Ashley Hanft
Lover of all things caffeine and experimenting with all types of flavors. Co-critics include my two dogs, Rocky and Delilah, who give every tea a sniff before I make it and my husband if it's nothing too crazy for his picky (aka boring) tastes.
User's reviews
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Pu-erh Tahiti
Creamy coconut with juicy papaya and earthy pu-erh. A lovely blend with just enough natural sweetness to enjoy as is.
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Citrus Mint Green
Light green tea with refreshing citrus and cooling mint. None of the ingredients are particularly strong, but the result is a nice, mellow tea that's perfectly balanced with the right amount of natural sweetness. I like a flavor punch with my teas, but this is nice when you want something a little more mild.
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Blood Orange
Tart, tangy, and oh so delicious! I cold brewed today's sample and it's perfect. I will be adding this to my wishlist to enjoy as is and in a myriad of blends with other flavors.
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Raspberry
Lovely raspberry scent, but be careful with temperature to avoid bitterness. I did 212⁰, but should have followed my usual 200⁰ for black tea rule. Even with that, the raspberry flavor was present and enhanced by adding some monk fruit. Pretty astringent as is to be expected. Not bad, but I think I may prefer the raspberry green tea.
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White Tropics
Is that a beachy breeze ruffling my hair? Delicate white tea, creamy coconut, juicy pineapple, and a light floral note of rose make this a vacation in a cup. I enjoyed it hot today with monk fruit to sweeten, but iced would be awesome. I haven't tried the iced pouches I bought of the blend yet so I wanted to try today's sample warm to experience both ways and so far I'm a huge fan. Now where is my sunscreen?...
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Cha Cha
A great sleepy blend for those who might not like lavender. The mint and lemongrass are present but not overwhelming and the chamomile calms your mind so you can drift off to dream land.
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Gemini
Light, fruity, and floral! I love this blend, and not just because I'm a Gemini. The peach and apricot flavors are present without hiding the white tea and the rose is perfectly balanced without being soapy.
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Conga
Bold black tea with orange being the most distinct fruit flavor and a general other fruitiness in the background.
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Calypso Green
Grassy green tea with tropical vibes! Coconut and the tea take the forefront with a pleasant fruitiness of mango and passion fruit. Nice natural sweetness but adding sweetener brings elevates the fruit and pushes back the vegetal notes. Delicious!
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Rooibos Mango
I'm undecided about my feelings for red rooibos, so my review should be taken with that in mind. The smell is very medicinal, but once sweetened it wasn't bad so to speak but also not spectacular. I didn't get much mango flavor even with sweetener to try to bring it out, but maybe it's subtle and blended in with the rooibos flavor. Overall, I wouldn't buy this myself or ask for it if other options were available, but I finished the cup.
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Hojicha
Toasty and slightly vegetal, this blend is different from any other green I've tried. There's a slight grassy flavor combined with a mild seaweed flavor that worried me when I caught the scent as I'm not typically a fan of savory green teas, but the malty flavor gives it a bit of light, natural sweetness that tips it in my favor. This won't be an every day cup for me, but I can see this going great with a nice sushi dinner occasionally.
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Mambo
Woody and earthy, smooth and sweet, nutty and smokey, malty and delicious- this blend has it all! I can see why people are so excited it's back in stock. I steeped at 200⁰ for 4 minutes to avoid any potential bitterness and it's perfect. Different notes of the black and oolong teas make themselves known from sip to sip and adding some honey brought out the malty notes even more. Definitely up for dancing after a cup of this!
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Mamma Mia
Not gonna lie, I was hesitant when I opened the packet and was hit with the licorice scent and again when the water hit the blend and it became stronger but once again CommuniTEA has shown me to not judge a tea by its ingredients! The flavor is definitely there, but it didn't smack me in the face like I thought it would. The chamomile smooths out the bite of the fennel and anise and the lingering mint is just strong enough to be noticed but not overwhelming. Not a mother so I can't attest to its medicinal properties, but from what I've heard other lactation teas taste like this seems like it'd be a winner.
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Cherry Marzipan Oolong
Cherry and almond delight! This blend smells exactly like cherry marzipan and for once I can really taste the cherry in a tea. I love it both hot and cold brewed, with or without sweetener. The cinnamon flavor is more prominent when hot and more of the floral is noted when cold brewed. Either way is a win in my book!
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Lavender Lemon
Relaxation and calm spirit are guaranteed after a cup of this blend. The combination of lavender and bright lemon are soothing and rounded out by the rose and orange flavors. I added a small amount of monk fruit and could sip this all day long.
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Berry Blues
Team Tart checking in and all aboard for this tea! Juicy, tart berries with lovely florals make this a cup of wow! I enjoyed mine hot and unsweetened and it was delicious, but I'm positive that cold brewing would be amazingly refreshing. I'd love to try this with some vanilla creamer and some toasty nutty flavors to make a blueberry pie alamode creation. Gonna have to search the blends because I'm sure someone has already made one.
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White Ayurvedic Chai
Not gonna lie- I wasn't in a chai mood today and was already planning my next tea for after this to satisfy my mood, but this cup won me over. I'm a fan of heavy chai flavor with sweetener and cream but this was a delightful change. I steeped at 185⁰ for 7 minutes to compromise between the white tea and herbal elements and the result was perfect. Ginger and cinnamon were prominent without being overpowering on the first sip with mild white tea, lemongrass, and a hint of something in the background that must have been the coconut/pineapple combo coming through on the aftertaste. I sweetened with monk fruit to mellow the spices which brought out the clove and cardamom and made this a well rounded, light chai. I can see how this isn't everyone's cup of tea as far as chai goes, but I found it a wonderful companion for a cooler spring day where you're stuck between seasons and flavor cravings.
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Teaster Marshmallow
Natural sweetness and vanilla flavor make this a mellow marshmallow in a cup. Not an everyday option for me, but nice for a decaf treat every once in a while.
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Jump Start
Cinnamon with a hint of cocoa and natural sweetness, this blend is a hit! I steeped double strength then poured over ice and there is plenty of natural sweetness to make this easy sipping without any additives and a great way to get my work shift started. The slight smokiness from that mate goes great with the black tea.
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Sagittarius
A lovely Earl Grey with raspberry and creme! Earls can be hit or miss for me, but this one is a home run. The raspberry flavor is balanced perfectly with the creme which mellows the bergamot into a perfect cup.
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40 Winks
The most perfect sweet dream in a cup- the blend of herbs is so relaxing and valerian root packs a sleepy punch with honeybush for a natural, earthy sweetness. I add a little bit of clover honey and my eyelids are drooping in no time.
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White Strawberry Basil
Lightly sweet and fully bodied herbaceous flavor. The strawberry combined with the floral elements tastes a little tart and a little sweet while the basil and lemongrass come through at the end with the mellow white tea flavor. I enjoyed this warm, but I'm sure it'd also be great iced or cold brewed.
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White Tangerine
Mild white tea with bright tangerine flavor. I cold brewed today's sample and found it very refreshing with no need for sweetener.
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Lychee Rose Green
Lychee and apple with a hint of rose on a subtle green base. Rose can be hit or miss for me, but the rose in this blend perfectly complimented the unique lychee flavor without tasting like potpourri. Sweetened with some honey, this tea was delicious and perfect for these early spring days.
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Lemon Meringue Green
The moment you open the package, there is no doubt what tea this is! It made my mouth water in anticipation of a slice of perfectly tart but sweet lemon meringue pie. I was afraid that the taste wouldn't live up to the hype of the fragrance, but I was so wrong. Bright lemon without being tart with smooth notes of fluffy meringue from the creme and vanilla and a subtle base of green tea to give it all something to stand on. I made it hot and cooled over ice since I didn't have a proper cold brew vessel with me on vacation and didn't have to add any sweetener to bring out any of the flavors at all, but I can see how a touch of honey would make this even more pie-like. This might be the first 16oz bag I end up buying because I love it that much!
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Butterscotch
Buttery and smooth with a hint of cocoa- this blend is perfect with some sweetener or alone. The bold black base doesn't overpower the butterscotch flavor and the marigolds add a perfect hint of floral.
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Strawberry Tea
Juicy natural strawberry flavor with a smooth Ceylon base. I enjoyed it hot and sweetened to bring out the fruit flavor, but I'm positive this would be excellent as a summer cold brew staple.
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Sencha Overture
Smells like seaweed and heavy on vegetal notes. I prefer my green teas with a little more natural sweetness, but this is great for those who prefer those grassy flavors.
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White Eternal Spring
I agree with a lot of others- while this tea is good, it's more of a summer flavor. The packet smells strongly of pineapple and when steeped that is the most prominent flavor. As it cools the delicate white tea and hibiscus come out of hiding, but none of the mango or berry flavor could be found. Not a bad blend, but it's not evocative of spring to my palate although I'm sure it would be very refreshing iced in the summer.
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Decaf Vanilla
I'm a sucker for all things vanilla, and this tea is no exception. Its scent is heavenly creamy and brings to mind warm sugar cookies and decadent vanilla bean ice cream. I prefer most bakery flavors teas sweetened and this has such depth of flavor that it's not needed, but rock sugar did enhance the vanilla even further. Adagio's decaffeination process is unparalleled and leaves a full, rich black tea without any artificial or unnaturally bitter tastes on the palette. I would enjoy this as is and I can see why it's used in so many blends.
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Berry Creme Compote
Juicy, tart berries with a subtle hint of creme greet your nose from the packet. I enjoyed mine hot today, but this would be perfectly refreshing cold brewed for hot summer days. This tisane definitely has a pucker effect when enjoyed straight between the berries, rose, and hibiscus, but adding sweetener makes it more palatable and enhances the creme flavor if that's not your thing. I will definitely be adding this to my stock to have alone or making my own blends to add some caffeine.
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JASMINE DRAGON PHOENIX PEARLS GREEN TEA
The jasmine is perfectly balanced with the tea flavors without being overwhelming.
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GYOKURO IMPERIAL GREEN TEA
One of the best green teas around- perfect balance of vegetal flavor that needs no sweetener. Very refreshing iced or blended with fruit flavors.
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Cupid’s Cup
Bright and juicy fruit flavor and the sprinkles are adorable- one of the most beautiful teas to look at. Hot or cold brewed- it's very refreshing.
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PUMPKIN SPICE BRULEE OOLONG TEA
One of my favorite fall blends- the pumpkin spice doesn't overwhelm the oolong flavor and it's great hot or iced.
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TEAVANA OPRAH CHAI TEA
A nice generic chai- the spices are well balanced and it goes well with some milk or creamer.
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MONKEY PICKED OOLONG TEA
This is my absolute favorite oolong- buttery smooth with delicate, yet distinct flavor. It also blends perfectly with fruit flavors.
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Silver Needle
Nothing beats an elegant, pure tea. Light and floral, silver needle is reminiscent of honeysuckle and early spring mornings that are still crisp with the chill of dew on the ground. It has a gentle sweetness all its own and needs nothing added to enhance the delicate flavors.
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Wild Strawberry
This blend smells like summer! I cold brewed this one and it will be perfect for those hot summer days when you need to cool off and unwind. Bright strawberry flavor that's tart and just a little bit of natural sweetness with refreshing floral notes from the hibiscus. I mixed with some cream black iced tea for some caffeine and I think this will become one of my go to cold brew mixtures.
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Raspberry Green
The raspberry says a bright hello when dry, but seems to have left the party early once steeped. This could just be because of the CommuniTEA portioning having missed the raspberry pieces (I had one tiny piece about the size of a grain of rice) or maybe this isn't a very strongly flavored blend overall. I cold brewed this one based on previous reviews and it's a great green tea that very refreshing cold. There was a hint of raspberry flavor, but mostly vegetal notes from the green tea were tasted. I'd be willing to buy a larger portion just to see if I get more raspberry flavor because I enjoyed the sample enough as is.
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Decaf Apricot
Bright and fresh apricot greets your nose with this blend both dry and after steeped. I tried the caffeinated version with a sample of February's CommuniTEA offerings and wasn't really a fan, but the decaffeinated Ceylon provides a much smoother base to the apricot flavor and I really enjoyed it both plain and sweetened to rock sugar. This would be excellent cold brewed in the summer.
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Rooibos Earl Grey
Bergamot is front and center when you open the packet, but the rooibos makes a smoother base for those who find a traditional black tea Earl Grey too sharp on the palate. The orange flavor comes through at the end with the floral notes from the cornflowers making a lovely cup as is. Adding some monk fruit cuts the bitterness of the bergamot and brings out more of the complex citrus flavors. This is easily one of my favorite Earl Grey blends and great for a nighttime cup as rooibos is caffeine free.
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Ginseng Green
The ginger smell from the packet had me really excited to dive into this cup, but when steeped it was nowhere to be found. The green tea flavor is mild for those who find most green teas too grassy and there's a slight earthiness from the ginseng, but I really wish this had the punch of ginger I was expecting.
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Decaf Orange
Smells like sugary orange pop and steeps into a beautifully deep orange color. While hot the orange flavor hides behind the smooth black tea flavor, but comes out to play as the tea cools. It's not an overwhelming orange flavor, but nice and subtle and adding sweetener rounds the tea out into a lovely tea you can sip all day long. While not a bad blend, it's not particularly exciting by itself but I could see it providing a great base to add other fruit flavors to.
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Decaf Blueberry
Today's CommuniTEA packet has a beautifully bright blueberry fragrance with an almost bubble gum like finish. Black tea often overpowers fruit flavors to me, but this blend is perfectly balanced. By itself it has the perfect amount of natural sweetness for those without a sweet tooth, but adding a splash of Italian sweet cream transforms this tea into a luxurious blueberry cobbler in a mug. For a caffeine punch I blended some plain with monkey picked oolong and the subtle orchid notes perfectly compliment the juicy blueberry flavor. Adding this to my wishlist to experiment more in the future.
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Skinny Tea
The tea itself smells wonderfully sweet almost like pancakes, but the flavor is really vegetal from the dandelion root. Light and clean flavor but I don't taste the cinnamon that some report. I like it better after adding a small amount of sweetener, but not my cup of tea overall.
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Cream Iced Tea
I love the bold flavor of the black tea and the rich cream flavor. I like this by itself, with sweetener, and it provides a perfect base to add fruit flavors to.
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Peach Oolong Iced Tea
The peach flavor is fresh and juicy and the oolong provides a smooth base that pairs well. It has enough natural sweetness to drink straight but I prefer it with a little monk fruit.
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Vanilla Oolong
I've never met an oolong I didn't like, and this one is no different. The creamy mouth feel of the oolong is subtly enhanced by the vanilla flavor and perfect for sipping as is. So far I've tried it sweetened with monk fruit, but I'm sure that honey or brown sugar would enhance the bakery flavors this tea provides. I will definitely be keeping this stocked in my stash.