Review: Thai Tea Blend from Teavana

Measure: 1 tsp. to 12 oz. boiling water
Steeped: 4 min.
Teaware: Travel mug & stainless steel steeping basket

The scent of this tea in the package is remarkably like that of cherry cough syrup – the flavor doctors seem to think everyone will like, and no one really does. So I had my doubts about this after opening the package. But who could resist trying a blend of black tea, rooibos, almond and coconut pieces? Intriguing, to say the least.

The resulting liquor still smells a little like cherry cough syrup, but there’s a comforting caramel and coconut aroma as well. But when that first sip washes over the palate, all thoughts of medicinal remedies disappear into a world of complex flavors.

The cherry flavor is still there, though I’m not sure how. The black tea is slightly astringent, and leaves a dry, cooling aftertaste in the throat. The coconut and caramel flavors mingle together for sweetness and a very smooth texture, with the almond flavor coming in almost as an afterthought left on the tongue. There’s even a slight hint of peppery flavor in the brew that gives the tea a cooling, tingling property.

It’s an excellent blend – well crafted and ultimately pleasing on many levels. If you’re looking for something different, I highly recommend giving this Thai Tea Blend a try.

Masala Chai from Teavana

Scent in package: strong & spicy, with cinnamon and cardamom
Ratio: 1 ½ tsp to 10oz water
Steeped: 5 min. @ boiling

I love chai – the stronger the better. I’ve been on the lookout for awhile now for a strong, spicy tea that can still maintain its boldness when faced with the obligatory milk and sugar. This comes close, but it could be stronger yet.

Granted, I brewed this in a typically lazy style, but who has time to steep tea for hours before work in the morning? In my opinion, a good chai blend needs to be able to deliver a strong “wake-up” message with little time investment, at least here in the states.

All that said, I do really enjoy this blend. It’s spicy, with a nice peppery aftertaste. The tea itself is bold, and doesn’t let the spices completely cover the “tea” flavor. Cinnamon & cardamom are enhanced with sugar and everything is smoothed over and blended nicely with just a hint of milk. A delicious cup that would be a good start for the average tea drinker trying chai for the first time.

Rose Marzipan Delight from Teavana

Scent in package: Cloyingly sweet, roses, sugar, and vanilla
Ratio: 1 tsp. to 10oz. water
Steeped: 5 min. @ boiling

Ironically, this tea blend reminds me of Art of Tea’s Caramel Pear. The two teas are absolutely nothing alike, but I can’t stand the smell of either, though I like the flavor. What are the odds?

When opening the package, trust me – do *not* inhale deeply! The scent is as strong as cheap old perfume, and sweet enough to make one gag. The strong smell of rosebuds mingling with the strong sugar/vanilla/almond is quite the odd olfactory experience, and I just can’t recommend it at all. My nose is pretty sensitive to strong smells though.

The blend itself is just gorgeous – and if it weren’t for the scent, I’d recommend it for gifts. Nicely shaped black tea leaves mixed with whole rosebuds/petals and candy pieces to very nice effect. Once you brew the leaves, the rose scent is clearly dominant, just complimented by warm sugar cookie smells – very yummy smelling.

The brew itself is very good – naturally sweet, with rose and almond flavors sharing the stage well. It’s a very nice combination, and not only perfect as a dessert tea, but also as a mid-afternoon snack. I dare say a piece of dark chocolate would only enhance the flavor. You can just barely taste the actual black tea, but it’s there if you are focused, and not bitter. The brew is medium-bodied and astringent, but not so as to be annoying. I’m tempted to try this blend on ice – I dare say it would probably be very good.

So I definitely recommend a taste of this tea – just wear a clothespin on your nose before it’s brewing!

Almond Biscotti from Teavana

Scent in package: like warm almond cookies.
Ratio: 1 tsp. to 10oz water
Steeped: 5 min. @ boiling

The point of any flavored tea is really the flavoring more than the tea. But the tea has to be good quality as well, and this blend seems to handle the balance very nicely. The dry mix is very appealing, and would make a great gift in a clear container for a wedding or other fancy occasion.

The brew is robust, and slightly cloudy (due to the flavorings?). It’s slightly spicy and warm, with the taste of almond cookie dough, a hint of vanilla coming through. It’s okay straight up, but a little sugar really rounds out the flavors and makes it a wonderful dessert tea.

This is definitely a blend I’d recommend, and I’m considering buying more to have on hand for gifts throughout the summer.

Raspberry Black from Teavana

Scent in package: Sweet, raspberry scent, with a hint of vanilla, maybe.
Ratio: 1 tsp leaves to 12 oz. water
Steeped: 4 min. @ boiling

Many tea lovers snub flavored teas, but I’ve always enjoyed them, and really, that’s how I started drinking tea, is with the flavored varieties. So I was excited to try Teavana’s line, and while I’m unsure about some of them, this one definitely doesn’t disappoint.

The base tea isn’t anything special, my guess would be an average Ceylon black. There’s a little dryness to the brew, but no bitterness, and it carries the flavors well. It brews up smooth, with a pleasantly medium-bodied liquor, and a definite raspberry taste. This particular blend has more flavor than other raspberry blends I’ve tried, but steep it for just 4 minutes or so, otherwise it has a tendency towards bitterness.

If you like flavored, fruity teas, this should go on your “to try” list. It’s sweet, juicy, and unlike so many other raspberry teas, it actually has bits of real raspberries in it, not just the leaves.

Teavana is doing free shipping with any order until Saturday – there’s a link to the left for anyone interested…

Irish Breakfast from Teavana

Scent in package: Malty & rich
Ratio: 1 tsp. to 12 oz. water
Steeped: 4 min. @ boiling (212 degrees)
This month I’m trying some of Teavana’s teas for the first time. And while some of them have been enjoyable (reviews to come), this one really isn’t. At all.

The scent in the package is pretty normal for an Irish Breakfast – malty and rich, like any good Assam blend. I got a little worried when I saw how small the tea leaves had been chopped up – not quite tea dust from a bag, but more like ground coffee. The scent of the brewed liquor warned me that it would be bitter – if you drink tea often, you’ll know what I mean when I say it smelled “burnt”. And I only steeped it 4 minutes, less than one would normally steep a black tea.

The taste – well, it was bitter, harsh, and very drying. None of the smooth malt and raisin taste that one normally expects from this type of tea blend. Strong and unpleasant, I only finished the cup because I was finishing it at work, and had nothing to replace it with for my morning caffeine fix.

Avoid this at all costs – there are much, much better Irish Breakfast blends out there at very reasonable prices. The rest of mine will end up in my compost pile.