SALONTEA: The Writer (Indian Spiced Chai Tea)

Steep time: 3-5 minutes

Ingredients : Indian estate black tea, cinnamon, clove, cardamom

Aroma: Dry tea has a very exotic spicy smell, I can smell the cinnamon and clove, and the Indian tea is distinct.

Packaging: Tea for purchase is packaged in a beautiful tin, with the biodegradable fiber triangle shaped bag, Tracy has style for sure.
 
Tea Leaf Quality: For being in a bag, the tea is large and even has a beautiful bid inside, serious quality.

Taste:   Very good! I added milk and honey and was happily surprised how much this tea was warm and inviting. The Indian tea has a unique flavor, and when mixed with the cinnamon clove and cardamom, it has a rich, spicy and sweet flavor. I really like this tea.

Aroma 9/10
Packaging 10/10
Value: 9/10

Taste 9/10
Tea Quality 10/10

Overall 9/10


SALONTEA: The Writer

Special Teas: Masala Chai (No. 920)

Steep time: 5 minutes

Ingredients : Black tea, cinnamon, ginger, carob bits, flavoring, chicory root, pepper, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom

Aroma: Dry tea has an amazing spicy, exotic, but sweet scent. It's heaven. Heaven, heaven, HEAVEN. Ok, moving on... After steep, tea smells rich, warm and spicy, with hint of a sweet note. YUM.

Packaging: Tea is packaged in a dark, aluminum packet. Quality packaging.
 
Tea Leaf Quality: Woah, am I impressed, quality heavy tea, pieces of cinnamon, ginger, carob bits, and the rest of the ingredients are clearly visible. I want to live in this tea, or at least roll around in it, well maybe that might hurt a bit, but I want to be around it. There.

Taste:   A party in my mouth, you know the kind of party, free champagne, open bar, fantastic DJ, great lighting, your outfit gets complimented all night, you're photogenic,  all your friends got babysitters and slipped away from their boring spouses, or maybe the boring spouses are fun tonight...getting carried away... just a perfect party. Any who, I taste all of the flavors individually and at the same time, I can tell the ingredients are of super quality, it's spicy and sweet and warm, cozy, just yum. I added french vanilla creamer and honey and - for five minutes - didn't see beyond my mug.

Aroma 10/10
Packaging 10/10
Value: 10/10

Taste 10/10
Tea Quality 10/10

Overall 10/10

 Special Teas: Masala Chai (No. 920)

Stash: Vanilla nut creme decaf tea

From my fantastic Canadian friend Dani.

Steep time: 3-5 minutes

Ingredients : Naturally Decaffeinated Black Teas; Natural Flavor of Vanilla Nut; Sarsaparilla; Natural Flavor of Vanilla

Aroma: Dry tea smells like spicy peanuts, after steep - tea smells amazing,I was enveloped by a rich nutty cinnamon-y smell.

Packaging: Tea is packaged in an aluminum foiled packet.

Tea Leaf Quality: Rich tea flakes.

Taste:   Fantastic! I added milk and honey like the packet suggested and was blown away. It was smooth and rich, spicy and nutty, sweet and rich. The perfect mix of all. I love this tea, and it's another that I have not found available in local shops *pity party*.

Aroma 9/10
Packaging 9/10
Value: 10/10

Taste 10/10
Tea Quality 8/10

Overall 9/10

Stash: Vanilla nut creme decaf tea

Eden: Organic Sencha Rose

Steep time: 3-5 minutes

Ingredients : Organic Sencha Green Tea Leaves (Camillia sinensis), Organic Rosehips, Organic Rose Petals

Aroma: Dry tea smells like roses and green tea, same for after steep. Who would have thunk it..

Packaging: Packaged in an awesome green and hot pink box, with swallows tattoo style on it. Hot.

Tea Leaf Quality: Colorful tea and large rose pieces.

Taste:   It was good! It had a fresh green tea taste, and a strong rose flavor. Very tasty for a green tea, which to be honest usually bore me. It was romantic, it was calming, it was nice.

Aroma 7/10
Packaging 8/10
Value: 9/10

Taste 8/10
Tea Quality 9/10

Overall 8/10

Eden: Organic Sencha Rose 

Talbott Teas: Cocoa Cardamom Seduction

 

Steep time: 3-5 minutes

Ingredients : All natural premium ingredients: Full-leaf black tea, cacao nibs, cinnamon, cardamom, almonds, natural chocolate, almond and cinnamon flavors.

Aroma: Dry tea smells like a gourmet chocolate shop. After steep tea smells like a rich exotic hot chocolate. The aroma is intense, and wonderful.

Packaging: Packaged in a beautiful tin.

Tea Leaf Quality: Rich dark large tea leaves, sizeable pieces of cacao, slithers of almond, cinnamon slices, and chocolate pieces.

Taste:   I will start by saying I was ready to be disappointed with this tea. Given the last not so wonderful chocolate tea I tasted, I didn't have high hopes. I was pleasantly surprised by the rich chocolaty velvety flavor I got. It was warm, smooth, flavorful and decadent. I am in LOVE. I added milk and honey like the packaging suggested and was so in obsessed with this tea, I didn't even get to take a picture of the tea after the milk was added. I could not stop myself from inhaling this tea. I burned my tongue, but I didn't even care - until after anyway. I would suggest this drink to anyone anytime, but especially with the winter season on the brink. Get your hands on some.

Aroma 10/10
Packaging 10/10
Value: 9/10

Taste 10/10
Tea Quality 10/10

Overall 10/10

Talbott Teas: Cocoa Cardamom Seduction

Harney & Sons: Holiday Tea

 

Steep time: 3-5 minutes


Ingredients : "Our Holiday Tea is a black tea spiced with citrus, almond, clove and cinnamon. Delicious hot or iced. Wonderful for a holiday table, a cold winter morning, or any time you crave a holiday-inspired brew."

Aroma: Dry tea smells like the perfect mix of holiday spices. After steep tea smells like an amazing warm evening at my grandma's for Christmas dessert. Just mmmm.

Packaging: Packaged in a dark resealable package. Perfect for keeping the tea fresh.

Tea Leaf Quality: Beautiful large rich tea leaves, slices of almond, pieces of cinnamon. 

Taste:   Amazing! I would say this tea is amazing year round, but I like that it's saved for the holidays. It tastes like a great mix of cinnamon, clove, and other exotic spices. I can taste the almond, it's warm and inviting. I wasn't too crazy about the taste at first, I am sensitive to clove, but I added milk and honey like the package suggested and I was in heaven. Like a cinnamon honey latte - minus the brash coffee taste plus the amazing high quality black tea taste. I wish for a snowstorm just so that I can drink this tea while watching the snow fall by a fire. I doubt I will get my wish in central California.

Aroma 10/10
Packaging 10/10
Value: 9/10

Taste 10/10
Tea Quality 10/10

Overall 10/10

Harney & Sons: Holiday Tea

Choice Organic Teas: Rooibos (Red Bush Tea)

Steep time: 3-5 minutes


Ingredients: Herbal teas & Vanilla is all I could find.

Aroma: Dry tea bag smells like an earthy mix. After steep smell is the same.

Packaging: Packaged in a recyclable material, keeps the tea leaves fresh. Tea bag is made of fiber and sealed with a staple.

Tea Leaf Quality: Small tea flakes.

Taste:  Very earthy. Honestly tasted like what I would assume a bush tastes like. Yes, laugh it up. It's a smooth red tea bush in a cup. With vanilla and honey this tea is pretty good. Just not exactly my cup of tea.. I'm so witty.

Aroma 6/10
Packaging 8/10
Value: 9/10

Taste 8/10
Tea Quality 7/10

Overall 7.6/10