Pomegranate Oolong Tea

In the mood for dessert but don’t feel like consuming the calories that usually accompany such decadent treats? Or perhaps, even if you couldn’t care less about health and calories, you just feel like satisfying your sweet tooth but don’t have the time or wherewithal to make yourself dessert. If so, Harney and Sons’ Pomegranate Oolong tea will hit just the right spot. It has enough of a fragrant, light-bodied, flowery aroma to satisfy your sweet tooth, yet isn’t so delicate that it can't stand up on its own to suit any occasion -- even when you don't crave dessert. Harney’s extra long oolong leaves are infused with flavorful pomegranate to create this unique blend. Now, what is oolong, you ask? Just a quick little tutorial before I proceed with the review: Oolong tea is a cross between green and black tea with a much more light and fragrant (and less brisk) flavor. Through repeated (and complicated) steps, oolong tea leaves are partially oxidized, whereas green tea is not oxidized at all and black tea is fully oxidized.
Anyway, I wasn’t expecting anything special from this tea, as most teas steeped with fruity undertones generally remind me of artificial gum, but I was delightfully proven wrong after my first mug full. This specific type of oolong meshes particularly well with the pomegranate flavors and leaves a pleasantly sweet flavor on the tongue after you’ve taken a swig. It tastes and smells juicy, and actually reminds me of chomping into the succulent seeds of a pomegranate. Best served by steeping one sachet in less than boiling water for five to eight minutes, depending on how strong you like your brew. Equally good when served with sweetener or without. If you do prefer sweet tea, my sweetener of choice is agave nectar! Creamer is a big no-no with this tea. Don't forget to inhale the sweet-smelling steam right before taking a sip -- the aroma greatly enhances the taste of this tea.

Hot Cinnamon Sunset Tea

There's nothing like the right cup of tea to complement a good read, good music, or a good pie (the latter being my preferred option). Oh hell, a good cup of tea makes anything better. Hot Cinnamon Sunset is one of the more fragrant blends of the many exotic teas produced by Harney & Sons. It comes in silken sachets (stylish little baggies fashioned into pyramids that show off the blend within and allow the tea to breathe) and it doesn’t surprise me that it is one of the company's most popular flavors. Those little sachets receive an A+ from me in the aesthetic department. Even the occasional tea-drinker will notice and appreciate an artistic difference in the presentation. But do not be deceived: despite the fancy, hoity-toity packaging, this is a tea that asserts itself and packs a punch. Guaranteed to soothe anyone’s frayed and frazzled nerves, Hot Cinnamon Sunset (sometimes referred to as Hot Cinnamon Spice in their catalog) is a mixture of loose black tea leaves, three different cinnamons, orange peel and sweet cloves. It is a medium-bodied tea that can be served with sweetener and creamer if desired, but is by no means essential. Added bonus: even if you have a sweet tooth like I do, dumping massive amounts of honey into your mug won’t be necessary – it can be enjoyed on its own just as much. But beware: while comforting and sweet, this tea isn’t for the weak. The earthy pungency of the cloves packs quite a powerful bite. Leave it to steep a few minutes too long and it will turn into a potent brew suitable only for hard-core tea enthusiasts and people with a penchant for spicy cinnamon stick candy. The best way to brew this tea is to steep one sachet in approximately two to three cups of almost-boiling water for five to eight minutes, depending on how spicy you want it to taste. I recommend leaving it in for a shorter period of time if this is your first Cinnamon Sunset experience. This will be a delightful change for people who might normally fancy something less bold like chamomile or similar herbal blends, but won't be too subtle or intimidating either. For those who prefer green or oolong tea variations that just barely suggest an aroma, this won't, forgive me for using the expression, be your cup of tea. Best served, as always, in a gigantic mug.

Image courtesy of ACB.

Good Earth Original Tea

Good Earth Original Sweet & Spicy Tea & Herb Blend
Good Earth Teas
www.goodearth.com



I have always enjoyed a good cup of tea, but never have gone out of my way for it; tea usually has been a beverage that I drink when sick or when offered to me.

That all changed recently when I discovered Good Earth Original Sweet & Spicy Tea & Herb Blend. This delicious tea divided and conquered my tastebuds, and now I don't go a day without one or two mugs.

The flavour of this tea is unlike anything I've ever tasted. It hits the mouth all at once, with the sweetness on the tip of the tongue and the warm spice at the back of the throat. The ingredients give some indication to the tea's unique combination of sweetness and spice: the first six ingredients listed after tea are Rose Hips, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Lemongrass, Peppermint, and Papaya. It all makes for a full, bold, distinct flavour.

The tea stands well on its own; as someone who usually adds so much honey that I end up drinking some tea with my glass of honey, this is the first black tea to which I've had no desire to add milk, cream, or sweetener. The box recommends steeping 3-4 minutes, but box directions be damned; I recommend steeping for about 12-15 minutes to allow all of the subtleties of the flavor to emerge.

Good Earth Teas use only natural ingredients and flavors. What's more, the tags on their teabag strings feature quotations from notable thinkers, giving you something to consider as you wait for your delicious tea to finish steeping.

Good Earth Original is a fine tea for burning the midnight oil in one's study, or, for that matter, to accompany anything else at any other time of day. It's the best tea I've ever had. Cheers!