Tea Thoughts + Puns

Prep: 165°, 4 minutes steeping, honey Verdict: ★★★★☆ 4/5 Very Good!

I would describe this one as more lemon than cayenne, but it sure is tasty. The aroma is bright and citrusy, without being overpowering. The aroma is absolutely lovely. A dash of honey makes all of the flavors pop and adds a sweet-tart undertone. 

With a light base of white tea, the lemon peel, rosehip peel, and lime pieces give this a bright, citrus flavor. This tea contains chili peppers but in a way that adds warmth to the flavor more than heat. Though the website touts this as a blend of sour and spicy, to me it tastes more like a fabulous blend of sour citrus and sweet warmth. 

Prep: 165°, 4 spoonfuls of matcha, whisk, plain, fill half with frothed milk over ice Verdict: ★★★★☆ 4/5 Very Good!

As an iced latte, the vanilla matcha makes for a smooth, creamy treat. The tastes are subtle, but still decidedly sweet, even with nothing added but milk. The vanilla taste itself is not pronounced, but the effect that it has on smoothing and sweetening the base matcha is noticeable. 

As I noted in my original review, this vanilla is sweet in a mild, gentle way. While the flavor itself is less pronounced with the added milk, I’m still pleased by the rich creaminess this offers, the gentle sweetness of subtle vanilla. 

Prep: 212°, 5 minutes steeping, honey Verdict: ★★★★☆ 4/5 Very Good!

Oh, this is cinnamon-y. Yet, the distinctive sweetness sets this tea apart from your usual chai, for a rich, playful cinnamon taste that’s bright and warm and full of zing. 

Cinnamon is the star attraction—and star ingredient—of this tea. However, while not distinct in and of themselves, the rosehip, apple, and pumpkin are working hard in the background. These other elements add a layer of sweetness that plain cinnamon would not have on its own, tempering that spicy sharpness with brighter, sweeter notes. 

The result is a warm, juicy cinnamon flavor with a zingy sweetness. It’s reminiscent of cinnamon candies (though it’s neither as eye-wateringly sharp nor as artificially sweet, achieving cinnamon sweetness in a more natural way). 

Prep: 212°, 4 ½ minutes steeping, honey Verdict: ★★★★☆ 4/5 Very Good!

This is delectably sweet! Like licking the frosting off a cupcake, the taste is bright without crossing into cloying or overkill. The buttercream flavor is absolutely spot-on, a smooth replication of its namesake. Normally, I like a little sweet treat with my tea, but this is a dessert all on its own! 

The caffeine-free rooibos is enhanced by vanilla flavoring and lavender. I prefer to add a little honey to make those bright, sweet flavors really shine. If you’ve got a sweet-tooth and love a desserty treat, this is one a winner! A lot of teas that purport to mimic different desserts are often more abstract, but I really can’t get over how much this one reminds me of the taste of frosting. 

I would describe this as more buttercream than lavender, though both tastes are present. But the lavender is much more subtle than the bright cupcake frosting taste. That said, the lavender is most present in the aftertaste, with those earthy-smooth lavender notes lingering behind that more vivid sweetness.