I confess that I have a new love when it comes to minty tea beverages. Normally, I am a big fan of a super-strong, extra minty flavor punch in my mint tea. Ever since I brought this box back from a trip to Canada, I have been finding this tea in my rotation. President’s Choice Chocolatey Mint Black Tea is a smoother, more sophisticated blend. It contains caffeine, which means it is a great drink to have on those mornings where I get started a bit slower.
I was skeptical about the chocolate flavor in the tea, because I have tried more than one tea blend that used cocoa powder and just came away with an off, bitter taste. With this tea, I feel like I get to have everything: the flavor benefits of drinking minty hot chocolate with the added benefit of an energy boost, no sugar crash, and no calories!
Unfortunately, I don’t know how to buy this tea outside of physical stores in Canada. If you’re headed there, will you buy me a box?
While at Bal Samand Palace, I opted for the mint tea to go with my meal. I was surprised when the waiter brought out the teapot and poured me a cup of almost perfectly clear liquid – with a couple small pieces of green leaf floating in it. Expecting a sip of boring, flavorless hot water, I tried the tea with serious reservations. It was fantastic!
Spearmint tea brewed looseleaf style is cooling and soothing, and slightly sweet. It is not nearly as strong a flavor as the super pepperminty tea. Now I want to get some at home. Does anyone know a brand they like? I may just get taster/sampler packs from a few different brands… updates after taste tests 🙂
While on our fun roadtrip around Java, we visited the area around Mount Lawu. Much of the steep hillsides were covered in tea plants.
I hadn’t known how bushy the tea plant looks before this trip. After my youth seeing the farms on the American midwestern plains, I definitely didn’t imagine farms on steep steep slopes. (The tea plants like the cooler temperatures from the higher elevations)
So I bring you a photo of a tea plantation in Java…
and if you were wondering, unprocessed mature tea leaves are slightly bitter and have almost no hint of the flavor of the final beverage – I had to try 🙂
While we were in the area near Borobudur, we took a tour ofthe village of Candirejo by Andong, a horse drawn carraige. Our tour guide, Mr. Budi, was incredibly kind, and he taught us a lot about life in the village. We had the chance to watch someone making cassava crackers (and try them!), attempt to play gamelan (traditional Javanese music which sounds beautiful unless I am playing it), and enjoy jasmine black tea with palm sugar. Overall, we enjoyed seeing this beautiful village. Next time, I’ll have to do a homestay!
The first sip of Teavana Tea’s CocoCaramel Sea Salt is like biting into a warm, freshly baked snickerdoodle. The aroma is sweet but not overpowering. I would recommend this as a healthier replacement for the old cup of hot cocoa. Best to be enjoyed after a cold day or anytime you are looking for a sweet hot beverage.
I drink lots of varieties of tea, and love to try new and different flavors – but there is a piece of my heart that is forever reserved for the British teas.
Today I’m drinking the Fountain Blend by Fortnum & Mason (Piccadilly since 1707!). On the bag, it says “Light and Informal”, and I would agree that this tea is quite delicate. I really like the way this tea hints at the rich powerful flavor that black tea can provide, but stays mild and soft. Try it if you’re interested in black tea but usually find it too intense.
Preparation: If you are a person who likes a sweeter tea, avoid honey or agave with this one – their flavors will overpower the tea. Go with sugar, and try adding less than normal (or maybe even no sugar at all?) I’d make the same judgement regarding milk – I think this tea tastes best on its own, brewed light.
If you’re looking for a tea with a more beach-y vibe, you could try the honey ginger tea from Bambarra, and imagine you are drinking it in the Turks & Caicos.
This tea has a more delicate flavor (it’s the white tea to the english breakfast of the three ginger tea). It is also mildly sweet – if you don’t have too much of a sweet tooth, don’t add any sweetener to it.
Pairings: I think this tea would be lovely for dessert, paired with a similarly delicate panna cotta.
Celestial Seasonings Slepytime Vanilla has a warm vanilla scent that begs to be sipped before one slumbers. The vanilla is a perfect way to balance out their classic Sleepytime blend. Halfway through my eyelids grow heavy. I recommend a cup for those late nights when sleep does not come easy. Enjoy and have a goodnight!
Pukka has a three ginger tea, which I’m drinking this week due to a head cold. It is so aromatic that even stuffed up, I can smell it 🙂 This tea is spicy in the same way that extra strong ginger beer is spicy, but without the sweetness of ginger beer. I would recommend only drinking it if you really love the flavor of ginger!
Pairings:
I’ve only ever had this tea by itself, but it might be fun with maki rolls. Or maybe you could brew an iced tea version of it to mix with spiced rum? When I try, I’ll update the post.
My all-time favorite mint tea is by Celestial Seasonings. It is their Peppermint tea, and it is SUPER minty!
(To give you a sense of the minty-ness: I went on a factory tour of Celestial Seasonings, and the mint leaves are kept in a separate room with sealed doors because otherwise their scent would corrupt the other teas. Walking into the room made me cough and my eyes tear up, just from the menthol.)
Preparation:
I like this tea both hot and iced, and to me it only gets better with a longer brewing. Then again, I love the kick-in-your-face kind of mint experience.
Pairings:
This tea is delicious for a Tim Tam Slam with a chocolate flavor.
Travel, Food, Reviews, and (of course!) Tea
the mint tea drinkers society 