The official tea review thread (to be updated).
Add brands, flavors, loose, bagged, etc. There are three trillion teas, and I've only recently started drinking tea!
Bigelow
Black teas
Chinese oolong
Cinnamon stick
I had this a few years ago, but I liked it. Plain, smooth cinnamony and slightly spicy. (sog)
I'm finding that I can really count on the Bigelow teas. I know they aren't fancy or anything, but I always like the flavor. The cinnamon is not too strong, not artificial tasting, but still flavorful. I don't like artificial cinnamon anything, but this is good. (AC)
Constant comment
If anyone hasn't had this, you NEED to try it. I grew up on this, I love it so much. I always have it in the house. (sarah)
I really didn't think I would like this because I'm not a huge fan of spiceish or orange teas, but this is mellow. It's mellow, but still flavorful. I like it! I would get this again. (AC)
One of my few positive, and certainly earliest, childhood memories. Even their decaf version is pretty darn good, and I usually hate decaf tea. I don't know what goes into the de-caffeinating process but it usually seems to take most of the flavour with it. (yabbit)
Constant comment decaf
Pretty darn good, and I usually hate decaf tea. I don't know what goes into the de-caffeinating process but it usually seems to take most of the flavour with it. (yabbit)
Earl Grey
This EG is not nearly as good as Stash, which is usually less flavorful. This mainly just tastes like a black tea. Not bad, but not special. (AC)
Earl Grey decaf
English breakfast
This is a good basic tea. Exactly what I want in the morning, with some almond milk. (AC)
English teatime
This is similar to the English breakfast, maybe just slightly stronger/more bitter. (AC)
English teatime decaf
French vanilla
Yum. This has a nice vanilla flavor, and a good balance. I like it quite a bit. (AC)
French vanilla decaf
At first I thought I liked this the same/better than the regular, but it has a weird aftertaste. It's not very pleasant. It might have been a freak thing, but I wouldn't try this again. (AC)
Lemon lift
P likes this. I think it's a bit spicier than lemon, but a pretty nice blend. (AC)
Plantation mint
Pomegranate black tea
Pumpkin spice tea
This tea is delicious! I usually drink it with soymilk and sugar, but today I had it with Silk pumpkin spice soymilk and it was extra good! I steep it extra concentrated - 5 minutes with 2 bags in about 10 oz water, then add an ounce or so of soymilk once it's done steeping. This is also good for a second steep if you steep it a little longer - around 7 minutes or more. (vegrunski)
This was not what I was expecting. It smells good-spicy and pumpkin, but the flavor is different. I don't dislike it, and I think I like it, but it's almost vanilla-ey/sweet to me. I'm not quite sure about it yet! I loved that I found it..I've been wanting to try it. (AC)
Raspberry royale
Kinda disappointed in this one. It smelled so good and raspberry-y, but the flavor was not that strong, and it tasted a little..muddy? Not something I'd purchase. (AC)
Vanilla caramel
Vanilla chai
Green teas
Constant comment green
I do enjoy the constant comment. I think this is just an even milder version of normal constant comment, and the green tea flavor is not strong. I enjoy this for a mild tea. Comforting. (AC)
Earl grey green
Eh. This doesn't even seem like a green tea (which is fine by me), but it's just meh. I guess it's maybe personal preference, since Earl grey is not my favorite, but I've had better of it. (AC)
Green tea
I don't know why, but I liked this! It was a strong tea flavored green tea, but not strongly flavored GREEN, if that makes sense. I would actually get this again! (AC)
Green tea chai
Green tea with lemon
Green tea with mango
Green tea with mint
Green tea with peach
Green tea with pomegranate
Green tea with wild blueberry acai
Jasmine green
Herb teas
Apple cider
This is odd. It's too strongly flavored, or something. It tastes very artificial, and not just like apple cider. I don't have much desire to taste this again. (AC)
Blueberry harvest
Chamomile mango
Chamomile mint
Cinnamon apple
Nicely flavoured. Strong, robust flavour. Like. (blinknoodle)
Cozy chamomile
Cranberry apple
Egg noggin
This I do not enjoy. I checked the ingredients on the box, and it just said green and black teas, then on the individual bags it says "egg nog flavor," so I do not know what this means...... Nevertheless, I don't think I will be having anymore of this. It just tastes sweet (I don't like sweet teas), with an artificial flavor. I guess I can kind of imagine egg nog (?), but I don't like it. (AC)
Ginger snapish
This is pretty good for ginger, but I don't get the "snap" at all. It is quite mild with some ginger flavor, and maybe a bit of lemon. P really likes it. (AC)
I love lemon
Lemon ginger herb plus
Mint medley
This is nice. I can definitely tell the difference between this "medley" and just peppermint. It's milder in a way. (AC)
Orange and spice
Peppermint
Perfect peach
Pomegranate blueberry herb plus
Pomegranate pizzazz
Red raspberry
Sweet dreams
This is a P kinda tea, but I enjoy it as well. I'm wary of chamomile, but I like it here. The blend with the mint is nice. Not too strong, but the flavors are there. I never feel particularly sleepy or awake with different teas, but I think most teas (that I like) are comforting. I like this. (AC)
Wild blueberry acai
Novus teas
Citrus chamomile
Darjeeling
Dragon well green
Egyptian mint
Jasmine
Kenilworth ceylon
Pai mu tan
This is a white tea, so it's mild. We both enjoyed it. It reminds me of a tea used at an Asian restaurant for hot tea. I might get this again...even with the weird satchel things. (AC)
Persian pomegranate
Sapphire earl grey
Sencha
South Indian
Spiced chai
Wild encounter
This is the Novus type with the huge satchel bag thing. It's pretty weird, but has lots of pieces of things in the tea. It's not my type of tea (floraly), but P liked it ok. My mom gave it to me, and I wouldn't buy it specifically. (AC)
I actually tried this the second time we had it, and it's not bad! I still don't know that I would buy it (if they even have it anymore), but it has a nice blend of flowery/fruity. (AC)
Celestial Seasonings
Chai teas
Decaf India Spice Chai
Decaf sweet coconut Thai chai
it's ok. it does have some coconut flavor, and in fact the bags look a little greasy. no real outstanding chai-ness though, and i'm not sure what makes it thai. (fb)
India spice chai
Green teas
Antioxidant Supplement Green Tea
Authentic Green Tea
Blueberry Breeze Green Tea
LOVE this. I always have it on hand. Delicious. (veganrun)
Decaf Mandarin Orchard Green Tea
Decaf Mint Green Tea
I don't like this one. It has the same sort of chemically mint flavor going on as in the candy cane lane. I have no idea why I even bought decaf green tea, since in my experience it never works well. (sog)
Decaf Sleepytime Lemon Jasmine Green Tea
Decaffeinated Green Tea
This is okay, I guess. I just think it tastes a little...stunted. Kind of boring. (veganrun)
Gen Mai Cha Green Tea
Goji Berry Pomegranate Green Tea
Raspberry Gardens Green Tea
Herbal teas
Acaí Mango Zinger
Bengal Spice
Black Cherry Berry
This is kinda gross. It doesn't have a strong enough flavor to be good, so it's just like mild cough syrup flavor. (AC)
Caffeine Free Herbal Tea
Chamomile
Cinnamon Apple Spice
Very mixed feelings about this. It smelled supersuper good, and seemed like it was going to be amazing. However, the flavor is quite lacking, but then gets much stronger...but strange. Have cider instead. (AC)
Not too strong, and I prefer Bigelow's Cinnamon Apple instead which is stronger flavoured. (blinknoodle)
Country Peach Passion
I don't usually like peach flavored things, but I liked this. It grew on me. The flavor wasn't too strong, but mild and nice. KMK picked this out! (AC)
this is another fruit tea that worked well for me. very springy and peachy and good. (sog)
Cranberry Apple Zinger
Lemon Zinger
Pretty good! Nice lemon flavor, not too weird. Good herbal lemon tea. I do think I enjoy this more than the Bigelow lemon lift. (AC)
Mandarin Orange Spice
Quite good! I've never been a big fan of orange or spice teas, but this is nicely balanced with both flavors. Smells excellent. Very enjoyable. (AC)
This is a nicely flavoured orange-spiced tea. Not my favourite, but good on occasion. (blinknoodle)
Mint Magic
Morning Thunder
Peppermint
Really good, I like this when I'm sick. It's super refreshing. (sarah)
Definitely my favorite mint tea. It is very relaxing and soothing; it has an almost tingly affect. Very enjoyable! One of my favorite teas. (AC)
Raspberry Zinger
Pretty good. Not very strong, but ok flavor. Wouldn't pick it out, but would be ok with drinking it again. (AC)
Red Zinger
I basically grew up with this tea and I like its fruitiness, but it's way better when it's sweetened. (algae)
This is ok. It's pretty sweet/juice-like, but not too much so. Not my favorite, but don't dislike. (AC)
Roastaroma
Sleepytime
I love this tea and I also drank it a lot when I was younger. It is so calming and smells so good from the peppermint and chamomile. It's better than other teas I've had with this combination of herbs. (algae)
I grew up with this one too. Simple, yummy, sleepy tea. (sog)
Massive fan. (elliejelly)
Sleepytime Vanilla
I'm a massive fan of their original sleepytime mix, but they've added madigascan vanilla to original sleepytime and it's so incredibly delicious! It tastes a little like a vanilla biscuit would, and it hasn't hidden any of the other flavours in the mix (peppermint, chammomile, lemongrass). It blends really nicely together and has a very smooth flavour. One of my favourite herbal teas. (elliejelly)
I don't like this much. i'm just really not a fan of chamomile, and the vanilla flavor is not strong enough to make up for it. It probably would be good for a light night tea, but not my favorite. P liked it more. (AC)
Sweet Apple Chamomile
Tangerine Orange Zinger
Tension Tamer
This is not my type of tea, but I got it for P because he looks like the herbal/fruit types. He likes it, but I think it's weird. It smells like a cleaning product, and tastes..odd. It's like slight peppermint with some citrus with something else. He said it was different, but good. No noticeable taming of tension, but we don't have much tension. (AC)
Tropic of Strawberry
True Blueberry
This is excellent. One of my favorites. It's strong, and blueberry. (AC)
like AC, I really love this one. I don't usually like fruity teas that much besides blueberry and acai ones, so this one is a winner for me. In fact, I'm drinking some right now! (sog)
Wild Berry Zinger
This is better than most of the other berry ones. Still not excellent (like blueberry), but nice berry flavor. Strong enough to be BERRY. (AC)
Holiday teas
Candy Cane Lane
minty and generally pleasant. it's not just like peppermint... it's different somehow. like an actual candy cane. hard to describe. (fb)
I really didn't like this. To me it's really chemically and weird tasting, and I usually like mint teas. (sog)
Gingerbread Spice
This smells amazing and tastes yummy at the beginning, then I get sick of it as I keep drinking. I think it's a little too spiced and is a little over the top. By the time I get to the bottom, I think it's a little bitter. (veganrun)
Nutcracker Sweet
This is good. It's similar the Bigelow pumpkin spice, but only the good parts. It's sweet, but not overpowering, and just has a nice flavor. It's kind of like a buttery sugar cookie. (AC)
LOVE this. I buy this every year. Delicious. (veganrun)
Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride
My friend told me that I had to try this because it tastes just like sugar cookies and is delicious. I have no idea what she's talking about. It was kind of weird and artificial tasting. I don't remember more detail, but I don't recommend it. (algae)
I actually really like this one. My mom always buys it when it appears around Christmas and it has a sort of vanilla-y, milk thistle-y taste to it that I really like. yummers. (sog)
I have mixed feelings about this. Sometimes I think I like it, then I think it's weird. I'll finish the box, but not buy it again. (veganrun)
Sugar Plum Spice
This is too sweet and fruity. It's like a hot spiced juice...which is not entirely pleasant. P hated it, but I think I can finish the box..just not purchase it again. (AC)
-Sweet but I don't mind it. Not my favourite but still ok. (blinknoodle)
Red teas
African Orange Mango Red Tea
Madagascar Vanilla Red Tea
I really did not enjoy this. This was my first time drinking rooibos tea, and I'm not sure if my dislike was due to the rooibos or the combination of it with the vanilla. The smell and flavor remind me of pipe tobacco--yuck! I couldn't finish my cup after trying it both hot and iced, and I gave the box away. (willwolf)
Moroccan Pomegranate
i don't like it. at first i thought it was the red tea i didn't like (never had it prior to this), but i think it was the pomegranate. it had a weird fruitiness to it that wasn't pomegranate, and was otherwise watery. (fb)
Safari Spice
Wellness teas
Blackberry Pomegranate Green Tea
Blood Orange Star Fruit Green Tea
Dragon Fruit Melon Green Tea
Detox A.M.Wellness Tea
Echinacea Complete Care Wellness Tea
Ginseng Energy Wellness Tea
Senna Sunrise Wellness Tea
Sleepytime Extra Wellness Tea
I don't know about this "wellness" stuff, but this is pretty good. It's minty with chamomile, with an ok flavor. It's mild, but not too watered down. I didn't feel any relaxation benefits, but didn't mind this tea. (AC)
Sleepytime Sinus Soother Wellness Tea
Sleepytime Throat Tamer Wellness Tea
Tummy Mint Wellness Tea
White teas
Antioxidant Supplement Plum White Tea
Decaf White Tea
Imperial White Peach White Tea
Perfectly Pear White Tea
Choice organic
Black teas
Black tea
Celtic breakfast
Darjeeling
Earl Grey
This is a good black tea, but it's not a strong Earl Grey. Not a whole lot of flavor, but not bad. Stash EG remains supreme (AC)
Earl Grey with lavendar
English breakfast
Irish breakfast
Mango ceylon with vanilla
Orange spice
Russian caravan
Wild forest black
Chai teas
Chai
Chai decaf
Chai spice black
Green teas
Bancha toasted
Decaf green tea with peach
Green Moroccan mint
Green tea with essence of peach
Green tea with toasted brown rice
Gunpowder green
Himalaya green
Jasmine
Oothu
Premium Japanese
Twig
Herbal teas
Chamomile
Chamomile spearmint with bergamot
Ginger herb
Lemon lavender mint
Licorice peppermint
Northwest blackberry
Peppermint herb
Rooibos
Rooibos and vanilla
Rooibos superfruit
Wild berry
Yerba mate
Yerba mate mint
Oolong teas
Magnolia oolong
Oolong
This is pretty strong. This oolong tastes similar to a green tea, which I haven't noticed before. It's good for what it is, but not my favorite type. (AC)
White teas
Classic white peony
White jasmine
All of the brands are named. Punjana, Salada and Teavana.
Ohhh, I see. Sorry..I've never seen those before!
All of the brands are named. Punjana, Salada and Teavana.
Ohhh, I see. Sorry..I've never seen those before!
That's fine. Punjana is very rare in America, I believe and Salada is just a really cheap brand that doesn't sell anything that looks really good. Teavana is a huge, huge brand but I didn't feel like typing Teavana a dozen times, lol.
Stash Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea
Upon first drink, this was like WHOA lemon and ginger (which was surprising because Stash is usually more mild), but it's really good. It does have a nice balance of each, but both prominent. The ginger does get pretty strong as you get down to the bottom, but I enjoy it.
Stash Mango Passionfruit Herbal Tea
This is ok. Nothing very special about it. It's just slightly fruity, and nothing else much to report.
yep, that lemon ginger is some good tea.
Bigelow pumpkin spice tea
This tea is delicious! I usually drink it with soymilk and sugar, but today I had it with Silk pumpkin spice soymilk and it was extra good! I steep it extra concentrated - 5 minutes with 2 bags in about 10 oz water, then add an ounce or so of soymilk once it's done steeping. This is also good for a second steep if you steep it a little longer - around 7 minutes or more.
Hey - I just happened upon this when I was perusing the Bigelow website.. I guess some Bigelow teas contain trace amounts of a butter-derived flavor: Are Bigelow teas vegan? -- the teas they list are:
AriZona Green with Pomegranate & Acai
Lemon Ginger Herb+
Blueberry Harvest Herb
Pomegranate Blueberry Herb+
Eggnogg'n
Spiced Chai
French Vanilla
Spiced Chai Decaffeinated
French Vanilla Decaffeinated
Vanilla Caramel
Green Chai
Vanilla Chai
Green with Blueberry
Ok..I sort of get the chai flavors, but why Lemon Ginger and Blueberry Harvest??
Oh, gross!!! Thanks, VRS. I'll take those off the list.
So the one's listed aren't vegan?
Ew, that is totally gross!
All of the brands are named. Punjana, Salada and Teavana.
Iono how high quality it is, or anything, but I enjoyed the Salada green tea a friend sent me. It had blueberries in it and made purple tea and was quite tasty.
I'm a big fan of Mighty Leaf loose tea. I've tried Earl Grey, Breakfast blend, Orange dulce, Vanilla Bean, Tropical green tea, African nectar, and Mountain spring jasmine. I absolutely love these ones.
The ones I didn't like were Chamomile Citrus, and Rainforest yerba mate.
I'm a big fan of Mighty Leaf loose tea. I've tried Earl Grey, Breakfast blend, Orange dulce, Vanilla Bean, Tropical green tea, African nectar, and Mountain spring jasmine. I absolutely love these ones.
The ones I didn't like were Chamomile Citrus, and Rainforest yerba mate.
Yay for the tea, and yay for your picture!! : )
Stash chocolate mint oolong tea
This smells amazing, and is pretty good. I would definitely like more chocolate flavor (it's a tiny hint in the background; gives body), but it's a nice combo. I like it better than regular peppermint herbal.
Organic Earl grey black and green
I got this because I like the black teas, but Stash doesn't have many options (and I like the price). It's pretty good. I like it better than the Tazo Earl grey which was a lot stronger. This is a nice tea, with a slight spice.
Stash holiday chai (I don't think this one's on the list yet)
I really love this tea. Good chai spices, and a lovely rum flavor. It is best with soymilk and sugar, but also tasty on its own. I use 2 bags per 10 oz water, and can usually get 2 steeps out of it. Longer steeps are better, if you like a stronger spiciness.
Stash holiday chai (I don't think this one's on the list yet)
I really love this tea. Good chai spices, and a lovely rum flavor. It is best with soymilk and sugar, but also tasty on its own. I use 2 bags per 10 oz water, and can usually get 2 steeps out of it. Longer steeps are better, if you like a stronger spiciness.
Is it one other than the holiday chai black?
http://animals.change.org/blog/view/how_many_animals_have_died_for_yourtea
i think unilever owns lipton as well. they test on animals.
Ugh. I'm glad I haven't purchased Lipton in many years. I think my mom buys it, so I'll tell her to try something else.
How many teas do you all usually keep on hand at a time? I love trying new ones, and having different types to choose from. A couple have been not so great, so they just stick around..but I think we have about 7 flavors right now.
You might not really want to know..but since you asked... :D
I'm lucky enough to have a dedicated cupboard in our kitchen for tea, and I probably have upwards of 30 varieties. It might be closer to 50? Some of those are old boxes that I didn't really like but I'm not ready to throw out yet. I recently did a purge of teas that were labeled with expiration dates 2-3 years ago... ::)
Luckily the teas I like are pretty inexpensive! A local shop sells good quality basic teas (black tea varieties like Assam, Ceylon, flowery orange pekoe, etc, as well as a few oolongs, greens, flavored blacks, and herbal teas) for $1 an ounce, and a local grocery store also sell some inexpensive true teas and herbal teas (chamomile, peppermint, spearmint, etc). I also have a lot of "tea ingredients," like whole spices such as cardamom, cloves, dried ginger, black peppercorns and cinnamon sticks for making chai with either black tea or rooibos. I recently found cacao nibs at a local store, so I got some of those to make some sort of chocolate flavored tea.
Can you tell I really love tea? :)>>>
I have about +/- 30 different teas at any given time.
yay for tea! I get to make loose leaf tea with my new tea ball, now. :)
Pages