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Blog Tasting Notes

I Drink Tea With My Eyes

You may have heard the saying: we eat first with our eyes. I recently had an experience that underscored that I drink tea with my eyes. But, it’s more complicated than “only” noting the appearance. Let me explain…

I grew up drinking malty black tea with milk. I still really enjoy it from time to timeā€”even more so when the weather gets colder.

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Surprise Teas of 2024

I have been thinking over my surprise teas of 2024: the teas that made a big impression on me that weren’t already on my favorites list. The first teas that came to mind were all flavored teas. Historically, I tend to drink a lot more unflavored teas. So, this was quite a surprise!

My surprise standout teas of 2024 so far include:

Vibrant yellow-green Yuzu Matcha Kukicha tea poured from a glass teapot into a white, orange, and blue teacup with purple flowers nearby
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Blog Tasting Notes

Confession about Tea Steeping Temperature

Hi, Tea Friend! Hope you have been steeping up and sipping down lots of good tea lately. This post shares a confession about tea steeping temperature.

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Rosebud Tea: Yellow vs. Pink

Rosebud tea can be delightful. Let’s compare the flavor, mouthfeel, and more of yellow vs. pink rosebuds steeped as herbal tea.

I have been drinking pink rose and pink rosebud tea for some time. Yellow rosebuds, by contrast, are relatively new to me. Realizing I had two different colored rosebud herbal teas, both grown in Iran, made me curious to compare them. The results surprised me!

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Persimmon Leaf and Magnolia Blossom Herbal Teas

Their flavor profiles, beauty, and more persuaded me to add persimmon leaf and magnolia blossom herbal teas into my tisane rotation at home.

I am a long time devotee of “real tea” (from the Camellia Sinensis plant) and relatively late to discovering herbal teas that I enjoy drinking regularly. No one was more surprised than I was when I wrote my first Herbal Tea Recommendations post a few months ago! Since then, I’ve found two new tisanes to add to my recommendations.

Note: always research any potential health risks associated with herbal teas before you try them.

Cream-colored magnolia blossom floating in glass pitcher with a green handle
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Herbal Tea Recommendations

This post shares herbal tea recommendations based on flavor profiles that I love.

I’ve always been primarily a non-herbal tea drinker. It took me years to find herbal teas that I really enjoy. In this post, I’m happy to highlight seven that I love.

Herbal teas recommendations: plum blossom, barley sprout, rose, Korean mistletoe, lemon ginger honey, and Persian herbals
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Blog Tasting Notes

Teas of 2023

This post shares the wonderful teas of 2023 that my monthly newsletter, Tea Infusiast News, featured in its “What’s Steeping” section.

I paid full price for each of these teas (except one given to me by a friend). In other words, no one is sponsoring this post.*

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Blog Tasting Notes

Three Teas from Teawala

This post shares tasting notes for three delightful teas from Teawala. Read on for my thoughts on their Khiri Gold (black tea from Thailand), Rice Oolong (oolong tea processed with an herb from Thailand), and Ruby Red (black tea from Taiwan).

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Tasting Notes for 3 Teas from Tea Vivre

This post shares tasting notes for three teas from Tea Vivre. I have bought and enjoyed many teas from them. These impressions, however, are for three teas that they sent me for free. Per my review policy, I had no obligation to review unless I sincerely enjoyed them. I certainly did! Read on for my thoughts on their award-winning 2019 Bai MuDan, their Fuding Shou Mei White Tea Mini Cakes, and their Phoenix Dan Cong.

I appreciate that Tea Vivre offers both gongfu and western-style brewing suggestions on their website. I tend to alternate, as you will see below.

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Try Korean Balhyo Cha Tea for Valentine’s Day

Looking for a pure tea–no flavors added–that tastes of chocolate? I heartily recommend trying Korean Balhyo Cha or Balhyo Cha powder for Valentine’s Day. This tea’s leaves have a wonderful chocolaty note. Prepared a certain way, and without adding any sweetener, the powder has vibes of grown-up, gourmet hot cocoa. Both are delicious!

Balhyo Cha, a fermented Korean Black tea