Teavana MateVana (mate with rooibos, chocolate and nuts)

I haven't tried mate until a few weeks ago but I like it and think it's something that I'd like to get more of eventually.  Mate is a popular South American drink that seems to be as caffinated as coffee, but has some vitamins and minerals as well as just tasting more mild, so it's a good alternative for people who don't like coffee or want to switch it up once in a while.  Plus after looking at the prices, I actually feel as though I'd be willing to buy mate from Teavana if it's good (a few are under $6 and they have more interesting flavors than Prestogeorge).

Outsides:  This blend contains mate (please don't call it mate tea, Teavana, because mate is a completely different plant), various cocos and chocolates, rooibos, various flavorings, almond pieces, cactus blossoms, sunflower and cornflower petals.  It smells chocolatey and looks very colorful.  I brewed 2 teaspoons of this in 8 oz of 95 degree water for 6 minutes.  The liquid is a dark brown color and it has a light chocolate and plant smell.

Insides:  It's not as sweet tasting as I thought it would be, which is good.  There is a definite chocolate taste with the mate acting as a decent base (it seems to give it an extra roasty flavor).  It's strange because past the scent, the liquid doesn't really taste like much, past maybe a little savory from the nuts.  Adding sugar helps bring out the sweetness and flavors.  It's not a bad chocolate drink, it just isn't the taste explosion I was hoping for.  It's also a very smooth drink.

Overall:  Not bad but not amazing.

My Rating:  Try it!

Teavana is a chain tea retailer in malls across the United States and Canada.

Teavana Samurai Chai Mate/ maharaja chai oolong blend

So, I got this as a free sample, which is good for multiple reasons.  For one thing, you have to buy at least 2 oz of each tea when you go to Teavana and since this is a blend, that means 4 oz of tea (probably putting you back $15).  Second, this is a tea that Teavana likes to push so it's nice that I get the experience without having to buy the extra tea.  And lastly, I like chai a lot.  Ok, the last thing I tried from Teavana was a flop, but that can happen.

Outsides:  I'm feeling lazy so I'll just say that this is a blend of green mate, green rooibos and oolong with all those fantansic chai spices.  I brewed about 2 teaspoons of this at near boiling for 5 minutes.  The tea is a medium dark murky brown and smells sweet and spicy.

Insides:  This is actually a pretty good chai and if I didn't have Adagio and the spices to make chai at home, I would probably get suckered into it.  It's a strong chai with a lot of pepper and ginger, but it's paired with a base that isn't so bitter so you can drink it without milk.  This sample already has sugar in it so I'm not really pleased about that, and the tea is a bit heavy on the cardamon.  But this is definately something I'd drink for breakfast since the mate gives a lot of energy (perfect to drink before a night out).

Overall:  I don't think you should buy this for the price they're asking for it but I like it.  Look online for the free sample codes.

My Rating:  Try it!

Teavana is a chain tea retailer found in many a mall across U.S.A and Canada.