Adrian H
I've been a fan of tea since I was little and having tea parties with my grammy to growing up and chatting with her over cups of tea and going for high teas together. Over the years I've slowly dipped into loose leaf teas and have now finally started really exploring. I'm also a knitter and an avid reader - primarily fantasy and historical fiction, but honestly will read practically anything other than dystopian/post-apocalyptic and have been told my TBR looks like I ran around my library randomly pulling books off shelves. I will happily chat about knitting projects (and help if I am able), current reads, recommendations, whatever! Lastly, I'm also a geeky fan and looking forward to checking out some of the fandom blends. If you're also a knitter, reader, and/or fannish tea lover, feel free to message me. :-)
User's reviews
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Currant
I really liked this tea. The black tea was nicely balanced with the tart and tangy currant flavor (and also reminded me a bit of raspberries).
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Decaf Earl Grey
I love the decaf earl grey! For me, it's the classic taste of bergamot and black tea with the added upside of being able to drink it in the late afternoon or at night.
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Rooibos Vanilla
I'm generally favorable towards red rooibos, but its flavor does tend to easily overpower other flavors. The vanilla in this did seem to stand up quite well to it, though. And the almost ruby red of the tea was quite nice to look at.
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Thai Tea
This was a fun blend to try! While I thought the cardamom was the predominant flavor (not that I minded), the coconut also made a good showing.
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Gaucho Mate Chai
I enjoyed this tea, as I tend to do with chais, but the mate base made it lighter than I'm used to - which threw me a bit. (I think I prefer a black tea base.)
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Chocolate Chip
I've found I like chocolate in tea more than I thought I would. While the tasting I had was a little light on the chocolate, it was still quite enjoyable.
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Rooibos Caramel
This tea was nice, though I couldn't quite taste the caramel - which is a bit par for the course with red rooibos, as it's a bit overpowering.
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Pu-erh Chorange
This was a fun blend that I quite enjoyed. It was very chocolate-forward, but the orange was still present. Definitely a nice treat!
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Pumpkin Spice
I tend to be iffy on pumpkin spice flavors because I'm not a fan of pumpkin, but I liked this one quite a bit because the pumpkin flavor was light, with the spices a nice mix (and being ginger-forward for a change).
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Hojicha
This isn't a bad tea in and of itself - it's more a 'not for me' rating. The taste is a vegetal earthiness that I'm just not a fan of, but that seems to be par for the course for most greens for me.
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Rooibos Cinnamon Apple
The apple flavoring stood up well against the red rooibos for a nice honey-apple flavor, but I could barely taste the cinnamon.
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Spiced Apple Chai
As much as I like *eating* apple things, I'm not a fan of *drinking* apple things. That said, the balance of apple and chai spices in this tea reminded me a lot of baked apples - which made for pleasant sipping. I may not seek it out, but wouldn't mind if I crossed paths with it again.
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Vanilla Green
I thought the vanilla was a nice balance for the green tea and quite enjoyed it.
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Cha Cha
I'm not a big fan of chamomile, so I was pleasantly surprised by this tea. The peppermint and lemongrass gave the tisane a nice zing.
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Toasted Mate
This tea had a nice warm, earthy, mellow flavor to it, but was on the lighter side.
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Sencha Overture
As much as I enjoy trying different teas, unfortunately, this is not a tea for me. I tend to be rather wary of vegetal greens to begin with, but this tea has a very strong grassy flavor with seaweed background notes - which makes it a big no for me.
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Almond Cardamom Cake
I really enjoyed this tea! The lemon-y flavor of the cardamom and the cinnamon both stood up well to the honey flavor of the red rooibos to make a wonderful, rich cup of hot tea.
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Genmai Cha
I'm not usually a fan of green teas or a toast-y taste to my tea, so this tea was a hard sell for me. While I enjoyed tasting an international tea that's popular among tea drinkers, it's not something I'll seek out in the future.
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Orange
I really liked the zing in the orange flavor of this tea! It was definitely a good way to start my day!
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Earl Grey Bella Luna
I really love this tea! The mix of bergamot and coconut is wonderful! It's probably good it's only available once a month to slow me down at least a bit in buying it out.
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Casablanca Twist
I do like mint tea to begin with, and having Darjeeling as a "foundation" of sorts definitely adds to it.
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Virgo
I find white teas to be on the lighter side for my tastes, but the fruit flavors in this blend were quite nice.
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White Monkey
I found this tea to be very light in flavor (closer to a white than a green, IMO) and had a soft sweetness.
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Cherry Marzipan Oolong
I generally tend to enjoy cherry flavoring and this one was no different! The marzipan/almond flavoring was a light for my taste, but still good. Could definitely see this being in fairly regular rotation.
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Decaf Mango
The mango flavoring in this tea was a nice addition and not overpowering. Definitely a nice option for night-time drinking!
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Gyokuro
On par with other greens, this tea was just okay to me. In addition to the usual light earthy taste, this tea also had a cereal flavor to me.
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Butterscotch
The smell of this tea when I opened the packet was very strong! Once brewed, the taste was still strong, but not quite as overpowering, and very pleasant. May have to get this for future treat cravings.
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Lapsang Souchong
When I first heard about this tea, I wasn't sure about it, but I really enjoyed it! The smoky aroma and flavor reminded me of campfires and my grandparents' fireplace. It probably won't be a regular addition to my stash but it'll be a fun once-in-awhile addition.
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Raspberry Green
I had this as a CommuniTea packet for Adagio and thought it was just okay. I didn't taste much in the way of raspberry and I'm not much of a fan of green tea (it's too vegetal for me).
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Tiger Eye
This tea was a fun sip with the chocolate and caramel flavor combo and wasn't overly sweet.
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Vanilla Oolong
I enjoyed this tea. It felt like a softer version of the vanilla-flavored black tea - which I also enjoyed.
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Kentucky Bourbon
I tend to be iffy with apple flavoring in drinks, but the roasted apple flavor blended quite well with the vanilla, caramel, and the smokiness of the lapsang souchong and it felt like they were taking turns as I sipped instead of jostling for attention. This was quite a treat!
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Berry Blast
I enjoyed this tea. The flavor is tart and fruity. The color, once brewed, is a fun bright red.
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Blackberry Sage Oolong
I enjoyed the mix of sweet and savory in this tea. I think the blackberry and sage complimented each other really well.
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Cocomint Green
This is one of the rare times I've enjoyed a green tea. With the chocolate and mint, it was like a light peppermint mocha.
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Green Rooibos Paradiso
I enjoyed this tea. The pineapple and coconut made it a fun flavor to sip and while I brewed it hot, I'm sure it would also be a good cold sipper.
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Formosa Ruby 18 Black
I enjoyed this tea - it's smooth and earthy with a slight smoky taste.
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Vanilla
I enjoyed this flavor. It reminded me a bit of cake frosting at first (but not in a bad way). The creamy vanilla flavor was a good add to the black tea.
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Rooibos Lemon Cloud
I generally like red rooibos (though it does tend to overpower other flavors), but this time the lemon and vanilla balance it quite well.
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Almond Oolong
I enjoyed this tea. The almond flavor wasn't very strong, but it was nice, and there was also a nice taste of chocolate.
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Yunnan Gold
This black tea is lighter than I expected, but it's still a wonderfully smooth beverage.
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Fruit Medley
While I enjoyed the tart fruitiness of this tea hot, I can also see how it would be good iced. Brewed with a packet of Splenda.
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Decaf Apricot
I enjoyed this tea hot and thought the apricot flavoring was a bit light, it was nice and enjoyable.
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Zhejiang Lung Ching
This tea was only okay for me. As with other greens, it tasted rather vegetal to me and rather light.
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Ooooh Darjeeling
I found this oolong to be on the lighter side and more cereal notes than any sort of fruity or floral ones.
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Cherry Green
I really liked this tea and thought the green tea base worked well with the cherry flavoring. (I was worried it would taste too 'green tea', but it didn't.)
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Leo
I liked this tea (and thankfully the other flavors helped to balance the red rooibos) and enjoyed the floral and fruity notes.
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Peppermint
I do love peppermint flavor in general and this tea doesn't disappoint! Quite like it for an after dinner treat.
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Pu-erh Wuliang Green
For me, this tea was just okay. Like many other green teas, it had an earthy/vegetal taste to it, but tended to leave my mouth dry after most sips - which may have been due to not having control over the water temperature.
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Formosa Fancy Bai Hao
Whenever one of the Masters teas comes up in the Adagio CommuniTea, I think "Ooh! Fancy!" and know it's going to be special. I can definitely taste the peach and really like the overall flavor.
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Earl Grey Supreme
Earl Grey is probably my favorite tea flavor and this variation doesn't disappoint! There was a bit of a toast-y flavor, but it was balanced with the bergamot.
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Buddha's Dream
This tea was quite nice hot and probably would be great iced. It had a light flavor and, to me, was very pear-forward in both smell and taste - which I really liked.
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Arabica Lemon Turmeric
The tea has a nice lemony zing to it and a nice earthy undertone. Brewed for 10 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Black Jasmine Song
I really love this tea! The smell of jasmine is amazing from the time I opened the sample envelope. The taste is lovely as well and the black tea and jasmine balance well.
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Rooibos Almond
I generally like red rooibos (to me it tastes like honey), though it can easily overpower anything it's paired with. The almond did pretty well with it, but it was still a bit underwhelming. Brewed for 6 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Shi Feng Long Jing
I thought this tea had a toast-y taste in addition to the usual vegetal green tea flavor, so while it was nice to try, it's not something I think I'd seek out.
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Passionfruit
I quite liked this tea and enjoyed the black tea base, but the passionfruit was a bit perfume-y for me.
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Summer Night
This tea was quite fun - it tasted a bit like an orange creamsicle. The mint in it was light and was mostly in the background. Brewed for 10 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Key Lime Herbal
I thought the lime flavor in this tea was nice, but a little too light. And while I enjoyed the red hue, I think it would've been more apropos if it had brewed a green color.
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Sour Apple
I enjoyed the tart sourness and bright red color of this tea, but wasn't much of a fan of the apple/hibiscus aftertaste.
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Melonberry Green
I thought this tea was just okay. The watermelon flavor was nice, but overall it was very light.
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Keemun Rhapsody
I quite enjoyed this strong black tea (though jury's still out on the mineral flavor).
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Grapefruit
I wasn't too sure about this tea, since I'm not big on eating grapefruit. When I opened the packet, the grapefruit smell was very strong, but not in a bad way. Once brewed, the taste was more 'sparkling' than 'tart/sour' - which was nice, Steeped for 6 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Cream
I figured I would love this tea since I love the decaf version and I wasn't wrong! The sweet creaminess of the cream flavor blends well with the black tea. Brewed for 5 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Honeybush Hazelnut
I enjoyed this tea a lot! The hazelnut smell and taste are strong, but in a good way.
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Decaf Cream
I really enjoyed this tea! I'm a big fan of black teas and the decaf Ceylon gave this the strong, yet smooth, taste that I enjoy. The cream flavor added a nice comfortable layer to it to make it a nice pre-bedtime brew. Brewed for 6 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Decaf Chai
I really enjoyed this CommuniTea pick! Granted, I like Masala Chai anyway, so it was nice to have a decaf option. The packet was very ginger forward- which I was happy with as I'm a fan of ginger.
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Decaf Ceylon
I always love a good, strong black tea - of which this is one. I'm glad for the decaf option so I can enjoy it at night. Brewed with a packet of Splenda.
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Christmas
This tea was nice and cozy. It smelled great when I opened the CommuniTea packet. Once brewed, it seemed a heavy on the cinnamon, but I could also taste a bit of ginger and orange.
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Chestnut
When i opened the CommuniTea packet, the chestnut scent was very strong, but warm and pleasing. This carried over into the flavor of the tea once I brewed it. I can definitely see why it's a CT favorite!
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Capricorn
I really enjoyed this tea! The coconut was quite prominent, but not overpowering and gave the flavor a lightness that was nicely balanced by the black tea and the other flavors blended nicely to back them up. Brewed for 6 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Candy Apple
I'm not usually a fan of apple drinks, but this was nicely balanced between the apple, caramel, and black tea.
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Hunan Gold
This tea was too light for me. I did two steeps - the first for 4 minutes and the second for about 10 minutes and both times there was a hint of a vegetal taste, but that was it. Even adding a packet of Splenda didn't help other than to sweeten the water.
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Masala Chai
I had been hesitant to try this tea because I was worried I wouldn't like the spice blend. But it was nicely mixed and the smell and taste were delicious! Brewed at 212 for 10 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Keemun Concerto
I'm still not sure about teas with a malty flavor, but I did enjoy today's tea. It had a nice, strong flavor. Brewed for 6 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Golden Spring
I was surprised that I thought this one was just okay. It was nice and had a sweet rice-y flavor - which was enjoyable, but didn't really wow me. Since I was using a 12oz tumbler, I may have accidentally steeped it too long while trying to give it a chance to have enough time. Brewed at 212 with a packet of Splenda.
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Golden Monkey
This was a nice, smooth black tea. The malt flavor threw me a bit because I wasn't expecting it, but it was an interesting addition to the palate. Brewed for 6 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Gingerbread
This was an enjoyable, cozy tea. The spices were nicely balanced so that even when brewed for 6 minutes instead of the recommended 3, it wasn't bitter. Sweetened with 1 Splenda packet.
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Decaf Vanilla
I enjoyed this tea for the most part. The black tea is nice and strong, but the vanilla tasted a bit off and not quite vanilla-y enough. Brewed for 6 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Kukicha
I'm not a big fan of green teas, but this one was on the nicer side. When I opened the CT packet, there was a hint if sweetness in the aroma. Once brewed, it had a light, toasty taste with very little of the vegetal flavor I tend to associate with green treas.
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Cancer
With the mix of white and green teas and the fruit accents, I found this tea to be really light and probably would have enjoyed it more as an iced tea instead of hot. Brewed for 4 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Apricot Green
The apricot nicely balanced the green tea (which I'm not usually a fan of) for a sweet, smooth drink. Brewed at 180 for 5 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Fujian Ti Kuan Yin
To me, this tea tasted a bit vegetal with a hint of floral and was just rather neutral for me. Brewed for 4 minutes at 212 (accidentally) with a packet of Splenda.
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Honeybush Banana Nut
I'm usually quite nuetral on banana nut bread, but I quite enjoyed this tea - which tasted just like the bread. Brewed at 212 for 6 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Dragon Fruit Dream
To me, this tea was very light with not much taste. I brewed it hot and tried a few sips before icing it and felt the same both ways. Brewed 10 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Chicoriccino
I enjoyed this tea. The flavor was stronger than I expected from a herbal tea - more like a black tea (which is my favorite type) and the cinnamon was a nice addition. Brewed for 4 minutes at 212 with a packet of Splenda.
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Bonfire
I really love this tea! The smokiness from the lapsang souchong isn't overwhelming and the flavors melt together for a very cozy cup of tea. Brewed for 6 minutes at 212 with a packet of Splenda.
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Berry Blues
The tea had a nice, sweet smell when I opened the CT packet. Once brewed, the tea had a nice berry flavor, but I think there were a few too many apple pieces because their flavor almost overpowered the berries. I enjoyed it hot, but I think it would also be very nice iced. Brewed 10 minutes at 212 with a Splenda packet.
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Bella Luna Blue
I've enjoyed the light lemony/fruity flavor of this tea at night and it's a nice way to wind down. The vibrant blue of the tea from the flowers is an added bonus! My one issue is the size of the lemongrass and the flowers makes it hard for me to measure out. Brewed for 10 minutes at 212 with one packet of Splenda.
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Always Nuts
The smell of this tea was a delicious cinnamon-y nutty, creamy scent when I opened and continued as the tea brewed. The taste continued that, along with a touch of the apples and hibiscus. The tea brewed to a fun bright pink color (which seemed at odds with the smell). Definitely enjoyed the tea overall. Brewed for 10 minutes at 212 with a packet of Splenda.
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Kona Pineapple
I brewed this tisane hot, but I feel like it would also be delicious cold. I quite enjoyed the way the pineapple blended with the other flavors. Brewed for 10 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Lavender Lemon
This was a bright herbal tea. The packet I received was very lemon-forward, but it wasn't bitter. I enjoyed it hot - brewed for 10 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Scottish Breakfast
I love Scottish Breakfast tea. It's smooth, strong, malty, and a good morning pick-me-up.
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Mango Melange
This tea smelled nice when I opened the packet, but once brewed it was lightly fruity but didn't wow me.
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Peach Serenity
The aroma of this tea is light and peachy and the flavor matches. Definitely enjoyable as an evening tea, or possibly as an iced tea. Brewed at 212 for 10 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Pina Colada
I tried the tea hot first and it was nice, if light, and rather hibiscus forward. I then chilled the tea and the flavor was still light, but more balanced.
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Pomegranate Grove
I was a little skeptical of the combination of pomegranate and cinnamon, but this tisane was better than I expected and quite lovely. In addition, the aroma when opening the CT packet was quite lovely.
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Raspberry Patch
Brewed hot, this tea was tart, almost metallic tasting and had a light raspberry flavor. Brewed for 10 minutes with one packet of Splenda.
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Rooibos Cocomint
I tend to like red rooibos, even though I find it tends to overpower any flavoring it's paired with. The chocolate & mint, however, seem to give it a run for its money. Steeped for 6 minutes wit a packet of Splenda.
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Rooibos Nutcracker
This tea smelled yummy when I opened the packet. The taste was quite nutty and caramel-ly - and very warm and cozy. Brewed for 6 minutes at 212 with a packet of Splenda.
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Rooibos Vanilla Chai
This tea was a nice, slightly lighter, version of masala chai with the added bonus of being caffeine free. Brewed at 212 for 10 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Tea-tox
I definitely like the idea of this tea and the portions packet of it definitely seemed to help my cough (thanks, post-nasal drip). But the taste was a bit off for me - there was a bit of mint, but it also tasted a bit like Ritz crackers (both of which I like - they were just a bit odd together). May try again in the future to see if I feel differently.
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Blue Mango Iced Tea
The blue color of this tea is a lot of fun! I cold brewed this tea and the mango flavor didn't really come out until I added a packet of Splenda and even then was still very light.
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Milk Oolong
This tea had a very delicate taste where even though I brewed it for extra minute, it didn't taste like much to me. Brewed for 4 minutes at about 195 with a packet of Splenda.
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White Fuzzy Navel
While light, this tea was full of flavor and quite enjoyable. Brewed for 4 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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White Strawberry Basil
At first I wasn't sure about the basil especially since the tea was very basil forward once brewed, but by the end of the cup I quite enjoyed it. Brewed for 4 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Yuletide Toddy
This tea had a nice, fruity smell when I opened the packet. Once brewed, it had a generally fruity flavor with cinnamon - which was nice, but didn't specifically taste like orange or cranberry.
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White Grapefruit
Due to the white tea base, this has a lighter taste than its black tea counterpart, but the grapefruit flavor still sparkles. Brewed for 4 minutes somewhere between 180 and 195 with a packet of Splenda.
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White Ayurvedic Chai
When I opened the CT packet, there was a nice sage-y smell. Once brewed, it was a light tea with a cinnamon0forward taste. Brewed for 6 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Yunnan Jig
I really like this tea's malty, smooth, strong flavor and it makes for a good way to start the day. Brewed for 6 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Yunnan Noir
Like many others, I enjoy watching the leaves unfurl as they brew. The tea has a balanced, unassuming flavor. Brewed for 6 minutes with 1 packet of Splenda.
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Dancong Aria
I heeded others' warnings to be careful with time and temperature, so I brewed for 4 minutes between 180 and 195 (boiled the water, then let it cool for 5 minutes before steeping) with a packet of Splenda. The tea turned out quite nice - strong, smooth, and slightly woody with a hint of minerals.
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Ali Shan Special
This oolong was lighter than I expected, but still has a smooth taste. Brewed for 4 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Strawberry Banana Split
I found this tea to be on the sweet side, though still enjoyable, with a very strong strawberry flavor. Brewed for 6 minutes with a packet of Splenda.
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Wild Strawberry
The tea has a very nice strawberry scent. I've tried this tea both hot and iced. I liked it well enough hot, but the flavor was pretty light. Cold - I still thought the flavor on the light side, but a bit stronger. Brewed for 10 minutes with 1 packet of splenda.
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Rooibos Earl Grey
This is a nice herbal earl grey option, though I find the rooibos flavor can be on the stronger side. Brewed for 6 minutes with one packet of Splenda.
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Pu Erh Coffee
For me, this was just okay. As much as I love tea, I'm iffier on coffee and tend to prepare both of them quite differently, so it was odd to have them both together.
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Citrus Mint Green
I'm not usually a fan of green teas, but I liked the minty flavor of this one, though the citrus was very light.
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LAPSANG SOUCHONG leaf tea
While I first found the smokiness to be odd, it quickly won me over and I quite enjoy this tea. The flavor reminds me of campfires and cozy fires in fireplaces.
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Black Cherry Berry
This tea has a very nice cherry flavor. Brewed for 6 minutes with 1 packet of Splenda.