TasTEA Time! Touch Organic White Tea

Back from Thanksgiving festivities and working after black Friday.

What:  Organic White Tea (with a little bit of green mixed in)

Where:  China

Why Should I Care:  It's pretty hard finding inexpensive white tea (even more when it's organic) and in a way, this brand is cheating.  Touch mixes lightly oxidized silver-needle white tea with green tea for a supposedly young taste.  Another thing is, I usually find white tea to be too weak.  Maybe it's because I get the cheapest ones though.

Packaging:  The sachets are in these foil envelopes and the paper used looks more brown-paper-bag than other sachet papers.

Non-Taste Senses:  It has a light green tea color and it's practically odorless, although it had a strong tea scent in the package.

Taste:  Now, I've tried the fruit-flavored white teas from this brand and those were nice (more reviews coming sometime).  I don't know if it's the green tea mixed in there or if this brand is just so much better than what I've been getting because this tea is really good.  it's light, there's no bitterness and there's this sweet, floral flavor to it.  For something with such a light color, it actually has a nice, full-bodied taste.  Sugar only brings out the light hints of floral and sweetness and I'm sure if you like iced white tea, you'd like this (mix in some fruit too).

Overall:  Freaking great is the only way I can describe this.  Brew it at a slightly lower temperature (about 70 degrees Celsius) and it'll still be strong.

My Rating:  Buy it!  Here's the site.   It seems to be a little pricey online but I got it at Big Lots for 2 dallas!

TasTEA Time! Touch Organic Apricot White Tea

What:  White Tea with Apricot

Where:  China

Why Should I Care:  Inexpensive White tea is relatively hard to find, organic is even harder.  Now, this particular brand mixes with green tea which isn't that uncommon of a practice (I read in an article that dim sum restaurants usually mix in a little black tea to add color and flavor).  Plus, apricot is a unique flavor.

Packaging:  I would say it's IFWS, but it's in this folded envelope style as opposed to the foil pillow (yes, that is how i'm describing them).  Also, the paper used in the sachets is like brown bag paper.  I'm pretty sure it's unbleached so that's a plus.

Non-Taste Senses:  It's this nice yellow color and has a light, apricot smell.

Taste:  Both the tea and apricot flavors can be described as light and refreshing but that doesn't mean that they're weak.  I'm also gonna suggest that you lower the steeping temperature too since there's a mixture of green tea in it.  It's nice with some sugar and would be refreshing chilled.

Overall:  It's pretty hard to screw up white tea,   This has a nice fruity flavor with a light tea taste.  Is it freaking amazing?  No.  Is it worth checking out?  Yes.

My Rating:  Try it!  Here's the site.

TasTEA Time! Mount of Olives Berry White Tea

What:  Berry White Tea

Where:  Israel

Why Should I Care:  Yeah, my mouth is still try from the previous review and as much as I love the Dilmah Mango Tea before that, that's also a little bitter.  Yes, I could have grabbed water but this was sitting nearby and I figured I could review one more thing.  White Tea is generally light and consists of the first few tea buds, but unlike green tea, it is oxidized a little.  Also, you can't go wrong with berry.

Packaging:  Unfortunately, this was wrapped in paper.  This particular brand is actually relatively inexpensive but still, if you're going to make something portable, you should make sure it can go through the elements.

Non-Taste Senses:  It has a really interesting color which can be described as pink with an overlay of light brown.  There's a light berry smell to it.

Taste:  I was right to think this would quench my thirst.  It has a light tea taste (which can also be attributed to it being old) and although the berry flavor is there, it doesn't overpower the tea.  Since the taste is so light, it makes a great chilled tea in the summer and is pretty good with or without sugar.

Overall:  I like it.  I think it's a good tea for tea newbies and is very versatile, plus it's relatively inexpensive.  Actually, it's one of my favorite flavors from this brand (Apple spice is also good if i don't get to review it) so check it out if you can.

My Rating:  Buy it!  Here's the site.  You can probably find it cheaper at other places, but that's true of any tea I post.

TasTEA Time! St. Dalfour Organic Pure Darjeeling Tea

What:  Darjeeling Tea

Where:  Darjeeling is an area in the Indian Himalayas, but this tea is a product of France

Why Should I Care:  Most of the teas I have on this blog are Ceylon or mixed, meanwhile there are several other regions that produce their own tea with its own distinctive taste.  What's more, this particular brand is organic meaning we are tasting the purest tea without any pesticides or chemicals.  It's also from France, which is a nice change from the usual countries of England, the US or random Asian countries depending on what kind of tea it is.

Packaging:  IFWS.  Another thing of note is that the bag don't use staples (they claim it changes the flavor of the tea).

Non-Taste Senses:  Slightly darker than Ceylon with a very strong "tea" aroma

Taste:  I have a confession to make.  I tried most of the tea before I review it.  Now, this isn't true in all the reviews but I'm still starting out and it's kinda hard finding tea I haven't tried.  The other reason I mentioned this is that the taste of the tea depends a lot on how you brew it and when you don't brew something right, it ends up being too bitter or doesn't have enough flavor (I judge this on the tea taste as opposed to the various flavorings).  The reason why I mentioned this is that I've tried brewing this a couple of times and it always ends up being insanely bitter.  I don't know if i'm soaking it for too long (I did it for about 3 minutes which is low for black tea) or I should rinse it longer, but it's probably twice as bitter as your normal black tea.  When you ignore the bitterness, the tea seems to be slightly sweeter than Ceylon while still retaining that same clarity but wow.  It actually was a bit cheaper than the other teas I got but now I see why.

Overall:  I'd really like to try another Darjeeling tea just to see if it's supposed to be this bitter but for now, I'm gonna tell you to pass, although I was about a half a step away from a Stay Away rating.  If you don't care about region, there are better black teas out there and if you do, I'm sure you can find something that doesn't make me want to drink something else.

My Rating:  Pass.  Well, the company seems to like making things other than tea.  Maybe that's why it isn't that good.

tasTEA Time! Dilmah Mango

What:  Ceylon Tea with Mango

Where:  Sri Lanka

Why Should I Care:  It's mango-flavored!  Oh sure, I'd prefer a green tea with mango, but it should be delicious, right?  Actually, mango tea suffers the same problem as strawberry tea in that it should be good but people rarely add enough of the fruit so it ends up tasting more like a mango afterthought (which is why I'd prefer green tea since that's generally a bit lighter of a flavor).  Dilmah successfully pulled off Strawberry though, so lets see about Mango.

Packaging:  IFWS

Non-Taste Senses:  It's the typical golden Ceylon color.  Yes, it smells fantastic, like real mango only more pungent.

Taste:  What's really interesting about this tea is that the tea flavor and the mango flavor are both very strong, but they also balance well with each other.  For those of you unfamiliar with Ceylon tea, it generally has a strong, clear taste and a slightly bitter undertone (least it does in this case).  Another thing of note:  Since the mango flavor is so strong, this would be a great tea to drink without sugar and would also be fantastic cold.  It also makes me really want to eat curry.

Overall:  I really like this tea.  If you're looking for a mango tea that honestly delivers on the mango, you should check this out.  It's great for summer, winter, hot, cold, with food or by itself.

My Rating:  Buy it!  Unfortunately, Dilmah doesn't make plain mango anymore.  There's a variety with mango and strawberry but that's it as far as that goes.  I can't imagine that kind being bad though since I gave both the Mango and Strawberry good reviews.

Hot Cocoa Time! Stephen's Candy Cane Cocoa Peppermint

What:  Hot cocoa with bits of candy cane in it.  A thing to note is that this candy cane is supposed to melt but will more likely end up sticking to anything and everything it touches from the mug to the spoon you mix it with.

Where:  USA

Why Should I Care:  Mint tends to be one of the more popular hot chocolate flavors and this one has little bits of candy mixed in the cocoa.  My mom got me a huge box of this stuff and I can tell you that it's great for company after a night of throwing snowballs or walking two miles in the opposite direction from the dorm (I will never trust that person with directions again).  But I have matured and tasted many more a hot cocoa so how will Stephen's hold up?

Packaging:  Foil bags.

Non-Taste Senses:  It's standard hot chocolate with a little bit of a pinkish tint.  There's also that hint of peppermint in the smell.

Taste:  Well, it's not as creamy as Land-o-Lakes, but it has a really strong minty candy cane taste.   It's sweet but not too sweet and another nice thing is surprisingly, it does mix well and doesn't leave as much of a cocoa residue as other brands.

Overview:  I think one of the nice things about getting close to the holidays are some of the limited edition flavors of food and this is no exception.

My Rating:  Try it!  Here's the site.  Something tells me that this is the uber-bulk pack, though.

TasTEA Time! Good Earth Red Tea with Lemon

What:  Possibly one of the worst teas I've ever tasted

Where:  USA

Why Should I Care:  I mentioned in another review that I was a little apprehensive about buying Red/Rooibos tea and the reason is this tea.  I found it when going though our kitchen's tea stash (as opposed to my own personal tea stash) and this was crammed in the corner because nobody would drink it.  Red Tea is practically idiot-proof in that you can stick it without regards to temperature, steeping time or caffeine levels (it's decaf).  I've also noticed that when there are flavored varieties available, it's usually more along the lines of sweet or spicy as opposed to zesty like a lemon.  Maybe this tea improves with time?

Packaging:  Lucky for me, it's in a lovely IWFS.

Non-Taste Senses:  This particular brand is lighter than the Heath and Heather tea.  It smells lemony...and spicy.

Taste:  It's not the red tea's fault.  I didn't realize this when I was young, but it really isn't the red tea's fault.  Whoever designed this tea should have picked a flavor and stuck with it.  You have the citrus, which is slightly faded due to the passage of time but it's still zesty and a bit bitter.  Then you have the spicy herbs like chicory root that make this spicy.  Overall, this is far too busy in terms of flavor profiles and and the naturally-sweet red tea doesn't help it.  Nothing, NOTHING, will save it from milk, sugar, ice, booze, anything!

Overall:  There are some Good Earth teas that I like.  This is not one of them.  I can't imagine anyone enjoying this but if you do, you are one heck of a masochist.

My Rating:  Stay Away!  If you ever have the desire to buy something that is liquid torture, here's the site.  Like I said, I don't hate every product of theirs but be warned that Good Earth teas tend to be....busy.   Apparently, they realized that this tea was horrible too since I don't see it on the site.

TasTEA Time! Zhena's Cacaoberry Tea

What:  Zhena's Gypsy Tea:  Pink:  Tea for Women's Health Cacaoberry (to be exact)

Where:  California

Why Should I Care:  So, this is by far one of the most interesting teas I've seen.  Unfortunately, this was a special edition and is not available though the site (we got it about a year and some months ago).  However, Zhena's has a lot of interesting flavors and is generally a nice company.  They're fair-trade, organic, give you these cool tins for your tea and offer cheap(er) refills.  This particular tea is a mixture of Sencha (Japanese green tea), Rooibos, Raspberry and dark chocolate.

Packaging:  All their teas come in these nice metal tins, whether it be loose-leaf or sachets.  Unfortunately, the sachets aren't individually wrapped, but they are made of corn-silk meaning that if you don't have a metal ball for brewing tea, this gives you the same effect.

Non-Taste Senses:  It's darker than your typical green tea but lighter than Ceylon.  The smell is fantastic.  It's like you have a cup of raspberry hot cocoa in your cup.

Taste:  The flavors really blend well.  When you drink it, there isn't a specific taste that overpowers and makes you say "Oh, I'm drinking green tea" or "Oh, I'm drinking hot cocoa".  I'm thinking the rooibos is used to make the tea have a slightly thicker texture and add a bit of that sweetness.  The green tea itself is actually really high quality, having none of that grassy taste that a lot of green tea does.  It's naturally a little sweet so you don't need sugar, but you can add it to bring out the chocolate notes and personally, I think this would be a little weird as an iced tea, but you can try.

Overall:  Let's see.  It has a hit of chocolate without the calories and even boosts your metabolism, organic, fair-trade, tasty.  The only two real downsides are that 1)  it's discontinued and 2)  Zhena's is a bit pricey.  I'm going to counter the second point by saying that it's high quality, worth the money you're paying and you really shouldn't buy it for everyday drinking anyway.  If you see it, buy it or beg the person who has it to make you some.

My Rating:  Buy it!  Here's Zhena's site.  I should also point at this sight for some great gift tea for holiday gift-giving, whether it be the tropical ones or the holiday ones.

Hot Cocoa Time! Land O Lakes Classic Dark

What:  Extra Chocolatey Hot Cocoa

Where:  USA

Why Should I Care:  The thing I've noticed about dark chocolate cocoa is that it generally has more cocoa with the same amount of sugar and cream.  I mean, dark chocolate is pretty much just more chocolate and less milk.  Anyway, this is usually my stand-by when I drink hot chocolate

Packaging:  Foil bag

Non-Taste Senses:  It's a little darker and grayer than your average cocoa and smells more chocolaty 

Taste:  Oh man, it's so chocolaty.  It still has the same creaminess of the other ones but with double the cocoa

Overall:  If you like chocolate, check this out.  If not, stay away from this.

My Rating:  Try it.

TasTEA Time! Twinnings Herbal Revive Blackcurrant Vanilla

What:  Something that sounds really delicious

Where:  Britain/England

Why Should I Care:  I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty excited when I saw this tea.  Even though Berry Vanilla type things are fairly common, it's hard finding tea with that flavor combination and Blackcurrant is pretty much the perfect match with Vanilla.  Plus Twinnings is generally pretty good at combining flavors so my hopes are high.  Oh, and it has Ginseng too meaning it's a nice alternative to coffee in the morning.

Packaging:  IFWS

Non-Taste Senses:  The tea is this reddish pink color that most hibiscus teas are.  It smells nice, like berries and herbs.

Taste:  I think this would work a lot better as a black or oolong tea, the herbal tea is almost a little bit too busy. It's not bad, you get a hit of berry and the orange peel gives a little bit of spice.  The thing is, the blackcurrant and vanilla isn't in the forefront.  That being said, it's nice with sugar.  This probably wouldn't make a good iced tea.

Overall:  It's not a bad herbal tea and it's definatly worth getting if it's cheap, but be warned that the blackcurrant and vanilla aren't the only flavors in there.  This is on the lower end of try for me.

My Rating:  Try it!  Here's the site.

TasTEA Time! The Tea Farm's Rosemary Tea

First off, the instructions they put on the package is wrong.  If you do buy this, make sure the water is boiling then soak it for at least 5 minutes.  The package gives instructions for green tea and it doesn't work so well for the tough rosemary.

What:  It's pretty much just rosemary

Where:  Apparently it's a product of China

Why Should I Care:  When I ordered from the Tea Farm, they mixed up the sizes of the tea I got so I'm stuck with a 4 oz bag of Rosemary tea (which is actually pretty sizable).  The question is, do I want to return this or should i just keep the tea since it'll last me for a while.  Wikipedia tells me that rosemary forms a neurlogical barrier against free radicals, is anti-carsigenic and improves the quality of memory although it reduces the speed of recall.  In other words, this might be a great study tea.

Packaging:  It's in a nice foil-lined bag, which is resealable but still a total pain.

Non-taste Senses:  The tea itself is almost clear with a yellow-green tint.  It smells like Rosemary.

Taste:  It's actually pretty refreshing.  It has a light taste with a bit of a cooling effect and a little bit of natural sweetness.  Sugar is a nice touch and I'd recommend just drinking it warm.

Overall:  It's not bad, but I kinda wish they would have added some ceylon or something.  I mean, why would I want to order this when I can just go to Giant Eagle and get some rosemary.  On the other hand, I can make some delicious pork chops with the extra.

My Rating:  Try it while it's still november.  If you order something from the Tea Farm, you can add this to your order for free this month.  Yeah, it's just rosemary but if you don't like it, use it for some recipes   Pass any other month.

TasTEA Time! The Tea Farm's Lychee Black Tea

I ordered two teas from the Tea Farm on Wednesday, Lychee Black and Rosemary tea (which was a free gift with any purchase).  I appreciate how I got the tea in three days but unfortunately, I must shake my fist at the Tea Farm for screwing up my order.  The Lychee Black was supposed to be 4 oz while the free gift was 2 oz.  Meanwhile, I have this big honking bag of Rosemary that I really don't need and a (still relatively larger) 2 oz bag of lychee.  A pox to you, Tea Farm.  This better be some awesome tea!

What:  Delicious lychee in some black tea

Where:  The Tea Farm is located in Hawaii, this kind is from China

Why Should I Care:  For those of you who don't know, a Lychee (or Lichee) is this amazing, delicious fruit that has the texture of an orange and tastes like the gorgious lovechild of an apple, Mandarin and some sweet scented flower.  It's really difficult to find outside of season and even if you do, it's probably not ripe or in the peak condition.  However, that's why we have lychee candies, drinks and tea!  I got this particular brand because I figured that even though it's a little pricey, you actually get a free 2 oz tea of the month so more bang for your buck (*grumble grumble* jerks screwing up my order *shakes fist*).

Packaging:  I'm actually pretty satisfied with the packaging.  They're in resealable foil bags with a nice little label on it.

Non-Taste Senses:  It has the same color as that Banana Ceylon Tea I got from EnjoyingTea.  There's a little hint of lychee in the smell but I dunno.

Taste:  First off, don't drink this when it's boiling hot because you won't taste the lychee that well.  It's ok, don't know if it's worth the price but ok.  The tea is better than average quality while the lychee flavor is there but could be stronger.  It would probably be even better at room temp or cold and a little bit of sugar is nice.

Overall:  The best word to describe this is OK.  It's good but anything with lychee is good.  I don't think it's worth the price but check it out.

My Rating:  Try it!  Here's the site.

TasTEA Time! Stash Black Currant Herbal Tea

What:  Herbal Tea with Blackcurrant

Where:  Oregon, USA

Why Should I Care:  First off, this tea is probably at least 3 years old because my mom buys tea then never drinks it.  Anyways, Black Currant is pretty much just a souped-up blueberry.  It's stronger in flavor, has more vitamin C and can withstand stronger teas.  I can't say much about this company except they seem to have a wide variety of unique flavors.

Packaging:  Thankfully, they know how to package their teas so this may have a chance.  The outside is paper while the inside is foil.

Non-Taste Senses:  The tea is this reddish-brown color and smells like berries and licorice.

Taste:  The taste itself is kinda weird, but not quite bad.  There's a strong berry taste but it's also mixed with the taste of licorice which gives the impression that it's thicker than it actually is.  Unlike the Yogi Egyption Licorice Mint, there isn't any weird sweet aftertaste and ultimately, if you like licorice, this one is the better bet.  I don't recommend drinking this cold but you can add sugar since the tea takes it well.

Overall:  I never realized that I'd be reviewing two licorice teas on the same weekend.  The good news is that this particular type doesn't quite taste like death and if you do want licorice in your tea, this one's the way to go.  Do I say that you should go out and buy it?  No, but it's not terrible and that's all that matters.

My Rating:  Try it!  Here's the site and that tea has Yumberry in it!

TasTEA Tips #1: How to Brew Tea

It's really quite simple.  You boil water, throw in your tea, wait for like five minutes and enjoy!

Not really.

Most of the tea-drinkers I know say they like black tea a lot more than green tea.  Now, I don't think this is completely due to your inborn taste preferences but because when you don't brew green tea properly, it's pretty much just bitter water with a hint of grass flavoring and that doesn't sound good to anyone.  Heck, I've been brewing green tea properly for about two months now and when my mom (who brews tea by sticking it in a coffee pot DON'T DO THAT EVER) gave me some "green tea" she brewed, I just wanted to punch something.    It's really not that difficult and if you don't have time, this is where I really recommend getting a water heater since it's quick, easy and safer than a stove.

Note:  These are general guidlines for people who probably don't get any really fancy tea and who don't have any special equipment  If you have a really expensive tea which requires you to be ultra-specific when it comes to temperature and timing, you're going to have to do research on your own.

1.  Tea is not Coffee:  My mom isn't the only person out there who uses a coffee pot to brew tea.  Coffee tends to need a higher temperature to release the right amount of flavor and even if you are dealing with something like black tea, you're not going to have the correct steep time.  There's also those Kerug machines which leave me feeling apprehensive.  I don't know if all of them are like this but the one at work uses the same setting for tea and coffee.  Plus a lot of the tea they offer is green tea!  Just trust me on this one and don't do it.

I couldn't find anything to do with rinsing so enjoy this picture of a cat in a cup!

2.  "Rinsing" the Tea:  I've just started practicing this recently.  Fill the cup or teaware with enough water to submerge the tea leaves, let it soak for a couple of seconds then dump the water out.  This is said to yield a better brew and I have to admit that my tea doesn't taste as bitter as it use to.  Something controversial I've noticed is the amount of time, some people say 1 or 2 seconds while others say a full 30 seconds or even 3 to 5 minutes!  I think it all depends on the amount of caffeine you want in your tea (high: 1-2 sec, low: 30 sec) so rinse longer if you want less caffeine.

3.  Each specific tea is different:  So, we aren't brewing our tea coffee-style, we rinsed the tea and now we're going to brew it.  When I said that tea isn't coffee, I also should have added that each type of tea is its own special little snowflake (or...tealeaf).  You should treat black tea and green tea differently or else you'll have crappy tea.  Heck, some people think you should treat tea from specific regions differently and honestly, that's all up to you.  Here's a list of tea and what's an appropriate steeping time, temperature and measurement.

Black Tea:  
-The most common type we see in the US and Europe.  Strong taste and lots of caffeine
-Temperature:  90 to 100 degrees Celsius
-Time:  3 to 5 minutes
-Amount:  1 teaspoon per 8 oz cup

Green Tea:  
-Picked then dried.  Freshest and has tons of antioxidants.  Also, some of the highest variety.
-Temperature:  65 to 85 degrees Celsius
-Time:  1 to 3 minutes.  I've even seen as low as 30 seconds
-Amount:  2 to 3 teaspoons/8 oz.

White Tea:  
-Made from the youngest tea leaves.  Slightly oxidized like Oolong.
-Temperature:  75 to 90 degrees Celsius.
-Time:  2 to 3 minutes
-Amount:  2 teaspoons/8 oz.

Red Tea:  
-Not technically "tea", made from the African Rooibos plant.  No caffeine, high in antioxidents.
-Temperature: 90 to 100 degrees Celsius
-Time:  It doesn't matter.  The tea doesn't get bitter.
-Amount:  1 teaspoon/8 oz cup

Oolong Tea:  
-Slightly oxidized, halfway between green and black.  Good for weightloss.
-Temp:  75 to 90 degrees C
-Time:  2 to 3 minutes
-Amount:  2 teaspoons/8 oz.

Herbal Tea:  
-If it's with a tea in the above list, follow suggestions
-Temp:  95 degrees C and above
-Time:  3 to 7 minutes depending on the herb
-Amount:  Depends on the herb


There are other types of tea out there, the most "common" type is Pu-erh which behaves like black tea for quick reference, but I haven't even found anywhere that sells yellow tea or any of the other crazy blends.  My advice for them is that the internet is a wonderful place and looking up info on them (or even some of the teas I just made a few points about) is not a bad idea.

4.  Multiple Infusions:  This goes along with the rinsing point.  Some people use tea meant for 1 cup of tea to make several cups of tea (like grandma used to).  I understand that tea is expensive but I feel like most tea just ends up losing too much flavor/getting bitter after the first batch.  Rinse it for 30 seconds if you want it decaf but after that, just use the bag/tea once.  And this is coming from a cheap person!

Well, these are all the basic tips you need.  And because I just LOVE bullet points....

-Don't brew tea in a coffee machine
-Try to rinse the tea with hot water for a couple of seconds
-Each tea is different.  The less done to it, the more gentle you should be in terms of temperature and time.
-Don't be a cheapo and just use the teabag for one cup of tea.


Oh, and here's the obligatory cute picture of Tommy.

Happy Drinking
-Domino

Here's my sources:  Wikipedia, Teachat and Enjoying Tea.

Hot Cocoa Time! Land O Lakes Chocolate Graham hot cocoa

What:  Graham Cracker Hot Cocoa?

Where:  USA

Why Should I Care:  I'm guessing this is supposed to taste like chocolate and wheat.  Also, this is theoretically the best cocoa for marshmallows.

Packaging:  Foil package

Non-taste Senses:  It looks like hot cocoa but it smells like...coconut?

Taste:  It tastes like chocolate with coconut too.  I dunno.  The hot cocoa portion of it is really rich and creamy but that added bit of coconut throws me off.  It's ok but it's not something I recommend to people.

Overall:  I've tried about 7 flavors of Land o Lakes and this one's my least favorite.  I'm pretty sure it's seasonal and that's how it should stay.

My Rating:  Pass.  This particular flavor is special edition so you're not going to find it on the site.

TasTEA Time! Tazo Zen

First off, all 10 of you may be wondering why I'm writing so many posts today.  Don't you have a life, Domino?  The answer to that last question is no, but there are a couple of reasons why I'm writing so much.  The first one is purely because I am bored.  The second one is because I'm going to be very busy in the next few weeks and this'll give you all (including new people) more posts to indulge yourselves in before the possible drought begins.  The last reason is because the Hot Coco and this tea were both drunk on impulse.  I only have one sachet of this tea and I honestly want to get it over with (which sounds like I'm biased against Tazo but i'm not.  If it's awesome, I'll tell you how awesome it is).  Now where were we?

Tommy was not feeling in a mood of Zen for this.  

What:  Green tea with lemongrass and...you guessed it, spearmint!

Where:  USA

Why Should I Care:  Seriously Tazo, I know you love mint and all but does it need to be in everything?  I mean, it makes more sense for a tea called Zen to have Lotus, Jasmine or even Ginger.  My rant aside, I do have a weakness for lemongrass and green tea.  Maybe this'll be awesome!

Packaging:  So, when I said before that Tazo had a paper/foil combination, I was wrong.  It actually has a paper/wax paper combination.  I don't know if that's supposed to be better or worse but legit tea companies use foil and that's what I want to see!

Non-Taste Senses:  It's a lot yellower than normal green tea and it smells like lemongrass.

Taste:  You know what, this green tea is awful.  It's just like the kind you get from Biglow (the worst tea company ever) where there really isn't a taste past some bitterness.  I brewed it right, the water temperature was at about 70 degrees but man, I don't taste the green tea at all.  Honestly, the only thing I taste is the mint (I'm not even being a jerk, that's just all I taste).  Sugar just doesn't do anything and I doubt it'll taste better cold.

Overall:  Look, just don't buy it.  It's bland, boring and overpriced no matter how you get it.  There are better brands of green tea out there.

My Rating:  Pass.

Hot Coco Time! Land O Lakes Chocolate Suprime

What:  Regular ol' hot cocoa

Where:  USA

Why Should I Care:  I honestly just felt like having some hot cocoa.  It IS that type of weather, plus hot cocoa's great for people who have major chocolate cravings.  Even it it's 150 calories per cup, that's better than 300 calories per bar (the excuses I make).  I also have a bunch of hot cocoa so I figured, why not!

Packaging:  Land O Lakes is nice and uses foil packages as opposed to paper.  Well, that's not so nice for the earth-loving hippies but whatever.

Non-Taste Senses:  It looks like normal hot cocoa and it smells like normal hot cocoa.

Taste:  I think the best thing about this brand is that they don't skimp on the (powdered) milk.  It's super creamy while still having a nice chocolaty flavor.  It's also nice and thick so it kinda fools you into thinking you're drinking milk instead of water.

Overall:  I like this brand.  It's rich, creamy and has everything you want in standard hot cocoa.  Check it out.

My Rating:  Try it!  Here's the site.

TasTEA Time! Dilmah Ceylon Green Tea

Tommy looks so regal here.  I kinda wish he would stay this way for all his pictures

What:  Green Tea from the Ceylon region

Where:  Sri Lanka

Why Should I Care:  Whether a tea is black or green doesn't depend of what kind of leaves are used but the processes used on them.  Ceylon may be more of a typical European tea but if you just pick and "fry" the leaves, you'll get green tea and probably the kind found in most European brands.  What's more, Dilmah does all the packaging at the site so it should be fresh.

Packaging:  Individually foil-wrapped sachets (from now on, I'm calling this IFWS).

Non-Taste Senses:  It's a little more yellow than your average green tea but it smells nice.  Less grassy and more floral than your average green tea.

Taste:  I'm pretty sure brands like Lipton use Ceylon for their cold-brewed green teas because this tastes almost exactly like what you're getting in that bottle.  It has this hint of floral that when you add sugar to it, tastes like you have honey in there and there is a slight hint of toasty-ness to the tea.  Long story short, it's really good with or without sugar and makes a great iced tea too.

Overall:  I know it's kinda hard to find Dilmah cheap, but here's what I'm going to say to encourage you to buy this.  Let's say you buy a Lipton Pure Leaf Green Tea three times a week.  The cheapest I've seen them here is about $1.50 so that's $4.50 per week for 3 bottles full.  If you can find this for 30 cents per sachet (I found it for 10 cents at Big Lots but we're being hopeful), you'll be paying less than half price for a slightly better quality of tea that is also delicious hot or with a different type of sweetener.

My Rating:  Buy it!  Here's the site, although if you really want to try it then look around other tea outlets.