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I received this as a sample when I was in the store in San Francisco. I was glad because it was one of the teas I had wanted to try. This is the bagged version, but I assume the loose version would be similar. The scent from this one is really strong. It smells like sour cherry. When steeped, this tastes like a subdued version of how the smell would taste…if that makes sense. Id be interested in trying the green tea version to see how it compares. While this won’t be an order for me ever, because of the taste, I wouldn’t turn down a cup if offered

Another hit for me from Red Leaf! Now I have to say that this is NOT as yummy and delicious for me as the caramel or the cheesecake matcha but it’s still what I’d hoped for when I ordered it.

My matcha order was the following:

Size : Small
Matcha Quality: Starter (Basic Grade)
Flavor: Robust

As usual I have Red Leaf’s small tins as well, to keep all of my matcha looking the same. I also love that you can peel the label off their bags to put on the tin! Saves me having to try and make my own label.
I ordered the Berry matcha specifically so that I could use it in my smoothies in the morning. We’re heading into winter here (although some would tell you we’re already in winter! But I refuse…I’m still wearing dresses to work with bare legs!). I want to be able to have that Berry taste all winter long instead of having to fumble with frozen fruit or paying up the wazooo for fresh fruit. I also ordered this one since it hasn’t been reviewed yet, and I was hoping to return the favour for Red Leaf by getting at least one review up.

I was a bit worried with the Robust flavouring because the Pear matcha I ordered was too strong in that flavouring, but this is alright!
As usual, cutting open the bag is always exciting for me. It’s that first whiff of the delicious things to come that keeps me wanting more lol I don’t know how to place this smell…it’s like a mishmash of fruit/sweet flavouring.

Soooo even though this was purchased to have in my smoothies, I opted to make a hot latte with this one. I wish I could say that its because that’s what I really wanted, but mostly it was because we didn’t have much in the house. Coming back from vacation on thanksgiving = no stores are open except the small convenience stores!

Now this MAY turn a few people off but I didn’t mind it. This matcha reminds me of the old school Flintstone vitamins that used to be around when I was growing up (are they still?). Kids used to eat them as candy, which of course was seriously expensive candy haha. I need to have this a few more times to figure out the balance of matcha to liquid that will make this perfect. However, I’m not disappointed! Really can’t wait till I can get groceries and make a proper smoothie with this one. Perhaps a Berry Caramel smoothie…. hmmmmm

Buy it here: http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/pear-matcha.html

Mmmmmm back to work “monday.” I’d forgotten how busy it is coming in to work and how noisy people can be in the morning. Good thing for me i had my traveller’s mug full of this tea! I only have enough of this left for one more cup so it’s a little sad. BUT it also means more room in my cupboard for another order! I really love the velvety tones in this tea, and also if you’re anywhere near a Ghiradelli chocolate place…go buy some of their pumkin spice chocolates. Don’t like pumpkin? Just do it anyway. It’s their limited edition chocolate for this time of year and it is HEAVENLY! Rich wonderful chocolate wrapped pumpkin spice caramel…omg so good…especially with this tea. :)

Mmmmmm…..delicious maple pecan. This tea makes me happy and is totally on my list for the next order heh.

I will need to capture my thoughts better at a later date but this sampler from nuvolo was incredible. As some may be aware, I’m not a huge fan of oolongs but I do love my black tea. This is a wonderful blend of the two with a multitude of flavours.

While this is a nice gentle tea, it doesn’t so much taste like pear to me. I’m thinking that it might have been contaminated by the grapefruit tea that came with it, but I’m not 100% sure. It’s still a lovely calm quiet tea but isn’t quite the pear I was looking for. I’ll have to get Stacy to send me another sample sometime with an order that doesn’t have grapefruit lol

Well I figured if there was ever a matcha for me to "branch out with: it would be the Caramel Matcha. Since I am in love with the caramel matcha, I decided to try a different base to see how it would compare with the regular matcha. Not wanting to go TOO crazy, I thought i’d start with the 50/50 and maybe work my way through all of the options on the one type of Matcha.
As usual, I picked the Classic Matcha with Robust Flavouring which I find works out pretty damn good with most of the matcha flavours that I’ve tried except for the fruit base. Those need a softer flavouring (so far anyway).

So, what to say about the 50/50 base? Well, as it’s only a split between green and white there isn’t a HUGE difference between the two. What i did fine though, was that the white base seemed to bring out the creaminess of the caramel just a bit more. It frothed just as nicely as the green base as well. Again, this matcha is heavenly delicious caramel delight. This is now one of my favourite lattes as the evenings are cooling off. I’m looking forward to getting a chance to try this out with the black base!

If you’re looking to purchase this Matcha I strongly recommend it! You can find it here (www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/caramel-matcha.html). While you’re at it, pick up a tin or two as they make storing your matcha sooooo much easier!

So I’m not in love with this tea – but I appreciate how others might really enjoy this. That being said, i’m not sure what I expected. This 100% reminds me of almond extract used in baking. So with that regard, the taste/smell is pretty spot :) I think I was looking for a taste that was less sweet. I don’t get the cinnamon that others have tasted – even in the light version. Stil not a bad cup of tea, but just not up to par with the grapefruit and maple pecan :)

So I’m not going to add a rating to this tea because MY version is not the dragonwell version. Stacy was kind enough to send me a sample with the other base that she was thinking of blending with. It has been a looooooooooooooong wait for anyone that’s been tracking the number of times i’ve harassed stacy about it :) Well it finally arrived with my tea order and let me tell you, this tea is a smelly puppy! lol All of the teas in my order smell vaguely of grapefruit BUT i’m not concerned. First started i LOVE grapefruit and secondly, give it a day or two and i’m sure they’ll be fine.

I had a week and day from hell yesterday what with the insane amounts of work to wrap up before vacation, my other half being sick and unable to help me get the house cleaned, laundry done etc… and vacation plans were still not finalized. I didnt’ get a moment yesterday to sit and have ANY TEA until 7pm. However, the fact that I had this from stacy waiting for me in the kitchen absolutely made up for it.

When i finally got a chance to sit and take 5 mins to myself before continuing with the craziness I of course chose this tea. OPening it, is like being hit in the face with 4 tons of grapefruit juice. REAL grapefruit juice, not grapefruit cocktail which is so prevalent in stores there days. I could barely wait for the steeping to be done before taking my first sip. This is AMAZING! I can’t find the words to describe the wonder of a tea that just IS grapefruit. It sounds a little weird to a lot of people, but what stacy has created here is just perfect. It IS what i have been wanting in a grapefruit tea. I have a few more teas to try from stacy before placing my next order, but the dragonwell version of this will for sure be on my list. Stacy assures me that i’ll love it more than MY version, but i’m not yet convinced…though, i’m sure in the end she’ll be right even if i don’t want to admit it :)

All I can say though is that for ayone who loves grapefruit or citrus in general – THIS is a tea to try. I’m in my happy place with this tea.

So I have to say…Hats off to Stacy! I have not had much luck with oolongs lately – there’s always this weird taste that pokes through the flavouring and makes me cringe. While my sample isn’t quite what the final product landed on since stacy was kinda enough to toss in a sample for me of the pre-final version, i’m certain that the final version is as amazing! I tried this right after the grapefruit tea sample that stacy provided (tasting note on that later omg) and so my mouth was in citrusy heaven. I had absentmindly picked up my tea for a sip while talking to my other half and it shocked me so instantly that i forgot what i was saying as a small “OH!” escaped my lips. I immediately told Ian he had to try it. This blend is superb! I’m not sure what i was expecting when i tried it, but clearly it wasn’t what i was hit with to interupt my thoughts!

There is a creamy delicious maple sweet goodness in this tea that is amazing! I drink all my tea straight, and this is almost too sweet for me – ian even asked if i had put sugar in my tea this time. For those worried about the sweet factor, it’s perfect in this blend to bring together the woodsy, maple tones of the tea.

I will absolutely need to order some of this tea for over the fall/winter. It reminds me of the festival d’hiver that we used to celebrate in school – pouring maple syrup into the snow and rolling it on to the wooden popsicle sticks to make a delicious treat!