TasTEA Time! Malwa Rosehip Tea.

'Scuse me, dis is not cat food!

What:  Hibiscus Tea with Apple, Rosehips and Briar Rose

Where:  Poland

Why Should I Care:  I like to imagine the tea world as this big, multi-layered ocean.  First people just think of tea as black and...green.  Then you start adding flavors like mint and lemon and berry and you possibly add a new type of tea like white, red or oolong.  Rose flower tea is something you start seeing once you pass those layers of tea-newbdom and start looking at legit tea websites (is this description doing it for you because I'm not even sure what I'm talking about anymore).  My point is that much like Genmai cha, it's not as unique as it sounds although you kinda have to look at specific tea places to find it.

Packaging:  This falls under the annoying loose leaf packaging category   There's a plastic bag within the paper container.  It's not even an easy pour bag, it's just...there.  Just use a metal container.

Non-Taste Senses:  Look at this color!  Yes, that is a very pale pink.  Oh, I brewed it the right time, it's just the cutest thing ever (Yeah, I'm a dork).  There's a light floral scent with a bit of fruit.

Taste:  Oh man, this stuff is awesome!  The mixture of floral and fruit is perfect!  It's a very light tasting tea but that doesn't mean that the flavor isn't bold in its own way, plus it's very reminiscent of lychee fruit.  It's nice chilled but not ice cold and it's really fantastic with sugar

Overall:  I think it's pretty obvious that I'm going to recommend this.  It's unique, light and refreshing.  If you ever need a "date" tea, look no further than this.

My Rating:  Buy it!  The site is about as useful as a wet tissue, but it's there.  Also, what's a Chokeberry?

TasTEA Time! Loyd Fruits of the Forest Mulled Wine Tea

It's also a well documented fact that cats help beat the cold weather.

What:  A non-alcoholic version of mulled wine.

Where:  I got this at a Polish store, but for now I can only say somewhere in Europe.

Why Should I Care:  Mulled Wine is pretty much one of the best thing to beat the cold and share with company. You have this combination of fruit, spices and booze that really makes a great drink when the weather's chilly and you have nowhere important to go.  It's nice seeing this in tea form if only because you can drink it in more practical places like your car or work without that little thing called intoxication.  Plus I'm a sucker for berry tea.

Packaging:  The pack I got had the sachets individually wrapped in cellophane.  I can't tell you whether that has the freshness preserving edge over foil but hey, it works.

Non-taste Senses:  The tea itself is this nice reddish-pink color and it give off this smell of spices and berries from halfway across the room.

Taste:  It's strong, but not in the bad way.  It feels like you're drinking blackberry juice with some cloves and other spices mixed in.  The berry flavor is nice and it stands up well to the spices that also are in here.  The box says there's a hint of alcohol but I don't taste it (and doubt it's enough to make any difference).  I think it can be drunk without any sweetener but it also takes sugar well and although I think it would be ok cold, that kinda defeats the purpose.

Overall:  Do you like spiced apple cider?  Do you like berries?  Would you spend two dollars on a ten-pack?  If the answer is yes then check it out.  It makes a great alternative to hot cocoa.

My Rating:  Try it!  The site didn't have any shopping links but it probably in your European Market.

TasTEA Time! Babcia Jagoda Apple Tea

What:  Apple Tea "like your Grandma used to make it"

Where:  Poland

Why Should I Care:  When I went to New York, I got this at a store on Greenpoint for a buck.  ONE DOLLAR for 20 bags of tea!  And it wasn't even a discount store, it was like a convenience store from what I got out of it.  Plus it's fall and that means that it's the season for apple tea.

Packaging:  Unsurprisingly, the sachets are paired squares without being wrapped.  I doubt this stuff lasts very long once it's opened.  The babcia on the box looks rather pleasant though.

Non-taste Senses:  It's the color of a golden apple and it smells like fresh apple pie filling.

Taste:  This isn't the best apple tea ever, but it's not the worst either.  There's a really strong apple flavor without much of the usual cinnamon that accompanies it (my mom hates cinnamon and she didn't notice it here).  If you're looking for tea, it isn't really here since this is classified as a herbal tea.  It's not bad though especially if you like apples.

Overall:  I think if you live in New York and want some cheap fruit tea, pick this one up.  For everyone else, I wouldn't pay more than 2 bucks for it unless you hate cinnamon and love apples.  The drink is pleasant for cold weather and full of apple-ly goodness.

My Rating:  Try it!  here