something I could drink every day.

Republic of Tea, Cranberry Blood Orange

2007-10-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

Republic of Tea, Cranberry Blood Orange
8

Bottom Line:
Smooth, refreshing

It's an interesting flavor. I don't like it or dislike it really. It is definitely smooth and refreshing though. Black teas are rarely smooth and refreshing. I like it. Bonus points for being fair trade.

Update, October 2007

2007-10-25T14:10:00.000-07:00

It's been too warm for far too long lately for me to be drinking warm tea. I also have a growing collection of teas sitting in my pantry, since you can never buy just one bag to try out. I have had the pleasure of sipping on some Pete's Tea lately, and it smells even better than it tastes. If you have a chance you should take a break from your daily Starbucks routine and try them out.
http://www.peets.com/

I've mostly been drinking my 2 favorite teas, the vanilla almond black tea from Republic of Tea and the lemon ginger from Stash Tea.

I just ordered a bunch of variety packs from Stash Tea's website, as I got to thinking of pumpkin spice and wanting to try it. Tis the season, so I should have some new reviews soon.

Yogi Tea

2007-09-04T16:24:00.001-07:00

Yogi Tea is pretty much on my won't drink list from now on. Almost everything they make has stevia in it. I can't say I like the taste of the stuff. I'm allergic to it. Good tea doesn't need to be sweetened.
Enough said!

Korean Ginseng

2007-07-26T16:15:00.000-07:00

Korean Ginseng
8

Bottom Line:
Great tasting, great consistency

Not really tea?, just red ginseng. Very tasty, almost like a soy sauce. Tastes great hot. Not too thick, not too heavy, just right in the middle on both scales. I could drink this often it wasn't so expensive. I can see this going well with Korean BBQ.

Stash, Chai Green Tea

2007-07-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

Stash, Chai Green Tea
7

Bottom Line:
This was a good break from my usual drinking habits, but not something for every day.

I'm not usually a fan of green tea, but this is good. The chai really brings out the best in it. This is a light tea which is flavorful (as chai should be). It is unfortunately a little rough on the throat and (very) slightly bitter. Stash tea is, as usual, the best.

Yogi Tea, Peach DeTox

2007-07-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

Yogi Tea, Peach Detox
8

Bottom Line:
Sweet + spicy (ginger) = ! very tasty

I'm liking it quite a bit so far. My only beef with it is that its caffeine free and not as good as other stuff I drink. It's also 100% herbal and 0% tea as far as I can tell. At least its all natural and not artificially sweetened? The list of ingredients is quite long. The smell reminds me of a hospital for some strange reason. My throat and head don't feel anything from drinking this, probably because its herbal. Very light and thin, yet flavorful. I might be able to drink this every day, but I'm not entirely sure, since it's very sweet.

Celestial Seasonings, Vanilla Apple White

2007-07-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

Celestial Seasonings, Vanilla Apple White
7

Bottom Line:
Not very chuggable. Uniquely light (easy to drink) but thick.

Pleasing enough taste. Simple taste with complicatedly numerous ingredients. Smooth. I was able to finish a full glass. Feels good on the throat. Aromatic before the water is added... after, no noticeable smell. Not very much caffeine (at least it didn't keep me awake). This is something I could drink every day, though I have already found better. Bonus points for being organic, gluten free, and printed on 100% post consumer recycled cardboard. Minus points for not a good kind of teabag.

Stash, Organic White with Mint

2007-06-20T12:05:00.001-07:00

Stash, Organic White with Mint
7

Bottom Line:
Minty!

It definitely has that white tea taste that I normally enjoy. There is just a slight hint of mint, not really enough of it, but I suppose that is better than way too much. I can't taste the lemongrass at all, which is fine since its only on the ingredients list rather than the description on the box. The tea is smooth and light, making it easy to drink. There is no fragrance one the tea is made, but the teabag itself smells of spearmint.

Bonus points for all ingredients being organic.

Bigelow, Vanilla Caramel

2007-06-17T13:47:00.000-07:00

Bigelow, Vanilla Caramel
7

Bottom Line:
Vanilla + caramel = good for someone who doesn't normally like black tea.

With two of my favorite flavors, I had to try it. It definitely feels like caramel when its going down my throat. There isn't much of an aroma to this blend. It tastes just like a caramel chew if it were a liquid. I can barely taste the vanilla, same with the black tea. I can't imagine drinking this as an iced tea. Cold caramel doesn't sound all that appealing. I imagine this would go really well with milk in it, and I imagine it would be good for someone who doesn't normally like black tea. It's good, and I could grow to like it, but its not really my flavor.

It got a bonus point for the packaging being printed with vegetable based inks.

Celestial Seasonings, Lemon Zinger

2007-06-15T21:51:00.000-07:00

Celestial Seasonings, Lemon Zinger
6

Bottom Line:
It could be better

Where's the zinger? I can taste the lemon, barely. Too bitter for my tastes too. Not smooth or easy. Even after those complaints though, I would still drink it. Granted I would rather have something else, but its not bad.

Oregon Chai, Vanilla

2007-06-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

Oregon Chai, Vanilla
8

Bottom Line:
Drink the original flavor

Not as good as the original. I've been told it makes my breath smell good though. Still tasty, but I can taste the tea even more than I could before. Also, its much more sweet and light than the original blend, and has less spices in it, or at least they aren't as noticeable. It still goes down well and I would still drink it every day.

Fortunes, Blueberry Vanilla

2007-05-31T19:51:00.000-07:00

Fortunes, Blueberry Vanilla
7

Bottom Line:
Don't add mix-ins

A deliciously tea. Not an overly intense flavor, there's just the right amount. I would probably love this tea even more if I liked blueberry. It feels smooth and good going down the throat, but not so good sitting in my stomach. There is only a light, barely noticeable aftertaste of ceylon, however if you drink too much too fast then you will definitely notice it. This tea is good hot, but I wouldn't recommend it as an iced tea. If you're the kind of person who likes to add milk/honey/sugar/ or something to tea, then this isn't the one for you. I can't imagine it going well with any of those.

Oregon Chai, The Original

2007-05-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

Oregon Chai, The Original Chai Tea Latte (dry) Mix
9

Bottom Line:
My favorite spending splurge

Minus points for being so expensive, though it is cheaper direct from the website or in bulk, and is still much cheaper than a cup from a coffee shop. If it weren't for the price, this would be a perfect 10.

A nice blend of chai, good enough for me to drink it often. I can taste a bit more of the black tea than I would like, but it is still good. Flavorful and thick thanks to the milk and honey contained within.

This tea proves that unlike instant latte coffees, instant powdered tea latte mix can be delicious.

Fortunes, Peach Apricot

2007-05-23T23:05:00.000-07:00

Fortunes, Peach Apricot
8

Bottom Line:
Great for a ceylon

A good ceylon tea (and I usually don't like ceylon very much). The apricot is easy to taste, there is a hint of peach. Flavorful, and good as a hot or iced tea. Another straight-forward, as it promised tea. Smooth, pleasant, no after taste. Light and easy to digest with no kick. The flavors give it just enough to prevent it from being bland.

Health and Heather, Rosehip and Hibiscus

2007-05-22T00:44:00.000-07:00

Health & Heather, Rosehip & Hibiscus
8

Bottom Line:
Flavored EXACTLY as promised

Exactly as promised in every way. The package says no artificial anything, with 50% hibiscus and 50% Rosehip. It also says robust and full flavored. This is quite possibly the first product I have ever had that is exactly 100% as promised. My initial reaction is that it is quite tasty. Unfortunately, the tea changes flavor after some time passes, not for the better, though it is still good. Once it steeps its nice, thick and syrupy, making it good for a sore throat.

Yogi Tea, Vanilla Hazelnut

2007-05-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

Yogi Tea, Vanilla Hazelnut
7

Bottom Line:
I hate stevia

A medium light tea blend full of spices such as cinnamon, this is quite sweet and tasty, as well as very aromatic. Of course, the excess of spices makes the tea something I wouldn't drink everyday, but it would be good as a treat.

Minus multiple points for using stevia.

A Cup of Colorado, Mile High Tea

2007-05-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

A Cup of Colorado, Mile High Tea
5

Bottom Line:
Very filling

This ceylon tea smells a bit odd once it steeps in hot water, it almost smells like steamed vegetables. The taste is nothing to write home about, but it is pleasant enough I would drink it again. The texture is a bit sandy, and I can only really taste 1 flavor of something I am not familiar with. A little bit of this tea makes me full very quickly, I was only able to drink 1/3 of my usual serving size.

Trader Joe's Spiced Chai Tea

2007-05-10T02:24:00.000-07:00

Trader Joe's Spiced Chai Tea
2

Bottom Line:
Eew!

A hint of chai, and some tasty spices, but this one has an odd taste and is sour, bitter, and gritty. I can't say I will buy this again.

Trader Joe's, Spiced Rooibos Ruby Red Chai

2007-05-10T02:20:00.000-07:00

Trader Joe's, Spiced Rooibos Ruby Red Chai
1

Bottom Line:
You couldn't make me to drink it!

I must say, I love rooibos, and I love chai, but I can't even say that I would drink this blend, let alone like it. It has an odd and unpleasant taste, and I certainly can't taste either of the two teas in the name.

It got bonus points for being fair trade and organic, making it more than negative one.

Trader Joe's, Assam Tea

2007-05-10T02:18:00.000-07:00

Trader Joe's Assam Tea
5

Bottom Line:
About as black as it gets

A black tea which is a bit gritty and bitter. Not much of a flavor at all, but I could see myself drinking it again, much in the same way that I drink plain black coffee (it's not tasty, but its effective and not unpleasant).

Celestial Seasonings, Marrakesh Express Vanilla Spice

2007-05-10T02:15:00.000-07:00

Celestial Seasonings, Marrakesh Express Vanilla Spice
9

Bottom Line:
Bouncing off of walls is fun

A perfect high energy, wake me up tea. Very aromatic with many spices, flavorful and smooth. It almost works better as an iced tea, though to get the full scent make it hot.

Stash, Lemon Ginger

2007-05-10T01:31:00.000-07:00

Stash Premium Herbal, Lemon Ginger
10

Bottom Line:
Perfect

A light, intensely flavored tea which is easy on the tastebuds. Caffeine free makes it something I could drink all throughout the day. Good for the stomach. Mildly sweet and aromatic.

Tazo, Darjeeling

2007-05-10T01:25:00.000-07:00

Tazo, Darjeeling
7

Bottom Line:
Recommended by mom

Tazo continues to be a tea brand I enjoy. Their darjeeling is no exception. Like most of their teas, its nothing bold or exciting, but definitely something I could drink everyday. It is enjoyable as a hot or iced tea, is neither gritty nor smooth, though its slightly bitter.

Republic of Tea, Vanilla Almond

2007-05-09T01:12:00.000-07:00

Republic of Tea, Vanilla Almond (not decaf)
10

Bottom Line:
My first beloved tea

It's a blended black, dark, flavorful but subtle tea, smooth and perky. Tastes best when steeped longer than suggested.

My favorite tea so far