My Honest Tea with Tae Review. Recently, I decided that I wanted to…

Recently, I decided that I wanted to start making iced matcha at home. I performed a few Google searches, and Instagram being Instagram, the app started showing me ads for online tea businesses. Admittedly, the ads were pretty helpful for a change. Tea with Tae looked intriguing, so I decided to check out their website.

I ended up passing on their matcha because it was out of my price range, but they had a promotion going on: a free 7-day sample pack with every order. This sounded like a good deal, so I added a bag of chocolate tea to my cart. When I reviewed my order, I saw that the website had already added another gift: a bag of turmeric ginger tea.

Ultimately, I ended up with 17 tea bags and nine varieties. That’s a good deal for eight dollars, including shipping. I can’t promise that you’ll find the same deals when you check out the website, but Tea with Tae offers promotions regularly. In any case, this seemed like the perfect opportunity for a product review.

Before we start, I want to clarify that this is NOT a paid Tea with Tae promotion. These are my honest, unfiltered opinions about their blends.

Ready? Grab your favorite mug, and let’s go.

1. Chocolate

When I opened the bag, a strong mocha-like fragrance immediately hit my senses. Black tea makes up the base, with chocolate bits and flavors balancing the bitterness. If you’re looking for a cup of hot chocolate, this tea isn’t that rich — it’s more like drinking a hot, watery mocha. Still, this variety tasted more like cocoa than other brands I’ve tried, so I recommend it to anyone who loves raw cacao.

2. Turmeric Ginger

A warm, mildly spicy aroma wafted from the bag of this cozy tea. When I took a sip, ginger was the dominant flavor. I couldn’t taste the fruit or black peppercorns, but the turmeric offered a little balance that kept the ginger from overwhelming my taste buds. If you have a cold, this blend would probably wake up your senses.

3. Nighttime Routine

The eclectic mix of ingredients made this tea smell sweet, spicy and earthy at the same time. I’ve never been a chamomile fan, but the lavender softened the cloying flavors, while spearmint provided a refreshing aftertaste. As the name suggests, the lack of caffeine makes this tea suitable for bedtime. Try brewing a cup when you’re relaxing after dinner.

4. Fruit and Berry Oolong

True to its name, this tea is bold, sweet and fruity but not too saccharine. The ingredients don’t specify the particular fruits, but I detected strong raspberry notes that gave the drink a little tartness. With its maximalist flavor profile, this blend would pair well with jams, jellies and sugary desserts.

5. Hibiscus Rose

While fruit doesn’t appear in the ingredients, this blend had a candy-glazed flavor that reminded me of fruit punch. Hibiscus, rosehips and cornflower petals mingle to create a vibrant aroma and lingering aftertaste. Personally, this flavor was too strong for me — some people might like it, but I felt like I was drinking a rose garden.

6. Lemon Ginger

This tea greeted me with a sharp, spicy scent that made me think I was in for another ginger bomb. Luckily, the lemon eased the blow with a cooling bite of citrus. With spicy herbs and refreshing fruit, this blend treats you to a warm, cozy vibe that would be perfect for winter evenings.

7. Rooibos

When I inhaled the leaves’ scent, I detected a sweet, earthy aroma that reminded me pleasantly of wood chips. The tea itself has a bright, mossy flavor that made me feel like I was walking through a forest with soil underneath my feet. The deep reddish-orange hue enhanced the rustic vibe. I’ve never tried a tea like this before, but I think it would pair well with pastries or peanut butter toast.

8. English Breakfast

If you want to get back to basics, English Breakfast has one ingredient: black tea leaves. This drink is warm and robust but not too bitter. Still, it’s pretty similar to other English Breakfast varieties I’ve tried, so it’s not the most original blend. Don’t be afraid to jazz it up with honey or agave syrup.

9. Genmaicha

I wasn’t sure what to expect from genmaicha, which is the unique combination of green tea and toasted rice, but it ended up being my favorite blend. The tea smelled and tasted like buttered popcorn, which worked surprisingly well. Plus, the toasted rice balanced out the green tea’s earthiness. This is a great drink to enjoy while you’re watching the sunset.

Have you tried Tea with Tae? What did you think? Which tea brands are your favorites? Let me know in the comments.

Originally published at https://vocal.media.